Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Treetop tents and plunge pools in the dry forest of Peninsula Papagayo
Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, at the end of Peninsula Papagayo
Nekajui sits at the very end of Peninsula Papagayo in Guanacaste, in tropical dry forest above Playa Pochote with the Pacific in front of it. The name is Chorotega for "lush garden", and the buildings borrow from Guanacaste's sabanero cowboy past. It suits couples who want a pool of their own, and families who want room to spread out without giving up the beach.
Why we choose it
- The treetop tents. Open-air tents with two bedrooms, set up in the canopy with the ocean showing through the trees and a private plunge pool on the deck. Our clients ask about these first.
- A private peninsula. Peninsula Papagayo is a 1,400-acre private destination wrapped in dry forest, so the beach club, the trails and the Arnold Palmer golf course all sit on the same quiet piece of coast.
- Big families fit. Villas of 3 and 4 bedrooms, the largest sleeping up to 10, and Villa Guayacan with 10 bedrooms for a whole family reunion or a wedding.
Rooms and views
The guest rooms all have balconies, from the Reserve rooms with a partial ocean view to the Ocean Vista rooms that face the water straight on. Plunge pool rooms look either into the forest or out to sea.
The Casona and Gran Casona suites look over the ocean. The Ocean Reserve Suite is right on the oceanfront with a terrace, a plunge pool and its own living room. Families can take the 2-bedroom Ocean Vista suite, with bunk beds for the kids.
On the property
There are two outdoor pools, the Infinity Pool and the Terrace Pool, and down on the sand the Niri Beach Club grills Iberian and Costa Rican food (niri means salt in Chorotega). Dinner at Puna is Peruvian cooking with Costa Rican produce under Chef Diego Muñoz. For sunset, go up to Ámbar in the treetops between 4 and 7 pm.
The Naku Wellness & Spa has a hydrothermal circuit with contrast pools, sauna and steam, plus rituals built on cacao, coffee and juanilama, a local herb. There is also tennis, surf lessons, guided nature walks and children's recreation.
Location and getting there
The hotel is at the end of Route 253 in Nacascolo, about 35 km from Liberia airport and 241 km from San José, so fly into Liberia. We arrange a private transfer that meets you at arrivals. Check-in is from 3:00 pm and check-out by 12:00 pm. Read more about the Papagayo beaches, and we will build Nekajui into the beach half of your trip.
Hotels we book in Papagayo
From our own hotel records: stars, themes and amenities. Nothing here is a price.
| Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve | Four Seasons Resort | Andaz Peninsula | Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Spa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Team favourite | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Check availability | See hotel | See hotel | See hotel |
Where it is
Your Costa Rican driver waits at arrivals and stops whenever you like on the way: fruit stands, a sloth in a tree, a bathroom.
If this hotel is full, we would look at
Your Costa Rica, starting in Papagayo
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. A Specialist who lives here checks this hotel and builds the rest around it.