Nayara Springs · Costa Rica
Natural wood, vaulted ceilings, and elegant canopy beds define the secluded adults-only atmosphere at Nayara Springs. My photos.
Nayara Springs is the Arenal hotel I would choose when the point of the trip is to disappear for a few days.
There are only 35 freestanding villas, the resort is adults only, and every villa comes with its own naturally heated mineral plunge pool tucked into the rainforest. There is no complicated room ladder to study and no need to decide whether the private pool is worth the upgrade. Everyone gets one.
That makes Nayara Springs particularly good for honeymoons, anniversaries and couples who want to do something adventurous in the morning and very little indeed after lunch. You can hike around Arenal, come back for a massage and then disappear into warm water on your terrace while toucans make considerably more noise than their size would suggest.
The one thing I would understand before booking is where Springs fits within the larger Nayara estate. Nayara Springs, Nayara Tented Camp and Nayara Gardens are connected, but they create very different stays. Springs is the quiet, adults-only option. If you are still deciding between all three, read my complete Nayara comparison rather than trying to solve that question here.
That last sentence is important. It tells Google and the reader exactly where the deeper comparison lives.
De un vistazo
- Dónde
- Arenal, Costa Rica, hidden in the rainforest and reached on foot across a footbridge
- Ideal para
- Honeymoons, anniversaries and couples who want privacy, wellness and a very inactive afternoon
- Adults only
- Yes, guests age 18 and older
- El hotel
- 35 freestanding villas, Relais & Châteaux
- The villa
- Springs Villa approx. 139 sq m, or 1,496 sq ft, with a king bed, indoor-outdoor living space and a private terrace. One category rather than a ladder of upgrades
- Hot springs
- Every villa has its own plunge pool filled with naturally heated mineral water from the Arenal geothermal system
- Gastronomía
- Amor Loco, an adults-only seven-course tasting menu, and Mis Amores for Northern Italian, plus the restaurants across the connected Nayara estate
- Recognition
- Three Michelin Keys, and the only Three-Key hotel in Costa Rica
- Una estancia ideal
- Three nights, or four for more spa and hot spring time, usually paired with the Pacific coast
- Compara con
- Nayara Tented Camp for families and volcano views, or the full Springs vs. Tented Camp vs. Gardens comparison
Book this one when the trip is supposed to feel romantic and quiet. If waking up to the volcano matters more than the privacy, Tented Camp is the better splurge.
Thirty-five villas, one category, and a private thermal pool with every single one.
There is no upgrade to agonize over here, which makes the real question where Springs sits in the rest of your Costa Rica itinerary. Send me your dates and I will work backward from there.
The private hot spring pool is not an upgrade
Every Springs Villa has one.
The villas are nearly 1,500 square feet, freestanding and surrounded by rainforest, with large terraces, indoor and outdoor showers and a private plunge pool filled with naturally heated mineral water.
Room-category paralysis is wonderfully limited here. There is essentially one very good villa concept rather than seven increasingly expensive variations on the same room.
And honestly, that is part of the appeal. You are not spending the first afternoon wondering whether you should have upgraded. You are already in the hot spring.
That is far more memorable and useful than repeating the geothermal explanation.
Spanning nearly 1,500 square feet, each Springs Villa offers a seamless layout with plenty of room to unwind.
And yes, Nayara Springs is actually adults only
Guests must be 18 or older, which is one of the biggest distinctions between Springs and the other Nayara resorts in Arenal.
There are no children cannonballing into the pool at breakfast. I say that as someone who loves children. Just occasionally not beside my honeymooners.
More seriously, the adults-only setting is a meaningful part of why Springs feels so peaceful. It is not simply a beautiful hotel that happens not to have many families. Privacy, couples and quiet are built into the experience.
If you are traveling with children, I would look at my guides to Nayara Tented Camp or Nayara Gardens instead.
What I would actually do for three days
Arenal can inspire a dangerous amount of itinerary enthusiasm. There are hanging bridges, lava-field hikes, rafting, waterfalls, horseback riding, wildlife excursions, ziplining and enough other activities to make someone believe they need an alarm every morning of their honeymoon.
I would resist.
For most couples, I would plan one real activity a day. Do the hanging bridges or a guided Arenal hike in the morning, come back for lunch, then use the spa and your thermal pool. Another day can be more adventurous, followed by an afternoon during which nobody asks you to put on proper shoes.
Costa Rica has a tendency to inspire itinerary enthusiasm.
Your private plunge pool will eventually cure it.
The spa is open-air and set into the rainforest canopy, with yoga, sound bathing and treatments inspired by the surroundings. You can have an extremely active morning and an extremely inactive afternoon, which I think is one of Arenal’s great talents.
You are not limited to one tiny hotel restaurant
One advantage of Nayara Springs being part of the larger Nayara estate is that guests have access to dining across the connected resorts.
Amor Loco is the most distinctive option at Springs, an adults-only seven-course tasting experience. Mis Amores is the easier Northern Italian restaurant with pizza and pasta, and you can also dine at restaurants elsewhere on the estate, including Tented Camp and Gardens.
