Nayara Tented Camp

A safari-style stay above the rainforest

A tent with a private hot-spring-fed plunge pool brings a different kind of stay to Arenal. At Nayara Tented Camp, safari-style accommodation sits on a hillside above the jungle, with generous decks and places to settle in after exploring. Couples can make a warm-water soak part of an evening together; families can give the accommodation as much attention as the adventures beyond it. The tent is part of the experience, with the comforts of a substantial retreat close at hand.

The arrival begins at the welcome tent, introducing the camp's safari character before you reach your accommodation. From there, the hillside setting gives you different outlooks to choose from: some tents look into the jungle with glimpses of Arenal Volcano, while those farther up have wider volcano panoramas. Choose the position and layout around the view you want to enjoy in your quieter hours.

Let the tent and deck become part of the day

The safari tents span 1,700 square feet, with air conditioning and furnishings that carry the safari theme into the interior. A four-poster canopy bed, cozy sitting area and dressing room give you places to unpack and settle in. The spacious bathroom has a bathtub and both indoor and outdoor showers, extending the pleasure of coming back from the forest into the routines of getting ready for dinner.

Outside, a covered deck with a table and chairs, a lounge area and your own naturally hot-spring-fed plunge pool make an unhurried morning or afternoon inviting. A soak, a conversation and time with the jungle around you can be a complete plan for a few hours. Keep some room in the itinerary for the accommodation itself; the camp gives downtime a setting worth enjoying.

Connected mirror-image tents joined by a covered walkway can create a two-bedroom arrangement for a family or two couples. That choice lets you share the trip while keeping separate tent spaces. Compare the current accommodation options and their outlooks with your party's needs, rather than choosing only by the tent's name.

Gardens, warm pools and a sloth sanctuary

The family-friendly swimming pool sits among tropical gardens and a lounge area, with a swim-up bar adding another reason to let an afternoon unfold on the property. The gourmet restaurant's spacious terrace overlooks the jungle and sloth sanctuary, carrying the landscape into a meal as well as a walk through the grounds.

More than a thousand planted Guarumo trees provide sloth habitat in the reserve, which is also home to birds and other wildlife. Take your time and watch the trees for movement; the wildlife sets its own pace. At the foot of the hill, naturally fed hot-springs plunge pools enriched with volcanic minerals sit along the forest's edge, giving you another warm-water setting beyond your own deck.

Arenal adventures, with a retreat to return to

Hanging bridges and hikes at the base of Arenal Volcano bring the rainforest into your plans, while a riverboat safari at Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge offers a different way to watch for animals and birds. The 200-foot La Fortuna Waterfall adds another striking landscape to an outdoor day. Afterwards, souvenir shopping in La Fortuna can provide a change of pace before you return to the camp.

For more active outings, the region has canyoning and waterfall rappelling, whitewater rafting, canopy zip lines, ATV trips on back roads and horseback riding. Choose the activities that fit your party, then let the return have its own appeal: a swim, a meal overlooking the jungle and time in the tent you have chosen to enjoy. A stay at Nayara Tented Camp can balance those wider adventures with the pleasures of a place that feels like part of the journey.