What to Do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica: A Concierge’s Outdoorsy Guide

Nestled on an idyllic isthmus between a pair of crescent beaches, the 120-acre Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica, is pure heaven. “It’s a place where luxury meets nature and relaxation, with community and sustainability,” says Dylan Vasquez Mora of the destination, which is part of the 1,400-acre Peninsula Papagayo, where 70 percent of the land is protected. Six years ago, he moved from his hometown in the Monteverde cloud forest to be a concierge at the resort (renovated in late 2023) and indulge his passions for scuba diving, trail running, and hiking. Here, he offers his top recommendations in and near the peninsula.

Sun

Cabuyal Beach: “About 45 minutes north [of the resort], near the protected area of Santa Rosa National Park, Cabuyal Beach is nothing but nature, with incredible, stunning sunsets all year long. I’ve seen baby turtles coming out of the sand and going to the ocean, which is magical.” 

Scuba

Papagayo Explorers: “We have two coral restoration opportunities developed by the Papagayo Explorers alongside the Costa Rican government. One is sponsoring a coral structure for a year. Guests learn about the corals and how to reproduce and reforest them; then you plant the corals in the metal structure and get in a boat to snorkel or dive while the instructor plants [it] at the bottom of the ocean. The other option is coral gardening, in which a guest goes scuba diving to maintain and clean the corals.”  

Catalina Islands “For scuba diving, I love Las Catalinas, where you can see migrating manta rays from December to April. [They] are majestic. Swimming near them is like a trance, a kind of meditation.”  

Hike

The Land of Senses: “This private rainforest reserve on the Atlantic side of Rincón de la Vieja National Park is very raw, very natural. I recommend a guided visit where you can get immersed in the primary rainforest and hike up to three miles while stopping at beautiful light-blue swimming holes. You see wildlife, learn about nature, and, at the end, relax in natural hot springs.” 

Bijagua: “One of the less-explored rainforest spots. The tropical dry forest changes to become greener and denser. It’s very easy to see the world-famous sloths in the trees around the village. And you can see exotic birds, plus howler monkeys.” 

Cruise

Palo Verde National Park: “You can do river cruising around the estuaries that are a shelter for crocodiles, many different reptiles, hundreds of different species of migratory birds, and native birds as well.” 

Hear

Sound Bath: “Our wellness ambassador plays different instruments that are super relaxing in the open-air Wellness Shala at Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica, at the highest point of the property between the ocean and the bay. In the silent moments of the experience, you still listen to the wind and waves, so you are always immersing in the wilderness.” 

Taste

Restaurante Sr. Patacón: “[An] authentic experience in an old-fashioned Costa Rican house in the centre of Liberia town. I recommend the coconut rice and beans, the whole grilled snapper, and definitely the patacónes—double fried smashed plantains—that give the restaurant its name.” 

Nicoya Peninsula: “People [here] have really good longevity, and we take our guests to learn about their practices. It’s the only Blue Zone in the world where coffee is produced, and guests stop by a coffee co-op plantation for a tasting. Coffee has very important value in Costa Rican history.”  

Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

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