Nekajui Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Overview

Opportunity

Solution

Impact

Team

Nekajui redefines ultra-luxury hospitality by immersing guests in Costa Rica's cultural heritage, biodiversity, and landscapes through an authentic, place-driven design experience.

Location

Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Client

Gencom

Expertise

Hospitality Residential

Opportunity

The opportunity was to create a luxury destination that celebrates Guanacaste's identity while setting a new benchmark for sustainable hospitality in Costa Rica.

Situated within a 570-hectare coastal landscape in Guanacaste, Nekajui sought to redefine the relationship between luxury, culture, and nature. Rather than importing a universal resort aesthetic, the project embraced the region's history, ecosystems, and traditions as the foundation of the guest experience. Collaboration between Gensler's hospitality teams in California and Costa Rica combined global expertise with deep local knowledge to create a destination that reflects the spirit of place while elevating the Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand.

Why This Matters

01
Celebrating Local Identity
The resort incorporates Guanacaste's cultural heritage and natural landscapes into an immersive hospitality experience rooted in authenticity.
02
Luxury Through Place
Architecture and interiors reinforce a distinctive sense of destination rather than a standardized luxury model.
03
Regenerative Tourism
The project demonstrates how hospitality can strengthen environmental stewardship while honoring local communities and traditions.

FPO Quote

Solution

Architecture, interiors, and landscape unfold as a journey through Guanacaste's history, ecosystems, and traditions, creating an immersive luxury experience unique to Costa Rica.

The resort is organized into distinct experiential zones that interpret the cultural and environmental richness of Guanacaste. Arrival spaces reference Chorotega heritage and Spanish colonial influences, while guestrooms and suites evoke the warmth and craftsmanship associated with the region's Sabanero traditions. The landscape becomes an essential design element, with architecture inspired by Guanacaste's seasonal transformations. A hanging bridge, funicular, and beach club create immersive connections between wellness, nature, and the Pacific coastline, reinforcing the seamless relationship between hospitality and place.

From brief to build: translating Guanacaste's landscapes, traditions, and biodiversity into an immersive hospitality experience shaped by culture and nature.

The design process began with an in-depth exploration of Guanacaste's cultural history, environmental conditions, and local craftsmanship. Close collaboration between Gensler's California and Costa Rica teams ensured that global hospitality expertise was informed by regional knowledge and authentic storytelling. Every architectural gesture, material selection, and guest journey was carefully choreographed to strengthen connections between the built environment, native ecosystems, and Costa Rica's rich cultural identity.

A Garden Celebrating Cultural Heritage

Nekajui’s design is a celebration of the hidden histories, stunning sunsets, and lush green landscapes of its home in the region of Guanacaste.

Impact

Nekajui establishes a new vision for ultra-luxury hospitality where cultural authenticity, environmental stewardship, and exceptional guest experiences are inseparable.

By grounding luxury in local identity, the resort elevates Costa Rica's global hospitality offering while fostering meaningful connections between guests, culture, and nature.

What Changed Because of This

01
Guest Experience
Every space immerses visitors in Guanacaste's history, landscapes, and traditions, creating an authentic luxury destination unlike any other.
02
Sustainable Hospitality
Environmental responsiveness and respect for the site's ecosystems establish a new benchmark for responsible ultra-luxury development.
03
Regional Identity
The project positions Guanacaste as a world-class destination where architecture celebrates local culture while redefining contemporary hospitality.

FAQ

01

What is Nekajui and where is it located?

Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is an ultra-luxury resort set within a 570-hectare coastal landscape in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The resort immerses guests in the region's cultural heritage, biodiversity, and natural environment.

02

Who designed the resort, and how was the project team structured?

Nekajui was designed by Gensler through a collaboration between hospitality teams based in California and Costa Rica. This cross-regional partnership grounded global expertise in local knowledge and craftsmanship.

03

What was the central design challenge for this project?

The design team sought to create a luxury destination rooted in Guanacaste's distinct identity rather than a generic resort aesthetic. The region's history, ecosystems, and traditions served as the foundation for the entire guest experience.

04

How does the design reflect the culture and landscape of Guanacaste?

The resort's experiential zones draw on Chorotega heritage, Spanish colonial influences, and Sabanero traditions, with architecture inspired by the region's seasonal transformations. The landscape is treated as an essential design element throughout.

05

How does the resort connect guests to the natural environment?

Amenities including a hanging bridge, a funicular, and a beach club create immersive physical connections between guests, the Pacific coastline, and the surrounding ecosystems. Every architectural gesture and material choice was designed to strengthen that relationship.

06

What broader vision does Nekajui represent for luxury hospitality?

Nekajui demonstrates that cultural authenticity, environmental stewardship, and exceptional guest experience are inseparable, establishing sense of place as the defining luxury amenity.

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Related Expertise

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Nekajui redefines ultra-luxury hospitality by immersing guests in Costa Rica's cultural heritage, biodiversity, and landscapes through an authentic, place-driven design experience.

The opportunity was to create a luxury destination that celebrates Guanacaste's identity while setting a new benchmark for sustainable hospitality in Costa Rica.

Why This Matters

Architecture, interiors, and landscape unfold as a journey through Guanacaste's history, ecosystems, and traditions, creating an immersive luxury experience unique to Costa Rica.

From brief to build: translating Guanacaste's landscapes, traditions, and biodiversity into an immersive hospitality experience shaped by culture and nature.

Nekajui establishes a new vision for ultra-luxury hospitality where cultural authenticity, environmental stewardship, and exceptional guest experiences are inseparable.

What Changed Because of This