Nayara Gardens · Costa Rica

The refurbished Arenal Pool Casita features a flexible layout with a daybed, ideal for families traveling with younger children.

Nayara Gardens is the Nayara I would look at first for a family with younger children.

Set deep in the rainforest near Arenal Volcano, it has the lush, wildlife-filled setting that makes Nayara so special, but with an easier, more relaxed family rhythm than its glamorous neighbor up the hill, Nayara Tented Camp. Nayara itself describes Gardens as the family flagship of its connected Arenal estate and particularly well suited to younger children.

The accommodations are freestanding, the newly renovated Arenal Pool Casitas have private plunge pools, there are family-friendly pools and restaurants, and sloths and toucans genuinely live in the trees around you.

And because Nayara Gardens, Nayara Springs and Nayara Tented Camp are connected, staying here does not mean missing the broader Nayara experience.

It simply means choosing the version that makes the most sense for your family.

At a glance

Where

Arenal, Costa Rica, deep in the rainforest on the connected Nayara estate

Best for

Families with younger children, and couples who want the rainforest without an adults-only hotel

The rooms

Arenal Pool Casita approx. 1,044 sq ft, with a king or two twins plus a daybed for a child · Rainforest Pool Villa approx. 1,135 sq ft, octagonal, with a wraparound terrace

Start with

The Pool Casita. For one younger child the flexible bed setup usually beats the larger villa, so compare the configuration rather than the category name

Private pools

Both the Arenal Pool Casitas and the Rainforest Pool Villas have private plunge pools

Hot springs

Access to the Termas, seven mineral hot spring pools in the rainforest, without leaving the property

Dining

La Terraza and Asia Luna at Gardens, plus six restaurants across the three connected Nayara resorts. There is also Lyla’s Gelato

Wildlife

Sloths, toucans, frogs, monkeys and a great many birds, on the property rather than a drive away

Recognition

Third among Costa Rica resorts and in the global top 100 hotels, Travel + Leisure 2026 World’s Best

Ideal stay

Three nights, or four for a slower pace, usually paired with the Pacific coast

Compare with

Nayara Tented Camp for older children and volcano views, Nayara Springs for adults only, or the full Springs vs. Tented Camp vs. Gardens comparison

The room that works for your family is not always the bigger one.

Send me your dates and your children’s ages and I will compare the Pool Casitas and the Rainforest Pool Villas on bed configuration rather than square footage, which is what actually decides this.

Why stay at Nayara Gardens?

Because sometimes the smartest luxury hotel choice is not the most expensive one.

Nayara Gardens gives families an enormous amount of what makes the Nayara Arenal experience special: rainforest, wildlife, hot springs, beautiful accommodations, strong dining and excellent service.

What it does not require is paying Tented Camp rates simply because Tented Camp is newer and photographs beautifully.

For families with younger children, Nayara itself recommends Gardens particularly strongly. Its casitas use daybeds so younger children can sleep in the same room as their parents, while Tented Camp’s Family Tents are designed more naturally for older children and teenagers who benefit from an adjacent separate room.

That is a meaningful difference.

So is the price.

The Arenal Pool Casita

For most families, I would start here.

The recently refurbished Arenal Pool Casitas are approximately 1,044 square feet and have either a king bed or two twin beds, plus a daybed that can accommodate a child. Each has a large garden terrace, private plunge pool, indoor and outdoor rain showers and plenty of room to actually settle in.

This is exactly the kind of room setup I like with a younger child.

You are together without feeling as though the entire vacation has been compressed into a conventional hotel room.

And once children discover that there is a pool immediately outside the door, convincing them to put shoes on for breakfast may become the day’s greatest logistical challenge.

There are worse problems.

The Rainforest Pool Villa

For couples or families wanting a little more space and privacy, I would also compare the Rainforest Pool Villa.

These villas are approximately 1,135 square feet with an octagonal layout, king bed, wraparound terrace, hammock, private plunge pool and views toward either the rainforest or Arenal Volcano.

The extra space is lovely, but I would not automatically assume it is the better family choice.

For a family with one younger child, the flexible bed setup of the Arenal Pool Casita may actually work better.

This is why I would compare the specific room configuration rather than simply booking the category with “Villa” in the name.

Is Nayara Gardens good for families?

Very.

Tucked directly into the jungle canopy, dedicated play areas give young children room to explore safely on property.

Children of all ages are welcome, and the hotel provides complimentary cribs and high chairs. There are family-friendly swimming pools, private plunge pools at the accommodations and babysitting available on request.

More importantly, Arenal itself is an unusually good destination with children.

A family trip here can include hanging bridges, wildlife walks, waterfalls, volcano hikes, rafting, hot springs and the very serious business of looking for sloths.

Nayara’s own family guidance recommends Gardens particularly for younger children, while positioning Tented Camp more strongly for families with older children and teenagers.

That is exactly how I would think about the two hotels.

The wildlife might be the best part

You do not need to leave the property to start seeing wildlife.

