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When Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, opened on Costa Rica's Peninsula Papagayo last year, it quickly became inextricable from the tropical hillside it calls home. The property's 107 rooms and suites (and 36 residences) emerge organically from among the tropical forest, where howler monkeys' cries hang in the air and guests travel through the treetops by a suspended bridge. With views of the Pacific Ocean and access to abundant wildlife, Nekajui is a Venn diagram of the natural bounty and diverse beauty that has long drawn travelers to the country's northwestern coastline.
Other hospitality brands have followed suit, turning the larger Peninsula Papagayo area and Playa Penca, just across the bay, into a bona fide luxury enclave. The Waldorf Astoria arrived on Playa Penca (a brand first in Costa Rica) last April with a multitiered pool and cenote-inspired spa. An ambitious 50-acre St. Regis property is set to open nearby with multiple pools and, in addition to guest rooms and suites, private residences including the $30 million Astor mansion.
No other luxury hotels will crowd Peninsula Papagayo, though—part of a ruling by the Costa Rica government to protect 70 percent of the peninsula's dry tropical forest. Since the Four Seasons Resort arrived there in 2004, Papagayo has evolved into a 1,400-acre community of hotels and residences that is managed like a golf club but feels like a jungle utopia. Kids enjoy science class in the trees and phys ed on surfboards, while their parents play on a native-grass golf course and reset at Papagayo Park, a $26 million, 23-acre wellness and recreation hub. “We basically live in a playground,” says Dale N. Smith, director of sales and marketing for Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort, which was a trailblazer when it opened in 2013.
For it to remain a jungle utopia, Papagayo has embarked on an award-winning rewilding and community uplift program by working with local NGOs to expand wildlife corridors and collaborating with locals to achieve a zero-waste infrastructure. Plus, existing hotels have to offer free transportation for guests, meaning they can access Costa Rica's offerings beyond the resort pool—and help it flourish.
This article appeared in the April 2026 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here.
Facts Only
Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, opened on Costa Rica's Peninsula Papagayo in 2025 with 107 rooms and suites, plus 36 residences.
The property is located in a tropical forest with howler monkeys and features a suspended bridge through the treetops.
The Waldorf Astoria opened on Playa Penca in April 2025, marking the brand's first presence in Costa Rica.
A St. Regis property is planned nearby, spanning 50 acres with multiple pools and private residences, including a $30 million mansion.
The Costa Rican government protects 70% of Peninsula Papagayo's dry tropical forest, limiting further luxury hotel development.
The Four Seasons Resort opened in the area in 2004, followed by the Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort in 2013.
Peninsula Papagayo operates as a 1,400-acre managed community with hotels, residences, and recreational facilities.
The area includes a $26 million wellness and recreation hub called Papagayo Park.
Hotels collaborate with local NGOs on rewilding programs and zero-waste infrastructure.
Existing hotels provide free transportation for guests to explore beyond the resorts.
The region offers educational activities for children, such as science classes in the trees and surfboard physical education.
The Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort was a trailblazer in the area when it opened in 2013.
Executive Summary
Full Take
The narrative presents Peninsula Papagayo as a harmonious blend of luxury and sustainability, where high-end hospitality coexists with environmental stewardship. At its strongest, this framing highlights a model where economic development aligns with ecological preservation, supported by government regulations and corporate-NGO partnerships. The emphasis on rewilding, zero-waste initiatives, and community engagement suggests a progressive approach to tourism, one that prioritizes long-term viability over short-term exploitation.
However, the pattern scan reveals potential elements of **ARC-0024 Ambiguity** and **ARC-0043 Motte-and-Bailey**. The "jungle utopia" descriptor romanticizes the development, potentially obscuring the trade-offs inherent in luxury tourism—such as resource consumption, displacement of local communities, or the commodification of nature. The claim that "no other luxury hotels will crowd" the peninsula, while technically true due to government restrictions, frames exclusivity as a virtue without interrogating who benefits most from such policies. The focus on high-end residences (e.g., a $30 million mansion) and elite amenities risks normalizing inequality under the guise of sustainability.
Rooted in the paradigm of "eco-luxury," this narrative assumes that affluence and environmentalism are compatible, a perspective that often overlooks systemic inequities. Historically, such developments have reinforced colonial-era patterns of extracting value from "pristine" landscapes while limiting access to wealthy outsiders. The second-order implications include potential gentrification of nearby areas, increased pressure on local ecosystems despite conservation efforts, and the risk of greenwashing—where sustainability claims mask deeper contradictions.
Bridge questions: How do local communities, beyond those employed by the resorts, perceive this development? What metrics are used to measure the success of rewilding and zero-waste programs, and who audits them? Would the narrative shift if framed through the lens of land rights or economic disparity rather than luxury travel?
Counterstrike scan: A coordinated influence campaign might amplify the "sustainable luxury" angle to attract high-net-worth investors while downplaying critiques of elitism or environmental impact. The actual content aligns partially with this playbook by emphasizing exclusivity and eco-credentials but lacks overt manipulation. The absence of critical voices or data on local benefits keeps it within the bounds of promotional journalism rather than propaganda.