From the rainforest trails of Arenal to the moonlike landscapes of the Atacama, Latin America is entering a new golden age of luxury travel—one defined by immersion, intention, and a deep connection to place. In the regions Nayara Resorts calls home, design elevates nature, culture shapes every detail, and the most memorable journeys leave space for wonder.
Growth in the sector reflects a shift in traveler priorities—toward elegant yet eco-friendly spaces, immersive design, and experiences that leave a lasting mark.
Across its properties in Costa Rica, Panama, and Chile, Nayara has quietly become one of the region’s most distinctive voices in high-end hospitality, creating resorts designed to care for and belong to their destinations—visually, culturally, and ecologically.
Luxury travel is evolving. Today’s guests are drawn to experiences that feel rare, personal, and fully attuned to their surroundings. The most memorable stays are designed with intention; quietly expressive, immersive without being overwhelming, and rooted in the character of a place.
Ambiance carries more weight than amenities. Nature is integrated into the experience, not staged around it. A new generation of travelers is finding that Latin American destinations can offer both refinement and authenticity.
In Chile’s Atacama Desert, Nayara Alto Atacama channels the elemental drama of the landscape into a quiet kind of grandeur. The architecture emerges from the red rock like a natural extension of the canyon itself, while unique experiences—from observing the celestial night skies to indigenous cultural immersion exploring human activity going back over 10,000 years—are designed to awaken perspective rather than overwhelm.
Away from Chile’s mainland, on Easter Island, Nayara Hangaroa offers a connection to one of the most remote and culturally rich places on Earth. Built with deep respect for the island’s heritage, the architecture draws on traditional Rapa Nui forms using natural materials like clay, cypress, and volcanic rock.
Guests can explore archaeological sites, enjoy cuisine inspired by the Pacific, and return to a property where luxury and legacy are seamlessly intertwined. This is a connection to one of the most remote and culturally rich places on Earth. Built with deep respect for the island’s heritage, the architecture draws on traditional Rapa Nui forms using natural materials like clay, cypress, and volcanic rock.
The rise of luxury travel across Latin America brings with it the potential for meaningful, long-term impact throughout the region. Economically, the travel and tourism sector already contributed over US$629 billion to Latin America’s GDP in 2023 and supported more than 24.6 million jobs, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.
Something especially impactful to consider is that growth won’t be limited to major urban centers. Tourism, when supported by the right investments and policy framework, has the power to transform rural economies, create entrepreneurial opportunities, and elevate regional industries connected to hospitality, design, guiding, and gastronomy in isolated or generally underserved communities. The industry could grow by an additional US$260 billion over the next decade, generating nearly 8 million new jobs by 2034.
Nayara Bocas del Toro offers a completely different rhythm, with overwater villas, sea-to-table dining, and a no-motor policy that preserves the calm of the mangroves. It’s both laid-back and carefully considered at the same time.
The overwater villas and treehouses that blend traditional Caribbean architecture with eco-friendly design, providing guests with immersive experiences in one of the world's most pristine marine environments, creating an island retreat that feels untouched, although effortlessly luxurious.
Hires are composed mainly of local Panamanians, materials are sourced locally, and culinary programs highlight native ingredients and techniques, creating employment opportunities in an otherwise remote location. These choices reflect a long-term commitment to the communities and ecosystems where Nayara operates.
On the environmental front, luxury travelers are increasingly drawn to destinations that pair comfort with conservation. This shift creates powerful incentives to protect Latin America's rich natural assets, from cloud forests and rainforests to deserts and reefs.
Properties that actively reforest, preserve biodiversity, and operate with minimal environmental impact are well-positioned to lead this evolution, attracting a growing market of discerning, eco-conscious guests.
In Costa Rica, the three properties—Nayara Gardens, Nayara Springs, and Nayara Tented Camp, unfold along a reforested slope in Arenal. The landscape, once cleared for cattle grazing, has been transformed into a thriving ecosystem. Over 100,000 trees were planted, creating habitats for diverse wildlife, including toucans, sloths, and howler monkeys. The commitment to environmental restoration enhances the guest experience, but it also contributes to Costa Rica's broader conservation goals, with forests now covering over 60% of the country and 98% of energy derived from renewable sources.
Private plunge pools are fed by geothermal springs, pathways wind through regenerated rainforest, and design draws inspiration from the natural world. The result is an experience that feels deeply luxurious and celebrates the surrounding environment.
As Latin America’s tourism economy expands, there’s a growing need for models that pair economic growth with environmental integrity and cultural respect. Nayara’s approach—hyperlocal, sustainability-driven, and small in scale, offers a glimpse of what that future can look like.
As the WTTC projects $260 billion in potential growth across the region over the next decade, the most resonant question for luxury travel is how that growth takes shape: who benefits, what ecosystems are preserved, and which cultures are meaningfully included.
Nayara has positioned itself as part of the answer.