Tented Camp
Luxury safari glamping with a Pura Vida twist — think African lodge aesthetic dropped into a Costa Rican rainforest, with serious eco credentials and genuinely warm, naturalist-led service.
Ask the naturalist guides for a night frog-watching tour — glass frogs and red-eyed tree frogs are extraordinary after dark
Why It Matters
Named Travel + Leisure's No. 1 Resort in Central America four consecutive years. It's one of the first luxury tented camps of its kind in Central America, and the only place in the region where you can soak in a volcano-fed hot spring pool from your own private terrace while a sloth naps in the tree above you. The sustainability program — reforesting 1,000+ native Cecropia trees, creating a de facto sloth sanctuary with 18+ resident sloths — is genuine, not greenwashing.
Africa-meets-Costa-Rica is how owner Leo Ghitis conceived it: 38 safari-style tents built on stilts on a hillside inside Arenal Volcano National Park, each with its own private infinity plunge pool fed by geothermal hot springs and unobstructed views of the active volcano. The canvas and dark wood interiors feel genuinely wild — nylon walls, roll-up blinds, a trunk-style leather minibar — yet you get air conditioning, two showers (one outdoors), and a freestanding soaking tub. It opened in December 2019 as the newest and most dramatic of three sister properties sharing 62 acres with the adults-only Nayara Springs and the family-focused Nayara Gardens, all of which guests can access freely.
Where You'll Stay
4 room types available
Family Tent
Two Nayara Tents joined by a covered outdoor deck and sharing one private hot springs plunge pool. Sleeps up to six adults — one king, two queens, and a daybed — making it the go-to configuration for families or two couples. Each tent is fully self-contained with its own bathroom (indoor/outdoor showers, tub), air conditioning, and all standard amenities. The shared outdoor living space between them is where the pool, hammocks, and dining area sit.
1 King + 2 Queens + 1 DaybedGrand Tent
The Grand Tent adds a ground-level bedroom to the Nayara Tent format, making it a two-level, multi-room configuration. The primary elevated tent has a king bed and two daybeds; the ground level adds two queen beds. A fully equipped kitchen, indoor and outdoor lounge areas, and an oversized infinity pool with direct volcano panorama complete the picture. Works for up to 4 adults with 2 children, or 2 adults with 4 children.
King + 2 daybeds + 2 QueensNayara Tent
The entry-level tent punches well above its weight. Built on stilts in the jungle canopy, it has a four-poster king bed draped in netting, two twin daybeds tucked into window niches for kids, and a private infinity plunge pool fed by hot springs on the terrace. Swooping canvas roof, dark wood furniture, roll-up canvas blinds — the safari aesthetic is total. Bathroom has both an indoor and outdoor shower plus a freestanding soaking tub in the center of the room. Comes with a hammock, minibar (trunk-style leather chest), 42-inch flat-screen, air conditioning, and complimentary bottled water.
King + 2 twin daybeds
Private Residence (Casa Paloma / Casa Dana)
Two residences — Casa Paloma and Casa Dana — each combining two Family Tents with a full shared villa. Total layout: 4 bedrooms (2 king, 2 with twin queens each), a fully equipped kitchen, living and dining areas, a fire pit, and an oversized infinite pool fed by hot springs with panoramic volcano views. A dedicated personal concierge handles all logistics. Designed for large groups or multi-generational families up to 12 adults; 2 baby cribs available.
2 Kings + 4 Queens (across 4 bedrooms)The Property
Eat & Drink
8 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Guided hikes on the Arenal Volcano trails inside the national park, including lava field exploration. Organized by resort naturalists.
Guided traverse of the hanging bridges that span the rainforest canopy, offering elevated perspectives on the jungle and wildlife. An iconic Arenal experience organized by the resort's naturalists.
Guided birdwatching at dawn when activity peaks. The Arenal area hosts over 500 species of birds including tanagers, hummingbirds, toucans, and oropendolas. Binoculars provided and guides show guests how to photograph birds through them.
Daily guided walks through the reforested hillside with in-house naturalist guides. Guides identify birds, mammals, insects, and plants and show guests how to spot sloths in the canopy. Trails pass through the sloth sanctuary zone where 18+ sloths reside.
After-dark guided walks to the property's ponds to observe nocturnal amphibians, including the translucent glass frog (identifiable by yellow spots and black dots) and the red-eyed tree frog. Guided by naturalists. Consistently one of the most memorable guest experiences.
Self-guided or naturalist-assisted spotting of the 18+ sloths living in the property's 1,000+ Cecropia trees. Can encounter sloths on the trails, near the spa, and around the tent areas. Naturalist guides know the resident sloths' habits and locations.
Rappelling down the side of Arenal's waterfalls, sometimes directly in the water. Organized off-site with local operators via the resort's concierge.
Rafting excursions on the Sarapiquí River, organized through the resort. Arenal is considered Costa Rica's adventure capital.
Organized zip-lining across the rainforest canopy in the Arenal area. Booked through the resort's concierge with local operators.
Visit a local coffee plantation to learn about cultivation and taste freshly made coffee. Organized by the resort.
Hands-on traditional Costa Rican tortilla-making class. Part of the complimentary activities schedule.
Tour of the property's on-site greenhouse and gardens, which supply much of the kitchen's produce. Connects to the resort's zero-kilometer food philosophy.
Guided excursion to the weekly Friday market in La Fortuna (10 minutes from the resort), featuring local produce, crafts, and food.
Organized visit to a Maleko indigenous village to discover arts, crafts, and culture of the local indigenous population.
Daily instructor-led yoga classes held in an open-air pavilion in the rainforest. Available each morning to all guests.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
A network of footbridges and paths links Nayara Tented Camp, Nayara Gardens, and Nayara Springs, giving guests access to all three properties' restaurants, pools, and facilities.
Full cooked-to-order breakfast included in the rate. Can be served in-room/on the private terrace or at the restaurant. After day one, staff learn guest preferences for fruits, juices, and dishes.
On-site fitness center with a view of the Arenal Volcano.
Large family-friendly communal infinity pool at the base of the camp, with Arenal Volcano views. Adjacent to Lapas Bar swim-up bar.
Every single accommodation — from entry-level Nayara Tents to the Private Residences — has its own private infinity plunge pool fed by geothermal hot springs from Arenal Volcano.
Six communal thermal pools fed by natural hot springs, distributed across the Nayara property complex. Akin to giant hot tubs in the jungle.
Complimentary daily laundry service included for guests.
Transfers from San José (SJO) and Liberia (LIR) airports available. Must be arranged at least 72 hours before arrival. Surcharges apply.
Guests can request golf cart rides across the hilly property and between the three Nayara sister properties. Essential given the terrain.
BUILD YOUR NAYARA TENTED CAMP PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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