Andaz Costa Rica Resort At Peninsula Papagayo – Reviews – Blog – Luxury Travel Diary

The Andaz lies tucked on the tropical hillside of the Peninsula Papagayo with breathtaking ocean views, which take within the Marina Papagayo beneath and the huge Bay of Culebra.

The gated group of Peninsula Papagayo is dwelling to 3 unique resorts, residences, and a non-public membership, the marina, a number of eating places each within the resorts themselves and a number of other impartial too, the 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course, a nature middle and an journey tour firm.

There’s a stunning relationship between the institutions right here, the motels speak about one another’s eating places, and so they even present complimentary journey wherever on the Peninsula. We liked this. Often while you keep in a resort, you’ll be able to really feel restricted to simply that resort, for those who’re fortunate, possibly a sister resort. Here you’ll be able to discover additional but within the utmost consolation along with your driver delivering and amassing you, pausing solely to level out wildlife on route!

Style & Character

You get your first style of the appeal that’s the Andaz Resort Costa Rica while you pull up outdoors the principle reception. Your consideration is torn between your first glimpse of the ocean and the fabulous vivid purple VW Camper Van that proudly welcomes you.

The ocean view wins however not earlier than you smile on the pure enjoyable of this place. Heading in the direction of the check-in area, tree-lined infinity swimming pools flank your path, and also you attain an epic curved roof-topped open foyer.

They don’t wish to name this reception. Instead, it’s their lounge, and appropriately you’re proven to cozy seating areas, as an alternative of standing at a desk, the place you’ll be able to chill out out of your journey and start to totally take within the panoramic ocean views.

The resort is designed by iconic Costa Rican architect Ronald Zürcher, who’s at present designing a group of luxurious Residences for the resort in addition to an amazing renovation of one of many eating places.

As properly as reflecting the Andaz model and striving for good concord with its environment, the resort makes use of shapes of cocoons and shells in its key buildings. These are then additionally used as motifs and displayed across the resort and on every visitor constructing; nice enjoyable to try to spot all of them!

Conservation and sustainability are vital right here, and that is evident all through the resort. All the water bottles are steel, not plastic, and there are indicators saying to request when you prefer to a turndown service and towels modified to attenuate environmental influence.

They additionally showcase native tradition all through the resort. Much of the art work displayed is proudly domestically produced. We liked the big driftwood sculpture that hangs above the beds, made domestically in Costa Rica. There can be an unlimited multi-colored mural that traces the wall underneath the principle swimming pools. As you descend to the seaside, you’ll be able to’t miss it. It’s so completely Andaz and so completely Costa Rica, too, a sheer delight!

Service & Facilities

You are actually spoilt with methods to fill your time on the Andaz Resort Costa Rica. The greatest resolution first is whether or not to chill out; on certainly one of three seashores, by certainly one of 4 freeform swimming pools (one with a beach-style shallow entrance, one adult-only, and I believe all infinity!), with a wellness therapy on the spa (whereas the children are at Cambi, the children membership after all!) or whether or not to get lively on the health middle, snorkeling, arise paddle boarding, kayaking, play a spherical of golf, a sport of tennis, deep sea fishing, take a surf lesson or discover on an electrical bike! Phew!

At some level in your actions, you’re, little question, going to need to head to the seaside. There are two seashores proper by the resort itself, simply meander down the tropical plant-lined paths and head down the picket walkway, and you’ll arrive on the seashores of Culebra Bay.

The actual deal with, nevertheless, awaits a brief boat trip away. Hop on board, and you’re taken 10 minutes throughout the ocean to the Andaz Beach Club set upon Playa Nacascolo. This pleasant area is the house of all these water sports activities. Under the bushes are set many loungers and day beds. There’s a child’s playpark together with an enormous number of sand toys, and while you’re worn out from all of the exercise, simply recline again on a hammock and catch some rays! The Beach Club has an exquisite chilled vibe and is absolutely staffed, too, so you’re served foods and drinks by your lounger. This can be the house of one of many Andaz eating places, the Beach House.

For an actual spot of leisure, the Onda Spa is a peaceful, stress-free sanctuary. We arrived on the stunning principal spa check-in and have been then slowly led previous a group of luxurious huts set round jungle pathways. Like most issues on the Andaz Costa Rica, the spa is situated to benefit from the views. The very highest level of the resort is an open-air therapy area which might be simply unimaginable to start out the day with morning yoga or wind down with a soothing therapeutic massage.

There are each inside and out of doors therapy rooms, however whichever fits you and your therapy, the ocean view is simply unimaginable and turns into an actual a part of your time right here, including an exquisite pure ingredient to your expertise. The spa has a powerful wellness element, and your therapist takes you thru a journey that begins with choosing an intention to your therapy, a very private method to make your time right here particular and memorable. Our couple’s Sound Healing expertise was a really nurturing time that was soothing and deeply stress-free, a very treasured time collectively, and such a singular method to really feel completely linked to this unimaginable setting.

