OUR STORY

Our story is about stunning natural beauty, intimate spaces, and connecting with nature. Our mission is to offer you authentic, warm, and extraordinary service and share our “Pura Vida” tradition. We take pride in our natural and cultural richness and on being environmentally and socially responsible in everything we do.

How we do it

OUR TEAM

Two hotel staff members in blue uniforms and red neckerchiefs stand smiling outside near greenery and a brick building, with a clipboard on a wooden stand beside them.

Our Ethos

Our staff is the very soul of Nayara. Our outstanding local men and women embody our internal mission of “heartfelt hospitality;” they all feel proud to work here, and to show Costa Rica to our guests through their own eyes. From, Karina, our Resident Manager, who is eager to show you a sloth she spotted outside the welcoming tent; to Rodrigo, Ayla’s maitre d’, who makes you feel like you are the most important person in the resort; to, Alfonso, head of landscaping, who walks through the camp making sure every tree is healthy.

Two men wearing uniforms with Nayara Resorts logos and name tags stand smiling together indoors, with blurred green plants in the background.

Front Desk Concierges

Michael and Jonathan are proud “Ticos,” both eager to share their warmth and hospitality with you. As personal concierges, they are ready to help you craft your own adventure and to satisfy all your needs and wishes, from getting a prescription that you forgot at home, to arranging a private visit to the Hanging Bridges early in the morning.

Four smiling chefs in uniform and aprons stand together in a commercial kitchen, posing for a group photo. Stainless steel equipment and kitchen tools are visible in the background.

Kitchen Staff

We believe our restaurants are of the utmost importance to send guests home with exceptional memories. Our kitchen staff must exceed expectations and make sure guests have an unforgettable gastronomical experience. We are always thankful to the kitchen teams and we support them with training and education. They are at the heart of the Nayara experience.

A man in a blue striped shirt and khaki pants sits on a yellow chair, smiling. He is indoors with green plants and wooden decor in the background.

Carlos Rojas, Reservation Team

Carlos is that magical person in the tented camp that ensures that everyone knows your whims and wishes before you arrive. “I was born in Palmares, a town not very far from La Fortuna, and have been with Nayara since the beginning: twelve great years. I have enjoyed every day of work and take personal pride in guests' satisfaction. I love to program guests’ itineraries so every day in Costa Rica is a Pura Vida stay.”

MEET OUR TEAM

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CERO KILÓMETROS

Gastronomic philosophy

Our kitchens are driven by the mission to offer sustainable and healthy food that uses local and seasonally available products while supporting local farmers and producers. The aim is to get to “zero kilometers” of distance between our produce and our kitchen.

A man in a gray chefs coat with Nayara Resorts logo stands smiling with arms crossed in front of a dark stone wall.

Mohamed Ternanni

Chef at Ayla Restaurant

A seasoned maestro born amidst the vibrant flavors of Beirut, Lebanon. Boasting an impressive 16-year culinary career that began at the tender age of 17. Ternanni dedicated a decade of his expertise to the renowned InterContinental and Leading Hotels of the World Resorts. His culinary finesse comes from well-traveled experiences around the globe, sharing his cultural heritage and knowledge from diverse regions, from the Arabian Gulf and Istanbul to Mexico and now Costa Rica. Collaborating with the finest chefs in Mediterranean, European, Turkish, and Asian cuisines, he meticulously learns their techniques, infusing each culinary experience with an abundance of love and passion, crafting menus that beautifully weave together the essence of each culture curated by his skillful hands and discerning palate.

COMMITED TO SUSTAINABILITY

A small round pool with stone edges is surrounded by lush green tropical plants and trees in a dense forest setting.

Sustainability

At the tented camp, sustainable tourism is our driving motivation. We believe in building in harmony with nature, leaving space for wildlife and wilderness, while contributing to the growth of our local community. We are proud of our numerous social and environmental initiatives. We are environmentally friendly and socially responsible without compromising the design or the local culture.

Nayara Resorts ESG Sustainability Report and Management Plan
Four young children sit at a wooden table outdoors, eating from white bowls with spoons. Three sit in a row, the fourth stands nearby. A building and greenery are visible in the background.

Community

We think local: we want our community to thrive. The majority of our team comes from the neighboring town of La Fortuna de San Carlos. We offer them free transportation, sustainable tourism education, and health services. Some of our additional local initiatives include free early education for our employees’ children, volunteer time and financial support to Hogarcito de Ninos, a local orphanage, and support for local artists.

