Pearched on a cliff overlooking the glistening Gulf of Papagayo on Costa Rica’s north Pacific coast sits the new Nekajui (pronounced NEK-ah-wee), a Ritz-Carlton Reserve property.
When it debuted two months ago, this “rare estate set apart from the world” became the eighth Ritz-Carlton Reserve on the globe, as well as the hotel group’s first Reserve property in Central America. It’s the third exclusive resort on Peninsula Papagayo, solidifying said peninsula’s status as one of Central America’s premier luxury destinations.
The 1,400-acre peninsula is in the Área de Conservación Guanacaste, a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. It’s a tropical dry forest teeming with thousands of species of plants and animals, some of which you may see or hear while on the property. There’s about a dozen miles of coastline, with the requisite white-sand beaches as well as hiking and biking trails.
But there’s also a Four Seasons Resort, which opened in 2004, followed nine years later by an Andaz, plus an Arnold Palmer Signature golf course, a marina with 180 berths that can accommodate mega and superyachts up to 250 feet and a host of private residences (including some by notable architects Ronald Zürcher and Antoine Predock). No wonder the peninsula has been described as a destination where “the ultrarich go to avoid having to interact with the regular rich.”
Nekajui was born into wealth, and, with rooms starting at about $2,400 per night, caters to the same (guests arriving via commercial airlines are whisked through customs and immigration through a VIP service provided by the hotel).
All the structures here are built into the cliffside, designed to complement, not compete with, the surrounding environment. The 107 rooms and suites have water views and outdoor space, some have plunge pools and outdoor showers. Two villas — one with four bedrooms, the other with 10 — provide additional privacy for those who require it.
But it’s the treetop tents, designed by Luxury Frontiers and nestled into a more secluded corner of the property, that are at once surprising and incredibly inviting. Luxury Frontiers is known for their quietly stunning tented camps in Africa, and their design of the Nekajui tents evokes the indoor-outdoor accommodations at Safari lodges, down to the canvas and roll-up mesh openings. Their presence adds a sense of intrigue and adventure to an otherwise de rigueur luxury resort.
And in fact, many who come to Costa Rica are seeking adventure, whether of the zip-lining, hiking, canoeing, scuba, snorkeling or surfing variety. It would be a shame to visit this part of the world and not take advantage of the beautiful surroundings. The Explorers, an on-property adventure outfitter, can arrange all of it, whether a paddle through the mangroves or braving the world-class breaks at Witch’s Rock or Ollie’s Point (made famous by the iconic surf documentary “The Endless Summer 2”).
Nekajui is an impressive destination for culinary explorers as well. There are eight dining and drinking options on-property, each with a completely different vibe, design and menu (changing often with Executive Chef Lulu Elizaga’s creative whims and availability of ingredients). At Café Rincón, the coffee obsessed can learn about one of Costa Rica’s most famous exports, taste some exceptional examples that never reach our shores and buy beans to bring home.
A funicular ferries guests down to Niri, the resort’s beach club, with a menu inspired by Spanish and Portuguese cuisine. Both La Casona Bar (in the hotel’s main building) and Ámbar (a gem of a cocktail bar, suspended over the landscape) are ideal spots to take in the sunset, which happens around 6 p.m. all year long.
The property also boasts a 27,000-square-foot spa and wellness center called Nimbu. It meanders over multiple levels and, in addition to expected treatments, offers a retreat within the resort, with an outdoor pool configured with a circuit of massage stations and chaises set to take full advantage of water views (those views are also available from the glass-fronted sauna). The spa has a dedicated menu of healthy dining options, which can be washed down with fresh-pressed juices, smoothies or a glass of bubbly. Its gym offers indoor and outdoor cardio and weights workout stations along with yoga and meditation classes. Best yet, guests can sample Nekajui’s restaurants and spa even if they’re not staying on the property. But we’d recommend checking in.
Rooms from $2,390 at Ritz-Carlton
