Nayara Tented Camp — Hotel in La Fortuna

It’s hard to imagine that a resort with the accolades and ratings of Nayara Tented Camp can exceed every expectation, but believe it. This is hands down the best resort experience we’ve ever had. Read on for details, but whether you want relaxation, adventure, nature, or wellness, Nayara gets you there for adults and families alike.||I’ll save the basic details for the end, but the tl;dr is that everything is amazing. It is everything you expect in a resort and more. Rather than just talk about the resort I want to focus on the details that make Nayara tented camp truly special. It starts with the people.||I have never met a resort staff as amazing as they have here. Everyone was kind, helpful, went out of their way for us as a standard operating procedure and you could truly feel immense pride in their work. Here are some stories:|- Our family was particularly interested in seeing wild life and sloths specifically. Our golf cart driver Brian made it his mission to make sure we knew whenever there was a good view of wildlife. Every time he picked us up he would tell us what was visible and drive us around. If there was ever any interesting wildlife in a good spot, he would call our room (we told him this was ok in advance) and come pick us up to show us. Beyond the wildlife, he treated us like his own family and was like a big brother to the kids. He was a consistent joy during our stay.|- One day, we had lunch delivered to our room and my wife asked the man delivering it, Fauricio, about a fruit growing on the tree near our tent. He told us about the fruit, Pejibaye, how to cook it, how to eat it, but that the ones on the trees near our room were not ripe yet. He mentioned though, that he had seen some ripe ones elsewhere on the property and would go get us some if we wanted. He shows up an hour later, having picked the fruit, having it boiled (it’s starchy like potato), then bringing it to our room and showing us how to eat it. Fauricio was another regular member of our family while we were there and we got to know about him, his family, and his dogs. Truly a wonderful human being.|- the restaurant Ayla has an amazing pomegranate panna cotta desert, and while eating it, we told the server that our son’s favorite desert is coffee panna cotta. Sure enough, we eat at Ayla the last night there and they had specially made coffee panna cotta for our son. They remembered the desert, coordinated with our schedule and delivered on it our last night… magical.|- not a single story, but daily laundry service is complementary here. There are a couple of bags in the closet, you fill them up and your clothes come back incredibly soft, smelling amazing, and folded. I have no idea what they wash these clothes in and the wizards they’ve hired to clean the laundry, but it’s magical. After a horse riding excursion, my and my daughter’s sneakers were dirty and got left out in the rain by accident. We sent them to laundry one day, and seriously my sneakers came back looking brand new. Insane.||Some more shout outs to our Nayara All-Stars:|Drivers: Brian, Alexander, Alex, axel, Kendall, Blanco, Michael|Ayla staff: Robin, Joseph , Lauren|All-around: Fauricio||And to everyone else that makes Nayara amazing from leadership to every single person working there, we truly appreciate what you’ve created at Nayara. Muchisimas Gracias y Pura Vida!||Finally the basics of the resort…|- the grounds: beautifully maintained, flawless condition, hilly rainforest setting. Nothing seemed out of place,of low quality, or phoned in. The buildings and guest rooms blend in perfectly with the surroundings.|- the guest rooms: Simply amazing! The tents are beautifully decorated and maintained. A single tent is perfect for a couple or a family with two younger kids. Each room has a double indoor and outdoor shower, bath tub, spacious closet area, king bed, two window seat smaller beds, deck/patio, and private thermal pool. Each tent is private well isolated from the others. You need to try hard to see another tent for yours. |- the food: Three onsite restaurants, food delivery by the pool, and all day room service available. Breakfast at Ayla or delivered to your room is complementary. All three restaurants were very good. Ayla was our favorite.|- the activities: they will arrange a number of onsite and offsite activities. The spa is amazing and has free yoga classes every morning. Everything was easy to book and we didn’t have any issues getting the things we wanted to do booked the day...

