Nestled in a location that’s second to none, the place the Gulf of Papagayo meets the sapphire blue waters of Culebra Bay, Andaz Costa Rica Resort At Peninsula Papagayo extends over an unlimited hillside (name for a golf cart if the uphill hike within the warmth turns into an excessive amount of) with breathtaking views over the ocean and the mountainous behind.
Set into the tropical hills overlooking the ocean and marina under, this spectacular lodge provides a full five-star expertise with heat and pleasant service from its workers and the native wildlife. Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort provides unmatched ocean views, beautiful infinity swimming pools, a wellness-focused spa, funky Costa Rican eating places, ample wildlife, and even a ship trip to their wonderful seashore membership.
Wherever you determine to remain, e book through our luxurious journey concierge. We provide free upgrades, free breakfasts, and free perks at inns, together with the 4 Seasons, Aman, Belmond, Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, InterContinental, and extra. You additionally get your ordinary Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt, loyalty factors, and standing advantages if you e book with our concierge.
Location
The perfect airport to fly into is Guanacaste Airport in Liberia (full title Daniel Oduber Quiros Worldwide Airport). That is the second largest worldwide airport in Costa Rica, the opposite being San Jose. Liberia Airport is then a brief 20-minute scenic drive to the resort, whereas should you fly into San Jose, it’s extra like a four-hour drive.
The dry season in Costa Rica runs from December via to April. That is when the climate is on the hottest and, in fact, driest! It’s additionally peak time, so count on costs to be larger and the resort to be at its busiest. This will go well with you properly, however we discovered the tail finish of the moist season a magical time to go to. We visited in mid-October when the whole lot was inexperienced and in bloom. We noticed little or no rain, lower than an hour in a few days, so for us, it was greater than value it to understand the beautiful greenery.
The Andaz lies tucked on the tropical hillside of the Peninsula Papagayo with breathtaking ocean views, which take within the Marina Papagayo under and the huge Bay of Culebra.
The gated group of Peninsula Papagayo is dwelling to 3 unique resorts, residences, and a non-public membership, the marina, a number of eating places each within the resorts themselves and several other impartial too, the 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course, a nature middle and an journey tour firm.
There’s a stunning relationship between the institutions right here, the inns discuss one another’s eating places, they usually even present complimentary journey anyplace on the Peninsula. We beloved this. Usually if you keep in a resort, you’ll be able to really feel restricted to simply that lodge, should you’re fortunate, perhaps a sister lodge. Right here you’ll be able to discover additional but within the utmost consolation along with your driver delivering and amassing you, pausing solely to level out wildlife on route!
Fashion & Character
You get your first style of the allure that’s the Andaz Resort Costa Rica if you pull up exterior the primary reception. Your consideration is torn between your first glimpse of the ocean and the fabulous vivid purple VW Camper Van that proudly welcomes you.
The ocean view wins however not earlier than you smile on the pure enjoyable of this place. Heading in direction of the check-in area, tree-lined infinity swimming pools flank your path, and also you attain an epic curved roof-topped open foyer.
They don’t prefer to name this reception. As a substitute, it’s their lounge, and appropriately you might be proven to cozy seating areas, as a substitute of standing at a desk, the place you’ll be able to loosen up out of your journey and start to totally take within the panoramic ocean views.
The resort is designed by iconic Costa Rican architect Ronald Zürcher, who’s at the moment designing a group of luxurious Residences for the resort in addition to an incredible renovation of one of many eating places.
In addition to reflecting the Andaz model and striving for excellent concord with its environment, the resort makes use of shapes of cocoons and shells in its key buildings. These are then additionally used as motifs and displayed across the resort and on every visitor constructing; nice enjoyable to attempt to spot all of them!
Conservation and sustainability are essential right here, and that is evident all through the resort. All of the water bottles are metallic, not plastic, and there are indicators saying to request when you want to a turndown service and towels modified to reduce environmental impression.
In addition they showcase native tradition all through the resort. A lot of the art work displayed is proudly domestically produced. We beloved the massive driftwood sculpture that hangs above the beds, made domestically in Costa Rica. There’s additionally an unlimited multi-colored mural that strains the wall underneath the primary swimming pools. As you descend to the seashore, you’ll be able to’t miss it. It’s so completely Andaz and so completely Costa Rica, too, a sheer delight!
Service & Amenities
You’re actually spoilt with methods to fill your time on the Andaz Resort Costa Rica. The most important resolution first is whether or not to loosen up; on one among three seashores, by one among 4 freeform swimming pools (one with a beach-style shallow entrance, one adult-only, and I feel all infinity!), with a wellness remedy on the spa (whereas the youngsters are at Cambi, the youngsters membership in fact!) or whether or not to get energetic on the health middle, snorkeling, rise up paddle boarding, kayaking, play a spherical of golf, a recreation of tennis, deep sea fishing, take a surf lesson or discover on an electrical bike! Phew!
Sooner or later in your actions, you might be, little doubt, going to need to head to the seashore. There are two seashores proper by the resort itself, simply meander down the tropical plant-lined paths and head down the picket walkway, and you’ll arrive on the seashores of Culebra Bay.
The true deal with, nonetheless, awaits a brief boat trip away. Hop on board, and you might be taken 10 minutes throughout the ocean to the Andaz Seashore Membership set upon Playa Nacascolo. This pleasant area is the house of all these water sports activities. Underneath the bushes are set many loungers and day beds. There’s a child’s playpark together with an enormous collection of sand toys, and if you’re worn out from all of the exercise, simply recline again on a hammock and catch some rays! The Seashore Membership has an exquisite chilled vibe and is totally staffed, too, so you might be served food and drinks by your lounger. That is additionally the house of one of many Andaz eating places, the Seashore Home.
