The Arenal Nayara located in La Fortuna in Costa Rica is, hands down, the most romantic and sophisticated place I have ever stayed. With amazing views of the Arenal volcano, outdoor/indoor showers, outdoor private jacuzzi tub, a spa, pool with a swim up bar, hot tubs, a wine bar, great restaurants on site, and, to top it off, an extremely friendly and helpful concierge desk that pays special attention to do that little something extra, this place has it all. My only regret is that we couldn’t stay here longer, or move in, because that would have been ideal.
When we first arrived, we were greeted by the concierge, who spoke fluent English and was extremely helpful. We were able to book most of our excursions straight from the hotel online prior to our arrival, and the concierge gave us recommendations and instructions. They even gave us information about the excursions we had booked through outside sources. We also booked a tour or two right there in the reception area. All of the excursions, the hotel, and the hotel staff all accepted american dollars, so that made our trip much easier.
The Bungalow
View from Balcony
The first thing we did once we checked in was explore our bungalow. Our luggage was delivered to our room, and we had plenty of time to scope out the place. It had an indoor/outdoor shower and an amazing balcony equipped with jacuzzi tub, hammock, and one of the best views of the Arenal Volcano that I had seen. The balcony was very private, and you could barely tell you had neighbors at all. Giant birds perched up in the trees right in front of us, and we even saw a sloth and a very large tropical looking bird (sorry I am not a bird watcher, and I can’t remember the name of it) on the grounds. They had a basket right outside the entrance with two umbrellas (remember – we are in the rainforest, people), which miraculously kept appearing in that location regardless of where you left them. They have this neat system where you can grab the umbrellas, go to another area of the resort, leave them in a basket there if it stops raining, and then bam – there are two more waiting back at your bungalow when you return. They had a basket of fresh fruit native to the area waiting for us, which was delicious. One resembled an alien fruit from another planet, and we still have no idea what it was, but it was equally yummy. As an added bonus, they had free international phone service and wifi.
The Grounds
Arenal Nayara Walking Path
After we explored our bungalow, we ventured out onto the grounds. The pathway leading through the resort looked like the rainforest itself, and each pool, hot tub, and restaurant were secluded and charming. We didn’t get to experience the pool bar because we didn’t have time, but we did find some time during our stay to visit the sushi restaurant (Sushi Amor), the main restaurant (Altimra Restaurant) and, of course, the wine bar, all of which were amazing.
The Spa
The first thing we did after our arrival and exploration was to visit the spa to have a massage to begin our honeymoon. We did the couples stone massage, and it was an amazing experience. The room, like most places in Costa Rica, was open to the outdoors (although it was also very private), so you could experience the sounds and smells of the rainforest. It is what every spa aspires to be with their sound machines and scented candles, but here it was the real thing! We then did the milk bath, and I am still not sure of exactly what that was – a scented jacuzzi tub, and they brought us tea. It was nice, but we probably could have gotten the same experience in our private jacuzzi on our bungalow balcony. Overall the spa = amazing.
The Excursions
Relaxing on the Balcony
Every morning, we awoke and had complimentary breakfast (which included a huge amount of both hot and cold dishes – everything from omelets made right in front of you to local bean dishes). They served local coffee in a french press (which inspired us to purchase one for ourselves), and it was all very very good. Once we finished eating, we ventured to the lobby, where the tour guides picked us up to bring us to our adventures. We booked Canyon Rappelling, zip-lining, and a Volcano walking tour through the hotel. In addition, we booked a horseback ride adventure through an outside group (Alberto’s Horses). I have absolutely no complaints, and I really really hope to go back one day!!
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