Papagayo Gulf, Costa Rica Travel Guide

Situated in the northwest corner of Guanacaste, the Papagayo Peninsula is a newly developed center of luxury in Costa Rica. This exclusive gated community contains upscale resorts, private residences, a beach club, a golf course, and a marina.

The little inlets and coves that line the emerald green waters of the Pacific make the views here particularly stunning. Additionally, the Papagayo Peninsula and the nearby Bay of Papagayo are less than a 1-hour drive from the Liberia International Airport making it a quick and easy transfer to your hotel and the beach.

While many of Guanacaste’s beaches are coveted by surfers, those on the Gulf of Papagayo are protected, making them great for families with children. All of Costa Rica’s beaches are public, but because the Peninsula is gated the beaches here are more secluded. On Culebra Bay, within the Gulf of Papagayo, is the Marina Papagayo, the first and currently only luxury marina in Costa Rica. Built with an environmentally-conscious blueprint, the little marina blends seamlessly with the vibrant bays and inlets of the gulf.

Compared to other parts of Costa Rica, the climate along the North Pacific Coast is typically hot and dry. Home to vast expanses of tropical dry forests that often line the beaches, this area plays host to an array of animals including many species of sea birds and monkeys. 

From sweeping coastal views to eco-friendly luxury stays, Costa Rica’s Papagayo Peninsula is Central America’s new up-and-coming vacation destination. The small peninsula located in Costa Rica’s northeast Guanacaste region is replete with water activities, rainforest adventures, ziplining excursions, and plenty of charmingly slow sloths. As the region continues to grow, Papagayo remains committed to sustainable excellence and its new low-cost luxury experiences. Here are just a handful of the many reasons to visit the sustainably-committed Papagayo Peninsula.

The 11-mile stretch that curls around the Papagayo Peninsula are a well-maintained and highly secure slice of sustainable opulence. Although the resort-driven hub of Papagayo is home to resorts so luxurious that guests never want to leave, the private peninsula’s newest owner is committed to sustainable development, vowing to “celebrate the native landscape” and “bring more travelers from around the world to discover the peninsula’s 1,400 acres of incredible biodiversity and eco-rich land.” Among the newest developments is the more affordable Planet Hollywood Resort, which provides the same all-inclusive attraction seen in its neighboring resorts at more accessible rates.