Hotel Snapshot
Where is Nayara Tented Camp, you ask? Pull back the curtain of palm fronds and ferns: It’s deep within Arenal National Park in Costa Rica’s northern rainforest, home to hot springs, more than 130 species of mammals—including CR’s national treasure, the sloth—and more than 500 species of birds.
Nature is front, center, above, and under guests of these 38 luxury tents and tented villas, set on a hillside with mesmerizing views of Arenal volcano, best admired from your own private terrace and infinity pool. Open in December 2019, Nayara Tented Camp is the newest of three sister properties; it shares 62 acres of pristine jungle with Nayara Gardens (a family resort) and Nayara Springs (adults only), all of which are accessible to camp guests.
Design & Character
Owner Leo Ghitis was inspired by the luxury canvas lodges of Africa and Asia, though he has taken the lead in Central America with his approach to low-impact, sustainable development. Forests weren’t razed to make this camp—they were razed long before for cattle grazing; Ghitis then bought the land and invested in reforesting the hillside over several years before starting construction on his first property, Nayara Gardens. Luxury Frontiers, experts in eco-sensitive design, assisted with the development of the Tented Camp. No detail was too small, whether it was the safari-style tents custom dyed to blend in better, the color palette (shades of local flora and tree bark), or the 1,000+ native Cecropia trees planted to expand the on-site sloth sanctuary.
The result is an indoor/outdoor experience that feels truly wild, yet with luxurious home bases and “heartfelt hospitality” at its core. Call it barefoot luxury, call it quiet luxury. We called it home and cried when we left.
The Rooms
Of the 38 accommodations, the bulk are “Nayara Tents,” oversized safari-style rooms (1,496 square feet) built on stilts to nab those volcano views. Yes, the indoors are air conditioned—and those canopy beds are cloud-like—but guests will likely opt to spend a lot of time on the terrace, either in the hammock or the infinity pool fed by thermal springs. I remember the mornings fondly, when my family and I would sit outside on the patio, enjoying breakfast—waffles for the kids, a market’s worth of fresh fruit for all—while trying to decipher the animal call in the trees behind us. Bird? Monkey? Cow? All of the above? Two showers (one outdoors) and a standing tub offer plenty of ways to rinse off after nature hikes.
Nayara Tented Camp has expanded since opening, adding a two-room Family Tent that sleeps six, even bigger Grand Tents with full kitchen and dining area, and two Private Residences, Casa Paloma and Casa Dana, that combine multiple family tents to make space for up to 12 guests. Multigenerational families can also opt to book two individual tents connected by a covered passageway.
Food & Drink
Let’s start with the fruit, which seems to appear courtesy of invisible house elves each day. After day 1, the staff know your preferences and will deliver your favorites: mangos, pineapple, or in our case, granadilla (a type of passionfruit). The kitchen’s goal is to achieve “zero kilometers,” as in, the produce is zero kilometers away, either on site or from local farmers. Fresh ingredients are evident at the new-ish restaurant Ayla, which offers Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food—like a killer mezze—in an airy, elegant dining tent.
For variety, guests can call for a golf cart ride to the neighboring properties. La Terraza del Arenal is a delightful, laid-back outdoor terrace at Nayara Gardens serving traditional local dishes, often backed by live music. (Don’t miss whatever the bartender’s mixing at Bar Azul.) We spent New Year’s Eve one year happily ensconced in Asia Luna, eating sushi and Wagyu bao. Meanwhile, Nayara Springs, a Relais & Chateaux resort, offers a chef’s tasting menu at Amor Loco and wood-fired pizzas and tableside “live cheese” pasta at Mis Amores.
Amenities
Nayara Tented Camp is hilly, so hitching a ride from staff in golf carts is a perk, if not an amenity. Visit one of the six thermal pools (akin to giant hot tubs), and definitely spend some time at the spa. They offer yoga, a fitness center with a view of the volcano (just picture yourself hiking up it to get those legs firing), steam and sauna, and an open-air spa where massages have their own natural “babbling creek” soundtrack. The sloth sanctuary is all around you; a sloth may be asleep in a tree outside the spa. Just look up, says the Nayara team.
Nayara’s greatest strength is its staff, especially its naturalist guides who will take guests out on guided walks through the rainforest, over hanging bridges, and to the ponds at night, the best time to spot the red-eyed frogs. Their expertise is impressive, and they’re also just lovely people. They’ll show you how to use binoculars to take a great photo of the snake or sloth in that tree just ahead, and point out the jungle’s creepy crawlies to the kids. Adventure travelers can also book off-site experiences like zip lining, rappelling, waterfall treks, and lava field excursions in the national park.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
Getting to Nayara Tented Camp takes commitment: a winding three-hour drive from Juan Santamaría International Airport in the capital city of San José, or a different three-hour drive from Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia. Domestic flights, though infrequent, connect the two international airports to La Fortuna, the closest town to Nayara Tented Camp, about 10 minutes away. Ask about transfers from the airport to the camp and back.
Fast Facts
Location: La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Rating: 5-Star
Vibe: Luxury safari-style tents in a Costa Rican rainforest
Room Count: 38 accommodations
Starting Rate: Rates start at $1,200 per night.
Dining: In-room breakfast and private dining; Mediterranean restaurant Ayla; access to restaurants at sister properties Nayara Gardens and Nayara Springs
Amenities: Thermal pools, spa, fitness center, yoga, sloth sanctuary, guided outdoor excursions
What’s Nearby? Nayara Tented Camp is within Arenal National Park, so the Arenal volcano and its corresponding hot springs and lava fields are famous around here. The closest town is La Fortuna.
Closest Airport To the south is Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José; to the northwest is Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia; both are a three-hour drive away.
