Nekajui, Ritz-Carlton Reserve

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and Peninsula Papagayo plan to open Nekajui, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve and Nekajui, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residence in 2024.

Located in the northwestern region of Guanacaste, the 1,400-acre private gated community is already a posh playground with luxury villas, an incredible beach club, world-class hotels and dining, and an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course. Nekajui plans to further cement the region’s exclusivity and status by adding 107 magnificent guest rooms, suites, and residences featuring canopied outdoor terraces, private plunge pools, spa-like bathrooms, and spectacular views overlooking Pochote Bay and its surrounding islands.

The resort’s name, Nekajui (pronounced nek-ah-wee), aptly means garden in Chorotegan — the language of an indigenous nation that once populated the area. The resort and its cascading infinity pool will sit above and within a verdant hillside, protected by a lush, natural garden. A nearby hanging bridge will lure guests to the mesmerizing on-site spa, while a custom funicular railway will transport visitors down to a natural amphitheater where the beach club sits, mere steps from sea caves, tide pools, and white, sandy beaches ideal for catching some rays.

While Peninsula Papagayo is already celebrated for its exceptional and unspoiled beaches, land and water activities, adventurous pursuits, and pura vida spirit, Nekajui’s setting promises to be even more private. Located on a quieter beach revered for its bioluminescence — a magnificent sight to behold by moonlight — its bay also possesses some of the calmest, most protected waters around. The uncompromised location also lacks development with extremely low light pollution, meaning visitors can experience tranquility both day and night.