As an Adventure Travel Journalist, This Is My Top Destination of 2024

If it seems like everyone’s high-tailing it to Costa Rica, they are. In February alone, I had one friend spend two months surfing in Nosara and another relish a month working remotely from the languid shorelines of Santa Teresa. Costa Rica isn’t lacking in spoils and very well may be the destination of 2024. In fact, I’m calling it. But there’s one place epitomizing quiet luxury like no other: Papagayo Peninsula. And the place to stay? Four Seasons Costa Rica.

Unlike Positano, which garnered a feverish uptick in tourism a number of summers ago for being charmingly photogenic—spurring shutter-button fatigue from trigger-happy tourists—Papagayo Peninsula caters to adventurers who want to do, not just see.

This part of Costa Rica, studded on the Pacific Coast in Guanacaste, caters to a subset of travelers with rich dichotomies. It allures people who seek nature—raw and resplendent—just as much as they seek an upscale resort experience.

This guide covers the very best of Four Seasons Costa Rica, with a rugged and refined itinerary curated by luxury tour operator Black Tomato.

Travel Booking Service

Once upon a time, you thumbed a travel guide book, earmarking hole-in-the-wall eateries to avoid tourist traps. Today, you might book an entire trip based on an Instagram post you scrolled by. The Men’s Journal ethos promotes intentional travel. And while every trip should bake in spontaneity and happenstance, a thoughtful itinerary is indispensable.

There’s no greater purveyor of bespoke itineraries than Black Tomato. The full-service luxury tour outfitter has a robust rolodex of partners in every stretch of the globe, from Malawi to Montenegro, whether you’re booking a honeymoon, bachelor party, or solo excursion. In addition to curations based off destinations, Black Tomato offers collab trips like James Bond-themed expeditions in Iceland, Morocco, Japan, and Mexico City, as well as chef-curated outings as part of its Tasting Notes series, wherein you can follow a co-curated itinerary of, say, Peru centered around Michelin-starred chef Virgilio Martínez’s favorite gastronomic checkpoints.

For my trip to Costa Rica, Black Tomato considered my penchant for adventure and luxe leisure to procure guides, accommodations, transfers, experiences, and special access to one-of-a-kind activities. When you’re staying at Four Seasons Costa Rica—and dropping a significant amount of cash to do so—you want the assurance you’re in good hands. Black Tomato is as close as it gets to mastery.

Best of all, you can download the Black Tomato app, available for Apple and Android, to get your full itinerary, maps, and local weather right at your fingertips.

Getting Here

Fly into Liberia International Airport and meet your car transfer. Some Four Seasons accommodations include the cost of one round-trip airport transfer, but Black Tomato can arrange both. It’s a 45-minute drive from terminal to the open-air lobby at Four Seasons Costa Rica. If you fly into San José International Airport, you’ll need to catch a 40-minute hopper flight to Liberia.

Where to Stay

Peninsula Papagayo spans 1,400 acres, and while there are a number of hotels to choose from, Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo is the heavy hitter. However, Andaz Costa Rica Resort—located along Culebra Bay, with 153 rooms, a beach house, spa, and four pools—is also an excellent pick. Four Seasons Costa Rica has 182 rooms available across its expansive property, with residences and villas located on more secluded edges of the property (don’t worry, golf carts are always on call to whisk you where you need to go). For an additional charge, you can book a personal attendant, private chef, childcare, personal training, and private bar service.

Private Residences

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There are 15 residences intended for families, larger groups, and those seeking accommodations for weeks or months at a time. Designed by Ronald Zürcher, who favors landscape architecture for its organic, grounding ease, these properties are enmeshed in the surrounding hillside. Casa del Coco, the largest estate home, is a five-bedroom residence capable of housing 14; it features undulating roofs and plenty of glass to bring the outdoors in no matter if you’re enjoying a pre-dinner cocktail on the terrace or soaking in the infinity pool.

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Going all-in on luxury? Casa Las Olas exists in perfect harmony overlooking Prieta Bay. The bi-level compound covers 1.5 acres of private estate. Designed by Jaime Rouillon, it represents the perfect amalgamation of his roots, marrying Costa Rican tradition and the Peruvian desert’s minimalism, all through a postmodern lens. Hallmarks of the property include a recessed courtyard with towering palm trees, an expansive open-air stairway with stucco walls, and a 100-foot-long swimming pool. It’s ideal for family getaways, as it boasts a media room and kids’ room with bunk beds.

Villas

I stayed in the Three-Bedroom Canopy Villa. Everything about this property feels luxurious, but not in a hedonistic way. I rinsed salt water and sweat off sun-baked skin in the adjoining outdoor shower every day as howler monkeys swung from the treetops overhead—to me, the ultimate luxury; sipped coffee from the covered patio overlooking the bay at sunrise; and drank Champagne with friends in the plunge pool at night. With textured cotton robes and Four Seasons' iconic mattress to sink into, you've got all the creature comforts you need.

