Nayara Gardens was the first property for Nayara Resorts, which now has three properties in Costa Rica (Nayara Gardens, Nayara Springs, and Nayara Tented Camp), one in Panama (Nayara Bocas del Toro), and two in Chile (Nayara Alto Atacama and Nayara Hangaroa). All of the accommodations at the new Nayara Gardens have been completely leveled and rebuilt as Arenal Casitas – each with a bright interior, white walls, and a punch of color from custom wallpapered headboards featuring local flora. Glass walls in the bathrooms look out at a private walled garden, and each casita also has its own deck and plunge pool surrounded by lush rainforest.
Also new is a boutique with locally made artisan goods as well as a family education center where guests can learn more about the surrounding rainforest (the entire property is a sloth sanctuary) and partake in activities such as painting en plein air. There is a beautiful new pool and adjacent Asia Luna restaurant has been totally rebuilt (the Nikkei-style menu is a guest favorite). The spa is also undergoing a full renovation and will reopen in early 2024.
Guests at Nayara Gardens have full access to sister properties Nayara Springs and Nayara Tented Camp with their additional restaurants, bars, pools, hot springs, yoga pavilions… (with one exception – Nayara Springs is adults only, so children must keep to Nayara Gardens and Nayara Tented Camp).
Nayara has sustainability in its DNA, from creating the sloth sanctuary to reforesting the area surrounding the property and being early adaptors of the no-plastic movement. Taking this a step further, owner Leo Ghitis recently launched a partnership with a local bank to create a housing community for Nayara’s employees. Through the joint sponsorship of Nayara and the bank, employees will be able to take ownership of a new home in part of a new community being built and immediately start paying a mortgage (without a down payment) and building equity. This will not be dependent on employment; even if employees quit the next day, it will still be their house. All the furnishings, fixtures, and interiors from the previous iteration of Nayara Gardens are being upcycled to furnish these new homes.
Activities on offer:
- On property:
- Daily morning yoga sessions
- Nature walk through the sloth sanctuary and armadillo trail
- Private dining in the designated private dining areas overlooking the rainforest
- Morning birdwatching and evening frog tours
- Coffee tasting class at Mi Cafecito Espresso bar (where Nayara roasts its own coffee beans)
- Off property:
- Hanging bridges walk
- Horseback riding
- Ziplining
- White water rafting
How to get there
Nayara Gardens is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from either San Jose or Liberia (the two main international airports). Nayara can arrange private transfers with naturalist guides driving guests to point out wildlife and interesting landscapes along the way.
Rates start are $480 per night.
