Sometimes, there is a location that you think everyone has visited but yourself. I felt this way about Costa Rica for the longest time. Now, that I have been to several provinces within the country including Papagayo, I get what all the fuss was about. A relaxed vibe, many options for Costa Rica beaches and pricing that doesn’t break the bank makes for a heavenly getaway. Or, as the locals might put it, pura vida.
Why visit The Peninsula Papagayo?
The laidback Papagayo culture is a wonderful escape from daily life. Locals are constantly saying ‘pura vida’ which means pure life.
This infectious concept of a ‘pure life’ goes far beyond its actual translation. Locals use this phrase for everything, including saying hello and goodbye. After about 2 minutes in Papagayo, I guarantee that you will be saying it as well.
Pura vida is about having a stress free life full of happiness. It means not letting negativity get you down. This philosophy is about dwelling on the good things in your immediate surroundings while simplifying your life.
More than that, pura vida exemplifies an optimistic state of mind that penetrates the soul of all who visit Papagayo. This philosophy just makes you smile, because the locals embrace it without an ounce of sarcasm. It’s inspiring. With any luck, you will continue to live the pura vida lifestyle long after your vacation ends.
So, what’s the food like?
The food in Papagayo is great. Outside of the hotel zones, there are well priced local joints serving up tasty fare. Please note, if you stay at a resort, you will need to book transportation to get into town. Your accommodations will be more than happy to help you arrange this.
Additionally, the resorts offer plenty of luxurious restaurants when you want a fancy night out in Papagayo.
Pro Tip: If you really want to feel like a rock star, book a private dinner on the beach at sunset at the Four Seasons. I hesitate to call anything a life altering experience, but this comes pretty close. Bonus, eating your dinner on Versace plates while digging your toes in the sand is the very definition of modern luxury. Just be sure to arrange this activity in advance, because it books up quickly.
What do you do in the Gulf of Papagayo?
Whether you want to soar along the treetops or swim with sharks, you will never have to look far to find your next adventure in Papagayo. Simply put, there is an embarrassment of riches to choose from in this coastal town.
When you think of Costa Rica, most people imagine the utterly unique rain forests. This is actually located in Arenal, not Papagayo. However, don’t worry, because this area is teaming with adventures. And, it might not be the rain forest, but there is certainly no shortage of zip lines in the area.
Beach life in Papagayo
The beaches on the Papagayo Peninsula are protected, so the waves never get too rough. It’s typically smooth enough for standup Paddle boarding (sup).
If you want to go scuba diving or snorkeling, you will need to take a boat trip, which is typical of pretty much every resort on the planet.
Monkeys Head (and, yes, the island resembles a primate’s profile) is a popular destination for scuba diving. After you finish your first tank, the surrounding islands have small caves you can walk through during low tide. Instead of just sitting on the boat, it’s nice to have something to do while your lungs equalize.
Bat Island is another dive site where bull sharks often turn up from May through September. The further out you go, the better the visibility. The water seems to be clearest from June through September. When I dove, the visibility was not great, but warm waters and my general love of scuba more than compensated.
Natural beaches are a bit of a rarity in the world of luxury resorts. The Andaz has a gorgeous beach that is kept completely free of outside influences. While I admit to loving high end stretches of perfectly groomed sand, this natural beach in Papagayo seduced me with unique, ecofriendly charms.
When should you visit Papagayo?
The weather is pretty awesome, as in, it’s almost always warm. It never snows, and temperatures don’t really drop off. It gets a touch windy in March, but it’s not a big deal. Actually, I think March has a much welcomed gentle breeze in the air. It’s not quite a trade wind, but it feels good.
Please note, the area is extremely dry from December until the beginning of April. Unfortunately, a lot of the lush vegetation dries out during this period. So, if you go zip lining at Witch’s Rock, the trees won’t have that picturesque green hue when you fly through the sky. On the bright side, you are virtually guaranteed a rain free vacation, making every moment in Papagayo ideal for the pool or beach.
And, if rain is your biggest concern during your Papagayo adventure, remember that September and October rack up the most precipitation by far.
The only month that might be a bit tricky is October, as this is the most humid time in Papagayo. To be fair, the surrounding months are a bit sticky as well. So, if the humidity really gets to you, then you will be happiest from December through April. Regrettably, I did not follow my own advice. However, I had such a good time that it ended up not mattering.
January – April
- The dry season continues. It is very hot with little to no rain.
May – October
- More precipitation and still warm.
November – December
- The dry season starts. Weather continues to be hot.
Where should you stay in Papagayo?
With an abundance of resorts at different price points in Papagayo, you won’t be short on options. Here are the 2 places that I most recently stayed. By the way, I highly recommend both of them. Take a look…
The Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica
Everything here is ridiculously upscale. The restaurants are amazing, and the staff makes a huge fuss over you.
In general, I enjoy spa culture as much as the next person, but I don’t typically go crazy over spa vacations. The Four Seasons Papagayo might have changed my mindset. Huge facilities peddling fabulous treatments made me feel beautiful. I loved it so much that I went twice.
If you feel like splurging, go for a private villa. I opted not to, but I chatted with several guests at the pool who described their accommodations as “jaw dropping”.
As far as the regular rooms go, they are immaculate. Additionally, the staff is particularly attentive. For example, I sleep on as many pillows as I can wrestle up. I’m not kidding, and I have been like this since I was a little kid. Since the Four Seasons provides a pillow concierge, I ordered quite a few. The oversized snugglers were in my room immediately, and I acknowledge that it looks ridiculous (see the photo above). However, I was insanely comfortable.
Overall, the Four Seasons is an amazing hotel, but it’s not cheap. I only stayed for four days, and I enjoyed every glamorous second.
The Andaz Costa Rica Resort
This property is one of the newest in Papagayo, and it shows. Everything about this resort feels fresh and modern.
The pools are my absolute favorite thing about this place. While they are high tech, they seamlessly blend into the eco chic atmosphere. Those lucky enough to stay in villas have private plunge pools. While I did not have one; I can confirm that they certainly looked worth the splurge. I confess that I had a serious case of pool envy during my stay.
Overall, this sparkling resort is a great choice for Papagayo. Friendly and sophisticated, the Andaz sits on a beautiful property which I loved.
Please note, I was not paid for these reviews. I sincerely wanted to share my thoughts on these Papagayo hotels with you.
Transportation to Papagayo
Local transportation in Papagayo is not the best. Upon arrival, I think it is easiest to rent a car. However, if you aren’t comfortable driving in a foreign country, then be sure to prebook transportation ahead of time.
Plane
- If you arrive by plane, it is easiest to fly into the Liberia Airport.
Car
- If you are traveling around Costa Rica, chances are that you will arrive by car. Since, I spent time in several other locations prior to arriving in Papagayo, this is what I did
- Please note, public transportation in Costa Rica is not great, so it’s best to rent a car or arrange a private car online before arrival.
- When I visited, Uber was not available. However, it now operates in Costa Rica. Just realize that you might have trouble getting a driver to respond in some of the more remote areas. So, it is advisable to make sure Uber is available in the region that you are staying in ahead of time.
[…] had originally discussed continuing north along the coast to explore the Gulf of Papagayo, but ultimately settled on making our way back, inland. We bask on the beach for a short moment […]
I really want to explore Costa Rica and spend a good amount of time there, so thanks for sharing your experience 🙂