Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Secrets Papagayo is an all-inclusive resort on the western coast of Costa Rica. While many Hyatt fans opt for the Andaz hotel in this country, Secrets is an excellent option for those seeking value, more dining options on-property, and an adults-only escape.
HYATT LOYALTY HIGHLIGHTS
Suite upgrade awards (SUAs) are accepted for the Bungalow Suite King Ocean View
Globalists receive numerous benefits, including the following:
Personalized check in / check out with a concierge service
Access to the Preferred Club, including premium liquor
Teppanyaki table (at the onsite Japanese restaurant) reservations 24 hours in advance
Access to beachfront cabanas, reserved in advance
Upgraded minibar and bath amenities
Espresso machine (only if you’re in a preferred suite)
Hyatt Globalists receive key access to the Preferred Club, which has premium liquor and a small outdoor seating area
HOTEL BRAND OVERVIEW
Secrets properties are adults-only all-inclusive beach resorts. Hyatt obtained this brand under its Apple Leisure Group acquisition announced in 2021. For those with kids, Dreams Resorts offer a family-friendly option; one is located not far from the Secrets location in Costa Rica.
The hotel has an open-air lobby that overlooks the water, making you immediately feel like you’re on a relaxing vacation
BOOKING
This is a Hyatt resort category D (out of F), meaning a stay here requires 30,000 Hyatt points per night at the standard rate. It was upgraded from a category C to D in 2023. Cash rates vary based on season, but can easily start at $600 per night for the cheapest room.
I opted to book a standard room on points, which was 25,000 per night (before it went up to 30,000). I did an advanced point booking (a Globalist benefit), so by the time I transferred all necessary points about 2 months in advance, there was no availability to apply a suite upgrade award. If you do want to secure a suite, make sure to plan in advance!
LOCATION
Secrets Papagayo sits on Culebra Bay, right across the water from multiple other hotels, including the Andaz.
Conveniently, the closest international airport is Liberia (LIR), which is about a 20 minute drive away. We opted to arrange a shared airport transfer through Amstar, the preferred vendor of the resort. It was easy to find them at the airport and the experience was hassle-free. Cost was $62 per person, round-trip.
Coming from NYC, we were able to take a direct flight to LIR on American Airlines. Note that when you fly out of LIR, expect a wait at security on weekends during peak season. There is only one lounge at the airport (access with Priority Pass), which was not very nice when we visited, and fills up quickly.
The resort is located on Culebra Bay, nestled into the hills
Beach access is directly available at the foot of the resort, offering beautiful sunsets
CHECK IN
As soon as we arrived at the resort, our luggage was picked up and we were swiftly taken to a separate check-in at the Preferred Club. This was thanks to our Globalist status with Hyatt. At the club, my wife and I enjoyed sipping on pina coladas as a member of the staff reviewed the resort amenities with us.
Following check-in, we were escorted to a nearby dining room to enjoy lunch as our room was finished being prepared. After eating, a shuttle took us to our room, where our luggage was waiting inside.
A fleet of tropical-themed vans shuttle guests around the resort
Hyatt Globalists are escorted to the Preferred Club for check-in and offered welcome drinks to enjoy
Palm trees line the paths at the resort, which wind around the hills
ROOM
Our Bungalow Suite King—the standard room—was located on the northeastern side of the resort (on the left side, if you’re looking at the property map). This is known as being the “relaxing” side of the resort. If I return to this resort, I would stay on this side again, as my wife and I are not big fans of the cruise ship-type entertainment that is hosted on the “active” side of the resort. But, to each their own!
As we approached our bungalow, we could see that there was a sash across the door. They do this if you are celebrating a special event, such as a honeymoon, anniversary, or birthday, which we were. A little tacky to me, but again, to each their own.
My favorite part of the room was the front porch. I loved being able to sit outside in the morning with a cup of coffee and watch the wildlife.
Back to the point of this resort being great value, they offer 24/7 room service at no extra charge. I loved that you could order on the iPad located within the room, including drinks. The in-room dining wasn’t of incredible quality, but it was great for the convenience. They drop off the food and drinks through a box connected to your room. I had an omelet and coffee each morning for breakfast and was happy.
Overall, the room was plenty of space for two people. It could likely use a refresh, though—this is where the appeal of the Andaz property would come into play, in my view.
