Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica, Now Open for Bookings

Updated: December 17, 2024, 12:08pm CST

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Another High-End Property on Peninsula Papagayo
Don’t Book This on Points
Final Thoughts

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Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Marriott’s top hotel brand, is opening a new property in Costa Rica.

Nekajui, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve Resort, won’t open until March 1, 2025, but is already accepting reservations.

Let’s look at what you can expect from this new, exclusive property, and at what prices.

Another High-End Property on Peninsula Papagayo

Nekajui is on the Peninsula Papagayo, where a complex of hotels and high-end real estate also hosts the Andaz, popular with points travelers, and a Four Seasons resort.

According to the new hotel’s site, Nekajui is a word from the Chorotega indigenous language meaning “lush garden,” and judging by the images on the site, the name fits.

Nekajui Ritz Carlton Reserve Outdoor View Big — One of the Nekajui’s restaurants on the Pacific Ocean. Image credit: Ritz-Carlton Reserve

The resort will have 107 rooms, including several options for suites and even treetop tents. The Nekajui site features, in fact, a whopping 15 types of room, up to a 4-bedroom villa.

Nekajui Ritz Carlton Reserve Room View 2 — A room at the Nekajui. Image Credit: Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Thre is a spa, a 24/7 fitness center, 3 different outdoor pools, beach access, and several options for dining.

Bars and restaurants include:

Puna, a Peruvian restaurant, open for dinner
Niri Beach Club, featuring Iberian cuisine, open for lunch and dinner
Café Rincón, which the hotel calls “a celebration of Costa Rican coffee culture,” is open for breakfast and lunch
La Casona Bar, with views of the Pacific Ocean
Ambar, open for evening drinks

Guests can also opt for “private open-air dining in the treetops,” as well as picnics on the beach or the more traditional in-room dining.

Bottom Line:

Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties — not to be confused with The Ritz-Carlton — are smaller resorts with an even greater emphasis on service. Only 7 currently exist. Besides Nekajui, Reserve properties are located in Bali, Puerto Rico, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, China, and Mexico.

Don’t Book This on Points

There’s no sugarcoating it: Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties are very expensive, and Nekajui is no exception. A check of prices in March, just after opening, returned prices starting at $2,401 per night. In addition, guests will be on the hook for a $350 destination fee but not other taxes and fees.

Nekajui booking — Image Credit: Marriott Bonvoy

For suites overlooking the Pacific Ocean, nightly rates rise to $7,178 per night. Rates go down significantly in the low season, though, starting at $1,139 in September.

Nekajui booking 2 — Image credit: Marriott Bonvoy

When it comes to booking using Marriott Bonvoy points, the lowest price we found was an astronomical 1,272,000. Even with a fifth night free on award redemptions, these are absurd prices. We expect these exorbitant points rates to come back down to earth in the future.

Nekajui points booking — Image Credit: Marriott Bonvoy

Final Thoughts

Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Resort, is the latest addition to the Peninsula Papagayo area, known for beautiful nature and exclusive, luxury hotels.

It offers the stunning beauty and choice of outdoor activities that the Pacific side of Costa Rica is famous for, and it is now accepting reservations for stays beginning on March 1, 2025.

Those stays, however, will not come cheap. At current prices, this would not be a smart points redemption. But if you have the cash, Nekajui promises to be a stunning experience.