GILDED TROPICS

PAPAGAYO PENINSULA IS AMONG THE PLANET'S MOST BIODIVERSE CORRIDORS AND A VERIFIABLE PLAYGROUND FOR ADVENTURE.

- WORDS BY BRITTANY SMITH

SurfX was founded in 2020 by Hanna Storrøsten, a Norwegian transplant. It matches guests with top-ranked Costa Rican sucfecs-many of whom are women.

Costa Rica isn't lacking in spoils and very well may be the adventure travel destination. But there’s one place epitomizing quiet luxury like no other: Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo.

Unlike Positano, which garnered a feverish uptick in tourism several summers ago for being charmingly photogenic—spurring shutter-button fatigue from trigger-happy tourists—Papagayo Peninsula caters to adventurers who want to do, not just see.

This part of Costa Rica, studded on the Pacific Coast in Guanacaste, caters to a subset of travelers with rich dichotomies. It attracts people who seek nature—raw and resplendent—just as much as they desire an upscale resort experience.

Bespoke Booking

Once upon a time, you thumbed a travel guidebook, earmarking hole-in-the-wall eateries to avoid tourist traps. Today, you might book an entire trip based on an Instagram post you scrolled by. The Men's Journal ethos promotes intentional travel. And while every trip should bake in spontaneity and happenstance, a thoughtful itinerary is indispensable.

One of the best purveyors of bespoke itineraries is Black Tomato. The full-service luxury tour outfitter has a robust rolodex of partners in every stretch of the globe, from Malawi to Montenegro.

Black Tomato considered my penchant for adventure and luxe leisure to procure guides, accommodations, transfers, experiences, and special access to one-of-a-kind activities. When you're staying at Four Seasons Costa Rica—and dropping a significant amount of cash to do so—you want the assurance you're in good hands.

Download the Black Tomato app to get your full itinerary, maps, and local weather.

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