Nayara Resorts ESG Sustainability Report and Management Plan
A small rocky stream flows through lush green tropical plants and trees, creating a serene, natural scene in a forested area.

Costa Rica is Green

Costa Rica is one of the greenest countries in the world, both literally and ecologically. A quarter of the country’s land is protected from development, the largest percentage of protected land in the world (the average is 8%). Keeping with Nayara’s pledge to keep a light footprint on its pristine property, the tented camp was built on stilts and ample space was left between tents to plant trees and palms between them. The forest was razed by cattle farmers and we’ve done an enormous job of reforestation planting thousands of trees and indigenous bushes. We’ve made it our mission to ensure the tented camp remains one of Costa Rica’s premier eco-resorts.

Nayara Resorts ESG Sustainability Report and Management Plan
Aerial view of several small, cabin-like buildings with tan roofs nestled among dense, lush green trees and winding paths in a forested area.

Energy & Water Conservation

We built sustainable and renewable lodging. Land topography allows us to orientate our tents smartly to maximize the heating effects of sunlight and ventilation, minimizing the need for air conditioning and heating. We use energy-conserving light bulbs and lighting systems, and water-conserving faucets and towels.

Nayara Resorts ESG Sustainability Report and Management Plan

COMMITED TO NATURE

A brown and gray sloth hangs from a tree branch surrounded by large green leaves in a lush, tropical environment.

Sloth Preserve

Sloths –those adorable and lethargic animals living in treetops- spend much of their lives in the canopies of the Guarumo trees, snoozing and hiding from predators. Our mission is to preserve and grow our tropical rainforest, providing a safe habitat that can support a healthy sloth population. By planting thousands of trees, we show our commitment to the preservation of the sloths’ natural habitat. As we continue our reforestation effort, our tropical rainforests are welcoming more sloths, monkeys, butterflies, and birds than ever before.

Aerial view of a lush forest canopy with several round, stone pools and pathways partially visible among the dense green trees.

Conservation and Reforestation

Reforestation is the most important action we can take to protect the rainforest and the wildlife that lives within it. Planting new trees reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the air, benefiting the local climate. Most importantly, as those new trees grow, they help rebuild endangered habitats. Loss of habitats is the leading threat to the survival of animal species. The area where the resort is located had all of its trees cut down by a previous landowner to create a pasture. We have slowly and painstakingly replanted native species in the forest and created beautiful grounds that serve as a natural refuge for birds, monkeys, and sloths. We have an extensive collection of tropical plants including palms, cycads, flowering trees, and vines.

A scarlet macaw parrot with bright red, yellow, and blue feathers perches in front of large green leaves, looking to the left.

Preserving the rainforest

We have gone to great lengths to preserve and protect our piece of the rainforest—building around heritage trees, planting native species in our tropical gardens, and caring for the animals and birds who reside on our property. We also help Arenal National Park’s reforestation effort and provide sanctuary for sloths and howler monkeys.

A yellow and black butterfly with large wings rests on a bright green leaf, surrounded by lush foliage.

Conservation Initiatives

We are working hard to become a single-use plastic free resort. We have replaced plastic water bottles with glass reusable bottles in the villas, eliminated plastic straws, and continue to recycle plastic and cartons.

PRESS

A luxurious pool and deck overlook a lush green landscape with the iconic Arenal Volcano in the distance, featured on a magazine cover about the best new sustainable hotels in the world. This relaxed luxury, adults-only experience immerses guests in the heart of Costa Rica’s rainforest.

CN Traveler

“Ask to see Tony, Nayara’s unofficially three-toed mascot, who usually hangs upside down by the reception.” LINK TO FULL ARTICLE

A magazine cover shows a waiter in vintage attire holding a coffee pot, standing in a classic café. The title reads AFAR. Bold yellow text says Where Tradition Meets Today, evoking the relaxed luxury of an adults-only experience amid Costa Rica’s rainforest near Arenal Volcano.

The Best New Hotels in the World: 2020

“Today the best hotels also build genuine connections between their guests and their communities.” LINK TO FULL ARTICLE

Cover of Condé Nast Traveler magazine with a scenic desert highway, mountains in the background, and text reading The Road From Here and The Hot List. Discover destinations like Costa Rica’s rainforest near Arenal Volcano, where relaxed luxury meets an exclusive adults-only experience.

