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Most clifftop resorts lead with their view. But at Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve perched above the Pacific on Costa Rica’s Peninsula Papagayo, it’s the artwork that first draws your eye. After passing a towering ceiba tree and stepping into La Casona, the resort’s living room, I find myself lingering in front of Letters and Numbers, a geometric abstract by Costa Rican artist Federico Herrero. It’s the last thing I expected to see in a secluded corner of Guanacaste—especially considering it once hung in the Guggenheim in New York. Here at Nekajui, home to more than 550 works by predominantly Central American artists, surprise-and-delight moments are a curated affair.
The art may nail the first impression, but the sweeping views seal the deal. Step past the 200-year-old hacienda doors of the entrance casita, and Pochote Bay unfurls like an oil painting—Witch’s Rock surf break in the distance, the wild fringes of the Guanacaste Conservation Area, even Nicaragua on a clear day.
Nekajui, which means “lush garden” in the Indigenous Chorotega language, debuted in February 2025 as the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Central America. The 1,400-acre Peninsula Papagayo has been a haven for luxury travelers ever since the Four Seasons opened more than two decades ago, followed by the arrival of Andaz. Completing the trio, Nekajui weaves Costa Rica’s most beloved elements into an intimate five-star escape.
Across the property, local stone and native woods such as mahogany, jatoba, and monkeypod create a rich, earthy ambience. A hanging bridge like those found in the country’s rainforests spans two clifftops, providing a scenic path to the spa and some of the 107 ocean-facing rooms and suites. And because this is Costa Rica, where indoor-outdoor living reigns supreme, three treetop tents designed by Luxury Frontiers offer an even more nature-immersive experience.
Like the other seven Ritz-Carlton Reserves around the world, the service is top-notch, while the atmosphere is akin to staying at your well-traveled friend’s lavish estate. Accommodations range from rooms starting at a spacious 872 square feet to multi-bedroom suites, villas, and residences. Each guest gets their own Manzu (meaning “friend” in Chorotega), who will happily coordinate restaurant or cabana reservations. Terraced pools—one for families and another for adults—cascade down the wooded hillside, while a hot tub jutting out 250 feet above the ocean offers a prime sunset vantage point.
The toughest decision at golden hour is choosing your perch. Few spots rival Ámbar, the treehouse-style bar, where you might share the view with a few capuchin monkeys. After the sun plunges into the ocean, we take our own 60-second descent down to Niri Beach Club via the hotel’s funicular. The oceanside restaurant’s open kitchen fills the air with wood-fired aromas as groups share Iberian-inspired dishes like crispy patatas bravas, roasted cauliflower, and seasonal seafood paella.
“In Costa Rica, everything is microfarmed. That’s part of the culture,” says Lulu Elízaga, Nekajui's executive chef. “The mentality of pura vida translates into only producing as much as you need.”
Costa Rica’s bounty inspired the culinary team to get creative. At Café Rincón, Elízaga swapped the typical acai bowl for a local dragonfruit version that dazzles both in hue and flavor. The cacao creations and pour-over coffees—sourced from seven regions across the country, with some beans roasted on-site—are another highlight.
“We’re not paddling against the current, we’re letting it carry us,” says Elízaga, pouring from a blue ceramic vandola, a traditional brewing device. The same spirit guides Puna, the Peruvian fine-dining restaurant helmed by chef Diego Muñoz, where dishes like scallop tiradito and tuber millefeuille are just as thoughtfully crafted as the pisco sours. Among the resort’s unique cocktails is a dirty martini infused with a distillate of Turrialba goat cheese. Another, named the No. 5, features ylang ylang flowers and fermented guava, evoking Chanel’s iconic scent.
Local botanicals, like essential oils made from the soothing juanilama plant, are also used at Nimbu Spa & Wellness. Set on a cliffside with one of the best views on the property, the 27,000-square-foot sanctuary is anchored by Latin America’s largest hydrotherapy pool, where I spend most of my time. Treehouse-style treatment cabanas overlook the Pacific, and even the cold plunges, hot tubs, steam rooms, and saunas come with a view. With an array of massages, body scrubs, and facials featuring clean beauty brand Ayuna, plus a poolside menu of lighter fare (think salads with chilled proteins and fresh juices), you could happily spend the entire afternoon here.
Those craving more action can book activities through Nekajui’s Explorers outfit. From the women-run surf school, SurfX, to aerial excursions through the 250-acre Palmares Preserve, there’s plenty to keep adrenaline seekers occupied.
While Costa Rica has long been known for its awe-inspiring adventures, it’s the quieter moments that truly define the stay: discovering a hidden cave on a morning walk or pausing to admire Fausto Pacheco’s paintings of idyllic farms, rural houses, and wild forests. In all its sophistication, Nekajui evokes a modern Arcadia—one where nature, culture, and comfort bloom in harmony.