Window to the Wild | Arenal Volcano Family Vacations with Nayara Gardens and Nayara Tented Camp

Deep in the lush rainforests of Costa Rica lies the Arenal Volcano, the most iconic feature of the Costa Rican landscape. Surrounded by one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth, the Arenal Volcano National Park has become Costa Rica’s ecotourism capital, a place where fascinating activities and breathtaking adventures abound. 

Walking under the misty rainforest canopy, the calls of birds and other animals echo out through the trees, with flashes of color from flowers, fruits, and fauna that burst through the deep greens. 

Shaped by thousands of years of volcanic activity and rainfall, the landscape hides countless valleys, canyons, waterfalls, and rivers to explore, and you can do so at any speed you desire  — from a thoughtful stroll along the hanging bridges to whitewater rafting and ziplining. 

Arenal is a reclaimed paradise, one brought back to its natural glory through intensive reforestation and conservation efforts. It’s also a monument to the possibilities of regenerative tourism. By responsibly sharing these fragile, unique places with others, they can be preserved for generations to come, and that is our founding purpose at Nayara Resorts. 

In the heart of the Arenal Rainforest, Nayara Resorts has created three properties to share the beauty and adventure of Costa Rica’s ecotourism capital with the world. In this article, we’ll focus on two: Nayara Gardens and Nayara Tented Camp.

For families looking to immerse themselves in a wild world, discover plants, animals, and landscapes unlike anywhere else on earth, and become protectors of these fragile treasures, there is no better way to travel!

A Wild World Some Only See Online

The modern metropolis and the concrete jungle both have their allure regarding the comforts and conveniences of daily life. Still, through the virtual windows of our phones and computer screens, we can see into a world of more than just asphalt and aluminum. 

How many of us can remember the first moment our imaginations came alive watching Planet Earth, National Geographic, or countless other films and shows that brought us out of the living room and into the heart of the Amazon, the Himalayas, or the deep ocean to encounter creatures seemingly out of the realm of imagination?

For some families, the world of toucans and quetzals, of sloths and jaguars, is only something to gaze at through the glass of zoo enclosures or virtual screens. But at Nayara Gardens and Nayara Tented Camp, we aim to bring you and your family right here into the wild world of the Arenal rainforest. 

Here, every window looks out at the wild world you’ve only seen in the movies, and every step around the grounds brings a new chance to encounter the natural world as you’ve never seen it before.

In the Heart of The Arenal Rainforest

Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse countries on earth, which is especially notable considering that Costa Rica’s landmass is roughly the same size as West Virginia. 

And of the some 500,000 estimated species found in Costa Rica, a huge portion of them can be found in the Arenal Volcano National Park, including 70% of Costa Rica’s 12,000 plant species (and counting), 500+ species of birds, 100+ species of mammals, and thousands upon thousands of species of insects and invertebrates. And it’s not just life that’s diverse and fascinating.

Hidden under the rolling mountainside canopy of the Arenal landscape lie dozens of rivers, canyons, valleys, caves, waterfalls, and springs. 

What does this mean for the families who come to visit? Well, it means that Arenal is a land of discovery, with something new to find around each bend in the trail, over each ridge, and behind each bank of foliage.

Blending Your Ecological Immersion with Laid-Back Luxury

We have designed both Nayara Gardens and Nayara Tented Camp so that from the moment you step out of your transport until the moment you depart for the airport, you’re immersed in the natural world around you. 

Much of the land upon which both properties have been built was originally deforested pastureland that has been restored and rejuvenated through years of conservation efforts. Many species have already reclaimed these secondary forests, so it’s no exaggeration to say that when you stay with us, you are always surrounded by living, vibrant nature. 

But maintaining immersion into nature doesn’t mean you’ll be “roughing it.” As one of the global leaders in eco-luxury, we are constantly innovating new ways to provide world-class comfort without interrupting your immersion into the natural habitat around you. 

You can see this simply walking around Nayara Gardens and Nayara Tented Camp. From luxurious residences that offer open-air living balanced with climate-controlled comfort, you can walk along pristine footpaths and gorgeous terraces through the forest to poolside bars under the canopy or find yourself in an elevated dining concept worthy of Paris.

Toucans fly overhead, sloths await in our on-site sanctuary, and troops of coatis move through the foliage. Still, at the end of the night, you’ll be basking in the glow of a day well-spent, not fighting off mosquitos or sweating in oppressive humidity. 

Making Memories Of A Lifetime

During the glow of those days well spent, our expert tour guides are at your service to help unlock all that the Arenal Rainforest and the surrounding area have to offer. 

To spark curiosity and wonder for the whole family, you can venture across the Hanging Bridges, hike along the Lava Fields, trek past mystical waterfalls like La Fortuna and Rio Celeste, journey through the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge or the Peñas Blancas River. You can even explore the forests on horseback or come face to face with the birds and frogs of the Arenal Volcano National Park. 

For family members seeking the thrill of adventure, possibilities abound. Flash through the forest on a zipline, rappel down waterfalls, challenge whitewater rapids up to class IV on the Sarapiquí River, explore Arenal Lake on a boat or kayak, or hike up into the cloud forest of Water National Park. 

Whatever your choice for adventure, you’ll always have an option of a more relaxed experience to complement it, like a dive into Costa Rican culture through coffee and chocolate (our two tastiest exports) or a nature walk for the whole family to see sloths and birds. 

And that’s without mentioning the world-class spa and wellness pavilion custom-built in the heart of the rainforest to help you rejuvenate and unwind, even in the heart of a thrilling family vacation. 

A couples’ massage while the younger generation lounging by the pool after a morning hike is just one example of how there's always time to relax and connect even in the heart of the Costa Rican adventure capital. 

We’re Here to Help You Provide An Adventure Like No Other

When you stay with us at Nayara Gardens or Nayara Tented Camp, you’ll be lounging in luxury right in the heart of the Arenal Rainforest, surrounded by world-class comfort and a wild habitat so full of life that you can never predict what might land on the branches outside your window. 

The only decision you need to make is where you and your family will be staying, whether that’s in the luxury tents of Nayara Tented Camp, which range from cozy 2-bedroom tents to 12+ person private residences, or in the casitas and villas of Nayara Gardens. You can click the links above to learn more about staying at Nayara Gardens and Nayara Tented Camp and the different options. 

Whichever your choice, you can rest assured that from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave, you’ll be surrounded by the vibrant life of the Arenal Rainforest, and attended to by a world-class team of staff, guides, and culinary professionals dedicated to showing you this incredible part of the world that they love.