2020 HOT LIST

“The Best New Hotels in the World” LINK TO FULL ARTICLE

Architectural Digest magazine cover featuring a man in a light coat standing beside a black grand piano in a luxurious, modern interior with high ceilings and large windows. Evoking the essence of relaxed luxury, the scene captures an adults-only experience reminiscent of exclusive destinations like Costa Rica’s rainforest near Arenal Volcano. Text reads: going home: DRAKE in Toronto.

“The tents keep nature front and center with dual indoor and outdoor showers heads and jungle inspired wallpaper...” LINK TO FULL ARTICLE

White bold text reads DEPARTURES on a light gray background.

Legend Award 2020

“The Best New Lodges in the World” LINK TO FULL ARTICLE

Stella McCartney poses closely with four children on the cover of Vogue magazine, embodying relaxed luxury amid genuine connection. The headline reads Vogue Values 2020, with other cover text highlighting McCartney as Fashion’s Conscience.

The Volcano Lovers

“At the new Nayara in Costa Rica, nature and nurture go hand in hand.” LINK TO FULL ARTICLE

A woman in a red coat reclines on the cover of Town & Country magazine, with feature headlines in white and red text surrounding her.

“Take the kids to Costa Rica” LINK TO FULL ARTICLE

A person enjoys a relaxed luxury adults-only experience as they unwind in a pool outside a modern villa surrounded by lush greenery, with views reminiscent of the Costa Rica rainforest and the majestic Arenal Volcano. Beside the image is a white circle with the text AHEAD Asia Europe MEA WINNER.

“The New Concept of the Year Award”

“A simple and straightforward definition of new luxury” LINK TO FULL ARTICLE

A woman snorkeling underwater is featured on the cover of Travel Weekly magazine with the headline: LETS GO THE DISTANCE. Other text includes travel industry topics and an ad for Atlas Ocean Voyages.

“Glamping Next Level: from Tented Camps to Jungle-Bubbles” LINK TO FULL ARTICLE

Cover of Departures magazine featuring an illustration of five men in stylish spring outfits, all wearing white pants and red sneakers, walking together. The text reads SPRING FASHION..

“Spacious accommodations fuse Safari style with Costa Rican design sense” LINK TO FULL ARTICLE

A woman with long blonde hair poses on the cover of Elle magazine. She wears a patterned top, and the text includes her name, Sophie Turner, along with other article headlines.

“Eco Conscious Traveler … Nayara aims to bring the outdoors in with its open-air vibe and eco-friendly tents..”. LINK TO FULL ARTICLE

GUEST REVIEWS

“From that lofty perch, one can gaze across the canopy of trees to the water’s source: the steep charcoal slopes of Mount Arenal".

Peter Lindberg , Travel+Leisure

“The place itself is stunningly beautiful, and cleverly designed to blend seamlessly into the lush green landscape of the property.”

Nicole E , USA

“Our private guide let us explore the rainforest at our own pace—lingering to watch a family of monkeys, stopping for a snack when we were hungry. It was an unforgettable day.”

James R , London, UK

“A breathtaking experience. Absolute Luxury in the middle of Mother Nature”

SorenH , USA

“Hard to put in words how spectacular this place is... Each tent is breathtaking — the decor, the daily fresh fruit, our private pool, outdoor shower, and gorgeous walk each morning around the property from the tent was just the start. At night we’d always get a delicious dessert treat and couldn’t wait for what the next day had in store!”

Soledad Z , Aventura, FL

“First and foremost the people were outstanding, every single one, every single time, all week. The views from our private deck and hot tub weren’t just jaw-dropping-- they were soul expanding. The grounds are immaculate and designed to bring in birds and other wildlife.’

Bubbaduck , Tripadvisor review

The team was flawless from welcome to farewell, and we will forever be grateful for their friendly attitudes, helpful dining suggestions (on & off-resort), and accessibility when needing to book excursions, spa appointments and dining reservations, or just when we needed to be shuttled around the Nayara campus to spot Tony the resident sloth.

Nicole E , USA

“A unique destination where the property seamlessly syncs to its environment and surroundings.“

MKCH , Miami Beach, FL

“We were a little worried about the term “tented camp” but as it turns out we should not have been. The accommodations are tents in the same way a Rolls Royce is a car, the height of luxury. The turndown service featured homemade locally sourced chocolates and became an event every night. But in the end, it’s the people who really make a place special.”

Bubbaduck , Tripadvisor review

“A simple and straightforward definition of new luxury“

AHEAD AWARDS
nayara springs is part of
hotel collection
Family
Adventure
Romantic
Getaway
Secluded
Oasis
Cultural
Adventure
Private
Island