Costa Rica Getaway at Andaz Papagayo
I’m going to preface this by saying that we are not normally “resort people” We generally book home rentals through Airbnb or Home Away. We enjoy having the space and the kitchen when we travel with kids. When we traveled to Costa Rica without our kids (a rare occasion indeed) to celebrate out 13th wedding anniversary, we knew we wanted something different, somewhere we wouldn’t have to worry about cleaning up after ourselves or cooking! Somewhere relaxing and luxurious.
The Andaz Papagayo Peninsula was the perfect place for us! From the moment we arrived, everything was taken care of. The staff were some of the friendliest people we’ve ever met.
The Rooms
After checking into the Andaz Papagayo with fresh juice and cold towels, we were whisked away in a golf cart and driven to our room where all guests receive complimentary hats and sandals. The room was absolute perfection, with floor to ceiling windows offering an incredible view of the bay and into the trees where we could see monkeys playing and butterflies flying past. A bed that felt like coming home and a shower that opened up to the jungle really made this room special!
The Nature
Our favorite part about the Andaz Papagayo was that they do their absolute best to harmonize with the surrounding nature. From the natural architecture to the untouched beaches, they have done a fantastic job of preserving the ecosystem surround the resort. Each room is issued a flashlight so you can see along the paths at night because they keep the lighting low as to not disturb the wildlife. You can see capuchin and howler monkeys in the trees everywhere you go and it’s not rare to almost step on an iguana in your path!
The Pools
The only complaint that we had at the Andaz Papagayo was that we didn’t get to see very much of Costa Rica, because we had a hard time leaving! There are family pools and adult pools, all at the perfect temperature, with complementary sunscreen and bug spray for all. You can watch the monkeys play in the trees while you take a dip!
The Kids Club
Even though we came without our kids, we wanted to check out the kids club because we knew we wanted to take the whole family back. They are open every day and have fun and cultural activities for kids of all ages with the sweetest staff!
The Food
The Andaz Papagayo offers 3 delicious options when you’re hungry. All the restaurants are open air, again blending in beautifully with the surroundings. Our favorite, La Ostra, serves a large array of Latin American inspired cuisine where you can try several different varieties of ceviche and even learn to make it yourself. We had a blast learning to make our own and I am now hooked on ceviche!
The breakfasts at the Andaz Papagayo were out of this world! We honestly could have spent an entire day trying everything! All you can eat fruit bar, make your own fresh juice and the best pork belly eggs benedict you’ve ever had in your entire life! I’m tempted to come back ASAP just for those!
The Beaches
The Andaz Papagayo boasts some of the most natural resort beaches in Costa Rica, with two separate beaches at the end of a breathtaking walk through the rainforest. They have left most of the trees on the beach and added a swing, hammocks and comfy chairs with free wifi, not that you’ll need it because you’ll be busy on the free kayaks and paddle boards, or renting a jet ski and riding around the bay.
The Volunteering
Probably the best memories from our trip to Costa Rica were from volunteering with Andaz Papagayo and World of Hyatt and visiting a local school to help them with their end of year celebration. The kids were so sweet and we all left with smiles on our faces and tears in our eyes. It was an experience we’ll never forget.
The Location
The Andaz Papagayo is located on the Papagayo peninsula in the northwest Guanacaste Coast of Costa Rica. This region is a perfect location for wildlife, nature, beautiful water and rainforests and the best part is that even in the rainy season, it doesn’t get as much rain as other parts of Costa Rica. Even though it was really difficult, we did eventually pull ourselves away from Andaz Papagayo! We booked a tour through the resort with Swiss Travel. They set everything up for an all day adventure of horseback riding, tubing and zip lining!
Costa Rica was an absolute dream and just the vacation that we needed to recharge as a couple and the Andaz Papagayo was a huge part of that! We can’t wait to come back with the whole family soon!
We are taking the kids in March… I may have questions on thoughts/logistics!!! Love this review and can’t wait for our own trip.
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