Costa Rica's most exclusive address — gated resort residences and oceanfront estates beside the Four Seasons and Andaz.
The Papagayo Peninsula is the Beverly Hills of Costa Rica — roughly 1,400 fiercely private acres holding the country's finest resorts and its most valuable real estate. Wrapped by the calm, protected waters of the Gulf of Papagayo on one side and Culebra Bay on the other, it is prized for three things at once: world-class hospitality, genuine privacy, and a setting kept deliberately wild, with the great majority of the land held in permanent protection. It is also the closest of Guanacaste's luxury destinations to Liberia's international airport — you can step off a direct flight from North America and be at your door in well under an hour.
Few places in the Americas concentrate this much hospitality in one protected setting. The Four Seasons Resort is the crown jewel — widely considered the finest resort in Costa Rica, and a byword for discretion and celebrity privacy. The Andaz Costa Rica (Hyatt) and the new Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve — the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Americas — complete a roster of hotels that almost no destination anywhere can match. At the water, Marina Papagayo is Costa Rica's premier luxury marina, with 180 slips and the capacity to berth 250-foot megayachts, plus concierge, provisioning, and fueling. Days here run to deep-sea fishing, diving, surfing at Witch's Rock, and yacht cruises around the gulf. On land, the Arnold Palmer Signature Ocean Course — 18 holes, par 72, draped across 125 acres of dry-tropical forest and sea cliffs — ranks among the best courses outside the U.S. And with 31 beaches along roughly 15 miles of coastline, much of it protected, the natural setting is the real luxury. The peninsula guards its perimeter closely, admitting no one without authorization, while Costa Rican law keeps the beaches themselves public, reached by visitor shuttle.
Ownership here generally means a fully serviced, branded residence or a custom oceanfront estate, in one of a small number of exclusive enclaves:
Four Seasons Private Residences, Prieta Bay: The peninsula's flagship address — a limited collection of estate homes and villas above Prieta Beach, fully serviced and managed by Four Seasons in perpetuity.
Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residences: The peninsula's newest ultra-luxury enclave (opened 2025), with 36 branded private residences attached to the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Americas — panoramic, ocean-facing, and deeply private.
Andaz Residences: Hyatt-branded residences tied to the Andaz resort near the marina, in a livelier, design-forward setting — with a second oceanfront Andaz Residences neighborhood of 35 new homes announced for the peninsula.
Bahías: A collection of 13 four- and five-bedroom villas designed by renowned architect Antoine Predock, each with a private pool and sweeping bay views.
The Enclaves at Nacascolo Bay: Oceanfront homes by celebrated Costa Rican architect Ronald Zürcher, whose organic architecture tucks each residence among the trees above Nacascolo Bay.
Custom estate sites & resales: Beyond the branded collections, a tightly limited supply of custom homesites and resale homes and villas comes to market — almost always through quiet, relationship-driven channels rather than open listings.
For a feel of what peninsula living actually looks like, watch our video tours of two Papagayo Peninsula homes — Enoki House, a clifftop architect-designed villa with ocean and golf-course views, and Cinco Monos, a luxury peninsula estate:
Peninsula Papagayo sits at the very top of Costa Rica's market. Expect branded residences and oceanfront estates from several million dollars into the $14M+ range for trophy properties — this is the country's most exclusive, and most supply-constrained, address. Inventory is limited and often trades privately, so the best opportunities rarely appear on a public search; confirm current options and figures with your KRAIN agent.
The peninsula is the closest luxury destination to Liberia International Airport (LIR) — roughly 25–30 minutes by car — with direct flights from the US and Canada. That proximity is a genuine differentiator: no long transfer after a travel day, and easy lock-and-leave ownership for part-time residents.
We've led Guanacaste's Gold Coast since 2013, led by an American attorney turned Costa Rica realtor — which matters enormously at this end of the market, where branded-residence rules, HOA and service agreements, concession-versus-titled questions, and private off-market transactions all demand real diligence. We'll make sure you understand exactly what you're buying, where, and on what terms before you commit. We're affiliated with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, Luxury Portfolio International, and Mayfair International Realty.
The peninsula sits on the Gulf of Papagayo in northern Guanacaste, about 25–30 minutes from Liberia International Airport (LIR) — the closest luxury coastline to the airport, with direct flights from the US and Canada.
The Four Seasons Resort (the crown jewel), the Andaz Costa Rica (Hyatt), and the new Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve — the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Americas.
Yes. Marina Papagayo is Costa Rica's premier luxury marina, with 180 slips and the capacity to dock megayachts up to 250 feet, plus full concierge, provisioning, and fueling services.
Almost entirely fully serviced branded residences (Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Andaz) and custom oceanfront estates in enclaves like Bahías and The Enclaves at Nacascolo Bay. Much of the best inventory trades privately rather than on open listings.
It anchors the very top of Costa Rica's market, with multiple international hotel brands, a championship golf course, the country's only luxury marina, and tightly limited inventory behind gates — fundamentals that have historically supported strong values. Branded residences also carry rental and service programs; ask your KRAIN agent for specifics on any property.
Branded residences and oceanfront estates generally run from several million dollars into the $14M+ range for trophy properties. Inventory is limited and frequently off-market. (Confirm current figures with your KRAIN agent.)
The KRAIN team not only assists clients in purchasing homes in Costa Rica but also helps with anything their clients need to ensure a peaceful transition into Costa Rican life.
