There Are Few Places on Earth as Sacred as a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Not just a destination, but a revelation.
Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties are among the rarest in the world, not because of their exclusivity, but because of the way they invite you into something deeper than luxury. They are sanctuaries, carved into nature, shaped by culture, and designed with reverence for the land they inhabit. Our first experience with a Reserve was at Mandapa in Bali, a place that felt almost spiritual in its stillness. There, along the Ayung River, surrounded by lush green terraces and temple offerings, we found a version of ourselves we didn’t realize we’d lost—quiet, centered, in tune with the rhythm of the earth.
So when the opportunity came to visit Nekajui, the newly opened Ritz-Carlton Reserve on Costa Rica’s Papagayo Peninsula, we carried with us a sense of reverence and curiosity. We knew it would be special, but we didn’t anticipate just how deeply it would speak to us. From the moment we arrived, it felt as though the property had been waiting patiently, ready to open itself up one layer at a time.
Nekajui doesn’t overwhelm. It whispers. The architecture is hidden among the cliffs and forest, a blend of local wood, carved stone, soft curves, and colors that match the land. It feels less like a resort and more like a rare estate passed down through generations. Our villa opened to a sweeping view of the bay, the canopy below alive with howler monkeys and birdsong. We spent mornings on the terrace, listening to the jungle slowly wake up, and evenings under the stars, where the only light came from the moon and the flicker of lanterns so not to disrupt the nature around.
The heart of our stay was the spa, a sanctuary suspended above the trees where time seemed to dissolve. The treatment rooms were built like floating treehouses, and the pools—warm, cold, still—became part of our daily rhythm. We’d spend hours there, unhurried, dipping in and out, letting silence and water soften the edges of our day. It felt less like a service and more like a ceremony, an offering to the body and the spirit. There were moments in that spa where I looked at my husband and felt as though we were meeting each other again for the first time, clear-eyed, connected, restored.
The food, too, was revelatory. The culinary program at Nekajui isn’t about extravagance. It’s about intention. Every dish told a story of the region, every flavor anchored in something local and alive. The chef is doing remarkable work, fusing traditional Costa Rican techniques with elevated, unexpected elements. From fresh ceviches kissed with citrus to slow-roasted vegetables grown in nearby farms, there was something deeply nourishing about the way we ate.
One of the most memorable takeaways of our trip, though, was the ritual of coffee. In Costa Rica, coffee isn’t rushed. It’s honored. We had the chance to learn the traditional pour-over method, using a chorreador, and it transformed the way we think about our mornings. The process was slow, deliberate, fragrant. It became a ritual—watching the water slowly filter through the grounds, the scent rising like a hymn. It wasn’t about caffeine. It was about presence. About making space for conversation, for pause, for gratitude.
Just when we thought we had seen it all, Nekajui revealed something more. A secret cove beach, the black volcanic sand warm and untouched, where we spent an afternoon completely off-grid. A waterfall-fed pool hidden along a trail, where the only sounds were birds and falling water. A speakeasy, its entrance tucked behind a bookshelf, where we sipped rum by candlelight and shared stories with travelers who felt like old friends. At every turn, there was something new to discover, and yet we never felt rushed to chase it all. It was a place that welcomed exploration, but also invited us to simply be.
There are few places we visit that linger long after we’ve left, and even fewer that quietly demand a return. Costa Rica is now at the top of that list. And Nekajui, with its wild beauty, soulful quiet, and the profound sense of care woven into every detail, is a place we’ll revisit not just in memory, but in life.