Rooms

I also stayed a night in a Terraza Room. Yes, this is the kind of destination that makes you say, One more day. Rather than being perched atop the peninsula’s plateau, this is more central on the property with jungle views, like an elevated treehouse. The screened terrace is fully furnished, perfect for kicking your feet up with a book before lolling off to sleep. It's also suspended over the Bahia Pool, so you need not go far.

What to Do

Rincon de la Vieja Local Farm and River Hike (6 hours)

Parts of this excursion is a Black Tomato exclusive and as close to becoming a Costa Rican transplant as it gets. Our day started with a transfer to a local dragonfruit farm in Rincon de la Vieja. The family's grandmother cooked us a traditional breakfast: gallo pinto (rice and beans), maduro (fried sweet plantains), scrambled eggs, sausages, and fresh cheese—all washed down with dragonfruit mimosas.

From here, Black Tomato's local partners split our group into SUVs—with Arturo and and José behind the wheel—and set out to the trailhead of our hike. Javier, Leslie, and Diego were our adventure guides, snapping photos, assisting in putting our harnesses and carabiners together for the via ferrata portion of the descent, and pointing out notable flora and fauna as we journeyed to Aquetzali Waterfall. Stopping here to scramble over rocks and see the rushing water below is a sight itself, but the real adventure is a short distance away.

Our guides found the second waterfall while exploring stretches of the land the family owns. It's been passed from generation to generation for 200 years, yet no one had discovered this "secret" waterfall, until recently. Prepare to get your sneakers wet: You ford a river and navigate across moss-strewn rocks, but it yields a massive waterfall and pool perfect for swimming and jumping off rocks. You can even swim behind the falls as the water thunders down before you.

After, you'll hike back to the start of the trailhead and get transferred to another idyllic spot for a BBQ cookout.

Pura Vista Hike (1 hour)

If you're an early riser, beat the heat and walk the Prieta Beach stairs at Four Seasons Costa Rica. It's a lung- and quad-burner, but a great start to the day.

Golf the Ocean Course at Peninsula Papagayo (3-5 hours)

If you've made it a good way through our list of the 50 best golf courses in America, try your hand at this Arnold Palmer-designed beauty nicknamed the Trail of Giants. The 18-hole, part-72 course has sweeping elevation changes and sightlines over Culebra Bay.

Morning Yoga at Wellness Shala (1 hour)

Up in the trees, you'll find the Wellness Shala, an architectural marvel that yields the greatest vantage point at the resort. Its rippling roof, a nod to Guanacaste's winds, and bamboo posts, reminiscent of trees, is a stunning extension of the surrounding greenery. It plays host to the resort's 2024 Visiting Practitioner Program, wherein masters of their craft offer holistic practices across yoga, crystal healing, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and more. The short-but-steep hike up is worth every step.

Spa Treatment (From 45 min.)

Relish some relaxation time with a deep-tissue bamboo massage, exfoliating foot rub with Costa Rican volcanic sand, or a two-in-one massage and facial using coffee-infused skincare. The spa also gives guests complimentary access to cold plunges and hot tubs if you're a fan of contrast therapy.

Surf Lessons With SurfX (Surf 101: 2.5 hours)

Mosey over to Playa Blanca to meet your SurfX instructor(s), many of which are top-ranked women surfers local to the area. My group worked with Valeria Salustri, five-time standup paddleboard surfing national champion, and Lia Hermosa Diaz, who won bronze in the 2023 Pan American Games and just so happens to be Costa Rica's top longboarder at just 19 years old. They're making headway in the mostly male-dominated sport and make excellent teachers, leading with empathy and patience. Depending on your skill level and conditions, lessons take place at Playa Iguanita, Playa Prieta, Playa Avellanas, or Playa Tamarindo.

Palmares Outpost Adventure (3 hours)

Hot tip if you want to try your hand at mountain biking at Palmares Outpost: Slate it earlier in the week, especially if surfing is on the itinerary. The UV can climb to 14, leading to a monstrous sunburn if you're not re-applying sunscreen often or wearing protective clothing. Palmares Outpost is the spot for action whether you're traveling with kids or want to act like one. UTVing, high-ropes obstacle courses, zip-lining, mountain biking (e-bikes optional), hiking, and birdwatching are all available within the Palmares Conservation Area. This area is rife with wildlife and flora. Costa Rica is famed for being among the most biodiverse places on Earth, inhabiting up to 5 percent of species estimated to exist on the planet. My electric mountain bike guide, Andrés, made sure to point out hawks, as well as howler and white-faced monkeys watching from their posts overhead as we pedaled through the trails.

