Costa Rica has some stunners to stay at, but from the looks of Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, this may just be the nicest to open in a while. Set on 1,400 acres in the Papagayo Peninsula in completely unspoiled terrain, you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. Because, well, you kind of are.
Accommodation
No marble pillars pretending to be grander than the land. Here, the land calls the shots — and that’s half the fun. Step through Nekajui’s front door and you’ll see it’s not here to outshine the forest — it’s part of it. Rooms and villas don’t pile on glitter — they just open up to the outside like they’ve got nothing to hide. Warm Guanacaste wood underfoot, local stone around your tub, open terraces made for lazy afternoons with a book or a do-nothing nap.
Some rooms and suites come with their own plunge pools, where the water shivers in the breeze. Others stretch toward the sea, so you can nod off to the hush of waves. And then there’s Villa Guayacan for anyone who decides vacation should look a bit more legendary — private gardens, ocean edges, enough space to do cartwheels if that’s your thing. Even the biggest suite feels like it belongs right where it is — no walls fighting off the world outside, just soft edges that welcome it in.
Food + Drink
Nekajui knows food should feel local, laid-back, and best enjoyed with your feet up. Mornings roll out at Café Rincón where the beans tip their hat to the nearby Rincón de la Vieja Volcano — yes, they take their coffee seriously here. Later on, Brisa near the pool is perfect for grazing on small bites, raising a glass of something green and botanical, and letting the afternoon slip away. And when the sun drops behind the canopy, Mirador waits up on the terrace with wide views and easy plates.
If you’d rather swap the pool for sand, drift down to Niri Beach Club — Iberian-style plates, coastal breeze, no shoes required. Puna and Ámbar keep the party going with local catches, Peruvian hints, and open-air cocktails that taste even better when the jungle starts humming for the night. Most of what you eat and drink here never travels far — the farmers, fishers, and fruit trees are close neighbors. Every bite feels like the peninsula passing you a secret.
Wellness
When you’re ready to trade beach sand for steam and calm, Nimbu Spa slides right into the story. Hydrotherapy, a good scrub, a long massage that untangles every stubborn knot. There’s no rush, no fancy temple hush — just cabanas drifting above the ocean and a movement studio for when you feel like bending and stretching again. Maybe you’ll pick a face ritual inspired by local fruit, or a body wrap that smells like the dry forest after rain. Couples can wander in and find quiet corners made for side-by-side treatments that last longer than you planned. Out here, you stop checking the time.
What else?
When your muscles are loose and your mood is soft, the peninsula waits with more surprises. Nekajui lines up guided nature walks that twist through trails thick with birdsong and monkey chatter. Water babies can paddle board or sail where the forest drops into the ocean. Surf lessons, sunset boat rides, days spent scanning the waves for a whale’s tail — pick your pace.
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FAQs
Q: Where is Nekajui, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve located?
A: Nekajui, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve is on Costa Rica’s Peninsula Papagayo.
Q: What is the name of the spa at Nekajui, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve?
A: The spa at Nekajui, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve is called Nimbu Spa.
Q: How many dining spots does Nekajui, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve have?
A: Nekajui, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve offers several dining spots, including Café Rincón, Brisa, Mirador, Niri Beach Club, Puna, and Ámbar.
