Nayara Hotel Spa & Gardens, Arenal

rooms

Nestled in lush tropical gardens, tasteful in every detail and appointed with modern amenities, the spacious and beautiful freestanding bungalows reflect the local sense of style and offer spectacular views of the majestic Arenal Volcano or of the green rainforest.

The freestanding, secluded “casitas,” the deluxe rooms, offer sweeping views of the volcano or the jungle canopy. They each have a quiet garden with an outdoor shower and can be made up with one king size bed or two doubles.

The Nayara Suite’s unique octagonal design makes it comfortably spacious and allows natural light to filter from every angle. It features an oversized Jacuzzi on the wrap-around balcony that overlooks either the imposing Arenal Volcano or the lush rainforest, and a private garden with outdoor rain showers for two. Stylish and luxurious, this “casita” offers an unparalleled and authentic Costa Rican experience.

facilities & activities

The serene Spa at Nayara is a delight. Experience the sights, sounds, and scents of the rainforest by choosing a unique treatment or massage in one of the relaxing outdoor spa bungalows. Personalised treatments feature natural ingredients to relieve stress and tension and to leave your body renewed and balanced. The highly trained therapists take great pride in delivering an exceptional spa experience.

For adventure, you have definitely come to the right place. The hotel can arrange a wide variety of soft adventure activities including canyoning, zip-lining, ATV, horse-riding, canopy tours, kayaking on Cano Negro, sport-fishing and biking. Alternatively there are a range of more culturally biased tours including one to the see the Maleku indigenous reservation, and many eco tours such as hiking, bird-watching, night walks- to ensure you make the most of the fascinating natural surroundings.

dining

With outstanding local and international cuisine, breathtaking settings and top service there are several dining options to choose from.

The Altamira Restaurant, located in a lovely airy pavilion, offers a local and International menu. It successfully combines a relaxing informal setting with a sense of sophistication and of course, impeccable service from the attentive and friendly staff. Breakfast is a sumptuous buffet, with a big emphasis on fabulous fresh tropical fruit and juices, homemade breads and pastries, alongside pancakes, eggs and of course delicious Costa Rican coffee freely available. You might want to eat at one of the outside tables which have a wonderful view of the volcano and the beautiful tropical gardens. It is particularly magical at dinner, when the tables are lit by candlelight and adorned with fresh flowers.

As the name suggests, the relaxing and contemporary Asia Luna is all about latin fusion - with a mix of Asian and Peruvian flavours, open for lunch and dinner.  The décor resembles a ‘Pulperia,’ a typical Costa Rican bar. The chairs and tables are hand painted by members of the indigenous Maleku tribe, and they depict local flora and fauna.

For poolside snacks and cocktails there is the Kali Kali Pool Bar. Staff are always happy to make up picnics if you are planning on an excursion.

In the evening, you might like to head to the hotel’s wine bar, the Nostalgia Bar with its extensive wine list. Taste the best of Latin American and European vintages using the unique Italian wine dispensing system. Nostalgia’s inviting décor, featuring leather and wood, creates a warm and intimate ambiance. Enjoy tapas and drinks while sitting at the bar or the open-air terrace. Nostalgia also offers Wine Pairing Dinners: an extravaganza of 5-courses perfectly matched with 5 different glasses of wine.

family

The hotel is aimed more at couples but children 2 years & over are welcome. For older children/ teenagers there really is an incredible range of activities on offer at the hotel and locally.

The Nayara Suite can fit 1 extra bed and the Casita Deluxe can fit 2. Children 5 & under usually stay at no extra charge.

location

The nearest town is La Fortuna de San Carlos, close to Arenal Volcano National Park in northern Costa Rica. The drive from San Jose is fairly straightforward with good roads, by Costa Rican standards, but 4WD is recommended and it tends to take around 4 hours depending on weather. The local airport Arenal/La Fortuna is served by several domestic flights.