Sunset Private Yacht Excursion (3.5 hours)

Chartering a catamaran is always a good idea. Our group embarked on a sunset cruise on a 44-foot Helia Catamaran from Playa Blanca. Captain Nafaniel, our cruise director, navigated us around the Peninsula to the surrounding islands while the crew made an impressive variety of cocktails. Once anchors are dropped, you can swim, snorkel, and lounge on a floating mat before taking a spot on the catamaran's trampoline to watch the sun dip below the horizon before beelining back to the resort.

Beach + Pool Clubs

La Playa at Virador Beach Club: This adults-only section is breezy and bohemian, comprising Virador Beach Club Eatery, an Eastern Mediterranean restaurant; the Cabanas; and La Playa, where beachside lounge setups encourage guests to kick back by the Pacific.

Playa Virador: Whether you post up in a cushioned lounger or cabana,Playa Virador encourages being horizontal with a book in hand. Take a dip in the water, order a Hugo spritz—rinse and repeat. The beach menu is everything you desire from a salty, sandy day: My favorites include mahi mahi coconut ceviche and shrimp-mango summer rolls.

The Cabanas: Part of Virador Beach Club, this infinity-edge pool is lined with cabanas overlooking the water—perfect for adults seeking seclusion.

Playa Blanca: This is the beach to go to if you want to try your hand at watersports. Book snorkeling, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, or eFoiling with Surfx.

Blanca Pool: This smaller pool has cabanas looking out over Playa Blanca—perfect for adults seeking seclusion.

Bahia Pool: The resort's kid-friendly pool is expansive and surrounded by sun loungers. It's a full-service operation, where you can hydrate with coconut water or Virador Beach Club's signature non-alcoholic Chia drink—a mix of cucumber and chia seed water with lime, aloe vera, and basil syrup. The fresh tuna poke bowl is also not to be missed.

Where to Eat and Drink

Virador Beach Club Eatery & Lounge

Virador Beach Club feels like a place The Beach Boys dreamed up. Although, unlike Kokomo, it's not a figment of anyone's imagination. The menu has Eastern Mediterranean classics like mezze platters and dolma (grape leaves stuffed with rice and tzatziki), as well as some dishes that highlight local Costa Rican fare like tuna tartare pita.

Al Fogon Sunset Dinner at Club at Prieta Bay

Wood-fired cooking. No shoes. Golden hour. These are the makings of a memorable vacation dinner. Al Fogon Sunset Dinner at Manglar is all barefoot luxury. Wile away the afternoon sipping cocktails until the moon and string lights illuminate your family-style BBQ apread. A live band played while we picked whole fish clean, then dawdled until we could stomach dessert.

La Reserva

While whiskey and tequila have had their time in the sun, if you're a rum fan, rejoice. At Four Seasons Costa Rica, you can embark on a tasting of Latin American rums at La Reserva. The on-site tasting room offers traditional pours, as well as the chance to infuse your own with young rums, plus vanilla sticks, cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, cardamom, anise, coffee beans, and/or cocoa—all under the guidance of a rum master. Word to the wise, try the chocolate rum tasting. You'll sip four different rums and rum infusions alongside chocolate from Henrik Budholdt, a local chocolatier. La Reserva also puts on coffee tastings, wherein you can learn how to make chorreado, Costa Rica's style of pour-over.

Ostra at Andaz

Make the short drive to Andaz. The menu at Ostra is a playful amalgamation of traditional Costa Rican dishes or ingredients with global gastronomic techniques. The ceviche of the day skews tropical with a nod to the Caribbean; pollo Caribeño, a Costa Rican classic, gets a Japanese-style breading; and grilled octopus gets a decidedly Italian twist with pillows of sweet potato gnocchi and pistachio.

Añejo

Añejo keeps Four Seasons Costa Rica pulsing. Pop by for an on-the-go açaí bowl before you hit the surf; grab a tuna roll or spicy crispy beef bowl at lunch; and drop in for late night libations. If you're daring, the coffee-aged Negroni hits all the right marks—as does Zipoh, a perfect night cap featuring Wild Turkey infused with cacao and dehydrated orange, falernum, orange bitters, and chocolate truffle.

Pesce

If you get your fill of crudo and sushi (hard to do, but alas), treat your palate to Pesce. The classic Italian eatery has a strong start with an artisanal bread of your choice (I all but lunged for the tomato focaccia). Whether you're perusing the wine list or opting for a white Negroni, branzino al cartoccio is a highlight. Puntarenas sea bass is baked in parchment paper with capers, olives, tomatoes, and potatoes in white wine and butter that makes a brothy sauce. If you could distill Southern Italy in a bite, this is it. If you're eating with a group, you must get Prosciutto e Melone (2-year-old aged San Daniele prosciutto and cantaloupe) and a pizza for the table (Pizza in Bianco is simply delicious with olive oil, sea salt, and rosemary.