The Allegro Papagayo Costa Rica Uncovered

The Allegro Papagayo Costa Rica, despite its past issues and negative reviews, is still one of the most visited resorts in the Papagayo area.  The infamous all inclusive resort is located about 35 min. from the Liberia International Airport in Costa Rica.  See the hotel on this map.

It is nestled in the Papagayo bay near the Papagayo peninsula in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.  The very affordable three star resort is rated three stars and priced the way it is for a reason. 

Upon considering all aspects of the resort such as the outer appearance, rooms, pool, beach, dining and nightlife options one can decide if it sounds like the perfect place to spend a week or more in Costa Rica.

The overall outside look of the hotel and location is stunning.  The Spanish architecture sprawls up the hills giving a spectacular view of the bay and green surroundings.  The lobby or main building of the Allegro Papagayo Costa Rica gives the first impression of the hotel and it is a good one.  The vaulted ceilings, fresh flowers, dark wood furniture, and warm inviting staff are all impressive.  Even the scent in the lobby carried by the ever present light breeze is sweet, tropical, and inviting. There is a bar called the El Mirador just off to the side of the reception and the view from there may be the best one at the resort.

Upon taking a closer look at the inside of the rooms is when the three star rating starts to make sense.  All three hundred or so rooms at the Allegro Papagayo are identical.  They are about comparable to nice motel rooms.   Providing just the basics is perfectly fine as long as guests expect it.  Time spent in Costa Rica is not meant to be spent in the room anyway.  So having a simple place to lay your head, shower, and cool off in the A/C is just fine.  The only real difference in the rooms is location and view.  The lower rooms do not have ocean views but are close to the restaurant and pool area.  The upper rooms have spectacular ocean views but require a steep hike or a sometimes long wait for a shuttle.

The pool at Allegro Papagayo Costa Rica is one of the best aspects of this hotel and where guests end up spending most of their time.  It is extremely large and winds around with an island flourishing with vegetation in one area, and a swim up bar in the other.  Gently used lounge chairs are lined up all the way around as well as palapas (grass umbrellas).  Sending an early riser to save chairs may be a wise decision as the pool area fills up fast.

What surprises guests most about the Allegro Papagayo Costa Rica is the beach.  Say the word beach and soft, fine, white sand comes to most minds.  The beach here is volcanic and is dark brown with almost a dirt consistency.  It is not the most beautiful beach in Costa Rica by any means, but there are other options. The first would be to take a private boat around to some of the lighter sand beaches where the water is clearer.  These light sand beaches are minutes away from the resort and local boat operators know them well. The second option is to take the resort’s water taxi over to “The Beach Club”, on a beach called Nacazolo.  The nicest area of the beach is actually on the opposite end of where they let guests off and is where Four Season’s guests gain access.  Beaches are all public in Costa Rica so visiting and exploring any beach is perfectly fine and expected.

The term all inclusive means just that, everything is included.  Big eaters and drinkers will surely get their money’s worth at the Allegro Papagayo Costa Rica.  Picky eaters and drinkers may be disappointed.  The food served is good, but not gourmet and the alcoholic beverages included are local beers and well liquors.  Not expecting too much and enjoying the vast menu of tropical mixed drinks is the way to fully enjoy the all inclusive experience.  The resort features a main buffet restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  There are two a la carte restaurants that require reservations, and guests are allowed two reservations per week. It is recommended to make those reservations upon arrival, as the hotel will happily serve buffet food to guests who aren’t clued in.  Pablo’s Bar is the lively pool bar, which has a wet side and a dry side.  El Mirador is the bar in the lobby, and the Sports and Disco bar is off of the buffet restaurant. Click here to see a helpful guide to all the eateries in Allegro Papagayo Costa Rica along with hours of operation. The nightly shows at The Allegro Papagayo theatre are nothing to write home about so don’t feel bad if any or all of the performances are missed.

The Allegro Papagayo all inclusive resort does earn its three star rating.  Choosing this location could result in the trip of a lifetime or a nightmare depending on what amenities the specific guest is expecting.  Looking at the outer appearance, rooms, pool, beach, dining and nightlife of the Allegro Papagayo, one can reaffirm that you do get what you pay for. Please check out these special tips when staying at the Allegro Papagayo Costa Rica.

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