Costa Rica’s New Ritz-Carlton Reserve Has a Beach Club You Can Only Reach By Funicular  

It’s no secret that Costa Rica is upping its luxury quotient. The country is already readying to welcome a new St. Regis (more on that here) and a new Waldorf-Astoria, and now it’s officially inaugurated a new Ritz-Carlton Reserve. 

Ritz-Carlton extra-luxe brand has debuted its new Nekajui, a Ritz-Calrton Reserve in the heart of the increasingly hot Peninsula Papagayo. 

The resort has just 107 rooms and suites (including a trio of treetop tents), along with 36 private residences and a 10-bedroom estate. 

The new property is the “essence of our Ritz-Carlton Reserve portfolio—crafted for those seeking the rare and undiscovered,” according to Tina Edmundson, president of luxury at Marriott. “Nekajui is not just a place to visit—it’s a place to feel, discover, and leave transformed.”

So what do you need to know? The resort has a signature eatery by noted Chef Diego Muñoz, along with a beach club you can only get to by funicular, along with four bars, including a beverage program by the mixology specialists at The Herball.

If you want something more special,  you can try the property’s Dining Beyond program, which sets up treetop dinners and meals on the beach. 

There’s also a 27,000-square-foot wellness center (including a hydrotherapy pool) and a unique offering called The Outpost that lets you take hiplines, wildlife hikes and canoe trips with an in-house outfitter. 

It’s one of just two in the Caribbean Basin, along with Puerto Rico’s Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, one of our favorite luxury properties and easily the best in Puerto Rico.

So what about pricing? 

You can find rooms starting at $2,707 per night right now, according to Google Hotels. That gets you a king ocean-view room with a balcony. A two-queen ocean view room bumps up to $3,135 per night.