For an actual spot of rest, the Onda Spa is a peaceful, enjoyable sanctuary. We arrived on the stunning predominant spa check-in and have been then slowly led previous a group of luxurious huts set round jungle pathways. Like most issues on the Andaz Costa Rica, the spa is situated to profit from the views. The very highest level of the resort is an open-air remedy area which might be simply unimaginable to begin the day with morning yoga or wind down with a soothing therapeutic massage.
There are each inside and outside remedy rooms, however whichever fits you and your remedy, the ocean view is simply unimaginable and turns into an actual a part of your time right here, including an exquisite pure factor to your expertise. The spa has a robust wellness element, and your therapist takes you thru a journey that begins with deciding on an intention to your remedy, a extremely private option to make your time right here particular and memorable. Our couple’s Sound Therapeutic expertise was a really nurturing time that was soothing and deeply enjoyable, a extremely valuable time collectively, and such a singular option to really feel completely related to this unimaginable setting.
The service on the Andaz was persistently glorious, as you’ll hope should you’d stayed at an Andaz earlier than (we love the one in London). The resort has a contemporary, younger spirit, the colourful décor lifting everybody and producing a way of enjoyable and laughter. Not for a second does this undermine the requirements, although. It’s a 5-star lodge, and the effectivity, friendliness, and professionalism are exacting all through.
Rooms
There are 153 spacious rooms (together with 21 suites), and the resort manages to keep up an enthralling boutique really feel, maybe partly attributable to its hillside location. Nothing feels too unfold out or far aside. All of the rooms have giant furnished balconies, rainfall showers, and floor-to-ceiling home windows.
The standard amenities and facilities that you’d count on are supplied, plus some considerate extras too. There are complimentary his and hers hats and complimentary flip flops in snazzy Andaz colours, and the mini-bar comprises complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. The visitor rooms are all the identical dimension, however every change in class improves your view. I might completely advocate the Bay View rooms, this view is awe-inspiring, and also you merely want to have the ability to spend as a lot time as potential admiring it!
Our room was beautiful, with pure colours and supplies used all through, however the uplifting burst of coloration continued with some fabulous picket lizards on the wall that don’t allow you to overlook that you’re in stunning Costa Rica. The room was open plan in design with the beds at one finish of the room and a intelligent room divider appearing as each your tv stand on one aspect, your wardrobe and storage on the opposite, and a eating nook on the far finish.
Our bathe was particular too, fully indoors however with a floor-to-ceiling window with a sliding glass door, which suggests in whole privateness, you’ll be able to benefit from the ocean views wanting throughout the balcony whilst you cleanse. I additionally beloved the pebble impact ground that continues all through the bathe, throughout the sink space, and into the bathroom, utilizing the flooring to separate the toilet zone from the open plan room structure.
We adored our room, and the 2 double-bed layouts labored completely for a household. Upgrading to an Andaz Suite does provide the bonus of a shocking deep soaking tub with a view or a plunge pool, and even higher, each!
The Andaz Suites, in addition to being bigger than the visitor rooms, even have bigger terraces; be sure to go for the View possibility to maximise the wow issue of these panoramic ocean views. The Andaz Giant Suite provides you extra space nonetheless, and you’ll connect with a room, too, so you could have a two-bedroom suite, excellent for a touring household. There’s additionally a Presidential Suite for the final word luxurious expertise. That is value contemplating should you’re celebrating an important day or simply need to unfold out and profit from each minute spent in paradise.
Meals & Drink
There are 4 glorious eating institutions in Andaz Costa Rica. The primary restaurant the place breakfast is served is the Latin American restaurant Rio Bhongo. The positioning of this restaurant is genius. You overlook three of the swimming swimming pools and have beautiful ocean views too. The breakfast is a really beneficiant cold and warm buffet. They clarify the whole lot the primary day, however you tour the totally different stations, serving to your self to chilly treats and being served scorching gadgets whereas they preserve you topped up with tea and low. The juice bar and fruit station have been one among my favorites, the whole lot was so contemporary, and it was nice enjoyable sampling all of the unique fruits too. My youngsters adored the selection of pastries and breads and the new station had an awesome mixture of basic and native dishes, which modified somewhat every day so you could possibly at all times strive one thing new. We returned right here for a scrumptious dinner too, the place the lights of the pool and the marina under give a relaxed, romantic air whilst you tuck right into a Latin American feast.
On one other night, we headed to the beautiful Chao Pescao for an awesome combo of tapas and Latin-inspired cocktails. The place had a buzzing environment, undoubtedly thanks partially to the superb stay music.
We couldn’t go to the seafood-restaurant Ostra throughout our keep as that is the restaurant at the moment present process a metamorphosis. The idea sounds wonderful, with a journey via your night method, which strikes you from welcome drinks to stay culinary stations, via to the primary occasion, the place you tuck into the contemporary seafood delicacies in beautiful environment. A wonderful excuse for a return go to a minimum of!
Lastly, the Seashore Home is tremendous handy if you’re on the Seashore Membership and fancy a locally-inspired taco or burger, you may be served proper to your lounger, or there’s a spacious open-air restaurant on the high of the Seashore Membership too.
Conclusion
We had an exquisite and really memorable keep on the Andaz Resort Costa Rica. The wonderful amenities have been an enormous a part of that. I’m nonetheless dreaming of bathing of their infinity swimming pools shaded by jicaro bushes and framed by views of the cobalt blue bay.
However the resort is a lot extra than simply the amenities, it’s a stupendous a part of its surroundings, and we actually felt this. The wildlife is nurtured and revered, even right down to the low lighting within the evenings, in order to not disturb the animals. It’s issues like this and its fantastic workers that make Andaz Costa Rica so very particular.
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