My Stay at Nayara Gardens: A Family-Friendly Luxury Resort in Costa Rica

I went into our stay at Nayara Resorts in Costa Rica with pretty high expectations, and yet, somehow, the property itself still managed to exceed them!

Nayara Resorts has three properties in Costa Rica's Arenal region: Nayara Gardens, Nayara Springs and Nayara Tented Camp. The three resorts are connected, so you're able to experience different restaurants, activities and areas of the larger property while still having a distinct home base. Nayara Gardens and Nayara Tented Camp welcome both families and couples, while Nayara Springs is adults-only.

We stayed at two of the three - first Nayara Gardens and then Nayara Tented Camp - and visited Nayara Springs for a date night.

I'll get into the others separately because they each deserve their own recap, but let's start from the top: Nayara Gardens.

If you're planning a luxury family trip to Costa Rica, especially with younger children, put this one on your list.

First Impressions of Nayara Gardens

The first thing you need to know about Nayara is that you really feel like you're in Costa Rica. That might sound obvious, but I think it's an important distinction when you're choosing a luxury resort in a destination like this.

You aren't arriving at a huge resort that could be anywhere in the world. You're surrounded by rainforest, everything is green, wildlife is everywhere. The paths between different areas of the property wind through tropical gardens, and you're constantly discovering another little pocket you didn't know was there.

Nayara Gardens sits in the Arenal Volcano area, and the resort is intentionally built into the surrounding rainforest rather than feeling separate from it. The accommodations are spread throughout the tropical gardens, and it's completely normal to spot birds, frogs, monkeys and even sloths as you move around the property.

There are different pools, hot springs, restaurants and places to lounge outside, so even though there's plenty to explore beyond the resort, you could also spend an entire day here without feeling like you needed to leave. This ended up being one of my favorite parts having Wallace in tow!

Our Room at Nayara Gardens

Our room was super spacious, which immediately gets bonus points when you're traveling with a baby.

We had a private pool and patio surrounded by greenery, plus an indoor-outdoor shower that I especially appreciated after we got caught in one of Costa Rica's famous afternoon downpours (we’ll chat rain in a minute).

Nayara Gardens offers freestanding accommodations throughout the property, including Arenal Pool Casitas and Rainforest Pool Villas with private plunge pools and generous indoor-outdoor living space. The resort specifically positions Gardens as its family-friendly option, and after staying there, I get it!

There was enough space to spread out and actually settle in rather than feeling like we were all on top of each other. And having the private pool really made a difference.

When you're traveling with a little one, there are inevitably going to be naps, early bedtimes or moments when going back out to the main pool just isn't happening. Having your own outdoor space means you don't feel like the day ends just because you're back in the room. I think parents will understand exactly how valuable that is!

The turndown service was also top notch and came with a little sweet treat each night, which those who know me know I loved. It's always the little things that make the biggest difference!

Let's Talk About Breakfast

A really great bonus at Nayara Gardens was the included breakfast. I LOVE when a great hotel includes breakfast, especially when "included breakfast" doesn't mean a sad little buffet with cereal and toast.

This was far more than the basics. There were traditional Costa Rican savory dishes, eggs, pastries, fresh fruit and plenty of options to start the day before heading out for an activity or before doing absolutely nothing by the pool.

And the dining options were great all around. Nayara Gardens has several restaurants and bars of its own, and guests also have access to dining experiences throughout the connected Nayara properties. At Gardens, La Terraza serves Costa Rican and international dishes in an open-air setting, Asia Luna brings in Asian influences, and Nostalgia Wine Bar focuses on Latin American and European wines.

Our poolside lunch was another highlight, but I especially loved the Wine Bar. You could easily make the tapas there your entire dinner, which we did, and I am never going to complain about a vacation meal centered around wine and small plates.

The Hot Springs Were a Favorite

One of the things the Arenal region is known for is its geothermal hot springs, and Nayara makes them part of the resort experience. Guests across the three Arenal properties have access to Nayara's hot springs area. These ended up being one of our favorite parts of the trip!

The water is naturally warm, which made it perfect for Wallace, and everything is surrounded by the rainforest. It feels much more intimate and natural than a giant resort pool complex.

And that's something I kept coming back to throughout our stay. There's a LOT to do at Nayara, but nothing feels like you're at a massive family resort. You can find these quieter little corners and have moments that feel completely removed from everyone else. With a baby, that was the sweet spot!

There Is So Much to Do Around Arenal

If you're someone who gets bored sitting at a resort all week, don't worry. Arenal is basically a giant playground.

You can hike through the rainforest, cross hanging bridges, explore waterfalls, go ziplining, visit the Arenal Volcano area, horseback ride, kayak, paddleboard, white-water raft, take wildlife tours...the list goes on.

There are also slower experiences if "rappelling down a waterfall" isn't exactly what you had in mind for vacation. Nayara offers nature-focused activities, wildlife experiences and wellness options, and yoga is another way to start or end the day surrounded by the rainforest.

We did the hanging bridges and LOVED them. Until the sky opened up…

About That Costa Rica Rain...

