This is where celebrities stay on Costa Rica’s ultra-luxury Papagayo Peninsula

With its stunning biodiversity, 24-hour security and ultra-luxury properties, the Papagayo Peninsula in northwestern Costa Rica has become a magnet for celebrities. The list of stars who have visited the 15 miles of coastline and 31 pristine beaches reads like a guest list for an Oscars after-party: Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and, most recently, Anant Ambani (the Indian billionaire whose wedding included a performance by Rihanna).

It’s easy to see why. The Peninsula is essentially a 1,400-acre gated community that values ​​privacy and sustainable luxury. While there are a few major resorts (including a Four Seasons, Andaz and a soon-to-open Ritz Carlton Reserve), development is sparse and 70 percent of the land is protected. Traffic is minimal; instead, monkeys, iguanas and the occasional jaguar have free rein.

Nature lovers can go snorkeling, volcano hiking, diving, kayaking and whale watching. Wellness and fitness enthusiasts have plenty to do too – there’s golf, yoga, surfing, mountain biking, ziplining and tennis – not to mention new sports park. There is even a marina for superyachts. So where does that leave the elite? Here are the four best villas in Papagayo that appeal to celebrities and the ultra-rich.

Villa Avellana

Who stays there: Tech entrepreneurs, bank CEOs, music producers and entertainers

The property: A modern teak and glass villa on a secluded bay with red land crabs, white egrets and turtle nests. Opening in 2023, this three-acre retreat feels like a hybrid between a tech billionaire’s estate and a boutique resort. There are many places to socialize, including indoor and outdoor dining areas, a 25-meter swimming pool, a bocce court, multiple lounge areas and a private corner on the beach.

Rooms: The 10 bedrooms are airy and spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces overlooking the ocean or tropical forests. With over 30,000 square feet of living space, the villa can comfortably accommodate a medium-sized wedding, a multi-generational family, or a group of 20 friends.

Location: Villa Avellana is located on a gated cul-de-sac on Playa Prieta, a secluded beach with no houses except the Prieta Beach Clubhousea members-only club with a full gym, restaurant, beach chairs and other benefits. Villa guests have access. The gentle waves and shallow waters of Playa Prieta are perfect for novice surfers.

Activities: A 43-foot Boston Whaler yacht (and a 11-foot dinghy) are included with the villa, so everything in the Gulf of Papagayo is within quick reach, whether you’re surfing at Witch’s Rock or dolphin spotting. The villa also has a huge stock of water sports equipment including electric jet boards, paddle boards, snorkeling equipment and fishing rods. Everything else – including ziplining and volcano hiking – is an SUV or helicopter away.

Best benefits: The villa has a dedicated staff, including a top chef, a local beach expert, a concierge, a barista, a mixologist and a general manager named Thomas, who can book anything on request, be it a last-minute tennis match, a massage in a private cabana, or go spear fishing for wahoo.

Price: $45,000 per night, all-inclusive.

Casa Los Olas

Who stays there: Billionaires like Anant Ambani, the son of India’s richest man, who stayed there in August with his newlywed wife Radhika Merchant

The property: Possibly the most expensive property on the peninsula, Casa Las Olas is a three-story postmodern temple built on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The pink villa, designed by Peruvian-Costa Rican architect Jaime Rouillón, was completed in 2022 and has 18,000 square feet of living space spread over three discrete levels. Plus, it’s fully managed by the Four Seasons Resort, which means you can order room service if you don’t feel like having a private chef prepare a snack.

The rooms: There are six bedrooms, inclusive two primary suites on opposite sides of the villa, each with balconies, outdoor showers and bathtubs overlooking the bay. The main living room has double height ceilings and a glass wall that recedes for seamless indoor/outdoor living. There is also a children’s room with bunk beds, a gym, a chef’s kitchen and separate service areas, making it easy to accommodate up to 16 guests.

