Two extraordinary resorts. One spectacular stretch of coastline. Two very different ways to experience Costa Rica.
On Costa Rica's Peninsula Papagayo, where tropical forests meet the Pacific Ocean, two of the country's most celebrated luxury resorts offer their own interpretation of paradise: Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo and Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.
Both are known for beautiful settings, outstanding accommodations, and thoughtful hospitality. Yet, despite sharing the same exclusive peninsula, each delivers a distinctly different experience.
KJT team Kate, Lenni, Ann, and Madelyn stayed at both properties last year during on-the-ground site inspections across Papagayo.
Quick Take
Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo is ideal for luxury travelers seeking a sophisticated yet relaxed resort experience, with two beautiful beaches, multiple pools, excellent dining, and activities for every age. It's particularly well suited to families, multigenerational groups, and couples who appreciate the ease of a full-service luxury resort.
Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, offers a more secluded and design-driven experience. With dramatic cliffside views, spacious accommodations, personalized service, and an impressive wellness program, it's especially appealing to couples, honeymooners, and travelers who value privacy and a more intimate atmosphere.
Both are exceptional choices. The difference comes down to how travelers want to spend their time in Costa Rica and the experiences they want to have from their stay.
Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo: Effortless Luxury with Something for Everyone
A longtime favorite among discerning travelers, Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo has built its reputation on exceptional service, a beautiful natural setting, and a relaxed approach to luxury that allows guests to simply enjoy their time away.
Located between two beaches, the resort combines Costa Rica's natural beauty with all the comforts of a world-class luxury retreat. Mornings might begin with a quiet walk along the beach, followed by a private boat excursion, an afternoon at the spa, or simply a few hours enjoying the ocean views from a poolside cabana.
One of the property's greatest strengths is its versatility.
Couples can enjoy the adults-only infinity pool at Virador Beach Club, while families have their own spaces for swimming, water sports, and outdoor adventures. With several dining venues, an excellent spa, a championship golf course, and extensive recreational activities, the resort makes it easy for everyone to enjoy the vacation at their own pace.
The service is another defining feature. Four Seasons is known for its warm, attentive hospitality, and its Costa Rica property has earned a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating for 11 consecutive years, including 2026.
In fact, Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo was also named the No. 1 Resort in Central America in Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, further reinforcing its reputation as one of the region's premier luxury resorts.
For travelers who appreciate a well-established luxury experience with plenty of options throughout the day, Four Seasons is a standout.
Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve: A More Intimate Expression of Luxury
Opened in February 2025, Nekajui introduced a different kind of luxury to Peninsula Papagayo.
As the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Central and South America, the property was designed to offer something more personal and deeply connected to its surroundings.
Perched above the Pacific Ocean, Nekajui takes full advantage of its spectacular location. Its architecture draws inspiration from traditional Guanacaste haciendas, combining natural materials, local craftsmanship, and contemporary design.
The result is a property that feels both sophisticated and connected to Costa Rica.
Beautifully designed spaces unfold throughout the resort, from a suspension bridge crossing the forest to a treetop cocktail bar where guests can take in the sunset. A funicular connects the upper resort to Niri Beach Club, adding another memorable element to the experience.
With 107 ocean-facing rooms and suites, luxury treetop tents, and a collection of private residences, accommodations are designed around space, privacy, and the surrounding views.
Service is equally personal. Nekajui's dedicated Manzu hosts help coordinate individual preferences, dining experiences, and activities throughout each stay.
Its exceptional setting and highly personalized approach to hospitality earned Nekajui Three MICHELIN Keys in 2026, the MICHELIN Guide's highest hotel distinction.
For sophisticated travelers who appreciate architectural beauty, privacy, and experiences that feel carefully curated, Nekajui offers a compelling reason to visit this part of Costa Rica.
The Beach Experience: Two Different Ways to Enjoy the Pacific
One of the most noticeable differences between these resorts is how guests experience the beach.
At Four Seasons, beach living is central to the experience.
The resort sits between Playa Blanca and Playa Virador, offering two distinct settings.
Playa Blanca is perfect for guests who enjoy an active day by the water, with opportunities for kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling. Playa Virador offers a more relaxed atmosphere, complete with beautiful sunset views and the sophisticated Virador Beach Club.
The beach club's adults-only infinity pool, private cabanas, and Mediterranean-inspired dining make it an especially appealing spot for couples.
At Nekajui, the beach experience feels more secluded.
The resort sits high above Playa Pochote, with access to Niri Beach Club via a funicular. Here, guests can enjoy oceanfront dining, relaxed afternoons by the water, and a setting surrounded by tropical forest.
Nekajui's dramatic elevation also means that ocean views become part of the experience throughout the resort, from its infinity pools to its terraces and restaurants.
The distinction is simple: Four Seasons is particularly appealing for travelers who love spending their days moving between the beach and pool, while Nekajui places greater emphasis on privacy, scenery, and a more intimate coastal atmosphere.
Accommodations: Beautiful Suites or a Private Sanctuary?
Both resorts offer exceptional accommodations, but the style of the stay is quite different.
At Four Seasons, guests can choose from spacious rooms, one-bedroom suites, multi-bedroom villas, and private residences.
The Canopy Plunge Pool Suites are particularly appealing for couples looking for additional privacy, while larger villas and residences provide the space families need to comfortably stay together.
At Nekajui, accommodations are one of the resort's greatest highlights.
The Ocean Reserve Suites feature private terraces and plunge pools, while the distinctive treetop tents offer an experience surrounded by nature without sacrificing comfort.
For families and groups, Nekajui's multi-bedroom suites, villas, and private residences create a more residential atmosphere, complete with generous indoor-outdoor living spaces and, in select categories, private pools.
