Hotel Occidental Grand Papagayo Guanacaste

Located in the Gulf of Papagayo, the Occidental Grand Papagayo is a 35 minute drive from Liberia international airport. From here, a 40 minute flight is necessary to reach Costa Rica's capital city.

The resort's clientele is mainly American, Canadian, German and Spanish. This hotel is not recommend for disabled people. Small shuttles take you around the resort.

Accommodation tip:
It is difficult to avoid long distances at the Occidental Grand Papagayo. The buildings closest to the communal areas and the beach are no.s 1 and 2. Avoid no.s 14, 15 and 17, they are far from everything!

Built in 1996, the hotel was bought out in 2002 by the Occidental brand, who then had it renovated 2 years later. From the reception and the stylish terrace (the highest point of the hotel), you will get a view of this vast estate peppered with numerous buildings, of three floors at the most. A monumental staircase takes you progressively down to the area dedicated to the very large, ample and round-shaped swimming pool, and then on to the children's pool where you can relax on the numerous deckchairs. Everything is new and impersonal. Little paths wind their way through the estate. The spa offers the possibility of enjoying two very different atmospheres. One small building houses 4 massage rooms, including 2 doubles with whirlpool baths for couples, an affusion shower and a jacuzzi outside. In the heart of the lush green vegetation, massages are done out in the open, under two traditional huts. Not far away, children can play in the playground which is all made of wood, such as the slides, for example.

The 169 rooms of the resort are divided into 7 different categories. They are all identically decorated, only the size, the view and the services included in your option change. Once you have stepped inside, a relaxing and harmonious cream-coloured area opens out to you, with a four-poster bed, a cabinet for the satellite TV, a dressing table, numerous mirrors, etc. There is also individual air-conditioning, a fan, a mini-bar with tea and coffee facilities, a telephone, a free safe, a radio-alarm clock, an umbrella, an ironing board and an iron and mosquito nets on the windows which open out on to a large balcony. The beautiful and large cream marble bathroom is fitted with a bathtub, a hair-dryer and numerous hospitality products.Room service is available from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm for Royal Club guests.

You will certainly enjoy the international cuisine of the all-inclusive buffet. The cream-coloured, semi-circular shaped room is very pleasant and its large windows allow you to see the blue sea in the distance. The tables are well spaced out and the staff is very present. Another large room is dedicated to the presentation of the various meals. Breakfast, for example: 7 hot savoury dishes, an omelette stand, numerous ingredients to create your own salad, various sorts of bread, fruit and little cakes, plus eight sorts of cheese and cold cuts. For a more typical cuisine at dinner, try the Italian à la carte restaurant with its high and comfortable chairs, or the oriental restaurant where its Asian and Japanese cuisine is cooked before your eyes. In the day time, the snack-bar next to the swimming pool is more adapted to light meals taken outside in an environment which remains spacious and elegant.

A few (long) minutes from the reception, a pleasant pathway lined with palm trees followed by a few steps lead you to the large beach sheltered by trees. In this creek, the guests can enjoy the peace and beauty of the place all to themselves. On the fine brown sand, deckchairs are lined up closely in a row. A rope marks out the swimming zone, which is rather small compared to the vast clear blue sea. Do not trust the weak little waves, the currents can be extremely strong. Much coral comes up to the water's surface, you had better bring sandals with you. A small agency offers water sports activities (motorised or not).