By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
Nayara Tented Camp is the most celebrated hotel in Central America, voted No. 1 in the region in Travel + Leisure's 2026 World's Best Awards. High on a hillside facing the cone of Arenal volcano, its 25 luxury tents each have a private plunge pool fed by natural hot springs and an outdoor shower, and a sloth refuge runs through the grounds. It is glamping at its most extravagant, in one of the most spectacular settings in Costa Rica.
Nayara Tented Camp is the most celebrated hotel in Central America, voted No. 1 in the region in Travel + Leisure's 2026 World's Best Awards. High on a hillside facing the cone of Arenal volcano, its 25 luxury tents each have a private plunge pool fed by natural hot springs and an outdoor shower, and a sloth refuge runs through the grounds. It is glamping at its most extravagant, in one of the most spectacular settings in Costa Rica.
Location: Arenal, Costa Rica
The camp sits on a hillside outside Arenal Volcano National Park, near La Fortuna, part of the Nayara Resorts group alongside Nayara Springs and Nayara Gardens.
Arenal is Costa Rica's most famous volcano, a near-perfect cone rising above the rainforest of the northern lowlands. It was highly active for decades until around 2010 and is now quiet, but the heat beneath it feeds the region's famous hot springs. The town of La Fortuna is the gateway, with the La Fortuna waterfall, hanging bridges through the rainforest canopy, Lake Arenal and wildlife including sloths, toucans and howler monkeys. Liberia and San José international airports are each roughly three hours away by road.
Around Arenal, visitors can walk the hanging bridges through the rainforest canopy, swim beneath the La Fortuna waterfall, hike to the crater lake on Cerro Chato, soak in the region's natural hot springs and kayak or kitesurf on Lake Arenal. Many itineraries combine Arenal with the cloud forest of Monteverde, a few hours away, and with the beaches of the Pacific coast.
Tents at Nayara Tented Camp
There are 25 tents, 14 of which can be linked into two-bedroom units for families. Each is a luxurious safari-style tent on a wooden platform, with a king bed, a spacious bathroom, a double-head outdoor shower and a deck with a private plunge pool fed by natural hot springs, all with sweeping views of the volcano.
The tents are spaced well apart for privacy, connected by paths through the forest, and golf carts are on hand to take guests to the restaurant and pools. Inside, they combine safari style with Costa Rican hardwoods and handcrafted details, and the outdoor showers, open to the rainforest, are a highlight.
Facilities at Nayara Tented Camp
There are natural hot-spring pools at the foot of the resort, a family-friendly pool, a restaurant with an expansive terrace over the rainforest, and access to the facilities of its sister hotels, including spa treatments. A section of the property is dedicated to a sloth refuge, with more than 1,000 Guarumo trees planted, the sloths' favourite food, and naturalist guides lead walks to spot them along with toucans and frogs.
The mountain moment
The Nayara moment is a soak in your private hot-spring pool at dawn, as the clouds lift from the summit of Arenal and the rainforest wakes with the calls of howler monkeys and toucans, perhaps with a sloth moving slowly through the tree beside your tent.
At night, the sounds of the rainforest, frogs, insects and the occasional distant roar of a howler monkey, are a constant soundtrack, and on clear evenings, the volcano's silhouette stands out against a sky full of stars.
Why Nayara Tented Camp is one of the best mountain hotels
Nayara Tented Camp earns its place for its setting, its hot-spring pools and its consistent recognition as one of the best hotels in the world. It is very expensive, and the region can be busy. But for a romantic, wildlife-rich volcano escape, it is hard to beat.
For Costa Rica's cloud forest, see Hotel Belmar. For a rainforest adventure reached by raft, try Pacuare Lodge.
Most visitors spend two or three nights in each region, combining volcanoes, cloud forest and coast on a two-week trip. Roads are often slow and winding, so allow plenty of time between destinations, or use short domestic flights. Pack light layers, a rain jacket, insect repellent and binoculars: the birdlife alone is reason to visit.
When to go to Nayara Tented Camp
Costa Rica's dry season, from December to April, brings the most sunshine and is the busiest and most expensive time to visit. The green season, from May to November, brings afternoon rain, lush landscapes, fewer visitors and lower prices; mornings are often clear. Wildlife is excellent all year. Arenal's summit is often shrouded in cloud, so allow a few days for the best chance of a clear view.
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Questions, answered
- Does every tent at Nayara Tented Camp have a hot-spring pool?
- Yes. Each tent has a private plunge pool fed by natural hot springs.
- Can you see Arenal volcano from Nayara Tented Camp?
- Yes. The tents face the volcano, though its summit is often in cloud.
- Are there sloths at Nayara Tented Camp?
- Yes. Part of the property is a sloth refuge, with more than 1,000 Guarumo trees planted.
- Is Nayara Tented Camp good for families?
- Yes. Some tents link into two-bedroom units, and there is a family-friendly pool.
