Photo by Christian Horan Photography, courtesy of the Four Seasons. Fourseasons.com
Heat Up the Holidays in Luxury
Words by Ellen Jones
With misty cloud forests, bubbling volcanic hot springs, talcum powder beaches, and more cute sloths than you can shake a banana leaf at, Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Despite its longstanding rep as an exotic escape for backpack-wielding eco-tourists, Costa Rica has quietly raised its game.
This Latin American country is now a haven of eco-luxe adventures. While luxury tourism in Costa Rica is certainly more barefoot than bling, its splendid hotels and wellness retreats blend seamlessly into the country’s stunning natural landscape. With American Airlines flying weekly non-stop from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to San José, you can experience “pura vida” paradise in just over four hours.
Right: Sip in style amongst the beautiful landscape of Costa Rica. Photos courtesy of the Four Seasons. Fourseasons.com
Right: The luxurious Family tent at Nayara Tented Camp. Photos by Brice Ferré, courtesy of Nayara Tented Camp. Nayaratentedcamp.com
Stay
Perched on Papagayo Peninsula, the Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica sprawls from the beachfront up a lushly vegetated hill, offering dazzling ocean and rainforest views. Rooms are contemporary with local touches, many featuring private terraces and dip-worthy plunge pools. There’s a championship golf course, luxury spa, eco-tours, and five restaurants to get stuck into.
If you’re more into nature immersion than chilling at mega-resorts, Nayara Tented Camp is calling your name. Don’t be fooled by the under-canvas connotations: this jungle-located sanctuary does glamping on a stellar scale. State-of-the-art tented rooms with private terraces and infinity pools emerge from the verdant rainforest connecting you to the immediate wilderness. Fine dining and casual options are on the menu at its three restaurants.
For group escapes, Villa Sueno in Escaleras’ lush jungle delivers privacy and modern luxury. The four-bed, eight-person property is essentially a palatial treehouse, complete with an infinity pool, ocean-view terraces for yoga, a full gym, and a barbecue — all surrounded by manicured gardens. Polish off your stay with a private chef and in-villa spa services.
Rejuvenate
Pura Vida, meaning “pure life,” is the essence of Costa Rica living. That is, living life well with a relaxed and carefree attitude. It’s a greeting and expression you’ll hear daily. And what better way to cultivate some much-needed pura vida than by indulging in some self-care rituals?
Reconnect and unwind at Montezuma’s blissful Anamaya Resort. Entirely dedicated to wellness, this boutique retreat resort rests high in the Nicoya Peninsula’s jungle, overlooking the sparkling ocean. Its weekly wellness, detox, and yoga retreats come complete with gourmet organic meals, spa treatments, sunrise yoga, and plenty of hammock time.
A little further north along the Nicoya Peninsula, in the beach town of Nosara, is Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort. Dedicated to holistic healing, this serene refuge offers a program of rejuvenating retreats, or you can book a room with a star-lit shower and enjoy the resort’s daily yoga sessions, surf lessons, and spa treatments at your own slow pace.
Thrill-Seek
Costa Rica isnt just about relaxation its an adrenaline junkies natural playground. Dominated by the iconic Arenal Volcano, a perfectly conical, active stratovolcano, Arenal Volcano National Park is the place for hiking, canopy tours, and ziplining around its diverse ecosystems, from dense tropical forests to lava fields. Strap into AMA Extremes longest and highest line over La Fortuna waterfall and hurtle over canyons, above waterfalls, and through the forest.
Deep-sea fishing off the Pacific coast is a bucket-list activity for water lovers. Towns such as Quepos and Tamarindo are hotspots for anglers looking to reel in marlin, sailfish, or mahi-mahi. Inland fishing in rivers and lakes is equally enticing. Head to Lake Arenal to catch rainbow bass at the foot of the towering Arenal Volcano.
Costa Rica has remarkable river systems the perfect backdrop for rafting thatll turn your knuckles as white as the waters. Most hotspots are in the north-central region, from the legendary Rio Pacuare, with its mixture of rapids and tranquil stretches, to the challenging yet intimate waters of the Rio Tenorio.
