Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica
Photography courtesy Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Jupiter Unlimited
We asked Andrea Arroyo, Chef Concierge at Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, to gather the savviest sightseeing suggestions she could find—not just her own but also those of the local connoisseurs, including some she works with every day at the Resort. Costa Rica offers tremendous biodiversity and many ecotourism, such as zip-lining, river rafting and wildlife viewing.
Explore the Wilds
The original ecotourism destination, Costa Rica is legendary for its natural wonders. Scientists come from all over to study Palo Verde National Park, a rich ecosystem of rivers, marshland, mangroves and the very rare dry tropical forest. (Most of the world’s dry tropical forests are in Guanacaste province.) The park teems with wildlife, including crocodiles, monkeys, iguanas and nearly 300 species of birds. You can see it all from a flat-bottom boat tour. The same distance from the Resort is the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park, offering a 2-mile nature hike through a forest landscape of thermal activity, with bubbling mud pits, steaming sulphur vents and views of a 6,000-foot volcanic peak.
Out and About
The best way to see the forest is often from above, as in a zip-line tour through the canopy. Witch’s Rock Canopy Tour is just a few minutes from the Resort. To view the peninsula from the water, and see aquatic life, hop aboard the Resort’s 47-foot Goombay Catamaran for a sunset cruise on the Gulf of Papagayo. Another adventure tour is to the Canyon at Guachipelin, where you can rappel, climb walls and swing through the jungle, before a horseback ride and a chance to swim beneath a cool waterfall.
If Golf’s Your Game
The Arnold Palmer-designed Four Seasons Golf Club Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo has a whopping 14 holes with breathtaking views over the Pacific Ocean or bay, along with significant elevation changes and a tremendous variety of holes. The signature third hole features a tee box sitting atop a cliff with 360-degree panoramic views of the Pacific. The course also utilizes many eco-friendly practices and has earned Audubon International’s coveted Sanctuary status.