Guests stay in their own bungalows, with sliding doors that open onto a porch
The standard room is the Bungalow Suite King, which is about 450 square feet
My favorite part of the room was the porch, where I enjoyed Costa Rican coffee each morning and listened to the birds
In-room dining is ordered on an iPad in the room, then delivered on a tray through a box connected to the room
We used in-room dining for breakfast in bed each morning
Bath products in the room are Secrets branded
AMENITIES
Secrets has 6 restaurants and a cafe on property. No reservations needed at any of them. Our overall favorite was Aqua, the relatively newer and healthier option. We loved the service and ambiance, with its outdoor (covered) seating that overlooks the water. You can hear the waves on the beach as you eat—so relaxing. The chicken skewers and veggie burger with homemade chips at lunch, and passionfruit gazpacho at dinner, were highlights. While there were hits and misses with the food, overall, it was better than I expected.
There are two pools on the resort, one on the “active” (or “party”) side and one on the “relaxing” side. We always opted for the relaxing pool, which was close to our bungalow and the spa. At both pools there are drink and food options.
Given that the resort is spread out and has hills, some people opt to use the shuttle service that zips around the property. We only did so when we had luggage, but it was an easy call from the room and a van would arrive within 5 minutes.
While we did a few off-resort activities, we were happy with the free options available onsite. We did guided snorkling and kayaking, both of which were a lot of fun. My wife also did a free bracelet-making activity.
If you’re looking for white beaches with crystal-clear water, you would have to go elsewhere. Most people preferred the pool as opposed the beach.
We took advantage of the spa on property, which you do have to pay extra for. I would recommend waiting until you get on property to book, as they offer coupons when you’re there. In fact, we ended up sitting through a vacation club pitch in return for 90 minute massages.
Our favorite onsite restaurant was Aqua, the newest restaurant and healthiest option, where I enjoyed the chicken skewers for lunch
The homemade potato chips that came with the veggie burger at Aqua were delicious
There are different themed restaurants at the resort, such as Japanese
Coco Cafe is not to be missed—try the mint coffee for an afternoon pick me up
On the active side of the resort, they offer free activities such as bracelet-making next to the pool area
The beach that the resort sits on has black sand, given the volcanic area
SERVICE
We had great interactions with the staff at the resort. Everyone in roles interacting directly with guests spoke English, but if you do know Spanish, it’s always welcomed.
NEARBY ACTIVITIES
Given that we stayed at the resort for six nights, we decided to do off-property activities on two of the days. That ended up feeling like a nice balance.
We booked all off-resort activities through Amstar in advance. It was nice to have an itinerary set before we arrived, although Amstar does have an office at the resort that you can stop by once you’re there. While you can likely find cheaper options with other vendors, we appreciated the convenience and assurance of going through an established one.
Our favorite activity was an all-day excursion called “Culture and Adventure Mega Combo” tour. This included horseback riding, a coffee and pottery experience, zip lining (the best part!), lunch, and relaxation in a natural spa. My wife was initially scared of doing the zip lining, but ended up loving it. We were picked up in a shuttle from Secrets at 8:10am and dropped back off at 5:45pm. The cost was $156 per person.
The other activity we did was the Corobici River Safari. During this excursion, we hopped into a river raft with a guide; we didn’t have to share the boat with another party, which was nice. Definitely wear sunscreen and bring a hat, as you’re sitting in the sun during for most of the experience. The ride was pretty smooth and we got to see a variety of animals, including monkeys and iguanas. On the shuttle ride back, we got to stop by a cluster of stores to check out souvenirs. This was a shorter excursion than the other, as we departed after lunch. The cost was $146 per person.
The Culture and Adventure Mega Combo tour takes you into the mountains, to Rincon de la Vieja volcano
The first stop during the full-day tour was horsebackriding
The highlight of the day was ziplining—even though it rained for part of it, the experience was exciting!
There was also a cultural element to the Mega Combo tour, including a coffee experience where we had the opportunity to buy bags of beans in the gift shop
The other tour we did with Amstar was a river safari experience, which was a great way to be in nature and spot animals
SUMMARY
Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica is a great option if you’re looking for a couples or friends getaway. Given that it’s all-inclusive with food and drinks, your wallet will be happy when you leave. We used Hyatt points for the whole stay, so only paid for a couple bottles of premium wine and our off-resort activities. The cruise-type entertainment can be cheesy, so if that’s not your thing, I’d recommend staying on the “quiet” side of the resort. Make sure to go off property if you have a longer stay to enjoy the country around you!
Costa Rica is a beautiful country that makes for a wonderful destination to both relax and explore!
