US & Canada: 888 829-8246
| UK: 0800 612 8718
| International: +1 920 434-7485
Book Now
 

Costa Rica Luxury Vacation – The Indulgent Adventure of a Lifetime 

Costa Rica Rios luxury vacationRevered as the trailblazer of immersive ecotourism, Costa Rica infuses luxury into its pristine wilderness experiences, resulting in unforgettable indulgent adventures of a lifetime.

Costa Rica may be renowned as the ideal destination for thrill-seeking backpackers. Yet that doesn’t mean luxury is off the cards. Quite the opposite! The most popular destination-wedding country is a luxury travel hub without rivals.

What makes Costa Rica unique is that you can choose upscale accommodation, dining, and activities without compromising on what matters: eco-friendly wilderness experiences.

Why have some of the world’s most prominent celebrities purchased holiday homes in Costa Rica?

Because they know this is where they can unwind and rejuvenate their spirits in blissful privacy. All the while luxuriating in the indulgent comforts they’ve become accustomed to.

This is your best guide to luxury adventure vacations in Costa Rica!

Plan Your Luxury Costa Rica Adventure Vacation Today!

What is the most luxurious destination in Costa Rica?

Papagayo Peninsula

Luxury vacation - Papagayo luxury hotelThe poshest spot in Costa Rica is undoubtedly the Papagayo Peninsula. This corner of paradise comprises a string of sparkling sandy beaches that stretch out in the northwest of the Guanacaste Province. Inland, the wilderness is lush and rugged, ideal for active adventures.

Developed as THE premier luxury destination in all of Central America, the Papagayo is home to the most extensive collection of the most luxurious resorts in the whole country. Not just resorts but also spectacular holiday villas, super yacht marinas, and golf courses. Almost three-quarters of the peninsula is set aside as a protected reserve so that luxury comes nature-immersed.

The Papagayo is the destination of choice for most celebrities, at least those who have not (yet) purchased a holiday home in the country. It is also the poster child for luxury ecotourism in Costa Rica – although the peninsula brims with many upscale resorts, they all adhere to strict sustainable tourism practices. This is, after all, one of the country’s most prominent whale-watching destinations.

Best time to visit Papagayo: The dry season here runs from mid-December until April. The height of tourism will see the peninsula’s best resorts booked out months in advance. There are plenty of luxury options nearby, yet book ahead if you’d love to be in the heart of the indulgent action.

Activities in Papagayo: Humpbacks migrate along the coast of Papagayo from July to March and again in August and September. This is the most extended whale migration season globally and what makes whale-watching catamaran boat trips a must. Nab a seafront luxury resort, and humpbacks could be swimming right past your terrace. Three species of dolphins can be spotted all year long (bottlenose, rough tooth, and spotted), while spinner dolphins (the acrobats of the sea!) strut their stuff in the first three months of the year along the coast of Papagayo.

Watersports are obvious choices on Papagayo, including snorkeling, diving, kayaking, sailing, and swimming. Yet there are plenty of land-based activities too nearby. Enjoy your luxury stay on Papagayo, and you can still enjoy the most popular multi-adventure experiences of all. Canopy tours, whitewater rafting, ziplining, canyoning, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, among many more, are Costa Rica’s most prized calling cards. Missing out on these would be a travesty! Papagayo’s stellar location means you can indeed have it all.

Discover the stellar highlights of Papagayo

Learn more about luxury adventure vacations in Papagayo

Luxury in Costa Rica? It’s everywhere!

Papagayo may be the country’s most luxury-intensive spot, yet all provinces boast upscale lodges, resorts, and locations.

Since adventurous activities are what most people crave on their luxury vacation in Costa Rica, most choose to visit a few areas in one trip. Resort-hopping and exploring various highlights is super easy here. We make it even easier by creating all-inclusive itineraries that take the hassle out of logistics planning and inspire you to create your bespoke plan.

Pure Luxury

Honeymoon luxury vacation - Costa Rica RiosThis popular honeymoon itinerary is ideal if you’d love a mixed itinerary to offer an overview of Costa Rica’s staggering biodiversity. Arenal Volcano, Marino Ballena National Park. Caño Island and Corcovado National Park combine to showcase the country’s eclectic wilderness. From the most to the least accessible reserves, a bevy of wildlife spotting and overnight stays in some of the most indulgent adults-only resorts in the country. Each one offers its unique array of special enticements.

Pure Luxury is an 8-day exciting and romance-filled vacation that embodies Costa Rica’s luxury ecotourism.

Plan Your Luxury Costa Rica Adventure Vacation Today!

Luxury Relaxation Off the Beaten Path

Struggling to find a way to indulge in sumptuous luxury yet keep way off the tourist trail. We can help. Our Luxury Relaxation itinerary is designed to get you to the remotest and most alluring corners of Costa Rica and experience prime luxury in places nestled among pristine nature, well away from tourist crowds. The crazy thing? You need not travel for days to reach your heaven: gorgeous resorts like Hacienda AltaGracia, an eye-popping Auberge Collection property, even have private airstrips.

At AltaGracia, Costa Rica’s newly celebrated luxury hacienda, you can relax all your senses amidst the luscious landscapes flanking the Brunqueña and Talamanca mountains around Perez Zeledon. You’ll feel the rest of the world slip into oblivion, despite being merely 100 miles from the country’s capital. Enjoy a horseback ride and a private cooking class. Soak up the therapeutic effects of Costa Rica’s remote countryside before hitting the beach at Uvita and indulging in a spectacular snorkeling trip to Caño Island.

