Nayara Springs

"Nayara Springs is an adults-only retreat in Arenal Volcano National Park, offering luxury villas with private plunge pools, daily yoga, massages, and fine dining. Rates start at $860 per night for two adults." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"The beauty of Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano National Park is that you can do as much—or as little—as you want and still have a great time. This is especially true of couples who choose to bed down at the adults-only Nayara Springs, a collection of luxurious private villas with plunge pools, gardens, outdoor showers, and show-stopping views of the Arenal Volcano. Off-property adventures include white-water rafting expeditions down the Sarapiqui River, visits to the 195-foot waterfall in the Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, and a photo tour of the lava fields."

"Nayara Springs is a high-end adults-only hotel whose villas have everything from spring-fed plunge pools to indoor and outdoor showers." - Mark Fedeli

"Connected by a 200-foot footbridge spanning a rainforest ravine, Nayara Springs is the newer, adults-only sister property of Nayara Resort, Spa & Gardens. Each of the former’s 35 villas is eclectically furnished—crystal chandeliers hang above hand-carved Balinese furniture, Mexican tiles blend with local art and textiles—and opens to its own private pool fed by naturally warm mineral springs; terraces have daybeds, dining areas, and hammocks on one side and grottolike outdoor shower areas on the other. After awakening to the sounds of the jungle, make your way toMi Cafecito, an espresso bar where locally sourced beans are roasted on-site, before stretching hiking-sore limbs with complimentary yoga at the alfresco pavilion. Smoothies, fresh-squeezed juices, and light salads are on offer at the poolside restaurant. In the evenings, Amor Loco is the place for cocktails, international dishes and, on most nights, live music."

"Rising with the sun is something I only do on holiday. At Nayara Tented Camp, I woke each day as the golden light stirred a colorful swath of jungle, with the smoking top of the mighty Arenal Volcano as the backdrop. The private plunge pool and the mug of steaming Costa Rican coffee help, but that view is enough to induce the earliest wake-ups. This is the third and most luxurious of Nayara’s trifecta of eco-retreats in central Costa Rica. Its hot-spring pools are carved non-invasively into the wild landscapes, and not a single tree was felled to make space for its 29 tented rooms, which take design cues from safari outfitters in Botswana. Reforestation is a cornerstone at Nayara, with an ongoing mission to plant fresh habitats for Costa Rica’s three-toed sloths. It means that you will spy these sluggish little guys all over the place, including Tony, the camp’s unofficial greeter, whose favorite spot during my stay was on the telephone pole by the entrance. The hotel grounds are also a sanctuary for jungle toads and morpho butterflies, which you’ll see on guided night walks. By day, Nayara is all about volcano-hiking, bird-watching in the thick rain forest, and getting up close with the grin-inducing creatures at the sloth sanctuary. The steak and Malbec at the wine bar tasted even better than they should—but the ultimate spot for a nightcap was back on my terrace, where the croaks of the tree frogs lulled me into a deep sleep, like nature’s own white noise. Doubles from $1,175. —Erin Florio" - CNT Editors