Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

With more training of staff, this place would be a one-of-a-kind vacation site. For the price, it needs that. The butler service was a bit unpredictable, with several errors, some not terribly consequential, that he made up with accommodating any of our plan changes. The culmination was the butler error at our departure: our flight time got confused with hotel departure time. Luckily, a really nice and competent bellboy successfully scrambled at 6 am to find us transportation. Housekeeping is patchy (some nights were rushed: no refill of bottled water , dirty towel left in bathtub, some days used the excuse they saw we were in room and never attempted to return or ask, etc). However, a sweet young housekeeper almost made up for that by feeling sorry for my daughter getting food poisoning and giving my daughter chewing gum, a sweet note and makeup remover. My daughter getting ill from the food in the middle of trip was a disappointment (she thinks it was the tuna tartare at pool restaurant). The positives: Some of the staff is deeply warm. It has been a while, so names have erased out of my memory ( Adriana greeted us joyfully at arrival, Xavier at Puna was delightful, one breakfast server was always attentive and genuine, Adrian -the naturalist- was professional, calm and knowledgeable, a pleasure to be with during several activities. The Puna chef gave us a glimpse of his professionalism during a cooking class -I think he made a ceviche. ) The location and the design of grounds are spectacular. The suspended tree house bar felt special and the bartender was very jovial and welcoming. Hearing the howler monkeys during the night right at the window and seeing them up close was special. Couple of tips:: I would skip the balcony plunge as we got startled and rushed out of it when a gang of aggressive capuchin monkeys stormed our balcony. Priceless encounter, but the water became off limits as they dipped in it and we read they carry many diseases. We visited with family for 1 week in April at end of dry season. I would visit when grounds are more lush (heard that even 2 weeks into May everything would be verdant). In short: A memorable trip that can be perfect with more staff training and attention to detail.

I have to say that Nekajui, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is one of the best properties I have ever stayed at. From the moment we arrived until the day we left, the experience just kept getting better and better. What makes Nekajui truly special is that it doesn’t feel like a hotel at all. The arrival experience immediately sets the tone. Rather than checking into a traditional hotel lobby, we were welcomed into their historic casita, where we were introduced to the property’s history, culture, and design philosophy. We were given a tour of the grounds and learned about the significance of the casita and the surrounding property before ever reaching the concierge for check-in. It felt much more personal and immersive than a standard hotel arrival and made us feel connected to the destination from the very beginning. The attention to detail at this resort is unmatched. Every staff member is exceptionally well-trained, genuinely kind, and always willing to help. What impressed me most was how seamlessly they communicated with one another, ensuring every aspect of our stay felt effortless. Our Manzu, Johan, was absolutely incredible. He was attentive, thoughtful, and always available when we needed assistance. He handled all of our dinner reservations, including reservations at the Andaz. (Definitely try Chao Pescao!) My wife was still pumping breast milk for our infant during our stay, and Johan arranged for staff to retrieve and store it in the freezer every day. He also helped make my wife’s birthday truly unforgettable. On our first morning at Puna, Ingrid, one of the supervisors, stopped by our table to introduce herself and welcome us to the resort. To our surprise, she even graciously comped our breakfast. It was such a thoughtful gesture that perfectly reflected the level of hospitality throughout the property. What stood out most was how the entire staff recognized us by name. One evening at Niri Beach Club, I mentioned a soursop drink that I had enjoyed at another bar on the property. Although it wasn’t available there, the team went out of their way to make one for me anyway. That level of service was consistent throughout our stay. I typically don’t remember many staff names after a vacation, but the service here was so exceptional that several people stood out. Hector at Niri was especially friendly and welcoming, and every waiter and server we encountered was fantastic. I would also like to mention how incredible our room was. From the bidet—something that many luxury resorts in North America still don’t offer—to the private outdoor plunge pool and beautiful soaking bathtub, every detail elevated the experience. We found ourselves using both the plunge pool and bathtub every single day. The room was spacious, thoughtfully designed, and felt like a true sanctuary. As parents, this trip was a rare opportunity to enjoy a true getaway, and our room became the perfect place to relax, recharge, and reconnect away from the daily responsibilities of raising kids. As for the resort itself, it is absolutely stunning. It is one of the most beautiful Ritz-Carlton properties I have ever visited, and I would compare it to the Ritz-Carlton Maldives. From the iconic bridge to the spa, every detail felt thoughtfully designed and flawlessly executed. For anyone considering the resorts in this area, Nekajui is in a league of its own. We also stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, and despite being in a similar price range, the difference was night and day. Nekajui delivered a level of service, personalization, and overall experience that far exceeded our expectations. This is a truly special property, and we cannot wait to return. 5/5 stars.

Our stay was truly unforgettable and easily one of our top travel experiences we’ve ever had. If you’re looking for the perfect combination of luxury resort, breathtaking beach, and lush rainforest, this is it. The rooms are absolutely stunning, with incredible ocean views and thoughtful attention to every detail. The food was spectacular, creative, high-quality, and consistently outstanding. The beach is on the smaller side, but it’s beautiful, and the black sand only adds to its charm. Be sure to enjoy the monkeys on property, they were such a fun and memorable part of the experience! There are great activities to do, from enjoying walks on the hanging bridge, a variety of scheduled events , and beautiful pools (you can even use the spa pool) to the funicular that takes you down to the beach and Niri Beach Club. And speaking of Niri, run, don’t walk, for the paella and steak! Both were exceptional. The service was top-tier from start to finish. Having a dedicated Manzu to assist throughout our stay elevated the experience even further. A special thank you to Daniel, our Manzu, Michael and Christina at the adult pool, Javier and Hanz at Niri Beach Club, the wonderful servers at Puna for breakfast and dinner, bellman, and housekeeping, so many others who made us feel genuinely cared for during our staff. You also have convenient shuttle access to the Four Seasons, which was a fantastic bonus. However, you will find yourself wanting to come back to Nekajui! Thank you for making our anniversary celebration so special. We left with incredible memories and are already looking forward to returning!

What a property and area. For our 15th wedding anniversary, my wife and I took a week long trip to the Peninsula. We travel often, and usually in a very high quality way. We were blown away by this resort. The staff was amazing and helpful. The spaciousness and cleanliness was top notch. The food was amazing. A very quiet, but expansive resort. The spa services were excellent, and the overall attention to detail of the concierge could not have been better. We rarely visit a single place multiple times (we love to explore), but will certainly be back here again

We chose the new Ritz Carlton Reserve Nekajui to celebrate friend’s birthday and it was a perfect choice in many ways! The resort’s location on the peninsula Papagayo couldn’t be any better, with spectacular water views and sunsets to match. We were upgraded to Ocean Panorama room (thanks to Bonvoy status) which was very spacious, comfortable and well furnished. The balcony had a plunge pool and an outdoor shower. No detail was overlooked. These are true 5-star accommodations! All hotel’s restaurants were fantastic. Try the omakase counter at Paruro. It’s not an omakase in a sushi kind of way, but rather a brilliantly executed tasting menu with wine pairing. Every dish we had was better than the other. A very special feature of this resort is that a butler-style “Manzu” is assigned to every room upon arrival and this person manages all of your requests/questions via WhatsApp. Our Manzu, Hansel, was a miracle worker. He was always there when we needed him and always managed to arrange everything to our complete satisfaction. It is this kind of personalized service that sets this Ritz Carlton Reserve apart. Likewise, every person from the bellman to a waiter - was incredibly nice and welcoming. In summary, this is a superb Ritz Carlton Reserve property. You don’t really need to leave the resort unless you are renting a boat which I highly recommend as well. We look forward to returning!