We visited during rainy season, so getting wet was not exactly a surprise.

The Arenal region has a tropical rainforest climate, and rain is part of the experience for much of the year. Nayara notes that the rainier season generally stretches from May into the end of the year, while the driest period is typically around February through April.

Our hanging bridges experience went from beautiful rainforest hike to TORRENTIAL downpour very quickly. But I’d still do it again!

The hanging bridges take you through the rainforest canopy, and guided experiences are a great way to spot plants and wildlife you would probably walk right past on your own. Just don’t forget to pack the rain gear.

Next Up: Nayara Tented Camp

After starting our trip at Nayara Gardens, we moved over to Nayara Tented Camp, and somehow, the property continued to get better!

Our room here was incredible. We had a huge bathroom with a freestanding tub, plus a private outdoor deck and heated pool completely surrounded by the rainforest. There was also an outdoor hammock that quickly became my afternoon spot of choice. This is one of those rooms where you actually want to build in time to enjoy it rather than treating it as somewhere to sleep between activities.

The main pool was another favorite. It's completely tucked into the greenery, and happy hour runs from 4–5 p.m. We spent an entire afternoon there, and the poolside food was honestly some of the best we had on the trip.

This was also where we leaned into more of the experiences Nayara offers. One morning, we got up for the complimentary 6 a.m. nature walk and finally saw a sloth! Having a guide there made such a difference because they spotted wildlife we never would have noticed on our own. Yes, 6 a.m. is early on vacation, but this one was absolutely worth the wake-up call.

I also booked a spa treatment for my birthday, and it may have been one of the most beautiful spa settings I've ever experienced. Everything feels completely immersed in nature, down to the massive wild birds casually joining me during the outdoor portions of my treatment. The couples treatment room is also beautiful and would be SO good for honeymooners.

And one of the biggest practical wins was complimentary laundry. Maybe that doesn't sound very exciting until you're traveling through Costa Rica with a baby, but trust me - HUGE.

Tented Camp definitely felt like an elevated step up from Gardens, but I loved experiencing both. Gardens was a wonderful introduction to Nayara and worked so well for us as a family, while Tented Camp felt a little more special and secluded. If you're celebrating a honeymoon, anniversary or milestone trip, or simply want to splurge, I would absolutely have Tented Camp on your radar.

And a Date Night at Nayara Springs

We didn't stay at Nayara Springs, but we did get a little taste of the adults-only property. We booked a babysitter one evening and headed over for a date night, which was such a fun way to experience another side of Nayara without ever really leaving the resort.

We stopped at the espresso bar and lounge, where I had an amazing espresso martini, and immediately understood the appeal of Springs for couples. It's quiet, romantic and adults-only, making it one I'd especially consider for a honeymoon or anniversary trip.

We only scratched the surface, so this is one I'd love to come back and experience more of next time.

Is Nayara Good for Families?

This is probably the biggest takeaway I want to share from our stay: yes.

And not in the "technically children are allowed" sense. Nayara genuinely works for families while still feeling like a luxury hotel adults would choose even if they weren't traveling with children.

I don't necessarily want to stay somewhere designed entirely around kids just because I'm traveling with a baby. I still want the beautiful room. The great food. The spa. The wine. The service. The kind of property I would have been excited about before having Wallace.

The resort specifically recommends Gardens for families, with spacious accommodations and activities throughout the Arenal area that can work for different ages and energy levels.

And from a parent's perspective, the combination of the private pool, space in the room, easy dining options, warm pools and so much to explore made the trip feel very doable.

It didn't feel like we had to sacrifice the kind of hotel we love because we had a baby with us. As a luxury travel advisor, that’s huge!

How Long Should You Stay at Nayara?

I would give yourself enough time to have both adventure days and absolutely-no-plans days. That's the magic of this area.

You could wake up one morning and hike through the rainforest, cross hanging bridges and look for sloths. And spend the next day doing breakfast, pool, lunch, spa, dinner.

And I wouldn't overschedule it.

There are SO many activities available around Arenal that it would be very easy to look at the list and start booking every hour of your trip. But part of what made Nayara special was actually having time to enjoy the property itself. Definitely leave room for that!

Would I Stay at Nayara Gardens Again?

100%! Our entire Nayara experience far exceeded my expectations, and Gardens was such a great way to start the trip.

It gave us that immersive Costa Rica experience I was hoping for but with all the comforts of a luxury resort. And most importantly, it worked for our family.

If you're planning Costa Rica with younger kids, celebrating something special as a family, or simply want a luxury resort near Arenal Volcano that gives you plenty of adventure without sacrificing the relaxation part of vacation, I would absolutely consider Nayara Gardens.

And if you're trying to decide between Nayara Gardens, Nayara Tented Camp and Nayara Springs, that's where I can help.

Having stayed at Gardens and Tented Camp and spent time at Springs, I can help you figure out which property makes the most sense for your trip or whether you should do what we did and experience more than one.

Because after this trip, I can confidently say Nayara is one of the rare properties on my very long hotel bucket list that I already want to go back to. And trust me, that's saying something! Get in touch today so we can start planning!