Considering a move to Papagayo, Costa Rica? You have fine taste and are in good company: This remote, environmentally friendly peninsula, located in northwestern Costa Rica, is one of the most luxurious and exclusive destinations in Costa Rica and offers an unparalleled coastal retreat in one of the country’s most peaceful, yet most accessible destinations.
Home to Costa Rica’s most prestigious resorts, including the Four Seasons Costa Rica, the Andaz Costa Rica Resort, and Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Costa Rica, as well as an array of lifestyle amenities – oceanside golf, championship sportfishing, and a world-class marina – this serene spot has long been a draw for travelers seeking the finer side of Costa Rica.
In more recent years, the Papagayo Peninsula (sometimes referred to as the Peninsula de Papagayo, its Spanish name) has become a choice and exclusive destination for its celebrity residents, expats, investors, and retirees who seek high-end residential living paired with luxurious resort amenities.
And if that sounds like your desired lifestyle, then this lifestyle guide may notch you one step closer to your move to Papagayo, Costa Rica.
Papagayo Overview
Papagayo’s 15 miles of coastline and 31+ separate beaches house an incredible array of ecosystems, as well as best-in-class lifestyle amenities and luxury gated communities.
Landscapes: Beaches, Tropical Dry Forest, Tropical Savannah
Location: Peninsula Papagayo (GPS coordinates: 10.629505011493611, -85.67925658358172)
Nearest International Airport: Guanacaste Airport (LIR) – 35 kilometers (23 miles), about 35-45 minutes
Price Range: $100,000+ (land) | $600,000-$5M+ (condos & villas)
Lifestyle: Resort, Luxury & Active Lifestyle Enthusiasts
Gated Communities: Four Seasons Costa Rica (including Terrazas), El Mangroove, The Enclaves at Nacasolo Bay, Nekajui (a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residence), Bahías by Antoine Predock, Andaz Residences, Villas Diria, Rancho Alto, Waldorf Astoria Residences (technically, the Cacique Peninsula)
Standout Amenities: Arnold Palmer Golf Course, Papagayo Marina, Restaurants, Shopping, Recreation & More
The Papagayo Peninsula Lifestyle
A move to Papagayo, Costa Rica is a vote in favor of lifestyle: This remote, tranquil peninsula reigns over the pinnacle of luxury, beachside living, offering unparalleled access both to Costa Rica’s untouched beauty and the best in lifestyle amenities.
It began decades ago, when the Costa Rican government issued a mandate to protect the peninsula from overdevelopment. Today, regulations require that 70% of the peninsula’s land remains protected, thus preserving Papagayo’s wild landscapes, raw beauty, and natural resources.
Not despite of, but rather because of this natural beauty and required protections, Papagayo has grown up and into its luxurious lifestyle. For here, you can live amidst these wild landscapes while also living surrounded by dining and nightlife, shopping and infrastructure, community and recreation, including yachting & boating, sportfishing, swimming, surfing, SUP, kayaking, birding, and wildlife watching.
Part resort, part master-planned community, and part primordial playground, Papagayo is a magical place where golf course meets dry forest, where fine dining may have views to monkeys and sloths, and where superyachts can dock within minutes of uncrowded beaches. Papagayo is truly a special place to call home!
Marina Papagayo
Coordinates: 10° 38′ 29.778″ N / -85° 39′ 19.3998″ W
Phone: (506) 2696-2449
Email: info@peninsulapapagayo.com
Max Draft: 28 ft.
Max LOA: 250 ft.
Highlights: 180 Wet Slips (plans for 350 total), shops, rental suites & private residences, 12 restaurants
Costa Rica’s northernmost marina – located 640 nautical miles from the Panama Canal, about 30 minutes to Liberia International Airport (LIR), and in a naturally protected harbor – Marina Papagayo serves northern Guanacaste (Nicaragua to Playas del Coco) and offers a year-round yachting safe-haven within the luxurious Peninsula Papagayo resort.
This full-service, deep-sea port delivers 180 yacht berths for ships up to 250 feet LOA, with single and 3-phase electrical, gray & blackwater disposal, and wireless Internet. The marina’s amenities are many, extending to everything from mooring assistance and dockside concierge services to onsite provisioning and fuel bunkering. The concierge is also on hand to help arrange car rentals, dining reservations, and activities for captains and crew members.
Marina Papagayo benefits from an ultra-wide, custom-designed floating dock system, which can accommodate a variety of boats, yachts, and watercraft – everything from luxe cruisers and sportfishing vessels, up to schooners and superyachts. And, should you care to stay close to your yacht, the marina also offers an oceanside apartment hotel, with studio, 1-, and 2-bedroom suites.
If you choose to make Marina Papagayo your home port, you’ll likely want to make Peninsula Papagayo your home – or, at least, your home base. Here, you’ll find everything from a championship Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course and miles of hiking and biking trails, to an incredible Beach Club and 1,400 acres of private reserve.
Marina Papagayo also offers bespoke marine management services, for year-round, stress-free yacht ownership. Enjoy your time!
Services & Amenities
✔ 180 fully serviced berths
✔ Single & 3-phase electrical service
✔ Grey & black water disposal
✔ Mooring assistance
✔ 24/7 monitoring
✔ Yacht assist
✔ On-site provisioning
✔ Dockside concierge
The Ocean Course at Peninsula Papagayo (aka the Palmer Signature Course)
Designer: Arnold Palmer
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Yards: up to 6,788
Pro Tip: This widely diverse and geographical course may be too difficult for beginners. Don’t let that stop you, though! The scenery is so spectacular, you won’t mind the occasional bogey.
