Test into an elevated Costa Rican resort that may be a reduce above

The northwestern nook of Costa Rica is likely one of the most biodiverse areas of the world, so it’s important that when a brand new ultra-luxury property arrives, it takes care to not trample on the area’s excellent pure magnificence. In that respect, Nekajui, which opened earlier this 12 months, is a tour de power. The primary Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Central America, and solely the eighth on the earth, stretches over 570 hectares of lush cliffside, however if you happen to gaze up in the direction of it from the sapphire waters beneath, you possibly can barely inform it’s there in any respect. This spectacular sleight of hand is pulled off because of considerate biophilic design that features a dramatic hanging bridge over a verdant canyon, a bar suspended in a tree home and a funicular that runs like a glass elevator all the way down to a secluded sandy cove.

Wallpaper* checks in at Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

What’s in your doorstep?

Nekajui is the most recent resort on the unique Peninsula Papagayo, a 1,400-acre promontory jutting into the Pacific that first got here to the eye of luxurious travellers with the opening of a 4 Seasons 20 years in the past. There are additionally a handful of personal properties, together with one by the famous architect Antoine Predock. 70 per cent of the peninsula stays shielded from any form of improvement and is roofed by a tropical dry forest that teems with hundreds of plant and animal species. At Nekajui, it’s common to see brightly colored birds taking over a perch beside the swimming pools or to identify howler monkeys breakfasting within the treetops beneath the balconies. The lodge works intently with native guides Papagayo Explorers, who can organize zip-lining, kayaking and forest excursions. On a morning hike with lead naturalist Jhonny Hernandez, we breathlessly noticed the remarkably coordinated courtship dance of the long-tailed manakin. ‘This,’ whispered Hernandez, ‘is an actual Nat Geo second.’

Who’s behind the design?

The event of Nekajui was led by The Athens Group, who labored with architects from Gensler and SB Architects to create a property that by no means seems misplaced in its majestic environment. John Mansour, chief improvement officer for The Athens Group, says the truth that the lodge is nearly hidden from the seashore was very a lot by design. ‘We wished to focus on the drama of the vacation spot’s topography whereas guaranteeing the resort blends seamlessly into it,’ he explains. ‘Utilizing the land’s pure contours, we created vantage factors – like Ámbar’s cover perch and the suspended bridge – that reveal panoramic views with out ever dominating the panorama.’

The usage of native supplies additionally helps to make sure the property feels organically Costa Rican, reasonably than one thing imposed from exterior. ‘We let the land prepared the ground,’ says Mansour. ‘Our method was to take heed to what the location instructed us – defending native flora, integrating mature timber, and constructing across the present terrain. From the usage of reclaimed on-site stone and sustainably sourced woods to the biophilic rules that guided our spatial planning, each factor was positioned to harmonise with the encompassing forest and shoreline.’

Quite than a traditional check-in desk, guests are met by a private host referred to as a ‘manzu’ (‘pal’ within the indigenous Chorotega language) at La Casita, a humble welcome constructing modelled after a conventional Costa Rican house. They then make their method right into a courtyard dominated by a towering Ceiba tree that was relocated from elsewhere on the peninsula. ‘We had been meticulous in aligning the arrival sequence, from the casita, via the courtyard, and into La Casona, in order that the view frames Islas Huevos completely on the horizon,’ provides Mansour. ‘Each stone wall was constructed by native craftsmen utilizing materials sourced instantly from the location, and the artwork and design items all through the resort are by Costa Rican artisans, together with the 650,000 hand-laid tiles within the chapel. These particulars quietly inform the story of place and craft.’

The room to e-book

The 107 rooms and 37 residences unfold throughout the property all face the ocean and are reliably spacious, with even probably the most modestly sized Ocean Reserve rooms measuring in at 872 sq. ft. Many function balconies with personal plunge swimming pools in addition to indoor and out of doors rainfall showers. Native supplies and furnishings are utilised all through the elegant rooms and suites, with a placing use of customized teak casework and the native Arbol de Guanacaste wooden, in addition to Fusion Quartzite stone and handmade Marazzi tiles. Properly-stocked minibars function native specialities like Nicaraguan Flor de Caña rum and Costa Rican Zarpezul beer alongside staples corresponding to Johnnie Walker Black Label and Laurent-Perrier champagne.

