Updated October 2026
In 2024, my teenage daughter joined me for Take Your Child to Work Day. As the owner of Papagayo Luxury, I decided that if she was coming to work with me, I was going to put her to work- and one of her assignments was to write a blog post.
I asked her to write about the things she had always loved at Peninsula Papagayo. She grew up in Costa Rica and had been visiting Papagayo since she was little, so these weren’t things an adult thought kids should enjoy. They were the things she actually remembered doing and loving over the years.
A lot has changed at Peninsula Papagayo since she wrote the original article, but when I reread her list, I realized how well most of it still holds up. So rather than rewrite her recommendations in my voice, I’ve kept them in hers, with a few light updates where needed.
Here are her favorites, in her own words:
Hey there! As a teenager who grew up in Costa Rica and spent a lot of time visiting Peninsula Papagayo, I can tell you that it’s a stunning destination. There are so many hidden gems to discover, and I’m excited to share some of my favorites and insider tips.
Mango Smoothie or “Choco-mono’
The mango smoothie at the Prieta Beach Club is my go-to drink and is both refreshing and delicious. But in the evenings, when we come to the Beach Club to watch the sunset, I recommend the “choco-mono,” which is a peanut butter, chocolate, banana smoothie combo with extra chocolate drizzles – for the chocolate lovers, like myself.
Shelling at Nacascolo Beach
Nacascolo Beach is one of my favorite beaches to explore because you can find all sorts of small, unique shells along the shoreline. My favorites have always been sea urchin shells, aka “sea biscuits,” which are unique and awesome.
Additionally, the beach itself has very calm waters and a shallow bay, making it a great place for swimming and relaxing.
Sunset on the Golf Course – Hole #3
If you’re looking for the most breathtaking sunset you have ever seen, then you will be amazed by the sunset on hole #3 of the Four Seasons golf course. Situated atop a hill, this hole looks out over the Pacific Ocean, the bay, and the golf course, where you can see the gorgeous, vibrant colors that come with the sunset.
Hermit Crab Races at Prieta Beach
One of my all-time favorite activities to do at Peninsula Papagayo is doing hermit crab races with my family. It’s a hilarious, exciting, and competitive activity that everyone loves!
I have been playing this since I was very young, and the trick is to play at sunset when the hermit crabs come out from hiding. To play, we simply each choose a hermit crab and draw a big circle with a little circle inside on the sand. We then place our hermit crabs in the little circle, and the first crab to get out of the big circle wins!
Nighttime golf cart trips:
Every day in Peninsula Papagayo you are bound to find a variety of animals, including pizotes, monkeys, and even anteaters if you’re lucky. However, one thing my family does to find these wild animals is to take golf cart trips at night.
In the past on our nighttime rides, we have spotted foxes, deer, and even wild boars. It’s a unique way to view the wildlife at Peninsula Papagayo and I recommend doing these mini nighttime golf-cart expeditions.
Morning Howler Monkeys
A characteristic unique to Peninsula Papagayo, is the very large howler monkey population, named after the distinctive sounds they make for one another. Each morning, you can hear the howler monkeys calling out to each other from miles apart, and you may even spot a group of them sitting in the trees.
If you’re an early bird- like me, or even if you’re not, one of the most unforgettable experiences is going outside in the mornings for breakfast and simply listening to the monkeys.
Dive Bar at the Marina
The marina is one of my top spots to visit, especially after a long day at the beach. They have some impressive boats that are definitely worth checking out and the Dive Bar is located there, too, which I highly recommend. The brownie sundae is a must, and the tostones with bean dip are a delicious appetizer. They also have a shuffleboard, swing chairs, and a sophisticated low-key ambiance.
I hope I have convinced you to spend the best vacation of your life in Papagayo. We are waiting for you with your whole family!
By Samira Moore.
What’s New Since She Wrote Her Original List
Back to me. One of the biggest additions to Peninsula Papagayo since Samira wrote her original list is Papagayo Park, and I think it would absolutely make her list if she were writing it for the first time today.
The 20-acre park has added an entirely new dimension for families, with a pump track, basketball, six pickleball courts, four tennis courts, two padel courts and a lap pool, along with places such as the Art Studio, Patio Social and Cono Loco. It’s especially useful when you’re traveling with children of different ages — or several generations — because everyone doesn’t have to want to do the same thing.
Someone can play pickleball or padel while someone else heads to the pump track or pool, and everyone can meet up again afterward. That’s one of the things I think Peninsula Papagayo does particularly well for a family vacation: it gives everyone plenty to do while still making it easy to spend most of the trip together.
Don’t Forget the Beach Clubs
Prieta Beach Club was a big part of Samira’s childhood experience at Papagayo, as you can probably tell from her list. For families staying in private villas, the beach clubs can still become an important part of the week — whether it’s an afternoon at the pool, sunset smoothies at Prieta or simply having another place for different generations to spend the day.
Beach club access depends on the particular property, owner memberships and current resort policies, so it isn’t something I recommend assuming based solely on where a villa is located. When helping guests choose a home, we explain the access associated with that particular property and the applicable fees.
For families with younger children, Prieta also has a Kids Club for ages 4–12. Children in that age range can participate without a parent remaining with them, while younger children can enjoy the Kids Club when accompanied by an adult.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BEACH CLUBS & RESORT ACCESS
Sometimes the Little Things Become the Best Memories
When families plan a trip to Costa Rica, it’s easy to focus on the big experiences: boat days, ziplining, fishing, surfing, wildlife excursions and all the other adventures you can build into a vacation. Those experiences can absolutely become highlights, and we help our guests arrange many of them.
But what I love about rereading the list Samira wrote after growing up at Papagayo is what actually made it onto her list. A mango smoothie. Sea biscuits. A sunset on the golf course. Hermit crab races. Driving around in a golf cart looking for animals. Listening to monkeys over breakfast. A brownie sundae.
Those weren’t necessarily the biggest or most expensive things we did. They were simply part of growing up visiting Peninsula Papagayo, and years later, they’re the things she remembered well enough to recommend to someone else.
That’s probably the best advice I can give families planning a trip here: leave some room in the schedule. You don’t have to fill every day. Sometimes the things your children remember years later are the things you never really planned at all.
Planning a Family Vacation at Peninsula Papagayo?
Choosing where to stay with children involves more than counting bedrooms. The ages of your children, bedroom configuration, pool and outdoor space, location, beach club access and the way your family actually likes to spend its time all make a difference.
At Papagayo Luxury, we represent a carefully selected collection of private villas and condos within Peninsula Papagayo. Because we know the homes and the resort, we can help you compare the options and then arrange the details of your stay, including airport transfers, golf carts, private chefs, boat charters, activities and restaurant reservations.
VIEW PENINSULA PAPAGAYO VILLAS
Activities, amenities, access, operating schedules and fees within Peninsula Papagayo can change. We confirm current information for our guests as part of the planning process.
