Cliff notes for people who just look at pictures: Loved it!
Pics posted are just from my iphone. I have a lot more from my wife's phone and our digital camera. If you want to see anything just ask. Will upload more pics to thread as I get the time.
Now onto the review.
It was about a 2 hr ride from our first hotel, Rio Perdido (30min from Liberia airport). As soon as you enter the peninsula you know you are going to something special. We met the GM, Pascal, during arrival. Had a brief conversation with him and a more detailed talk a few days later. We had booked with our usual Virtuoso agent and there was nothing mentioned at time of checkin-in if any upgrade was available. No worries. We were just happy to be here. The lovely front desk agent told us to enjoy our suite and we got into a golf cart and were escorted to our room. We just figured that “suite” was just normal vocabulary used for a room. When we arrived to our suite, our jaws dropped. We were upgraded to a Canopy 1BR, 2BA suite with plunge pool. You try to “act like you been here before” but it’s just impossible.
The walkway leading to the suite is a great preview of what’s to come. Before you turn right to your main door you glance left and see a table for four, two lounge chairs, and the infinity edge plunge pool. You also have a great view of the Bay. You enter into your living room that has sliding pocket doors and an incredible view. The first full bathroom is to your right. Walk straight and arrive to your bedroom. Another set of pocket doors open up to the same incredible view. The waves from the bay, while not that far away, sound like they are just outside your door. The master bath has 2 sinks (separate from each other), a large soaking tub, a large shower, and of course, a toilet. The bathroom is 24.5 feet long (yes, I did the very accurate way of measuring distance with left foot in front of right and so on). At the far end is a vanity that is apparently a must have for all women. On the opposite side of that is your walk in closet. The suite is 1200 sq ft. This is by far the nicest room we have ever had. Gorgeous fixtures, hardwood floors, marble master bath etc etc. Another nice touch is the Bose 2.1 surround sound in the living room and a Bose Bluetooth speaker in the bedroom that we used every day while getting ready and at night while relaxing on the balcony.
From what we saw we think room 721 was the most private. You can't be seen in the plunge pool by anyone unless your hanging at the very edge. Other suites you can see the balcony when walking by.
View from living room
View from bedroom
First sink
Second sink
Closet
Balcony
Beach/Pools
To our surprise, you can swim in the Bay and in less then 5 minutes walk over and swim in the Pacific Ocean. There are 3 pools: 2 family friendly pools and 1 adult’s only. During our stay we hung out at the family pool closest to the Bay because there were no kids around and the view was great. The adult’s only pool isn’t secluded like it is at FS Maui. If kids are loud at the pool behind you, they will be heard at the adult pool. The service at the pools was pretty spot on. A few times we asked for water and didn’t receive it but no big deal. It’s hard to beat eating and drinking by a pool with amazing views beyond in the distance.
NOTE: The bay side sand gets EXTREMELY hot.
One family pool where we hung out for most of the time (bay in the background)
Our pool friend
Bay
View from adult pool overlooking the ocean
Hot tub by first pool at night
Beach on oceanside.
Food
We ate at Tico’s, Sol y Sombra, and Cena Sociale. Tico’s was our first stop every night for dinner. Great drinks and live music is a great way to kick off your night. And yes, the live music was really good. Tico’s also has GREAT sushi. Sol y Sombra is their Latin restaurant. We split the ceviche sampler and shredded beef with guac and fried plantains. We very much enjoyed both dishes. At Cena Sociale, their Italian restaurant, my wife ordered the caprese, which was delicious, and their lasagna, which was also very good. I ordered the Mackerel pastrami, which I enjoyed and for entrée I got the homemade tortellini with oxtail stuffing. While I did eat the whole darn thing, I wouldn’t order it again. Just not a must have in my book.
We also did the “fresh catch of the day” dinner option. Three days a week at 11:30 they bring out fish caught either last night or that morning for you to choose from. You can tell them how you want it prepared and what sides you would like or let the chef decide. So we chose baby Sea Bass and a fish from the Eel family. We told the chef to surprise us with preparation and sides. We chose to eat that on our balcony as our anniversary dinner. They set up the table with a nice white cloth, flower pedals sprinkled on top, and a great layout of the food. For $35USD per person, we feel it was a very good deal. What we did not expect during dinner were our new friends, two Mapacahe’s or as we in the USA know them, racoon’s. Immediately I am thinking rabid NY racoon’s and so is the wife (she was standing on her chair as I sheepishly tried to get them away. I tossed some food below our balcony in hopes of a peace treaty but that didn’t work. They ran down, ate, came back for seconds. Those little bandits are smart. They weren’t aggressive towards us though but they also aren’t shy. They have no problem walking right up to you. We had called to get more ice from the room and the gentleman came in laughing about us NY’ers hiding. Apparently all I had to do was walk towards them and they run away. Noted!
We have read reviews of the prices of wine. For wines by the glass they start at $10 and go to $19. As to be expected at a FS and in Costa Rica, the wines (for the type offered) were a little pricey. But the environment you’re in, I’m willing to pay it.
Bar outside Sol y Sombra
Bar at Cena Sociale
Sushi
Lots of ceviche
Dinner on the baclony
Our guests
Drinks
My wife and I had our fair share of Cacique at our first resort so we took a break and did some damage on sugary drinks. We did not have a drink that we didn’t enjoy during our whole stay at the property. They have plenty of scotch to choose from but very little choice of Bourbon’s. Our last full day there we did the unlimited mimosa option at breakfast and later on in the day we ordered a pitcher of Pina Colada’s. Yes, a pitcher. Sugar headache quickly took over me so I just took a nap at the pool. A little relaxation, a fresh shower, and we popped a bottle of Champagne and took on the night.
Activities we did
1. We did a 2 hour kayak tour with Felix (who unfortunately is leaving the FS this week to chase his dream of being a rain forest guide). We made sure to tell Pascal about how nice of a person he was. We talked to him on anything from “what type of tree is this” to how their government is run, healthcare system, etc. You can tell he loves and is very proud of his country. He also couldn’t say enough about the Four Seasons and how much they do for their employee’s and the local community.
2. We did stand up paddle boarding for the first time. Didn’t fall which was a success for us since I had to paddle past a boat anchored and relaxing with people on board. Note to self: just because you sit down on the board to enjoy the scenery the current doesn’t stop moving. After 5-10 minutes of enjoying the views I look back and was thinking “Sh**! This might be a while to get back”. I wasn’t wrong.
3. “Trail of the Dragons”. This is a MUST do. If you are not a golfer or you are a golfer, go go go! You tour holes 1-9 and the views are to die for. Made me wish I played* 9.
*Disclaimer – Played in this sense means “hacking”
4. “Star Gazing”. The FS has a great telescope they take out for the star gazing nights. You check out new and old stars and are able to see how they differ in appearance. We left shortly after but it was still very enjoyable.
Conclusion
Short and sweet: We would not hesitate to return!
Special Note
The staff here is pretty great. Two stand-outs were Felix (mentioned earlier) and Guillermo who I believe he is the night time manager. The first time we met this gentleman he somehow already knew who we were. I walked up to ask a question and he initiated the conversation “Mr. DetailsIM, how are you tonight?”. I had a question about the wifi in our room and without looking at his computer, “Yes Sir. Room 721, correct?”. I told Pascal there must be a picture book behind their desk. Simply amazing.