After years of dreaming of a stay at the Four Seasons Costa Rica (aka Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo), it finally came to fruition! As a luxury travel advisor, I visited with a major goal in mind – to find out, is it worth it? Read my honest Four Seasons Costa Rica review to see if it’s worth the hype. Plus, learn how to unlock free VIP perks like breakfast and resort credits!
Let me tell you, from the flawless service to the world-class amenities, the Four Seasons Papagayo Peninsula in Costa Rica proved to me why it remains to be one of the best in the area. For vacationers looking for a seamless, ultra-premium beach getaway that begins just 30-minutes after the plane touches down, then it backs up every bit of the hype.
In this review, I’m breaking down the good, the bad, and the reality of our stay—including our kids’ review, room layout (and how to score a better one), favorite meals and activities, the lowdown on the kids’ club, and the exclusive free VIP perks I can unlock for your own trip, at no extra cost to you.
The Setting & The Vibe
The Four Seasons is in such a unique spot – wedged on a narrow little section of the peninsula, with a beach on either side of it, amongst tangled mangroves and dry tropical forest (silly me – I didn’t realize dry and tropics co-existed).
This area of Guanacaste tends to see less rain during the rainy season. But that’s not a hard and fast rule. In October, we did get a day and a half of a down pour. It was just a great excuse to enjoy the hot and cold plunge pool and relaxation room at the spa, while the kids had fun at the kids’ club!
The style? Well, it’s exactly what you’d expect at a Four Seasons – neutral tones and natural elegance with bits of Costa Rican flair. They have gradually been renovating their rooms, so ours felt nice and updated.
The vibe? Refined. Classy. But still beachy and relaxed, not pretentious.
Four Seasons is for those who want to experience Costa Rica in comfort – less of the pura vida feeling you get in La Fortuna, and more pure elegance.
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Freebies? Yes, pleeeeeeease!
When you stay at the Four Seasons Costa Rica, little luxuries (like cabanas, sunscreen, beach chairs, boogie boards, experiences…I could go on and on) are totally complimentary. For that price tag, they’d better be!
Check out all of these complimentary activities:
- Kayak tours
- Guided hikes
- Birdwatching
- Snorkel tours
- SUP
- Non-motorized beach sports like boogie boarding (our family fave!)
- Classes with themes like coffee tasting, rum tasting, Salsa dancing, mixology, and more!
While there are plenty of excursions surrounding the resort, there’s also plenty to do without ever leaving.
We had some fun family time relaxing and boogie boarding on Playa Virador, but for the best gentle waves, Playa Blanca is a great option on the other side. They also had kayaking and sand toys for the kiddos!
The Four Seasons Papagayo Peninsula has endless activities like snorkeling, surfing, dance lessons, yoga, golf, tennis, volunteering, guided nature hikes, plus activities in the kids’ club, like learn to make a piñata! (Note: some of these activities listed you do have to pay for – free golf would be a bit of a stretch).
Rum and chocolate tasting and the wine tasting were our ‘adult’ favorites. But I wish we could have stayed longer! We barely scratched the surface on all they had to offer.
One more freebie that makes the price tag worth it – kids under five eat for free!
Need more activity ideas? Read my 7-day itinerary.
Our Kids’ Review of Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica: Is It Worth It?
Our 7-year-old son voted the Four Seasons Costa Rica as his favorite resort of the trip. If you follow our travels, you know this kid has stayed at some pretty impressive hotels, so he’s a harsh critic.
You can thank the boogie boarding and kids club for that vote! Oh, and maybe the fries, cupcakes and personal tent bumped up his rating a few notches. 😉
You’ll be happy to know that children are completely welcomed here. Trust me, you won’t feel on edge with them. They’ll have a blast with a ton of outdoor activities and the trustworthy, supervised kids club. Both of our kids were at the right age (finally, lol) for their Kids for All Seasons kids club (ages 4-12). The staff was great – playing games, playdough, and arts and crafts. They even can take them swimming in the toddler pool (when weather permits)!
Once the kids are old enough, they have access to a pool table, video games, and more.
Those without kids – peace of mind. The adults-only pool helps keep the family pool a kid-friendly zone.
Insider Tip: the Kids for all Seasons kids club closes pretty early (they are open 8am-5pm). So, get your ‘date niiiiiiiight’ in early.
Our kids were treated like royalty with their welcome cupcakes, canvas Four Seasons activity bags, and their very own tent set up on the balcony! What a start to a great vacation.
Book with me at no extra cost so you get VIP surprises like these!
To top it off, they made her a custom cake for her birthday! They went out of their way to make our trip feel truly special. Thank you, Four Seasons.
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The Room
To be honest, having just left large suites at Nayara and The Springs, our room at Four Seasons felt a bit cramped. Thankfully, the exceptional staff switched us to connecting rooms – ahhh, so much better!
The landscape is constantly changing with growing trees, so it’s difficult to get a fully unobstructed ocean view. But the partial ocean view was great from our large terrace!
Just another reason to book with a Four Seasons luxury travel advisor like me – my requests are always prioritized to keep our mutual clients happy.
They are updating their rooms, so ours was fresh with a newly renovated look, however I thought it odd that the bathtub did not match and maybe was later on the renovation list?
Large Family Villas – Worth the Splurge!
Four Seasons Costa Rica actually specializes in multiple large family villas – perfect for your next luxurious multi-gen trip.
I can take the stress out of planning and do it all for you, from arranging seamless transportation logistics to securing the best villas and views, to booking activities that appease all ages.
Of course, these come with my free Preferred Partner perks at no extra cost.
Insider Tips for Visiting Four Seasons Papagayo Peninsula Costa Rica
Just a few tips to add to my Four Seasons Costa Rica review:
- Insider Tip #1: Whatever you need – just ask! The staff hunted down life jackets for our kids to safely play in the ocean.
- Insider Tip #2: Reserve your spot ahead of time for activities, either on the app or concierge.
- Insider Tip #3: Order the sliders at Añejo…pura vida. Then go back the next day and order them again. Addicting.
- Insider Tip #4: Request a room on a higher floor for a better chance at seeing that pretty ocean.
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Well, what do you think now? Still undecided after reading my honest Four Seasons Costa Rica review? Let’s chat and I’ll help you figure out whether Four Seasons is the right fit for you.
Or read my Top 3 Luxury Resorts in Costa Rica for more ideas. You really can’t go wrong at any of these.
