Why You’ll Love It

Choose from the family-friendly Nayara Gardens or adults-only Nayara Springs, connected by a jungle footbridge
All rooms are private villas, most featuring private hot spring plunge pools
Open-air spa will have you relaxing to the sounds of the rainforest
As a member of Relais & Chateaux, the food at the four restaurants is phenomenal

The Experience

Nayara Gardens & Nayara Springs is the #1 Resort in Central and South America as named by Travel + Leisure, and the award is well-deserved! These two sister hotels offer guests an authentic and unmatched Costa Rican experience in the heart of the Arenal region.

Nayara Hotel Spa & Gardens is perfect for families and couples – the 50 individual casitas and suites designed to bring nature inside. Each bungalow-style room has an outdoor shower and jacuzzi overlooked by the Arenal volcano – you’ll never forget where you are when you wake up to that view!

A suspension bridge connects the hotel to its adults-only sister property, Nayara Springs. Here you have the choice of 25 villas with ultra-luxe style and privacy, plus an adults-only pool. Our favorite part of the villas is that they all include a private plunge pool fed by mineral hot springs – talk about the perfect way to relax after a long day of adventure!

Speaking of adventure, we recommend that all of our River Oaks Travelers spend at least three days in the Arenal region to have enough time to explore the area. This part of Costa Rica is known for adventures: ziplining, hanging bridges, waterfall hikes, whitewater rafting, nature safaris, and more! With a stay at Nayara, you’re perfectly positioned to enjoy all of these activities before winding down at your luxury resort.

Looking for some relaxation to mix in with your adventure? We highly recommend making a reservation at the Nayara Spa! The spa is perched on a cliff overlooking the tropical rainforest so you can enjoy a treatment to the sounds of nature. Far better than any sound machine! We also love that the products used highlight Costa Rica’s natural ingredients like coffee scrubs and volcanic mud.

For foodies, there are plenty of options to enjoy on-property (Nayara is part of Relais & Chateaux). The La Terraza Restaurant focuses on authentic, gourmet Costa Rican cuisine made from local produce and ingredients, all with the backdrop of the Arenal volcano. For a pre or post dinner drink, we love the Nostalgia wine bar, where you can sample the best of Latin American and Spanish vintages.

In the Nayara Springs section, Amor Loco is the signature gem, with avant-garde dishes, plush chairs, and live music that create an unexpectedly romantic ambience in the middle of the rainforest. Looking for something more casual? Mis Amores is a stylish terrace serving Latin-inspired bites like guacamole, gazpacho, and ceviche.