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Journey Costa Rica is stepping into 2026 with the same spirit that has driven us from day one: paving the way for our guests through relentless exploration, pushing the boundaries of luxury travel and feeling big gratitude for our travelers, who trust us to deliver their dream trips in Costa Rica and Panama. 

We’re excited about new opportunities for our guests to experience the authentic heart of these wild and wonderful destinations, always tailored to individual style and aspirations. Here’s Journey Costa Rica’s roundup on how to travel in 2026. 

HIGH-TOUCH ADVENTURE IN THE WILD 

We’re rewilding Costa Rica’s luxury travel landscape: re-centering on immersion in raw nature, stepping off the classic circuit, and embracing the reward of moving beyond the familiar. This doesn’t mean sacrificing ease or comfort – we know how to balance both. It’s about returning to the sense of discovery, spontaneity, and adventure that we love about travel, supported by our proactive service rooted in care and connection. 

REMOTE BOUTIQUE HOTELS 

The rise of luxury boutiques in more secluded regions of Costa Rica is drawing travelers off the beaten path and encouraging multi-destination journeys. After 2025’s launch of several ultra-luxury resorts, 2026 brings a new wave of intimate high-end openings:  

• • Beachfront Fermata in Santa Teresa 

• • Origins Astral (great for families!) 

• • Coastal Santa Lucía at the threshold of Cararas National Park 

• • Reimagined Punta Islita, Nicoya Peninsula (late 2026)

UVITA AND THE OSA PENINSULA 

We’re looking to the town of Uvita on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific Coast as a standout base thanks to a surge in luxury villas surrounded by rainforests, wildlife, and grand forest and ocean views. We’re excited to unlock high-impact, nature-rich itineraries pairing stays in Uvita with the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth. 

• • The area has no town center by design, creating a nature-immersed atmosphere 

• • Luxury villas boast top-notch accommodation and service. 

• • Full staffing, curated picnics, BBQs 

• • Waterfalls, curated picnics, national parks, ziplines, hikes 

• • Wildlife and adventure galore on Osa’s Corcovado Peninsula 

• • Snorkeling and diving on epic Isla Caño in Golfo Dulce 

• • Stay at the recently renovated Corcovado Wilderness or, Tibo in late 2026

PAPAGAYO EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 

The gorgeous Papagayo Peninsula is a go-to for luxury travelers in Costa Rica, with flagship resorts like the Four Seasons, Andaz and the new Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve that opened in 2025. The Waldorf Astoria also opened its doors this year across the bay on the Cacique Peninsula, next to Hermosa Beach. 

We’ve created an exciting program of exploration by air, land, and sea to complement stays at these world-class properties while reintroducing a sense of wild. Our seamless logistics, elevated comfort, and thoughtful touches keep the adventure luxurious, while exclusive access, insider creativity, and high-touch design enhance Papagayo’s resort community experience: 

• • Heli-surfing, heli-biking, heli-rafting and heli-supported hiking into remote landscapes (the country’s top helicopter is now positioned in Papagayo!) 

• • Jet-ski expeditions to secluded beaches 

• • Marine wildlife encounters and conservation on dives with ocean explorer, Ernst van der Poll  

• • Overnight stays on a private catamaran anchored in a protected bay 

• • Secluded waterfalls and natural hot springs paired with champagne and curated picnics 

• • UTV rally challenges and guided off-road routes into rugged terrain 

• • Castaway-style retreats complete with bonfires, fresh-caught fish, and full service

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ULTRA-LUX VILLAS, PRIVATE ESTATES AND INFINITE POSSIBILITIES 

Your Villa, Elevated 

We’ve got something super exciting for Costa Rica guests staying in private homes: the Your Villa, Elevated Program. Whether it’s a couples, friends, or multi-generational family trip, we’ve designed a menu of curated activities that bring culture and connection to the privacy of your home away from home. These are resort-level experiences in Journey Costa Rica style – intimate, creative, and fully personalized.  

Choose in-villa moments across four themed experience categories, bringing in local talent – chefs, mixologists, musicians, ceramicists, sommeliers, photographers, wellness instructors – to match your party’s dynamic. We want to spark our guests’ inspiration to imagine what’s possible in a villa setting: 

• • Learning how to scuba dive in your pool before exploring open ocean

• • Dynamic Spanish lessons for all ages 

• • Family jam sessions 

• • Fire dancers and illusionist performances 

• • An evening of zesty ceviche and salsa dancing

COSTA RICA’S NEXT-LEVEL VILLAS 

We’re excited about the ultra-luxury villas we’ve found across Costa Rica, including several properties completely new to market and brand-new builds. These properties are ideal for families and multigenerational groups, offering the privacy, space, and comfort needed for curated, personal stays. Stir your imagination with some of our favorites below, our team is always ready to chat luxury villas!