Right: Discover the extensive coral reef system of Baha Culebra on Playa Blanca at the Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo. Photos courtesy of the Four Seasons. Fourseasons.com
Immerse
The biodiversity of Costa Ricas landscape is staggering. Home to over half a million species many of which are classified as rare or endangered the country is a living tapestry of wildlife and wonder.
Take a guided canopy tour through the majestic Monteverde Cloud Forest. Situated at an awesome 1,400m elevation, its many suspended walkways connect you to its lofty boughs via misty trails filled with exotic plants, toucans, fluttering blue morpho butterflies, and elusive wildlife like jaguars and ocelots.
Costa Rica is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and has over 200 volcanic formations that trace back over 65 million years. The Rio Celeste in Tenorio Volcano National Park is an absolute must-see natural wonder. Its eye-popping azure waters weave through the rainforest, creating stunning waterfalls and natural hot springs. A 3.7-mile hiking trail threads around this unique geological phenomenon.
Saddling up and hopping on a steed is an incredible way to experience Costa Ricas mesmerizing volcanic terrains and coastal beauty. Whether youre a beginner or a seasoned rider, Pacos Horseback Riding takes you around Arenal Volcanos trails, while Copa de Arbols tour clip-clops you from Drakes Bay through secluded waterfalls to Rio Claros freshwater lagoon.
Explore
Right in the heart of Costa Rica is its capital, San Jos. Colorful, characterful, and pleasingly cosmopolitan, its a vibrant hub where old-world charm meets modern dynamism. Known as Villa Nueva when it was settled in 1736, San Jos developed slowly as a tobacco center in the Spanish colonial era. Today, its an electric metropolis of historic barrios, grand European-style architecture, and bustling mercados.
For a cultural deep dive, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum dazzles with its ancient treasures, while the Museo Nacional offers a crash course in pre-Columbian Costa Rican history. Exquisitely ornate both inside and out, the resplendent The National Theatre of Costa Rica presents everything from classcal concerts to contemporary plys. Even if you dont catch a performance, its worth a guided tour just to gawp in awe at the turn-of-the-century grandeur, all gilded mouldings, and elaborate frescoes.
Mercado Centrals traders have hawked their wares to locals and travelers since 1880. This eclectic and delightfully authentic bazaar is a maze of 200 shops and stalls selling spices, souvenirs, coffee, and traditional crafts. Dubbed the Beverley Hills of Costa Rica, the suburb of Escazu has high-end shopping galore at the Multiplaza mall. Shop Hugo Boss and Ralph Lauren before visiting the magical Mariposario Butterfly Kingdom nearby to walk amongst more than 1,500 exotic butterflies.
Savor
Understandably, modern Costa Rican cuisine is heavily influenced by its former Spanish conquest, but throw in a variety of other cultural imprints, such as Colombian and Afro-Caribbean, and you have a rich melting pot of humble yet hearty flavors. Although you wont find any Michelin-starred restaurants in Costa Rica, it delivers hard on soul-satisfying food.
Dining solely at your resort may be tempting, but venturing out to local eateries will reward you with a traditional taste of Costa Ricas culinary heart. Stop by a local soda for a plate of Gallo Pinto. Meaning spotted rooster, this rice and bean creation is a national treasure served for breakfast with eggs and tortillas on the side. Of course, every eatery (and indeed Tico household) will claim to have the best Gallo Pinto, but La Fortunas Soda Vquez serves some of the most critically revered.
For a more refined take on Latin American flavors, head to Restaurante Silvestre in Jos for chef Santiago Fernndez Benedettos seven-course tasting menu featuring Chira Island shrimp and pickled mussel pate. Marrying local and haute cuisine worlds with panache, Mercedes Noam Kostucki opens up her Guanacaste home to 12 diners for her three-hour, seven-course HiR Fine Dining experience. In the beauty of her garden, you can expect handsomely plated dishes crafted with fresh, local organic produce.