There are very good views of Pochote Bay and the uninhabited Islas Huevos from throughout the property, however the Gran Casona Suite, which occupies the highest ground of the property’s essential constructing, La Casona, would possibly simply supply the perfect. This explicit suite additionally boasts its personal kitchen the place lodge employees can put together personal meals. Elsewhere, three treetop tents designed by Luxurious Frontiers, a South African agency that specialises in tented camps, present a extra adventurous lodging providing that invokes the texture of a high-end safari lodge.

For bigger teams or longer stays, the residences play out a equally luxurious design over a good grander scale. Most spectacular of all is Villa Guayacán, a 37,000 sq. foot, 10-bedroom property that encompasses a full Olympic-length swimming pool on an ocean-facing terrace, a handful of plunge swimming pools, a non-public screening room and two commercial-grade kitchens.

Staying for drinks and dinner?

There are three main eating locations at Nekajui: Puna is the Peruvian-inspired signature restaurant the place chef Diego Muñoz serves vibrant ceviche and does impressed issues like eradicating the bones from rooster wings and changing them with prawns and cashews. Niri Seashore Membership, situated close to the ocean on the base of the funicular, supplies an Ibizan soundtrack and Iberian delicacies, with a wood-fired oven and wonderful seafood. Brisa, a Mexican-influenced restaurant subsequent to the lodge’s essential infinity pool, seems at first look to be probably the most informal possibility, however the menu is full of gems to not be missed. The spectacular Yellow Tail Tiradito is plated to resemble the colorful oxcart wheels which have turn into a nationwide image of Costa Rica. At breakfast time, Puna turns into Mirador, with a full à la carte menu in addition to a personalised tray-to-table continental possibility instead of the usual lodge buffet. Upstairs is Café Rincon, which affords buttery pastries and first-class espresso that’s roasted on web site.

The cocktail choices are notably revolutionary, with over 70 distinctive drinks served throughout the property. The central La Casona bar is an excellent place to look at the sundown, maybe solely overwhelmed by the panoramic views at Ámbar, the treehouse bar with a tented roof that hovers over the cliff’s edge. There’s additionally a hidden speakeasy someplace on the property, though we had been sworn to secrecy relating to its actual location. The drinks themselves, devised by bar supervisor and former world’s finest bartender Angelo Solimando, utilise native substances to memorable impact. One diffuses the ylang-ylang flowers that develop on the property to create a cocktail that smells virtually precisely like Chanel No. 5.

The place to modify off

The principle property has two swimming pools, together with one which’s adults-only. There’s one other pool subsequent to the Seashore Membership, in addition to a secluded grotto tucked away midway down the canyon. None of them, nonetheless, compares to the infinity pool on the Nimbu Spa, the place panoramic ocean views create the feeling of swimming within the air. ‘The spa is really a sanctuary,’ says Mansour. ‘Its serene, understated design opens onto sweeping views of the Pacific shoreline, making a placing distinction that instantly calms and uplifts. It’s greater than a wellness facility, it’s a spot of transformation, peace, and deep connection to nature.’ The 27,000 square-foot facility has eight therapy rooms, with six constructed on stilts jutting out in the direction of the ocean. This certainly contributes to the profound feeling of weightlessness one experiences following the distinctive massages.

The decision

The dream of escaping into nature has by no means felt extra interesting than at Nekajui, which affords the prospect to encompass oneself with untamed wildlife whereas nonetheless being cocooned within the utmost luxurious. As a pure wonderland, it feels near heaven, however even the Backyard of Eden didn’t have in-room eating, firm-handed masseuses and remote-controlled bidets. Paradise, improved.

Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is situated on the finish of the 253 Nationwide Route, Peninsula Papagayo, Liberia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, 50104.