Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort, Costa Rica, by Hyatt
The Andaz Papagayo is the rare resort where wildlife is part of the actual guest experience rather than an accidental bonus. White-faced capuchin monkeys roam the grounds boldly enough to investigate your breakfast, howler monkeys announce sunrise from the treetops, and the 1,400-acre Peninsula Papagayo around it is genuine Guanacaste dry forest. The architecture leans into the landscape, the Onda Spa uses local volcanic mud and coffee treatments, and guided nature activities connect guests to the region rather than isolating them from it. For families, the free Cambi Kids Club is a real differentiator, substantive enough that kids ask to go back each day.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +The Cambi Kids Club is free (meals excepted), open daily 8am to 5pm for ages 4 to 11, and earns consistent praise from parents; Tropical Cambi Nights with dinner give parents an evening out
- +Three beaches with very different personalities: Sombrero Oscuro a three-minute walk below the pools, the small white-sand Sombrero Claro near the adult pool, and the wide Nacascolo beach a 10-minute complimentary boat ride away at the Casa de Playa beach club
- +Onda Spa uses local Costa Rican ingredients like volcanic mud, coffee and cocoa, and the late-2025 refresh added a Beauty Bar for manicures, pedicures and hair, plus Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the Dojo
- +Wild capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys and coatis roaming the grounds deliver wildlife encounters most guests were not expecting and absolutely love
- +Snorkel gear, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are complimentary, and the resort's own coral garden off Sombrero Claro is home to a resident sea turtle the staff call Chico
- +WhatsApp-based concierge with near-instant replies is consistently praised for making planning effortless throughout the stay
- +An 18+ adult relaxation pool, reimagined in the recent refresh, gives couples a quiet retreat away from the three family infinity pools
- +Wellness goes well beyond a massage menu: a hydrotherapy dome with cold plunge and steam room, aerial yoga and sound healing in the Mind & Body dome, a 24-hour gym and a functional training deck
Cons
- −This is not an all-inclusive. Rates are room-only, and the optional food and drinks package must be bought for everyone in the room for every night, so total spend runs well above the headline rate
- −Pool towel availability can be a problem during busy periods, with guests arriving to find none left around the pools
- −The resort is spread across hilly terrain with stairs, so there is a lot of walking between rooms, pools and restaurants, and the beaches below the resort are not wheelchair accessible
- −Excursions add up fast once you go beyond the complimentary water sports: canopy tours, rafting, surf lessons, golf and boat trips are all extra
- −Food quality is described as inconsistent across the restaurants, with some meals exceptional and others overpriced for what arrives
- −Nacascolo beach and Casa de Playa are reached by a scheduled boat that runs weather permitting, which is an adventure once but can feel like a hassle if you want to split days between beaches
- −Check-in and check-out have drawn complaints about waits and administrative friction despite the luxury positioning
A refresh unveiled from November 2025 updated the rooms and suites with multi-generational families in mind (sofa beds, larger dining tables, new furnishings), turned Rio Bhongo into Gaio, a trattoria-style Italian restaurant led by Chef Sergio Montoya with a custom pizza oven, added a live-music stage for Latin and Caribbean bands at Chao Pescao, and gave Onda Spa a Beauty Bar. The other restaurants are Ostra for Southeast Asian flavors, Meso at the Casa de Playa beach club and Coffee & Vinyls, with a seasonal pop-up on top. Snorkel gear, kayaks and paddleboards are complimentary, the WhatsApp concierge genuinely works, and three beaches plus three family infinity pools and an adults-only pool mean you rarely spend two days in the same spot. As of March 2026 the resort said work was underway to expand Casa de Playa with a new family pool area, more sunbeds, all-weather dining and an oceanfront bar.
Andaz Papagayo sits in the upper tier of Costa Rica luxury, below the peninsula's Four Seasons on price but a premium product compared with most of Guanacaste. It suits families who want nature without roughing it, couples drawn to wellness and adventure, and Hyatt loyalists who can get real value from World of Hyatt points. Guests who judge a resort mainly on beach quality and food consistency may do better in Mexico or the Caribbean for the same spend, and anyone comparing it with all-inclusives should price in meals. Liberia airport is about 35 minutes away, and the peninsula's Arnold Palmer golf course, tennis and pickleball courts are a short shuttle ride from the resort.
Common Questions
Is the Andaz Papagayo actually all-inclusive or is it room-only?
How good is the Cambi Kids Club and what ages does it serve?
Will we actually see wildlife or is that overstated?
What excursions are worth booking and what's included without extra cost?
How does this compare to other luxury resorts on Peninsula Papagayo?
Restaurants (4)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Italian | Gaio |
| Asian | Ostra |
| Mediterranean & Spanish | Meso |
| Caribbean & local | Chao Pescao |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown.
What's nearby
Marina Papagayo9 min walk · 0.4 mi
More things to do (7)
- Playa Blanca (Papagayo Peninsula) · beach20 min drive · 4.8 mi
- Playa Hermosa · beach60 min drive · 21 mi
- Playa Culebra · beach6 min drive · 1.3 mi
- Playa Nacascolo · beach14 min drive · 3.5 mi
- Playa Virador · beach20 min drive · 4.8 mi
- Playa Iguanita · beach35 min drive · 4.2 mi
- Playa Panamá · beach55 min drive · 18 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Seaweed & sargassum
Costa Rica gets sargassum, typically worst March through August on the Caribbean coast only; the Pacific coast is clear every month.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.7 · 1,215 reviews
“We loved our stay at Andaz Papagayo. The staff went out of their way to make us feel comfortable and welcome. The property is beautiful with stunning views. The restaurants were ALL excellent—which we find is not often the case when we go to a proper...”
“We had a relaxing, fun girls trip to a destination wedding at the Andaz. The staff couldn’t be nice or more friendly. The property is beautiful - we loved the two perched pools with cabanas. Their remote beach was gorgeous by boat. They had four rest...”
“Andaz Papagayo is truly an amazing place, very different from anything we’ve experienced in the Caribbean, and in many ways even better. The vibe here is incredible: relaxed, stylish, and surrounded by the natural beauty of the Papagayo Peninsula. Se...”
