Couples Getaway to one of the Top Resorts in the World
Published Wednesday, July 1st 2020 - Updated Friday, July 3rd 2020
Living in Costa Rica the past four years and owning a travel agency has opened up a lot of doors to experience some amazing destinations. Today my wife and I are headed to the city of Arenal. Arenal is located in the Central region of Costa Rica and approximately 80 miles away from San Jose. It is home to one of the most iconic settings in Costa Rica, the Arenal Volcano. The drive itself takes about two and half hours from San Jose, unless you get stuck behind a local agriculture or cattle truck then who knows. You will pass various types of crops ranging from coffee to strawberries as well as many roadside shops eager to show and sell you’re their latest crops. Make sure you have a few colones, Costa Rican currency, handy to stop and purchase some of delish treats.
After crossing the pass, you will start your journey down into the valley and on a clear day, which today is not, you will begin to see the volcano. Let me digress for a second about the driving. We have lived here for four years and become accustomed to the roads and the driving, those of you visiting for the first are in for a real treat. Transfer services are available, but you can also rent a car from the airport and take the drive yourself. My personal opinion on this would be to do a private transfer because if you rent a car, the focus will be on the road and you’ll miss out on the scenery.
So, we have figured out how you are getting to Arenal now let’s enjoy this spectacular destination. The hub of the region will be a town called La Fortuna. There you will find majority of the restaurants, bars, grocery stores and shopping. If you want to explore outside the resort for cuisine, La Fortuna has everything from pizza to parrilla. My favorites include, Café Mediterraneo, Don Rufino and Rancho Perla.
After passing through La Fortuna, the Arenal Volcano will be the focal point. When you think of a perfectly coned shaped volcano, that would be Arenal. It is spectacular! As we pass along the volcano the excitement is intensifying because we are about to stay at one of the top resorts in the world. Yes, you heard that right, globally ranked by many travel associations as one of the top resorts in the world. We meander through the lushly landscaped entrance to Nayara Springs. Pronounced Na-yaa-ra and not Na-ha-ra as I state throughout my Fireside with Phil chat with the resort’s director of sales and marketing. (search YouTube: Top Resort in the World…Nayara Springs and you’ll hear my pronunciation)
We are greeted with exceptional smiles and a personal welcome from the General Manager along with a delicious welcome cocktail. After a resort rundown and check-in, we had a golf cart tour of the property on our way to the room. The resort is filled with densely landscaped pathways giving each area an undisturbed vibe. As we get our bearings as to the location of everything on the property, we make our way over to our Spring Villa. There are only 35 villas at the 5 star, adults only property so if you are looking for luxurious seclusion, you are definitely at the right place.
As you make your way through the hidden entrance, you feel the spacious, elegant and understated luxury. Immediately upon entering your eyes are drawn to the huge vaulted ceiling covered in indigenous wood. A four-poster king-sized bed, separate seating area, private volcano fed infinity plunge pool, private garden with dual rain showers as well as a very attentive staff are just a few things that really make this resort special. The plunge pool takes this villa over the top. It is so relaxing and secluded that you feel as if you are in the tropical rain forest, wait a minute you actually are in a tropical rain forest.
If you decide to leave your room and it’s honestly a very tough decision, head over to one of the outdoor infinity pools for some local ceviche and a refreshing michelada. You will have an amazing view of the volcano as well as opportunity to see toucans, hummingbirds and macaws in the wild. The pool area provides plenty of space to soak in some rays or grab a siesta in one of the cabanas by the pool. If you get waterlogged, talk a stroll down one of the two nature trails on property that wind their way through the rain forest with a chance to see some local wildlife, maybe even a sloth. Another nice touch the resort offers is a guided wildlife tour either early in the morning when the animals are most active or at night to see a variety of frogs and other local insects.
The award-winning spa is another must do. The open-air treatment pavilions really bring you one with nature whether you choose an individual or couples treatment. The treatments include wraps and scrubs with organic coffee, chocolate clay and volcanic mud to go along with spa staples like facials and massages. Yoga is also very popular at the resort with daily classes in a huge outdoor pavilion constructed of local wood. Because of their outdoor location, the spa services get enhanced with a passing shower. Now that your totally relaxed, let’s eat!
Nayara Springs offers 7 dining options from fresh roasted coffee at Mi Cafecito to fine dining at Amor Loco. Amor Loco’s Argentinian Head Chef offers exquisite gourmet meals right in the heart of the rain forest while seated in crushed velvet chairs. If you are a wine lover and yes we are, head over to Nostalgia Wine and Tapas Bar and taste some of finest that Latin America and Europe has to offer. Take it a step further and have your host reserve a wine pairing dinner which offers a five-course meal with wine pairings.
The Arenal area has a plethora of outdoor activities to enjoy as well. It is a very popular place to try ziplining, walk on one of the many hanging bridges over the treetops, white-water raft in one of the local rivers, fish in Lake Arenal for Guapote or hike around the volcano. Another must do is the La Fortuna Waterfall, but remember what goes down must come back up. It is approximately 530 steps down to the 230-foot waterfall. Make sure you take a backpack with a towel, change of clothes, snacks and cool beverages because at the end of the hike you can swim and relax in the pool created by the waterfall. Soak in this breathtaking view for a bit before drying off and climbing back up the 530 stairs, pausing every once and while for a breather and a sip of water. All these tours or experiences can be booked well in advance of your stay and most include roundtrip transfers so it’s very seamless.
Whether you stay for 3 days as part of the inland portion of your itinerary like we did or an entire week, Nayara Springs and Arenal will not disappoint. This is an amazing destination for a Costa Rica vacation with couples, a honeymoon or anniversary, we just celebrated our 17th there. This is an amazing destination for a Costa Rica vacation with couples! Pura Vida! Costa Rica Phil
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