Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort, Costa Rica, by Hyatt

Character and identity

Set on a forested peninsula on Costa Rica's northern Pacific coast, just twenty minutes from the airport, this 153-room resort is a low-slung composition of earth-toned stone and hardwood that disappears into the jungle. The open-air lobby centres on a futuristic cocoon-shaped pod, and golf carts ferry guests to rooms with polished cement floors, bay-facing balconies and oversized bathrooms with pebbled-floor rain showers. Two private beaches, a family pool and a separate adults-only infinity pool wind through the property, with the Cambi Kids Club anchoring a packed activities programme. The register is relaxed and naturalist, not formal.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What defines this resort is how effortlessly it delivers jungle-and-ocean Costa Rica to families who don't want to compromise on comfort: even spider-averse children settle in quickly. Book it if you're travelling with kids and want activity-rich days with genuine nature on the doorstep. A bay-facing balcony room is the category to target, and the short airport transfer makes shorter stays viable.