Location: Located on a cliff high above Pietra Bay, Casa Los Olas offers complete privacy from the water and road. The 1.5 hectare property is covered in dense jungle and the house is secluded and not visible from the private road.

Activities: Guests can take full advantage of the amenities and excursions available to Four Seasons guests, including easy access to two beaches (Playa Virador and Playa Blanca) and an 18-hole golf course. Guests can also choose from an extensive menu of outdoor and cultural activities, including dinner cruises, scuba diving and waterfall walks.

Best advantage: Although this villa is not directly on the beach, every room has an ocean view. The bathtubs in the primary bedrooms have perfectly framed views of the crashing waves below. And when you swim in the dramatic 100-foot infinity pool, you’ll feel like you’re floating out to the Pacific Ocean.

Price: $45,000 per night, peak season; $23,000, low season. A personal attendant, private chef and activities are extra. The villa is also for sale for $25 million.

Andaz Costa Rica Resort

Who stays there: Shonda Rhimes, DJ Walton, Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky

The property: The most affordable villas on this list are at the Andaz Costa Rica. Earlier this year, a row of three-bedroom penthouses spanning 2,407 square feet opened overlooking Culebra Bay. Each covered rooftop terrace has a plunge pool, day bed, wet bar and plush seating. Although the villas are separate from the main hotel, guests have access to the resort’s other offerings, including three beaches, four pools, four restaurants and a spa with a gym.

The rooms: The master bedroom has a small terrace and a bath overlooking the bay. A full kitchen and bar invite in-room dining. The living room has an extendable glass wall that slides open, bringing the outdoors inside. With two smaller bedrooms and a sofa bed, the villa can accommodate up to eight people.

Location: The Andaz is located near the gated entrance to the peninsula, just past the marina. The villas are built along the highest ridge, above the resort’s other guest rooms.

Activities: The resort has 153 rooms, meaning it offers a wide range of weekly activities, including water sports like kayaking and snorkeling, wellness practices like boot camp and sound healing, cooking and weaving classes, and even a kid-friendly party.

Best advantage: The Andaz recently opened Casa de Playa, a beach club in Playa Nacascolo, a wide stretch of white sand that is perhaps one of the most beautiful on the peninsula. You can reserve a cabana with champagne service. The club is a 10-minute boat ride from the resort.

Price: $10,000 per night, peak season; $4,000, low season.

The Beehive

Who stays there: Fortune 500 CEOs, hedge funds and former professional football players

The property: If you like design, art, motorcycles and bees, the Hive was built for you. Opened in 2023, each room in this carefully crafted villa is decorated like a designer showroom. The 17,500 square meter property combines elements of Central American, European and Asian architecture – and feels both rare and cozy. Visitors enter through a gold Moroccan-style door that leads to an art-filled foyer, a vaulted great room, and a stone terrace with perfectly framed views of the Pacific Ocean.

The rooms: Each of the six bedrooms has water views and is lavishly furnished with antiques, hand-woven rugs, custom wallpaper and theatrical lighting. The first bedroom, which has a vaguely royal Asian theme, has a carved wood headboard, a vaulted ceiling and two gold bathtubs. On the other side of the split-level villa is a modern bedroom with contemporary furnishings and corner views. The villa can accommodate up to 16 guests, with plenty of privacy between the rooms.

Location: The Beehive sits atop a secluded cliff overlooking Bahia Huevos, a pristine bay with few or no visible neighbors. It is located at the end of a quiet street with dense jungle and a few houses.

Activities: There’s a full-time concierge on hand to arrange any activity you can think of, whether it’s collecting honey with a local beekeeper (it’s called the Hive after all), throwing clay with a native potter, fishing for marlin or catching monkeys. spotting on a private farm.

Best Benefits: The infinity pool, located right next to the terrace, is carved from enormous slabs of aquamarine-colored stone that echoes the blues and greens of the Pacific Ocean. It is perhaps the peninsula’s most photogenic setting for sunset cocktails.

Price: $24,900 per night, peak season; $14,900, low season.