Costa Rica’s Hidden Gem: A Journey to Nayara Gardens in the Heart of Arenal
- laurie2769
- 7 hours ago
- 5 min read
Costa Rica may be small, with only 19,700 square miles of land, but it is a country brimming with biodiversity and natural beauty. The diverse landscapes, ranging from ocean shores to towering mountains, offer an incredible variety of ecosystems - 12 in total - making it hard to choose where to visit. On this trip, however, we found ourselves drawn to the northwest region of Costa Rica, where the majestic silhouette of Arenal Volcano rises in the distance. Just under three hours from San José, Arenal is one of the country’s most iconic landmarks.
Standing 1,657 meters tall, its near-perfect conical shape is unmistakable. Arenal erupted violently in 1968, drastically changing the landscape and destroying the town of Tabacón. This eruption marked the beginning of 42 years of continuous activity, making Arenal one of the world’s most active volcanoes during that time. The geothermal activity in the area has led to the formation of hot springs, and the surrounding rainforests are home to diverse wildlife, including sloths, birds, and monkeys.
Today the volcano rests quietly over a lush, thriving ecosystem, where we had the opportunity to explore its magic.
LUXURY STAY
Nayara Gardens
702 Road 21007
Provincia de Alajuela, La Fortuna
US Toll Free +1 (844) 865-2002
Reservations + (506) 2479-1600
Our home base for experiencing the beauty of Arenal was the newly rebuilt Nayara Gardens, the flagship property of the Nayara Resorts collection, located in Arenal National Park. This was our first stay since the complete rebuild, and it exceeded our expectations in every way.
Nayara Gardens feels more like a lush jungle village than a resort. It’s intimate and personal, and everywhere you turn, you’re surrounded by green. There’s even a boutique filled with locally made artisan goods and a brand-new family education center, where guests can learn about the rainforest, paint in plain air, or just marvel at the property’s sloth sanctuary. Yes, sloths live on the property, and yes, you can spot them on a guided nature walk!
GETTING THERE
To get to Costa Rica from Miami, you can fly directly to San José International Airport (SJO), which offers daily nonstop flights from Miami International Airport (MIA). The flight typically takes around 3 hours. Once you arrive in San José, Nayara Gardens is just a two-and-a-half-hour drive away.
Getting to Nayara Gardens is part of the experience. The resort is a short drive from either of Costa Rica’s two main international airports: San José or Liberia. Nayara can arrange private transfers with naturalist guides who help make the journey feel like a mini expedition, pointing out wildlife and landscapes along the way.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Every casita – now called an Arenal Casita – has been thoughtfully redesigned. Bright interiors with clean white walls are balanced with bold, custom wallpaper headboards inspired by local flora. The bathrooms are incredible, with glass walls that look out into a private walled garden, and each casita features its own jacuzzi-style plunge pool and deck nestled in the rainforest. And to top it off, there’s an outdoor shower that’s an absolute must-try, as there’s something truly special about showering outdoors while immersing yourself in nature.
Room amenities include air conditioning, twice-daily maid service, in-room and onsite Wi-Fi, a safe, a stocked mini-bar with local snacks, an espresso machine.
DINING
During our stay at Nayara Gardens, we experienced the heart of Costa Rican flavors, where authentic tastes and rich ingredients take center stage. The dining venues each offered a unique atmosphere - from the intimate Nostalgia Wine Bar, where one can enjoy wine pairings and small bites, to the lively La Terraza del Arenal, where you can savor a mix of traditional Costa Rican and international dishes on a vibrant outdoor terrace. And there is also Asia Luna, where the fusion of Asian flavors provides a delightful twist to your dining experience.
And while Nayara Gardens has plenty to keep guests engaged, you also get full access to the amenities at its sister properties: Nayara Springs and Nayara Tented Camp. That includes extra restaurants, pools, spas, yoga pavilions, and natural hot springs (just note that Nayara Springs is adults-only).
ACTIVITIES
There are tons of activities available both on and off the property. Each morning starts with a refreshing yoga session, and nature walks through the sloth sanctuary and along the armadillo trail offer a peaceful connection with the environment.
Nayara Gardens offers five hot spring pools, which are one of the resort’s signature features. These natural thermal pools provide a luxurious way to relax while surrounded by the stunning rainforest and the nearby Arenal Volcano. We highly recommend trying every single one. As you do, you may encounter Nayara’s rich biodiversity, including hummingbirds, blue morpho butterflies, and lizards. Look up as you enjoy the thermal baths, and you might also spot sloths, white-faced capuchin monkeys, toucans, and parrots.
Other activities include private dining in exclusive rainforest-view areas, birdwatching walks at dawn, ecological experiences, evening frog tours under the stars, and more. Coffee enthusiasts can enjoy a tasting class at Mi Cafecito Espresso Bar, where Nayara roasts its own beans.
For adventures beyond the property, Nayara offers guided experiences like the hanging bridge walk, horseback riding through scenic landscapes, adrenaline-pumping ziplining, and white water rafting or gentle canoe floating tours on nearby rivers.
SPA
Nayara Gardens is home of an award-winning full-service spa set in perfect harmony within lush gardens teeming with indigenous flora and fauna. It’s a sanctuary of beauty and tranquility, offering the perfect place to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with nature.
The spa features treatment pavilions that overlook Nayara Gardens’ native flora, each equipped with a jacuzzi and outdoor showers. Popular treatments include the signature organic coffee scrubs and the rejuvenating volcanic mud and chocolate clay wraps, which blend local ingredients with therapeutic techniques to leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed.
SUSTAINABILITY
Nayara as a brand has sustainability woven into everything it does. From reforesting the surrounding area and eliminating plastic to building an actual housing community for their staff in partnership with a local bank, they walk the talk. Every fixture and furnishing from the original Nayara Gardens is being reused to help furnish these new homes for their employees, who can own them outright with no strings attached.
If we had to summarize our stay, we would say Nayara Gardens offers a transformative getaway - more than just a place to stay, it’s a portal into the vibrant natural soul of Costa Rica. Whether you’re practicing yoga at sunrise, soaking in a thermal spring, sipping freshly roasted coffee, or spotting sloths in the treetops, the experience lingers long after you’ve left.
For more information, visit: www.nayaragardens.com