That is a smart setup. You get the intimacy of a 35-villa resort without reaching night three and realizing you have now memorized the dinner menu.
Nayara Springs or Nayara Tented Camp?
This is the only comparison I would keep on this page.
Tented Camp sits higher on the hillside and has the more dramatic Arenal Volcano views. It is also family-friendly. Springs is smaller, adults only and more intimate, with a stronger emphasis on privacy, romance and wellness.
If you are planning a honeymoon and want the most cinematic volcano view, I would look closely at Tented Camp.
If you want the quieter, sexier, adults-only retreat, I may choose Springs.
If you are genuinely deciding among Springs, Tented Camp and Gardens, I have a separate guide comparing all three. That is where I go much deeper into which one suits which traveler.
Nayara comparison: Springs vs. Tented Camp vs. Gardens comparison.
Tucked high into the rainforest canopy, the open-air pavilion provides a serene setting for daily yoga and wellness treatments.
Who I would book Nayara Springs for
I would put it high on the list for honeymooners, anniversary trips, couples pairing Arenal with the Pacific coast, travelers who love nature but have no particular interest in roughing it, and anyone who wants Costa Rica to feel adventurous without giving up a genuinely luxurious hotel.
I would not spend the money on Springs if you plan to leave at dawn every morning and return after dark. A significant part of what you are paying for is the villa, the private thermal pool, the spa, the privacy and the pleasure of occasionally doing absolutely nothing.
The expensive parts of a hotel should be the parts you actually use.
How long should you stay at Nayara Springs?
For most trips, three nights is right. Four is even better if you want a slower pace, more spa time or several Arenal activities without turning the entire stay into an expedition schedule.
Two nights feels rushed. Once you account for arriving and eventually having to leave, you have barely had time to become emotionally attached to your plunge pool.
I usually pair Arenal with the Pacific coast so you get two very different versions of Costa Rica in one trip: rainforest, wildlife and adventure first, then the beach and very few obligations afterward. The right coast depends on the season, transfer time and what you actually want from the second half of the trip.
Planning a stay at Nayara Springs?
Send me your dates, who is traveling and what else you are considering in Costa Rica. I can compare Springs, Tented Camp and Gardens side by side, and tell you honestly when Tented Camp is worth paying more for and when it is not.
I book Nayara through preferred partner programs, so where they apply you get added benefits at the same rate you would pay direct.
Sin gastos de planificación · Opiniones de los clientes · Sobre Kate
Nayara Springs FAQs
Is Nayara Springs adults only?
Yes. Nayara Springs is exclusively for guests age 18 and older. Families should consider neighboring Nayara Gardens or Nayara Tented Camp instead.
Does every Nayara Springs villa have a private hot spring pool?
Yes. Each of the 35 villas has a private plunge pool filled with naturally heated mineral thermal water.
How many villas does Nayara Springs have?
Nayara Springs has 35 freestanding villas. Relais & Châteaux currently lists the Springs Villa at approximately 139 square meters, or 1,496 square feet.
Is Nayara Springs better than Nayara Tented Camp?
Not necessarily. Tented Camp offers more dramatic Arenal Volcano views and a more theatrical accommodation experience. Springs is adults only, smaller and particularly strong for couples prioritizing privacy, romance and wellness.
Read my complete guide to Nayara Tented Camp.
What is the difference between Nayara Springs and Nayara Gardens?
Springs is an adults-only resort with 35 private villas and thermal plunge pools. Gardens welcomes families and couples and has a wider range of family-friendly accommodations. The resorts are part of the same connected Nayara Arenal estate.
Read my full Nayara comparison: Springs vs. Tented Camp vs. Gardens.
Can Nayara Springs guests use the other Nayara resorts?
The three Nayara Arenal properties are connected, and guests can access dining and experiences across the larger estate. Some venues, including Amor Loco, have their own age or reservation requirements.
Is Nayara Springs good for a honeymoon?
Very. The adults-only environment, private thermal pools, substantial villas, rainforest spa and combination of adventure and privacy make Nayara Springs one of the Arenal hotels I would consider first for a Costa Rica honeymoon.
Does Nayara Springs have a Michelin Key?
Yes. Nayara Springs currently holds Three Michelin Keys, Michelin’s highest hotel distinction. Michelin’s current worldwide Three-Key list names Nayara Springs as Costa Rica’s Three-Key property.
How many nights should I stay at Nayara Springs?
I generally recommend three nights in Arenal, or four for travelers who want a slower pace and more time for spa, hot springs and multiple excursions.
Qué leer a continuación
Nayara Resorts Review: Springs vs. Tented Camp vs. Gardens, if you are still choosing between the three
Los 5 hoteles más románticos para parejas, lunas de miel y aniversarios
The 10 Best Wellness Resorts in Costa Rica, for the spa and hot springs side
Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve vs. Four Seasons Costa Rica, for the beach half of the trip
Costa Rica no te pide que te reinventes; simplemente te ayuda a sentirte bien contigo mismo. Descubre nuestra guía seleccionada con los complejos turísticos de spa de lujo y los refugios en la selva más revitalizantes.