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Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica
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Caribbean & Mexico

Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica

North West from Panama Beach Main Entrance, Papagayo Golf and Country Club, 10 Km, Guanacaste Province, Papagayo, 50503, Costa Rica

Five-StarAdults OnlyNear CoastMid-Size
4.4
★★★★★
2,560 reviews on Google
New to Costa Rica? Read our Costa Ricatravel guide — passport, safety, tipping & more›

Highlights

—Adults-only all-inclusive
—2 pools
—6 restaurants & bars
—Full-service spa
—20 min from LIR

Activities & Experiences

Spa & WellnessWater Sports

Best Time to Visit

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Location

Guest Reviews

★★★★★
Taylor Cartmell · a month ago

The staff is wonderful and everyone is so accomidating. Our room looking out at the bay was comfortable and clean. Great wildlife and beautiful grounds/landscaping. Enjoyed the spa. Negatives were the food and the sales pitch to spend tens of thousands on a vacation package with them. We were happy...

★★★★★
Bree Northrop · 2 months ago

We just spent a week here and LOVED everything about it. The staff was amazing and very attentive. We were with a very large group and anytime anyone had a request the staff went above and beyond to make it happen. Big shout out to Rony for making amazing cocktails, Cherry and Anderson for bringing ...

★★★★★
David Schanbachler · a month ago

The resort itself is beautiful. I loved the way everything was separated and set apart. The food is ok, typical for an AI resort. The staff is kind of rude truthfully, it’s almost like they don’t care you’re there. I’m not use to that because other AI they are extremely nice and we’ve been hitting...

★★★★★
Gerard Leaño · 3 months ago

If you like peace and quiet, this is the right Secrets to be at. Much more laid back than the Mexican and DR locations. However, for UVC members, this is not worth the 2:1 nights exchange when comparing food and amenities. One bonus: the kayaking and snorkeling are included with the stay. A shout...

★★★★★
Robert Hanson · a month ago

The resort is in really rough shape. Not at all elegant. Aesthetically it needs massive renovation. The pool cement is in need of repair as is pretty much the whole property with exception to the rooms…they were nice. The pool water was incredibly cloudy every day. Music blaring to midnight that...

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Details
—North West from Panama Beach Main Entrance, Papagayo Golf and Country Club, 10 Km, Guanacaste Province, Papagayo, 50503, Costa Rica
—+506 2672 0000
Getting There
—Nearest airport: LIR
Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport
—20 min transfer
The Vibe
RomanticQuiet & Relaxed
The Grand Escape file
Grand Escape Score
8.5/10
Secrets Resorts & Spas
Guanacaste
88% complete · Excellent review coverage
✓ Official site verified

Scores

Beach8.1
Medium
Food8.0
Medium
Service8.5
Medium
Rooms8.2
Medium
Pools8.5
Medium
Value8.0
Medium
Romance8.8
High
Quiet8.7
High
Remote work8.0
Medium

Pros

  • Quiet adults-only atmosphere.
  • Beautiful Gulf of Papagayo views.
  • Good romance and honeymoon fit.
  • Small-to-mid-size resort feel compared with larger Costa Rica all-inclusives.
  • Friendly staff and scenic room categories receive recurring praise.

Cons

  • Hilly layout is not ideal for mobility-limited guests.
  • Food is generally good but not consistently exceptional.
  • Beach is scenic and calm but not a powdery white-sand beach.
  • Some rooms and facilities may feel due for updates.

Things to know

  • Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica is an adults-only all-inclusive on Arenilla Beach in the Gulf of Papagayo.
  • The resort is quiet, scenic, and romantic rather than a party-focused adults-only resort.
  • The property is hilly and spread out, so shuttles are important for many guests.
  • Beach water is generally calm and usable, but the volcanic darker sand gets hot and the beach is not the white-sand Caribbean style some guests expect.
  • Recent guest comments mention renovations or needed updates, so room-condition feedback should be checked close to booking.

Hidden tips

  • Book Preferred Club if you want better views, lounge access, and a more private feel.
  • Choose this for quiet romance and nature views rather than nightlife.
  • Pack footwear for hot dark sand and hillside walking.

What guests say · 5,550 reviews

Most loved
  • Quiet adults-only atmosphere
  • Bay and ocean views
  • Friendly staff
  • Romantic hillside rooms
  • Relaxed pools and shuttle service
Most common complaints
  • Hilly resort layout
  • Food is good but not exceptional
  • Beach sand gets hot and is darker volcanic sand
  • Some areas need updates or renovation
Things people wish they knew
  • This is a quiet resort; nightlife typically winds down early.
  • The property layout involves hills and shuttles.
  • The beach is natural and scenic, but not the classic white-sand Caribbean look.
From Reddit

Reddit feedback is generally favorable for quiet, romance, views, staff, and all-inclusive ease, while repeatedly warning about the hillside layout, modest nightlife, and good-but-not-spectacular food.

