Visiting Four Seasons Costa Rica During COVID

For our first travel experience post the COVID-19 outbreak, we couldn’t have been more thrilled to revisit one of our favorite resorts: Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo.

As a avid-traveler, it’s been hard to know when/where to travel to amidst this pandemic. Having not traveled for 8 months, I was eager to get back on a plane. I couldn’t wait to travel again and contribute to the suffering travel industry. My husband and I hummed and hawed over the idea, especially where we would travel to when we finally took off again. As we saw more and more countries open their borders to tourism, and with very little variance in COVID cases since doing so, we gained some confidence in this new era of pandemic travel.

Once we saw Costa Rica had open their borders and subsequently Four Seasons open their doors again to guests, we thought why not go back to a place we know and trust?. We were inevitably led back to paradise at FS Costa Rica.

Four Seasons Costa Rica at Papagayo Peninsula

A Little Bit About Four Seasons Costa Rica

Located on the most southern tip of one of the most sought after peninsulas in Latin America, the Four Seasons resort is a truly one-of-a-kind paradise. After 4 stays with a total of 29 nights, we can now consider ourselves somewhat experts when it comes to traveling to this particular resort. 🙂 (feel free to hit me up with Q’s!)

Perched between not one, but two pristine beaches – every room is draped with a view of the sparkling sea. Possibilities for adventure and great cuisine are endless in an environment bountiful with nature and wildlife. It’s hard not to fall in love after just one day here. Not only with the resort itself, but especially with the most friendly of staff.

Their slice of paradise caters to all types of travelers. Having previously visited with adventure in mind, and now as a family of 3, we thoroughly enjoyed the resort in a whole new way. It’s one of the few places that I’d say is just as great with kids, as it is without them.

Lead With Care Program

Prior to traveling, my husband and I did extensive research in the new health and safety protocols adopted by major hotel brands. The Four Seasons Lead With Care program really stood out as being at the forefront of guest safety during COVID.  Lead With Care provides enhanced health and safety measures with guests’ health being top of mind. Having now visited before and after COVID-19 hit, it’s been incredible to see the changes the resort has made. It was clear that keeping both guests and employees safe is paramount to the brand.

Our visit back to the resort was only 10 short days following their reopening. After an 8 month hiatus, with all staff out of work, we had expected the potential of minor hiccups during our stay. Not only did they have to adjust with the return back to work but they were back with an entirely new approach to the overall guest experience. That said, I am happy to report that they reopened without a hitch! An impressive feat considering the extensive changes undertaken to make guests feel 100% comfortable.

I can personally attest to their dedication around the Lead with Care program and they certainly walked the walk of the new protocol set out by the brand. (see my story highlighting

COVID-19 Protocol at Four Seasons Costa Rica

Without totally transforming the guest experience, a number of changes were made throughout the property as an enhancement to guest health and safety. Some of the new measures I personally noticed at the resort were as follows:

• State-of-the-art temperature scanning kiosks. These check the temperature of each guest upon arrival to lobby or the restaurants
• Mandatory sanitization of hands upon entry
• Mandatory mask enforcement in all enclosed public spaces
• NanoSeptic self-cleaning elevator buttons
• In-room markers to indicate nothing has been touch by anyone but you
• Enhanced cleaning measures limiting contact between housekeeping and guests
• Enhanced in-app communication, allowing you to communicate anything via chat instead visiting the front desk/concierge station
• Lead with Care package in room containing mask, sanitizer and wipes
• Digital menus provided via QR code or in-app
• PPE available throughout the resort, should it be required

Lastly, it is great to mention their addition of an on-site Doctor. PCR testing can be facilitated on the resort, with results in 24 hours.

In addition to these, there were also several enhancements made behind the scenes. These include enhancements to ventilation systems throughout the resort, improved food handling measures, and of course amplified training for staff. Not only for newly mandated procedure but around the virus itself and its transmission.

In Summary: Choose Accomodations Wisely

It’s more important than ever to choose your travel plans wisely, should you wish to travel internationally during the pandemic. Leaving the Four Seasons resort to explore elsewhere in Costa Rica, for a short period of time, offered a valuable lesson to us. It gave us greater appreciation for the small details and big impact the Lead with Care program offers.

Instead of leaving the choice to prevent COVID in the hands of the guest, the Four Seasons has gone the extra mile to ensure the risk of coming into contact with the virus at their property is extremely low.

If there is one thing we learned through our first travel since the COVID outbreak, it’s that you truly cannot put a price on your health and safety. Do your research and plan accordingly and of course, I recommend the Four Seasons 🙂

Prieta Bay Villas – Four Seasons Costa Rica