Note: In late 2021, the Ocean Course at Peninsula Papagayo is now private to community members. Only owners, residents, and guests of the Four Seasons may play the links.
A Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary and ranked as “one of the Top 100 Courses Outside of the United States” by Golf Digest, Peninsula Papagayo’s The Ocean Course, designed by the renowned Arnold Palmer, is a feather in the cap of the already esteemed golf courses in Guanacaste.
Set along the scenic Pacific coast and tucked into the biodiverse Nacascolo Forest, this 18-hole, par-72 championship golf course unfolds over old-growth forests and ancient lava flows, sea cliffs and hilly valleys. Its dramatic elevation changes (note: a golf cart is a necessity) and wide fairways provide a perfect contrast: ever-changing sights (from lush hillsides to 360º ocean views a several holes), sounds (howler monkeys), and scenery (spectacular oceanfront), paired with 18 manicured opportunities to test your skills and finesse your shot.
You’re going to find your own favorite – or favorites, plural, because it’s all beautiful here! – but one of our favorite Ocean Course experiences is Hole 3: Buena Vista, or “Good View,” so named for its striking 360-degree views to the Pacific, forest, and Papagayo’s peninsular cliffs. Even better: Par-4 Buena Vista (357 yards) challenges you to successfully negotiate “Palmer’s Tree” – and the only way is either over or around it.
In addition to tee times (rates unpublished), The Ocean Course at Peninsula Papagayo offers a full range of lessons and clinics, a well-stocked pro shop, and equipment rental. Golf attire required.
Papagayo Gated Communities
A move to Papagayo, Costa Rica means you will most likely live within a luxury gated community or resort community, as these residences comprise the vast majority of available Papagayo real estate.
El Mangroove
Located at Playa Panama, within the exclusive curve of Papagayo Bay, and representing one of Costa Rica’s most exclusive resort communities, the thoughtfully designed and eco-conscious El Mangroove Autograph Collection® Residences are the stunning vision of renowned Costa Rican architect Ronald Zurcher.
Live amongst aged trees and tropical gardens, where each home promises to be “exactly like nothing else.” Here, hospitality reigns over every corner and in every detail, from the community’s ocean-view pool and 24-hour concierge to its two restaurants, spa, fitness center, and other amenities.
And, even with these myriad amenities. El Mangroove Residences is still a place where simple pleasures live at the forefront. Step out onto the seven-mile Gulf of Papagayo for a morning stroll or an evening sunset. Swim in calm Culebra Bay. Plan your ocean adventures.
Four Seasons Private Residences
Perched high on a bluff that borders the tranquil waters of Playa Prieta / Prieta Bay, the Four Seasons offers an unparalleled enclave of luxury, peace, and privacy.
Living here means mesmerizing Pacific views and glorious sunsets, unparalleled connection to nature and insider access to the Four Seasons’ spectacular amenities, which include the Ocean Course at Peninsula Papagayo (one of Golf Digest’s “Top 100 Courses Outside the United States”), three tennis courts, three pickleball courts, an onsite spa, and over a half-dozen dining options, including Costa Rican street food, a tapas bar, an Italian eatery, and beachside service.
The Four Seasons offers just 20 contemporary, private residences (villas, estate homes, and custom residences) designed by renowned architect Ronald Zürcher and set into 17 oceanfront acres. This private community connects to the greater resort, while also offering access to a member-only clubhouse and the uncrowded beaches of Playa Prieta and Playa Virador.
Other Peninsula Papagayo Communities
Peninsula Papagayo is home to small, distinguished communities. Note that many of these communities sell out quickly, even during presale, although they do come up as resale opportunities.
The Enclaves at Nacasolo Bay
Designed by renowned Costa Rican architect Ronald Zürcher, this exclusive collection of 10 contemporary, oceanfront homes celebrates outdoor living, the glories of the Pacific, and tropical modern design. Starting under $7 million.
Nekajui
A Ritz-Carlton Residence dedicated to ultra-luxury living, these branded villas and estate homes offer extraordinary beauty, handcrafted homes, and uncommon luxuries. Only a handful of residences are still available. Starting under $6 million.
Manzanillo Bay
If you seek a picture-perfect locale to build your dream home, Manzanillo Bay offers the perfect perch: Along a coastal plateau, at the peninsula’s highest elevation – read: ocean breezes and endless views – these custom estate sites (1.25 to 4 acres) are available from under $2 million.
Bahías by Antoine Predock
An exclusive collection of only 13 private family compounds, Bahías offers true architectural wonder, suspended over two bays. Opening early 2024.
Andaz Costa Rica Residences
This brand-new (completion scheduled for 2023) collection of turnkey condominium residences offer experiences and amenities in second homes both managed by Hyatt and offering the quintessential Andaz touch.
>> Inquire About Papagayo Real Estate <<
Considering a Move to Papagayo, Costa Rica?
You have questions, we have answers! Whether you’ve already settled on a move to Papagayo, Costa Rica or are still wondering whether our province (or even Costa Rica) would work for your lifestyle, we’d love to help you explore your options.
For years, we’ve made it our job to help people just like you to make their own successful and dream-fulfilling transition to live in Costa Rica. That’s because we offer honest advice rooted in real, hard-earned expertise. We don’t sugar-coat the truth or side-step the tough stuff. We’re here to share the whole picture – not just the carefully curated, postcard-perfect bits.
We hope you’ll find that the real Costa Rica is still your Costa Rica. Download our founder and broker, Becky Clower’s, free eBook. Reach out on socials. Sign up for updates. And look into our Costa Rica relocation services. Go ahead – try us. Give us a chance to show off our expertise – and wow you with the possibilities! We look forward to it.
