With its striking 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 its 25-mile coastline and 31 pristine beaches reads like an Oscar after-party guest list: Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and, finally, Rihanna performing at the wedding of Anant Ambani (Indian billionaire).

It’s easy to see why. The Peninsula is actually a 1,400-acre gated community with an emphasis on privacy and sustainable luxury. Although there are a few major resorts (including the Four Seasons, Andaz, and the soon-to-open Ritz Carlton Reserve), development is sparse and 70 percent of the land is protected. Traffic is minimal; instead monkeys, iguanas, and occasional jaguars reign free.

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 – and that’s hardly a new sport sports park. There is even a marina serving super yachts. So where do the elites stay? 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

Real estate: A modern teak and glass villa located in a secluded bay with red land crabs, white egrets and turtle nests. Opening in 2023, this three-acre retreat looks like a hybrid between a tech billionaire’s home and a boutique resort. There are plenty of places to socialize, including indoor and outdoor dining areas, a 25-foot lap pool, a bocce court, multiple lounge areas, and a private corner of 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 more than 33,000 square meters of living space, the villa can easily host a medium-sized wedding, a multi-generational family or a group of 20 friends.

Location: Villa Avellana A remote beach with no other houses on a gated cul-de-sac in Playa Prieta. Prieta Beach ClubhouseA members-only club with a fully equipped gym, restaurant, beach chairs and other perks. Villa guests have access. Playa Prieta’s gentle waves and shallow waters are perfect for beginner surfers.

Activities: The villa includes a 42-foot Boston Whaler yacht (and a 42-foot dinghy), so anything in Papagayo Bay is a quick trip, whether it’s surfing at Witch’s Rock or spotting dolphins. The villa also has plenty of water sports equipment, including electric jetboards, paddleboards, snorkeling gear and fishing poles. Everything else, including ziplining and volcano hiking, is an SUV or helicopter away.

Best benefits: The villa has a dedicated staff that includes a world-class chef, a resident beach expert, a concierge, a barista, a mixologist, and a general manager named Thomas who can book anything on request, whether it’s last-minute tennis. a match, a massage at a private lodge, or going spearfishing.

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

Casa Los Olas

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

Real estate: Probably the most expensive property on the peninsula, Casa Las Olas It is a post-modern, three-story temple built on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Designed by Peruvian-Costa Rican architect Jaime Rouillón, the rose-colored villa was completed in 2022 and features 18,000 square feet of living space spread over three different levels. It is also entirely managed by Four Seasons Resort; This means you can order room service if you don’t want a private chef to prepare your snacks.

Rooms: There are six bedrooms incl. Located on opposite sides of the villa, the two master suites each feature balconies, outdoor showers and soaking tubs overlooking the bay. The main living room features double-height ceilings and a retractable glass wall 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; In this way, it is easy to host up to 16 guests.

Location: Perched on a cliff above Pietra Bay, Casa Los Olas provides complete privacy from the water and the road. The 1.5 acre land is covered with thick forest and the house is set back 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 a long menu of outdoor and cultural activities, including dinner cruises, scuba diving, and waterfall hikes.

Best Advantage: Although this villa is not directly on the beach, every room has an ocean view. Soaking tubs 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 feel like you’re swimming into the Pacific.

Price: $45,000 per night in high season; $23,000 in low season. Personal attendant, private chef and activities are extra. Our villa is also for sale $25 million.

Andaz Costa Rica Resort

Who Stays There: Shonda Rhimes, DJ Walton, Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky

Real estate: The most affordable villas on this list Andaz Costa Rica. A series of 2,407-square-foot three-bedroom penthouses with views of Culebra Bay opened earlier this year. Each covered rooftop deck features a plunge pool, daybed, wet bar and comfortable seating. Although the villas are separate from the main hotel, guests have access to the resort’s other amenities, including three beaches, four pools, four restaurants and a spa with a gym.

rooms: The master bedroom has a small terrace overlooking the bay and a soaking tub. A full kitchen and bar invites in-room dining. The living area features a retractable glass wall that slides open to bring the outside in. The villa, which has two smaller bedrooms and a sofa bed, can sleep eight people.

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

Activities: The facility has 153 guest rooms; This means it offers a wide range of weekly activities, including water sports like kayaking and snorkeling, wellness exercises like boot camp and voice healing, cooking and weaving classes, and even a kid-friendly party.

Best Advantage: Andaz recently opened Casa de Playa, a beach club on Playa Nacascolo, a wide strip of white sand that is arguably one of the most beautiful spots on the peninsula. A cabana serving champagne can be reserved. The club is a 10-minute boat ride from the property.

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

Hive

Who Stays There: Fortune 500 CEOs, hedge funders and former professional football players

Real estate: If you love design, art, motorcycles and bees, Hive is designed for you. Opened in 2023, each room of this meticulously crafted villa is staged like a designer showroom. The 17,500-square-foot property combines elements from Central American, European, and Asian architecture and manages to feel both rarefied and cozy. Visitors enter through a gold, Moroccan-style door that opens to an art-filled foyer, a vaulted great room, and a stone terrace with a perfectly framed view of the Pacific.

Rooms: Each of the six bedrooms offers water views and is lavishly appointed with antiques, hand-knotted rugs, custom wallpaper and theatrical lighting. The master bedroom, which has a vaguely royal Asian theme, features a wood-carved headboard, vaulted ceiling and two gold bathtubs. At the other end of the two-storey villa is a modern bedroom with contemporary furniture and corner views. The villa offers accommodation for up to 16 people with ample privacy space between rooms.

Location: Hive It is located in a pristine bay with very few visible neighbors, on a secluded cliff overlooking Bahia Huevos. It is at the end of a quiet street with dense forests and a few houses.

Activities: A full-time concierge is on hand to organize any activity you can think of, whether it’s collecting honey from a local beekeeper (it’s called the Hive, after all), throwing clay with a Native potter, catching marlin or monkeying around. detecting on a private farm.

Best Benefits: Located right next to the terrace, the infinity pool is carved from large slabs of sea-blue stone that reflects the blues and greens of the Pacific. It may be the peninsula’s most photogenic setting for sunset cocktails.

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