Nayara Hotel Spa & Gardens

Rooms

It’s the quality of the rooms that makes Nayara so special. Each of the casitas and villas is secluded among the lush gardens so you get a sense of utter privacy; it’s perfect for a romantic escape. Choose between staying at the main hotel, or in one of Nayara Springs' villas, located 200m away across a ravine.

Rooms in the main hotel are divided into 2 categories according to their size and luxuriousness. The more indulgent option is the octagonal Rainforest Villa, while the Casita Deluxe is more modest (though still very comfortable). A panoramic window fills one wall, with sliding doors opening onto a generous wooden deck facing the volcano. It’s a tremendous view: you really can gaze at Arenal from your bed. All offer similar décor and a splendid amount of space: a huge main area, with polished hard wood floors and a cane-lined pitched roof. Each room is dominated by a four-poster kingsize bed, surrounded by gauzy white curtains, and this together with elegant loungers on the balcony gives a modern take on a Dutch East Indies feel. Plus each of these rooms has its own double Jacuzzi outside, so you can sip a sundowner as you watch the smoke rise from Arenal.

Behind the bed, a tall partition wall conceals an enormous wardrobe, with a minibar, a safe and a coffee machine, and the bathroom area. There’s a slick contemporary shower room with a drenching rainhead shower and a door to a little private patio where there’s a hot outdoor shower. There are simple toiletries, a hairdryer and a generous pile of towels.

Those in Nayara Springs, perched above the forest cliff, will be staying in a Springs Villa. This location (accessed by a pedestrian bridge across the ravine) has its own adults-only pool, restaurant, bar, yoga pavilion and high-end spa, creating a honeymoon haven atmosphere. The 35 Springs Villas are hidden among the trees and each comes with a wooden four-poster bed, a pool fed by hot spring water, a garden with an outdoor shower and a jaw-dropping view; décor is very similar to that of the main hotel casitas.

All rooms are well-equipped for entertainment, with a widescreen plasma TV, a DVD player and an iPod docking station. Add free WiFi, air-conditioning and room service and you have all the elements of a luxurious hotel, for a reasonable price.

Features include:

• Fan
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

There are 5 restaurants in total at Nayara. At the main hotel, Altamira is a wonderfully airy pavilion with a high pitched palm-lined roof and open-sides which allow the warm breezes to waft through the room. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all served here, and tables outside have a view of the volcano and the colourful tropical gardens. The food is simple and will appeal to all tastes, though there's a definite Costa Rican influence.

For lighter meals, the main hotel also has a wine and tapas bar, Nostalgia, which offers a selection of wine-friendly tapas - the perfect accompaniment to the Spanish and South American wines available from the state-of-the-art Italian self-service dispenser. There’s also a pool bar which serves cocktails as well as light meals and snacks throughout the day.

Since our visit Nayara has added Asia Luna, which specialises in Latin Asia fare. With vivid shades of blue and red, this is a relaxing contemporary space where you can dine and (of course) take in those stunning volcano views.

Nayara Springs’ guests have access to these restaurants, as well as 2 more on the Springs site. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at Mis Amores, which offers pizzas and Latin-influenced dishes. Or for more formal dining there's Amor Loco.

There are plenty of restaurants in La Fortuna if you fancy the bright lights of the tourist town. For the most elegant try the Tabacón hotel’s restaurant. For lunch, enjoy great views from the Observatory Lodge, a smart modern on the upper flanks of the Chato (flat) volcano, right next to Arenal. It serves local ingredients with international style.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Restaurant
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Hike to the west side of the volcano, within the Volcán Arenal National Park, to see the rainforest wildlife and lava formations from previous eruptions
  
• Visit Arenal Hanging Bridges. This 600-acre private reserve of protected rainforest offers you the chance to walk at the height of the treetops and spot wildlife invisible from the ground as you cross a series of 15 bridges, 9 suspended at varying heights. To see most birdlife, come early, and take a guide (best booked in advance)
  
• Head to the spectacular and popular Ecotermales hot springs. Come early in the day, when the pools are emptier
  
• Experience Sky Tram and Sky Trek. Take the silent cable car high over the rainforest, spotting howler monkeys and bright flitting birds below. Then, at the 1,300m-high platform, with stunning views over Lake Arenal, choose from a sedate walk in the forest with your naturalist guide, or adrenaline-fuelled excitement as you zip-line down along a 3km of wires, the longest of which is a staggering 750m. It's not for the faint-hearted, and not recommended for wet afternoons in the rainy season. Note, this is the only zip line company in the area which uses proper brakes: the rest give you a glove to brake manually
  
• La Fortuna Waterfalls are impressive, but the path is long and slippery. Consider horse riding instead, a 4-hour return trip
  
• Ask staff at reception about further options, including kayaking on Lake Arenal and rappelling down dramatic waterfalls
  
• Back at the hotel, go for a gentle swim in the pool or book yourself an organic Costa Rican treatment in the spa casita

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Plantlife / flora
• Swimming
• Trekking
• Well being
• Wildlife
• Zip-wiring

Kids

The main hotel is aimed more at couples, but children over 2 are welcome; Nayara Springs is adults only.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Rainforest Villa can fit 1 extra bed and the Casita Deluxe can fit 2. Children under 6 stay at no extra charge. Children cannot be accommodated in the Springs Villas.

Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Nayara Hotel Spa & Gardens is 10km (15 minutes) from the town of La Fortuna de San Carlos, close to Arenal Volcano National Park in northern Costa Rica.

By Air:
Arenal/La Fortuna (7km away) is the closest airport. It's served by domestic flights from San José, which is the main entrance hub to Costa Rica. Costa Rica’s other international airport, Liberia, is 4 hours away. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport:
It's a 15-minute taxi journey from Arenal/La Fortuna. If you'd prefer to travel overland from San José or Liberia, Nayara Hotel Spa & Gardens can arrange a transfer; the journey takes about 4 hours.

By Car:
You might want the freedom of a hire car for exploring the Arenal area. The roads from San José to La Fortuna are fine, but for visiting the local sights you’ll need a high clearance 4x4 as the roads are very rough - see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

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