Rooms

Rooms To Avoid:Guests with mobility concerns should avoid higher hillside rooms unless they are comfortable relying on resort shuttles.Medium

The resort is widely described as hilly and spread out.

Best Room Category:Preferred Club Junior Suite Plunge Pool or Preferred Club ocean-view categoriesMedium

Best fit for couples prioritizing views, private outdoor space, and a quieter upgraded experience.

The facts

202
Room Count
2
Number Of Pools
6
Number Of Restaurants
SpaGood WifiBeachfrontClub LevelAdults OnlySwim Up BarPrivate PoolSwimmable Beach

How we scored it

Food
Foodie Caveat: 7Restaurant Variety: 8Guest Food Sentiment: 8Preferred Club Value: 8.1
Restaurant Inventory And Guest Food Sentiment Analysis · sources: Official, Hyatt, Expedia, Reddit, TripAdvisor, Golden Globalist · verified 2026-06-28
Beach
Scenery: 8.8Beach Access: 8.7Swimmability: 8.3Sand Heat Caveat: 6.7White Sand Expectation Caveat: 6.8
Beach Score From Calm Arenilla Beach Setting Guest Swimmability And Dark Sand Caveat · sources: Official, Fact Sheet, TripAdvisor, Expedia, Reddit, Golden Globalist · verified 2026-06-28
Pools
Main Pool: 8.5Quiet Pool: 8.6Pool Service: 8.4Lounger Availability: 8
Pool Score From Main Pool Quiet Pool Spa Pool And Guest Sentiment · sources: TripAdvisor, Reddit, Golden Globalist, Expedia, That Wisconsin Couple · verified 2026-06-28
Quiet
Quiet Pool: 8.7Adults Only: 8.8Hillside Privacy: 8.4Low Key Nightlife: 8.8
Quiet Score From Guest Reports Of Low Key Adults Only Atmosphere And Early Ending Entertainment · sources: TripAdvisor, Reddit, Expedia, Golden Globalist · verified 2026-06-28
Rooms
Views: 8.7Room Size: 8.2Update Caveat: 7Preferred Club Plunge Pool: 8.6
Room Score From Official 202 Room Suite Inventory Views And Guest Condition Feedback · sources: Official Rooms, Fact Sheet, TripAdvisor, Reddit, Golden Globalist · verified 2026-06-28
Value
Food Value: 7.8Layout Caveat: 7Romance Value: 8.5All Inclusive Value: 8.2
Value Score From Guest Sentiment All Inclusive Inclusions And Hillside Update Caveats · sources: Expedia, TripAdvisor, Reddit, Hyatt, Golden Globalist · verified 2026-06-28
Overall · 5,550 reviews
Food: 8Quiet: 8.7Rooms: 8.2Service: 8.5Official Rating: 9Tripadvisor Review Count: 5550
Weighted Review Platform And Guest Sentiment Analysis · sources: Official, Hyatt, TripAdvisor, Expedia, Reddit, Fact Sheet, Golden Globalist · verified 2026-06-28
Romance
Quiet: 8.7Views: 8.8Adults Only: 9Preferred Club: 8.6
Romance Score From Adults Only Setting Ocean Views Quiet Layout And Honeymoon Room Categories · sources: Official, Hyatt, TripAdvisor, Reddit, Fact Sheet, Golden Globalist · verified 2026-06-28
Service
Shuttle Service: 8.4Consistency Caveat: 7.5Restaurant Service: 8.2Staff Friendliness: 8.7
Guest Sentiment Analysis For Staff Friendliness Shuttle Support And Restaurant Service · sources: TripAdvisor, Expedia, Reddit, Hyatt, Golden Globalist · verified 2026-06-28
Remote work
Wifi: 8.3Quiet: 8.7Room Comfort: 8.2Workspace Evidence: 6.8
Remote Work Score From Free Wifi Quiet Room Environment And Hillside Resort Caveat · sources: Hyatt, Official Rooms, TripAdvisor · verified 2026-06-28

Sources

HyattRedditExpediaOfficialFact SheetTripadvisorOfficial RoomsGolden GlobalistReddit Secondary

Scored with Grand Escape methodology v1.0.