The service on the Andaz was persistently wonderful, as you’d hope for those who’d stayed at an Andaz earlier than (we love the one in London). The resort has a recent, younger spirit, the colourful décor lifting everybody and producing a way of enjoyable and laughter. Not for a second does this undermine the requirements, although. It’s a 5-star resort, and the effectivity, friendliness, and professionalism are exacting all through.

Rooms

There are 153 spacious rooms (together with 21 suites), and the resort manages to keep up a captivating boutique really feel, maybe partly resulting from its hillside location. Nothing feels too unfold out or far aside. All the rooms have massive furnished balconies, rainfall showers, and floor-to-ceiling home windows.

The traditional amenities and facilities that you’d count on are offered, plus some considerate extras too. There are complimentary his and hers hats and complimentary flip flops in snazzy Andaz colours, and the mini-bar comprises complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. The visitor rooms are all the identical measurement, however every change in class improves your view. I’d completely advocate the Bay View rooms, this view is awe-inspiring, and also you merely want to have the ability to spend as a lot time as potential admiring it!

Our room was beautiful, with pure colours and supplies used all through, however the uplifting burst of shade continued with some fabulous picket lizards on the wall that don’t allow you to overlook that you’re in stunning Costa Rica. The room was open plan in design with the beds at one finish of the room and a intelligent room divider appearing as each your tv stand on one facet, your wardrobe and storage on the opposite, and a eating nook on the far finish.

Our bathe was particular too, totally indoors however with a floor-to-ceiling window with a sliding glass door, which implies in whole privateness, you’ll be able to benefit from the ocean views wanting throughout the balcony when you cleanse. I additionally liked the pebble impact flooring that continues all through the bathe, throughout the sink space, and into the bathroom, utilizing the flooring to separate the toilet zone from the open plan room structure.

We adored our room, and the 2 double-bed layouts labored completely for a household. Upgrading to an Andaz Suite does provide the bonus of a surprising deep soaking tub with a view or a plunge pool, and even higher, each!

The Andaz Suites, in addition to being bigger than the visitor rooms, even have bigger terraces; ensure you go for the View choice to maximise the wow issue of these panoramic ocean views. The Andaz Large Suite provides you extra space nonetheless, and you may hook up with a room, too, so you might have a two-bedroom suite, good for a touring household. There’s additionally a Presidential Suite for the last word luxurious expertise. This is value contemplating for those who’re celebrating a special day or simply need to unfold out and benefit from each minute spent in paradise.

Food & Drink

There are 4 wonderful eating institutions in Andaz Costa Rica. The principal restaurant the place breakfast is served is the Latin American restaurant Rio Bhongo. The positioning of this restaurant is genius. You overlook three of the swimming swimming pools and have gorgeous ocean views too. The breakfast is a really beneficiant cold and hot buffet. They clarify all the things the primary day, however you tour the totally different stations, serving to your self to chilly treats and being served sizzling gadgets whereas they hold you topped up with tea and low. The juice bar and fruit station have been certainly one of my favorites, all the things was so recent, and it was nice enjoyable sampling all of the unique fruits too. My youngsters adored the selection of pastries and breads and the new station had an amazing mixture of traditional and native dishes, which modified somewhat every day so you could possibly all the time strive one thing new. We returned right here for a scrumptious dinner too, the place the lights of the pool and the marina beneath give a relaxed, romantic air when you tuck right into a Latin American feast.

On one other night, we headed to the beautiful Chao Pescao for an amazing combo of tapas and Latin-inspired cocktails. The place had a buzzing ambiance, undoubtedly thanks partly to the wonderful reside music.
We couldn’t go to the seafood-restaurant Ostra throughout our keep as that is the restaurant at present present process a metamorphosis. The idea sounds superb, with a journey via your night method, which strikes you from welcome drinks to reside culinary stations, via to the principle occasion, the place you tuck into the recent seafood delicacies in gorgeous environment. A superb excuse for a return go to at the very least!
Finally, the Beach House is tremendous handy while you’re on the Beach Club and fancy a locally-inspired taco or burger, you might be served proper to your lounger, or there’s a spacious open-air restaurant on the prime of the Beach Club too.

Conclusion

We had an exquisite and really memorable keep on the Andaz Resort Costa Rica. The wonderful amenities have been an enormous a part of that. I’m nonetheless dreaming of bathing of their infinity swimming pools shaded by jicaro bushes and framed by views of the cobalt blue bay.

But the resort is a lot extra than simply the amenities, it’s a gorgeous a part of its atmosphere, and we actually felt this. The wildlife is nurtured and revered, even all the way down to the low lighting within the evenings, in order to not disturb the animals. It’s issues like this and its great staff that make Andaz Costa Rica so very particular.

Note: Benefits supplied right on the time of writing however could also be amended at discretion of the seller. Posts could also be sponsored by the proprietor or model being appraised. All opinions stay our personal & are by no means influenced.