By Shaena Engle

Whether you visit the lush tropical Caribbean Coast or visit the Pacific side with upscale luxurious hotels, Costa Rica offers a variety of vacation options. The following two resorts offer different versions of the country’s “pura vida,” or pure life.

Hotel Aguas Claras, a member of the Cayuga Collection Hotels located in Puerto Viejo on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast has recently opened all-new Deluxe Luxury Bungalows.

Perfect for families, friends, and couples, the upscale tropical resort is housed in Playa Chiquita, a fusion of Afro-Caribbean, Bribri, and Latino cultures along the coast.

The two newly added luxury bungalows feature two large bedrooms both with outdoor individual bathrooms located amidst tropical jungle surroundings. Drawing inspiration from traditional Caribbean houses, the bungalows include a private plunge pool surrounded by lush gardens, open al fresco living area with wooden floors and a table, a fridge and minibar and cozy sitting areas. Inside, bedrooms include ceiling fans and air conditioning, king beds or 2 singles, plush linens, organic robes, and daily housekeeping and turndown service.

Bedrooms include large outdoor showers, big vanities, hair dryers, rain shower heads and organic toiletries.

Guests receive complimentary breakfast including omelets, huevos rancheros, pancakes and other dishes, at the poolside Papaya Restaurant with terrazzo tiles, bright orange and turquoise table accents amidst a pool and the tropical jungle. The restaurant also serves lunch and dinner including tacos, steak, fresh local fish, pasta and traditional Caribbean dishes. Guests can also enjoy dining for lunch and happy hour at the beachside DaLime Club. Dishes include ceviche, quesadillas, nachos, sandwiches, tacos and burgers. 

Guests have access to the semi-private Chiquida Beach for swimming, sunbathing and snorkeling with free beach towels, hammocks, daybeds and large chairs. There is also free use of hotel bikes for an easy ride into town or to nearby restaurants.

A short drive from Hotel Aguas Claras lies the Refugio Nationale Mixto de Vida Silvestre Gandoca Manzanillo Park. Local tour guide Haniel Rodriguez Rojas provides guided hikes throughout the park which include beautiful ocean views and a wide variety of tropical wildlife including sloths, monkeys, birds, lizards and other creatures. The resort can arrange hikes, night walks, ziplining, rafting and other activities for guests.

Hotel Aguas Claras is located 500 meters south of Villas Cribe in the Limon Province of Costa Rica’s Puerto Viejo. To book a stay or for more information, visit https://www.hotelaguasclaras.com/.

The Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo in Costa Rica is Central America’s only Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star resort. The luxurious property offers a wide variety of restaurants, activities, and wellness options for guests of all ages to experience “pura vida” – the “pure life.”

Located within the 1,400-acre Peninsula Papagayo on a hillside between two white sand beaches, the beautiful resort houses 181 suites and private villas as well as estates with up to six bedrooms and private pools.  Upon entry, guests are seated in the spacious pretty open-air lobby for personal check-in, cold towels, and fresh coconut juice.

Guests can stay in Terraza, Brisa, or Cielo room categories with Terraza rooms on the lowest floor and Cielo rooms located on the highest floor featuring stunning views. These rooms are in buildings near the pools and lobby. Other suites with private plunge pools are located throughout the property. 

Rooms feature bamboo, rattan and wood design accents, wood floors, a stunning screened in patio with gorgeous, lush trees and beach views, a large table and tv as well as bathrooms with dual sinks, a large tub and shower.

Guests can enjoy two main pools at the center of the resort. Beaches are located on each side of the lower Blanca pool, offering lots of shaded seating, and the upper Bahia pool. The resort recently added a beautiful new Virador Beach Club housing an adult only infinity pool with single lounges and large cabanas with shaded daybeds and refrigerators. The new pool area is steps from the beach and also offers free sunscreen and a wide variety of food and drinks. There is also a beautiful open-air restaurant offering Mediterranean dishes and gorgeous beach views.

The Blanca beach is close to Culebra Bay and is where most of the resort’s many water activities are centered including kayaking, snorkeling and paddle boarding.

The resort’s wellness offerings are plentiful. The large gym is open 24/7 and has an entire floor of machines and free weights. They also offer bikes, treadmills and more. The expansive 18,000 square food spa and salon offers luxurious treatments and therapies including wraps, scrubs, facials, massages, and nail and hair treatments to rejuvenate, restore and help guests reach their wellness goals. Their outdoor large jacuzzi and cold plunge provide beautiful views of monkey filled trees and the beach below.

Additionally, the Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo has added a stunning new Wellness Shala composed of sustainable bamboo from Columbia. “Shala” is Sanskrit for “home” and the new space offers modern wellness practices with ancestral Costa Rica rituals. The Center is home to a variety of experiences including Rooted Hatha, a traditional yoga; sound healing; meditation and movement classes.

Golfers can enjoy the resort’s 18-hole course and driving range as well as golf lessons. 

The resort offers six dining options including their Anejo crudos and tapas bar, Pesce classic Italian restaurant, Bahia for locally sourced grilled dishes, the elegant Nemare steakhouse, Palapita for Costa Rican street food and the Viradar Beach Club restaurant featuring Eastern Mediterranean flavors.

Also offered are a variety of experiences including demonstrations and coffee, rum, and chocolate classes as well as off-site zip lining, mountain biking, off-roading, bird watching, night and day walks, and wilderness hikes.

The Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo Costa Rica offers an abundance of experiences – from enjoying beautiful beaches to zip lining through tropical rainforests. Guests can experience a variety of wellness rituals, enjoy culinary wonders, and perfect their own “pura vida.”

The Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo Costa Rica is located at Liberia Guanaste 26Km al Norte del Doit, CR-G, Peninsula Papagayo, 05000, Costa Rica. Reservations and more information at 1.800.819.5053 and https://www.fourseasons.com/costarica/.

Shaena Engle is the lifestyle, food and travel editor for Perception Magazine and also writes for the Los Angeles Times, Pasadena Magazine, The Daily Meal, AOL, WeHo Times, The Modern Day Wife and other outlets. She has authored The Best Places to Kiss in Southern California, The Cheap Bastard's Guide to Las Vegas and other travel guides. She writes about travel, food, wellness, lifestyle and entertainment happenings throughout Los Angeles and the world. Follow her for travel and food reviews and tips, news, celebrity interviews and more on Instagram @shaenaengle and @shaenasfoodtravel on TikTok.