One of the most incredible places I have ever stayed in the world from the natural beauty of the rainforest and plants, spacious tent with with a private jacuzzi/pool fed by thermal springs, and amazing staff. We stayed at both Nayara Springs (Adults only) and Tented Camp. Comparison follows. When you stay at Nayara Tented Camp, you also have access to the restaurants and pools at the Springs and Gardens and vice versus. Facilities are built on a mountain and Tented Camp is at the top so it is mostly downhill until you walk back to your tent. You get more views of the top of the trees and the Arenal Volcano.||Wonderful #7 tent, first one up the short hill from the reception and Ayla restaurant. It has canvas interior walls on a platform. From the private thermal water fed spring jacuzzi/pool (just ask if it gets cool and in 2-3 hours, it can be warmed back up), outdoor dual showers, indoor shower, free standing tub, dual sinks, two couches in an alcove, outdoor eating table with 4 chairs-perfect for free breakfast delivery, and complimentary snacks, waters, juices, milk, soda, and beer. Wine/champagne cost extra. Nespresso-like machine with Britt coffees. Slippers, bathrobe, and Off Family mosquito lotion, body lotion, safe, shampoo/conditioner at both resorts.||Nayara Tented Camp vs Springs Comparison:|- Longer roof over the jacuzzi at the Springs, so you could sit on the underwater bench without being rained on. Also, the Springs had a roof over the cushioned bed, so we could use it when it was raining and it didn't get wet. At Tented Camp, the cushioned lounger was exposed to the rain, and the cushions got wet and we never got to use the cushioned lounger. Tented Camp tent had a fan on the porch which kept things cooler. Tented Camp tents have view of the tops of the tree/plants and some have a view of the Arenal volcano. Springs is lower and has more of a lush, colorful tropical plant view from the pool.|- Springs had make-up vanity and chair which Tented Camp did not. Tented had a lighted mirror while the Springs mirror did not light up. Springs had a heated towel rack (great for drying wet clothes); Tented Camp did not. Both had the indoor and outdoor showers but the Springs did not have a tub.|- Plants and flowers in the Springs outdoor shower area. The tent is on a platform, so there were no plants growing next to the shower and I missed the plants.|- Same drinks and snacks available in Springs/Tented|- Springs had an L-shape couch and coffee table while Tented had two separate cushioned sofas inset into the walls-would make fine beds for kids/adults.|- Tented Camp had a slightly more extensive breakfast room service menu including avocado on sourdough; same with the Ayla breakfast - select off the more extensive menu and buffet items.|- Many of the Springs free activities met at Nayara Gardens reception area, so you had to walk / get a golf cart. At Tented Camp, they had their own special activities like the Frog Watching Expedition, Farmer's Market and painting lessons with a local artist (sign at reception, not on the list of activities) and you met at the Tented Reception area. The Springs had a good coffee class and 7 am adults-only yoga and the gym. You could attend if you were in Tented.|- Liked Springs' Cielito Lindo Pool Bar with a swim up bar plus umbrella tables and chairs in the water and more seating. Tented Camp pool area had a little swim up bar and a view of the Arenal Volcano.|- Tented Camp area has the Termas Hot Springs which was about half a dozen hot springs pools up to 98 degrees. The bar had some swings. |- Tented Camp has the evening Frog Watching Expedition nature walk.||The staff was amazing. The receptionists are also master concierges scheduling restaurants, activities, getting your pool heated, and handling questions all with a strong customer focus and attitude. Exceptionally well trained, caring staff. A special thanks to the incredible management at the cocktail reception and being responsive, Ariel, Johann at Ayla, Keren, and Brandon and Anna's...

We are still here, basking in luxury and Tranquillity. Loving every minute of our six night stay here and planning to extend or come back within a few weeks that’s how much we love this place!

The first day we had a few small quirks and we asked to speak to the manager. Jairo instantly incorporated all the changes we requested and every single staff member has been adding to the beauty and charm of this place.

We travel the world quite extensively in luxury resorts. And what Touches our hearts about nayara is how much the staff care and how genuine everyone is. They all have immense gratitude and joy in their hearts and genuine care for their guests well-being.

This reflects very positively on the owners of this place. The staff actually respect the owners and seemed very happy and that is something that is very rare. One of the staff yesterday even shared with us how the owners supported them financially during the lockdown when their own governments would not help them!

The facility is absolutely five-star. Having the hot pool in our tent is luxurious and healing beyond measure.

A few shoutouts:

The bartender at the Springs I forget if it was Rodrigo or Roberto. We had such an amazing conversation and we absolutely loved his energy and genuine care for us. His girlfriend who works at the breakfast restaurant was also so hospitable and friendly. Sharon at the breakfast Place as well.

The wonderful golf cart driver I think his name is Roberto....Such an awakened soul with a heart bursting with gratitude for having this beautiful job in this slice of Paradise

Carlos, michael (or was it William?) at the reception were very polite and professional

Jairo, absolutely hands-down excellent attitude and professionalism. He played a very big part in ensuring our smooth stay here.

Our massages were fantastic and we have already booked a second round ☺️ One recommendation is for the spa reception to have more peaceful energy. The manager at the spa seemed very overwhelmed and her stress was leaking into our field. Loud speaking. Over-speaking etc. We shared that with her a few times as well but she thought we were talking about the tourists..... maybe some training on how to keep the energy peace and calming in the spa will be hugely transformational for the guests 💕she seemed really nice though so just some training on finesse will be great.

One more recommendation is for the tented villas to have a gentle doorbell. It is very disturbing and chaotic every time we hear a loud knock on the door. And also I do not disturb button that we can press when we wish to be left alone would take this place to the next level!

Lastly the tented Villas really need more privacy. Jairo brought us some huge plants and placed them as dividers so that people could not look into our swimming pool area as they walked in.

Also on nights that you don’t call turn down service you are literally wide open to visibility from the outside as people walk into your villa. Definitely suggest more privacy.

Also Jairo assigned us a dedicated WhatsApp number to make all requests so we didn’t have to speak to 10 different departments or people daily..... that really shifted the quality of our trip to a much higher level.

Breakfast every morning was superb very high-quality. The Asian restaurant was excellent.

We are literally thinking of coming back every single month that’s how much we love it here!

Thank you to every single one of you that assisted in making our stay here so pleasurable.

We have two more nights here and our hearts are full 💕 And to the owners, We have never and I mean never seen this kind of gratitude and respect and love oozing out of the employees for their management...