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Three pools (the fourth pool is at the children's center and two beaches mean the resort rarely feels crowded. The pool nearest the beach serves lap swimmers and the middle pool tends more toward adults while the third pool closest to Playa Culebra is the family activity pool.
And yes, we are in love with the pool concierge. These attendants spritz you with Evian water, offer you cold towels and water and even clean your sunglasses when you leave them on the lounge chair to go swimming. If you don't wish to be disturbed, grab a rock painted with "Z z z" from the beach kiosk to place near your chair. At the kiosk, you can find a selection of magazines and books plus sunscreen -- just in case you forgot those beach necessities.
Babysitting is available 24 hours at a rate of $12 per hour for the first child and for two children the rate is $15 per hour. Reserve ahead.
The resort is infused with a sense of place and that extends to the art collection. The property displays many works by Costa Rican and Central American artists.
Getting There
Peninsula Papagayo's gates are about a 30-minute drive from the Daniel Oduber International Airport, Liberia. It takes another 10 to15-minutes to drive to the Four Seasons Resort at far end of the peninsula.
The Four Seasons offers shared transfers via vans for $40 US per person or a private transfer for up to five people in an SUV for $150 US. Rates are for one-way transportation.
The Art of Smart Timing
Costa Rica has two seasons. November through April is the dry season and also the high season. At the resort, March is the busiest month because of the U.S. spring break. April, despite being part of the high season is also the hottest month in Guanacaste with temperatures reaching 95 degrees Farenheit. May through mid-November is the "green"(rainy) season or low season. Expect rain in the afternoon. Generally, the slowest months are September and October. Unlike other areas in Central America, Guanacaste typically does not get hurricanes.
For Mom and Dad
The 15,000-square-foot spa offers an array of wraps, massages, scrubs and facials. My daughter opted for the Costa Rican coffee scrub followed by an aromatherapy massage while I rehydrated with a facial. The outdoor terrace has plunge pools. A good vantage point to see the howler monkeys is from the outdoor terrace with its plunge pools. Often, the monkeys scamper through the trees in front of the facility in the late afternoon.
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