For travelers celebrating a honeymoon or anniversary, Nekajui's suites and treetop accommodations are especially memorable. For multigenerational families, both resorts offer beautiful residential options worth considering.
Dining and Wellness
Exceptional dining and wellness experiences are essential parts of both properties, but each approaches them in its own way.
Dining at Four Seasons
Four Seasons offers an inviting mix of relaxed and refined dining experiences.
Bahia celebrates locally sourced ingredients through its wood-fired kitchen, while Pesce offers elegant Italian cuisine with panoramic ocean views.
Virador Beach Club is a highlight for long lunches by the ocean, with Mediterranean and Levantine-inspired dishes, fresh seafood, and a beautiful beachfront setting.
It's a dining experience designed around variety, with options for everything from casual family meals to romantic evenings.
Dining at Nekajui
Nekajui takes a more distinctive, culinary-focused approach.
At Puna, Chef Diego Muñoz's creative direction brings together Peruvian flavors and Costa Rican ingredients. Paruro offers an intimate Asian-Peruvian omakase experience, while Café Rincón celebrates Costa Rica's coffee and cacao traditions.
For sunset cocktails, Ámbar is particularly special. Set among the treetops, it offers one of the property's most memorable settings. For something more intimate, there's Cooper's, a hidden speakeasy, where inventive cocktails featuring Costa Rican ingredients make for a memorable evening (it was a highlight for the team during their visit).
Wellness at Both Resorts
Four Seasons features an extensive spa and a dedicated Wellness Shala, where guests can enjoy yoga, meditation, sound healing, and other wellness experiences inspired by the surrounding landscape.
At Nekajui, Naku Wellness & Spa is a destination in itself. Its hydrotherapy circuit, ocean-facing treatment villas, and treatments inspired by Costa Rican botanicals and traditions make wellness a central part of the experience.
For travelers planning a vacation focused on rest, relaxation, and wellness, Nekajui has a particularly strong appeal. Four Seasons, meanwhile, is an excellent choice for guests who enjoy balancing spa time with outdoor adventures and beach activities.
Which Resort Is Better for Families?
Both properties welcome families and offer wonderful ways for different generations to experience Costa Rica together.
However, Four Seasons has a particular advantage for families who appreciate a wide range of activities and a lively resort atmosphere.
Kids For All Seasons provides supervised activities for children ages 4–12, while the Tuanis Teen Center offers a dedicated space for older children and teenagers.
Families can also enjoy the resort's beaches, swimming pools, water sports, and organized activities.
Nekajui offers its own family experience through Camp Nekajui, designed for children ages 4–12, with creative activities and nature-focused programming.
Both properties also benefit from access to Peninsula Papagayo's broader recreational offerings, including Papagayo Park, golf, tennis, pickleball, and outdoor adventures.
For families seeking the ease of a traditional luxury resort vacation, Four Seasons is an excellent starting point. For those who prioritize privacy, spacious accommodations, and a more intimate setting, Nekajui is equally worth considering.
The KJ Travel Take: Which Luxury Resort Is the Right Choice?
The beauty of Peninsula Papagayo is that travelers don't have to choose between extraordinary natural surroundings and sophisticated hospitality. Both Four Seasons and Nekajui deliver that combination beautifully.
Four Seasons is about having it all within easy reach. Beautiful beaches, thoughtful service, family activities, excellent dining, and the freedom to create a different kind of day whenever the mood strikes.
Nekajui is about the experience of the place itself. Dramatic architecture, spectacular ocean views, intimate dining, and spaces designed to help guests slow down and appreciate their surroundings.
For luxury travelers, the right choice ultimately comes down to the details: the preferred atmosphere, the type of accommodation, the activities that matter most, and how the vacation should feel.
That's where thoughtful travel planning makes the difference.
A KJ Travel advisor can help match each traveler to the right resort, identify the best accommodation options, and arrange the experiences that make a stay in Costa Rica truly memorable.
Ready to discover Costa Rica? Connect with a KJ Travel advisor to start planning a personalized luxury escape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Four Seasons or Nekajui in Costa Rica?
Both are exceptional luxury resorts on Peninsula Papagayo, but they offer different experiences. Four Seasons is ideal for travelers seeking beautiful beaches, a wide variety of activities, and the ease of a full-service resort. Nekajui is particularly appealing to travelers who prioritize privacy, architectural design, personalized service, and a more intimate atmosphere.
Are Four Seasons and Nekajui located near each other?
Yes. Both resorts are located within Peninsula Papagayo, a 1,400-acre luxury resort community in Guanacaste on Costa Rica's northern Pacific coast. They share access to the region's beautiful natural surroundings and many of the peninsula's recreational experiences.
Which Costa Rica resort is better for a honeymoon?
Nekajui is a particularly appealing choice for honeymooners thanks to its secluded atmosphere, beautiful ocean-facing suites, private plunge-pool accommodations, and sophisticated dining and wellness experiences. Four Seasons is also an excellent romantic option, especially for couples who enjoy beach days, water sports, and a wider range of resort activities.
Is Nekajui suitable for families with children?
Yes. Nekajui welcomes families and offers Camp Nekajui for children ages 4–12, along with spacious suites and multi-bedroom residences. Four Seasons offers more extensive age-specific programming, including a teen center, making it particularly appealing for families with children of different ages.
Do both Four Seasons and Nekajui offer private villas?
Yes. Both properties offer luxury private residences and multi-bedroom accommodations, making them excellent options for multigenerational families, groups of friends, and milestone celebrations. Specific layouts, private pools, views, and services vary by accommodation.