All the information you need before checking in - and why you should!
Spoiler alert - this is the best hotel I've ever stayed at!
Yes, that sounds like hyperbole, but once you go to a Nayara Resort, you will never want to go to any other resort. And this post is not sponsored at all! It is pricey to stay, but if you have some travel points saved up, I highly suggest using them for a trip to Nayara!
The Location and Surroundings - Luxury in Nature
We stayed at the Nayara Springs resort but there are three resorts on the same property in La Fortuna, Costa Rica - close to the Arenal Volcano.
Nayara Springs - adults only
Nayara Gardens - family friendly
Nayara Tented Camp - family friendly with large tented villas (also the most expensive of the three)
Imagine waking up in your own villa's canopy bed with a view into your private plunge pool and a volcano in the background. Sounds heavenly, right?
After leaving your villa, you stroll to the Mis Amores Restaurant, where you're seated with a different view of the lush rainforest and the majestic volcano. Breakfast is included in your stay for all guests. You can either eat at the restaurant, or get room service brought to your villa.
For additional details about the cuisine at Nayara (and throughout Costa Rica), check out my other post (linked here), as the food deserves its own spotlight!
Are you sold yet?
Nayara Services and Amenities - Indulgence & Adventure
Once you are done with breakfast, the day is a choose your own adventure!
Do you want to lay out by one of the multiple pools on the property?
Take a dip in the numerous hot springs located at the Tented Camp resort?
Get a spa treatment at the world class spa?
Wander the property observing the wildlife?
Explore the surrounding rainforest by doing a zipline tour or hanging bridge nature walk?
The one we went to is the Ecoglide Zipline. It is called the Canopy Tour. You can do the zipline tour with or without a Tarzan Swing (we did not). It cost about $60 per person and they pick you up from your hotel if you are staying in the La Fortuna area . They have photographers along the way so you don't have to worry about taking photos and risk losing your phone. It was only about $30 (total per group) and it included multiple photos and 1 video per person.
The options are endless! The resort is happy to book any excursion or you can book it yourself and save a little money.
The team at Nayara excels in ensuring your stay is everything you've dreamed of! We had the opportunity to take a golf cart ride after dark to search for frogs and other wildlife. The resorts are situated on a steep hill, so unless you plan on getting all your steps for the week in a short period, it's advisable to call and request a ride to navigate the resort.
Sustainability and Travel Tips
Nayara Resorts are committed to protecting Costa Rica's biodiversity. Costa Rica in general is leading the way to live in a more sustainable way. You won't find any single-use plastic on the property. And you realize how easy it is to live without it!
They have also planted thousands of native trees to help restore the rainforest and create a welcoming environment for wildlife - including the endangered sloth population.
We visited the property at the end of February, which is the "dry season" in Costa Rica. This is normally from December to April. I kept hearing that we may still get some rain since it is a rainforest. But we were so lucky during the week we spent, that we did not get any rain! I suggest checking the weather reports and packing as if you are expecting rain. I will have a packing guide out soon with everything I packed for my trip!
We flew into the San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) airport and drove about 3 hours to the resort. I recommend renting a car if you don't mind driving through the mountains on windy roads and many of them are unpaved. We rented a 4x4 car and had no issue navigating - you will either need to get a travel plan with your phone provider or get a sim card once you arrive. We paid for one travel plan on my husband's phone and just used that to get around with his Google maps.
Costa Rica is such a beautiful country and I cannot wait to return. Plus, Nayara also has resorts in Panama and Chile that I have already added to my bucket list!
If you want any other recommendations, feel free to message me! And please check out my other posts about Costa Rica.
-Lex
@thelexiconoflife
I really like the description of the place. Makes me want to book a flight. I like your personal writing style very much.!’