Responsive image

Nayara Springs

Our rating

8/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Exclusive boutique hotel
- 35 luxurious and stylish private villas
- Adults only
- Adjacent to family-friendly sister property

Speak to someone who's been there

Start planning your tailor-made trip by calling one of our specialists on 855 686 7694

Enquire

Overview

Nayara Springs is a multi-award-winning luxury boutique hotel set in the rainforest just a short distance from the mighty Arenal Volcano in northern Costa Rica. This ultra-high-end property is designed to offer an exceptional and authentic Costa Rican rainforest experience, although it does have a somewhat international feel. There’s a wide range of activities, excursions and experiences to choose from nearby, and some fantastic facilities to make use of back at base. The hotel has a highly sophisticated, exclusive feel and is for adults only, although its nearby sister property, Arenal Nayara, is very close by and welcomes families travelling with young children.

All thirty-five Nayara Springs villas are tucked away in the forest and offer plenty of peace and seclusion. Each one is air conditioned and comes with its own private plunge pool with natural mineral water supplied by the area’s hot springs. All villas also have a generous garden area complete with twin showers and a spacious spot for al fresco dining. Indoors there’s a four-poster king-size bed, a comfortable living area and a sizeable en-suite bathroom. Amenities include a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and DVD/CD player, a well-stocked minibar and an i-Home audio system. There are plenty of other complimentary services on offer such as movie rental, international phone calls, laundry services, tea and coffee replenishment and a twice-daily maid service.

There’s an exciting line up of activities to choose from. Some, such as zip lining, white water rafting and canyoning, are aimed at thrill seekers, while others such as lava field treks, jungle canopy walks and birdwatching expeditions near the volcano go at a slower pace and are ideal for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. The hotel has no fewer than half a dozen on-site restaurants and eateries ranging from an informal tapas bar, to a Latin bistro, and a fine dining venue with gourmet cuisine on the menu. There’s also a fully-equipped gym, an open-air yoga pavilion and an array of spa treatments, including some for couples to enjoy together, along with two large swimming pools and plenty of hammocks to loll around in.

Over the last six years, Nayara Springs has won nearly two dozen prestigious industry awards. A sample of these includes No. 2 Hotel in Central America by TripAdvisor and Top 100 Hotels in the World (No. 44) by Travel+Leisure - both in 2017 - and No. 2 Hotel in Central and South America by Conde Nast Traveler in 2016.

Nearby Alternatives

Suggested Itineraries for Nayara Springs

What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 544 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • I just wanted to say thank you so much for organising such an amazing holiday.
    We absolutely loved it, even though Jessica was ready to give up walking for good ????
    Our guide, Mustafa, was great. Really helpful, friendly and informative.
    We loved all the accommodation, and especially the first night and the Riad.
    All of the staff at every location were so friendly and helpful.
    Thanks again for organising such a great trip.

    MissingRebecca H reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Holiday on 09 April 2026

  • Thank you yet again for another meticulously organised and executed holiday (our 5th with you). Every aspect worked perfectly.
    Please could you pass on our sincere thanks to your agent in Sri Lanka; Lakshita, our driver and guide, absolutely made the trip for us - he was so keen for us to have the best experience possible. He was organised, kind, interested, punctual, the car was always spotless, and he was an excellent driver. His extensive knowledge was really appreciated by us and was exactly what we had hoped for in a guide. I think the highlight for us was our day in Anuradhapura (7 hours of absorbing history and culture), but there was so much to learn and absorb every day. He also made several suggestions for things that he thought we might like that weren't in our itinerary, and then booked them for us. These included an ayurvedic massage after climbing Sigiriya, a cultural show (an hour of touristy fun!), reef snorkelling with turtles (a real highlight for me - I wish we could have stayed all day), a lagoon boat trip and visit to a cinnamon island, a turtle sanctuary visit, and a gemstone factory visit. He also managed to get us a private tour of Lunanguga, which Peter thoroughly enjoyed. We also really enjoyed the tea factory tour.
    Our guide for the hike was also really excellent, and he and Lakshita made sure that our day was perfectly tailored to our (my) ability.
    All our accommodation was also perfectly selected. Our favourite was the Ceylon tea trails bungalow (just perfect!), but The Villa Bentota came a close second as a perfect way to relax at the end of the trip. Our villa and the grounds at Uga at Ulagalla were also beautiful.
    (Our only slightly disappointing day was the whale watching - no whales wanted to be seen on that particular day, plus I was very sea-sick despite taking meds! The tour organisers offered us a repeat day the following day, which we declined! Having said that, being out on the water was still enjoyable, up to a point...).
    I'm sure I've missed out something - we basically loved it all and felt that the balance of the itinerary was perfect for us (we used the 'rest' day in Galle to do the snorkelling, lagoon, and turtles)
    Thank you very, very much.

    Missingfiona g reviewing Sri Lanka Highlights - Classic on 27 March 2026

  • Nicola and I had a brilliant time - the weather made it pretty
    challenging at times, but Mustafa and Mohammed looked after us
    superbly. We loved the variety of scenery and places - as you mention,
    the only downside is the rubbish in the villages, such a shame. The
    meals that Mohammed drummed up on the hillside tracks were amazing - I
    am glad we knew that our mule would eat the leftovers because there was
    no way we could finish them! The standard of the breakfasts were far in
    excess of the bread and jam you mentioned, even in the basic gite which
    was freezing - we were warm once in bed, but the temperature in the
    living room was a bit depressing after a very windy descent, sitting
    wrapped in coats, hats and blankets while we waited for our dinner! The
    sleeping bags provided were excellent and we were toasty with our fleece
    liners and an extra blanket. We were very grateful that Mustafa's boss
    upgraded us to the eco lodge the next night (don't know whether this was
    because of the gale force winds on our descent the day before...) - it
    was lovely.

    We were incredibly lucky with precipitation - although we were walking
    in a few inches of snow on day one and it absolutely poured that night,
    we experienced no rain during the day until we were lining up for our
    farewell photo at our pickup point, when the heavens opened!

    Due to the weather, I think I'd describe the terrain slightly
    differently - a few good paths, but often we were on very stony ground,
    slippery wet mud (oh, that clay does stick to one's boots!), slidy thin
    gravel or else just making our way down a hill after rain had washed the
    original route away. Occasionally we walked short distances on roads,
    which Mustafa was apologetic about, but it was hardly the M6! We took
    our time and never felt unsafe, but people with dodgy knees or hips
    might need to be careful. Mustafa looked after us very carefully in the
    high wind gusts (as a sailor, I reckon at least Force 9 - over 50 mph on
    a bare hillside), promising Nicola that he wouldn't let her mother blow
    away!

    Although we needed to be back in Marrakech on the fourth night, I think
    if I were going again, I would prefer to trek for four days and spend 3
    in Marrakech, which I found a bit overwhelming, but this is just
    personal taste!

    Our room in Daar Housnia was lovely, and we appreciated the heating -
    the rest of the building is definitely built for summer! There seemed
    to be some confusion over our arrival - the manager said we had
    originally been booked into the downstairs suite with double bed and
    bath in the middle of the room, but that he thought it was more suitable
    "for two ladies, not a couple" to upgrade us to exactly the room you had
    shown us photos of! The breakfasts were delicious. The wifi was fine
    for Nicola's meetings.

    MissingMonica S reviewing Morocco Trek & Marrakech Holiday on 16 February 2026

+
See more reviews

Decisions...

Stop searching and speak to someone who knows.

Enquire Now