mere 30 minutes from Liberia’s new international airport, Peninsula Papagayo teems, as it has for centuries, with boundless beauty. Formed by volcanic activity and sculpted by wind, rain and sun, this jagged pair of peninsulas reaches into the warm waters of Bahía de Culebra, further protected by the deep blue lap of the Pacific. The expanse and diversity of unspoiled land is astonishing: 15 miles of coastline, 14 miles of bluff edges, 31 separate beaches of white, coral, gray and black sands. Mother Nature must consider Peninsula Papagayo one of her finest hours.

Part sophisticated resort, part primitive playground, Peninsula Papagayo fulfills a dream envisioned by the Costa Rican government more than 25 years ago to introduce the natural and cultural treasures of this rich land to an international audience. Those who embark on this remarkable journey will be among the first to explore the splendor of such a vast, unbridled wilderness. And uncover the wonders of a 2,300-acre paradise, known simply as Peninsula Papagayo, that has turned a former backpacker’s haven into Costa Rica’s premier five-star destination.