Luxury Relaxation is a laid-back, relaxing itinerary for those who’d love to include just a couple of activities in their 8-day Costa Rica luxury vacation.

Discover more Off-the-Beaten-Path travel inspiration.

The most luxurious activities to include on Costa Rica adventure vacations

Not everyone wishes to indulge in luxury resorts for the entire duration of their Costa Rica trip. Most prefer to sprinkle an adventure-filled itinerary (one that’s more budget-friendly) with a few indulgent experiences.

Here’s how to do just that!

Book a luxury resort stay to end your trip

Capping off a week of adventures in Costa Rica with an indulgent stay in a luxury resort will intensify your enjoyment of the entire trip, especially if your past week’s itinerary has been hectic. Rest, relax, soak in a thermal spring, and enjoy upscale dining and breathtaking sunset dinners.

There’s no better ‘cherry’ to put on top of that travel cake!

Choose a luxurious destination but stay in a more budget-friendly lodge

The Papagayo is a beautiful place to visit, yet it’s not only the rich and famous who can enjoy it. You’ll find plenty of budget-friendly accommodation options nearby, so you can still indulge in catamaran trips or spend a day luxuriating in a resort spa or hitting the greens. Manzanillo, Panama, and Hermosa beaches boast a smattering of affordable lodges.

Because here’s the thing: to make the most of your stay in an all-inclusive luxury resort, you will want to do all the activities on offer and spend most of your day on the property. Spend less on accommodation, and you won’t feel so guilty taking day trips nearby. Papagayo is stunning indeed, but there are no rain forests, cloud forests, waterfalls, shopping, and nightlife options, so luxuriating (lovely as that is) is pretty much all you can do there.

Plan Your Luxury Costa Rica Adventure Vacation Today!

Buy day passes for luxury Papagayo resorts

Many people get itchy feet when they cast their eyes on Costa Rica (who’d blame them?!), so many opt to stay nearby Papagayo and explore more of Guanacaste, indulging in day passes of luxury resorts on their rest day. Most resorts on the peninsula offer a day pass to hit the pool and live it up for a day, for a fraction of what it would cost to sleep there.

You’re welcome 😊

Choose a remote luxury ecolodge for 2-3 nights

One way to soak up the luxury and the nature of Costa Rica is to head off the beaten path and stay in an indulgent eco-resort for just a couple of days. Being immersed in a virgin rain forest is the best way to ensure you won’t neglect it!

Take the Paloma Lodge or Copa de Arbol in Corcovado, the country’s most remote and bio diverse corner. The latter is only accessible by boat, and both sit within extensive private swaths of pristine rain forests chock-full of fantastic wildlife. Spend two or three nights immersed in Corcovado’s unspoiled wilderness and enjoy incredible gastronomy, activities, and indulgences.

That’s Pura Vida luxury, right there!

Stay in a secluded luxury lodge in a heavily touristed hot-spot

If you are short on time and wish to combine sightseeing with luxurious indulgences, you can opt to do the opposite of the above.

There’s something ultra-special about visiting one of Costa Rica’s most famous highlights (like Arenal, Manuel Antonio, or the Monteverde Cloud Forests) but retreating to an indulgent ecolodge in the afternoon.

You can feel like you’re a million miles away from civilization even if you’re not!

These destinations all offer an array of accommodation options to suit all budgets. What’s great about indulging in luxury this way is that it allows guests to choose what they consider more luxurious. Perhaps a sea-facing terrace for romantic sunset dinners, an oceanside infinity pool, a private thermal spa, abundant wildlife residents, or simply privacy and solitude.

Your trip, your choice, your chosen luxury splurge!

Bespoke adventure vacations – The ULTIMATE Costa Rica Luxury Vacation!

For most visitors, the ultimate Costa Rica luxury vacation is one they need not plan themselves. Pick a few favorite activities, outline your wishes and budget, and voila’, vacation planned.

If you think leaving the logistics of planning a vacation to someone else is THE ultimate luxury (alongside a sleep-in and breakfast in bed, obvs!). A bespoke Costa Rica adventure vacation is for you.

At Costa Rica Rios, we’ve been planning unforgettable adventure vacations in paradise for over 25 years. We are National Geographic Adventure Travel-Award recipients and experienced in designing tailor-made vacations for discerning adventure seekers.

Ready to see what unique experiences this marvelous land has in store for you?

Plan Your Luxury Costa Rica Adventure Vacation Today!

Blog

Categories

 

Our latest

Vacation Offers

Recent Blog Post

Romantic Escapes: Experiencing Costa Rica’s Hanging Bridges with Your Partner

Costa Rica, with its lush rainforests, breathtaking waterfalls, and abundant wildlife, offers a paradise for couples ...
Read More »

Family Rafting Adventures in Costa Rica: Safety and Fun for All Ages

Costa Rica beckons with its verdant rainforests, pristine beaches, and captivating biodiversity, make it an ideal ...
Read More »

Memberships

Best Adventure Travel Companies

Voted one of the Best Adventure Travel Companies(on Earth), by National Geographic Adventure.

Lonely Planet

as recommended by Lonely Planet

Best of Groupon Getaways Costa Rica
ICT Costa Rica