Nayara Gardens is surrounded by dense tropical vegetation that provides habitat for sloths, toucans, frogs, monkeys and an extraordinary number of birds. The resort’s paths wind directly through the rainforest, and Nayara offers guided bird and wildlife walks.

With children, I would do a naturalist-led walk early in the stay.

A good guide will find things the rest of us could stare directly at for fifteen minutes without noticing.

Afterward, the walk from breakfast back to the room suddenly becomes its own little safari.

The hot springs

You do not have to leave Nayara every time you want a hot springs experience.

Gardens has access to Nayara’s Termas, a collection of seven mineral hot spring pools tucked into the rainforest.

That is particularly convenient with children because you can work the hot springs around your family’s schedule rather than turning them into an entire excursion.

There are also other famous geothermal springs around Arenal that can be visited separately if you want a larger hot springs experience.

But I would not over-plan this.

You are staying at Nayara.

At some point, everyone should simply be allowed to swim.

And if the hot springs and spa side of Costa Rica is the reason for the trip rather than a bonus, it is worth seeing where Arenal sits among the best wellness resorts in Costa Rica.

The pools

The central resort pool provides a relaxed, quiet setting to unwind after a morning of rainforest activities.

Nayara Gardens has family-friendly pools in addition to the private plunge pools at the accommodations.

That matters more than it sounds.

After a morning hiking or crossing suspension bridges, you do not necessarily need another carefully curated activity.

You need lunch and a pool.

Gardens is extremely good at the part of a family vacation where nobody wants to do anything productive for several hours.

Dining at Nayara Gardens

One of the biggest advantages of the three-property Nayara estate is the dining variety.

Guests of Gardens, Springs and Tented Camp can dine across six restaurants on the connected property.

Open-air dining at La Terraza combines atmospheric evening lighting, live music, and volcano views.

At Gardens, La Terraza is the primary family-friendly restaurant, serving local and international food with Arenal Volcano views and live music. Asia Luna combines Asian techniques with Costa Rican ingredients and is another easy option for families.

There is also Lyla’s Gelato.

This will probably matter more to your children than anything I have written above.

For adults, being able to walk or transfer to restaurants at Tented Camp and elsewhere on the estate keeps a three- or four-night stay from feeling repetitive.

What to do in Arenal with children

I would resist the urge to turn Arenal into summer camp.

There is a lot to do here, but that does not mean you need to do all of it.

For most families, I would choose one significant activity per day.

A guided hanging bridges walk is excellent because it combines wildlife and rainforest without requiring extreme athleticism.

La Fortuna Waterfall can work well for active families.

Older children may love rafting or ziplining.

And a guided wildlife walk is almost always worth doing because finding a sloth without a naturalist is significantly harder than Instagram has led us to believe.

Then go back to Nayara.

Pool.

Lunch.

Hot springs.

Repeat.

Nayara Gardens vs. Nayara Tented Camp

This is the comparison I would make most carefully for families.

Nayara Tented Camp is the more dramatic hotel.

It sits higher on the hillside, with luxury tented accommodations built above the rainforest and much stronger Arenal Volcano views. Every tent has its own thermal plunge pool, and the Family Tents offer an adjacent room that works particularly well for older children and teenagers.

Gardens feels easier.

The Pool Casitas work beautifully for parents with one younger child, the overall atmosphere is relaxed and family-friendly, and you still have access to the larger Nayara estate. Nayara specifically describes Gardens as best suited to younger children and Tented Camp as especially compelling for older kids and teens.

For a family with a five-year-old?

I might choose Gardens and happily spend the difference on the rest of Costa Rica.

For a family with two teenagers who will appreciate their own sleeping space and an extraordinary volcano view?

Tented Camp becomes much more compelling.

Read my full guide to Nayara Tented Camp.

Nayara Gardens vs. Nayara Springs

This one is simple if you are traveling with children.

Nayara Springs is adults only.

It is the most intimate of the three Nayara Arenal hotels and the one I particularly like for honeymoons, anniversaries and couples who prioritize privacy and wellness.

Gardens welcomes families and has been designed around them.

If you are traveling without children, Springs deserves a serious look.

If you are traveling with them, your decision is really between Gardens and Tented Camp.

Read my full guide to Nayara Springs.

Which Nayara hotel in Arenal is right for you?

For couples wanting an adults-only retreat: Nayara Springs.

For families with younger children: Nayara Gardens.

For families with older children or teenagers, or anyone prioritizing the most dramatic volcano views: Nayara Tented Camp.

All three are connected.

The goal is not to identify which Nayara is objectively the fanciest.

It is to book the one whose expensive parts actually matter to your family.

I have put all three side by side, with who each one is actually for, in my full Springs vs. Tented Camp vs. Gardens comparison.

Is Nayara Gardens still luxurious?

Absolutely.

Michelin currently includes Nayara Gardens in its Costa Rica hotel selection and describes the accommodations as spacious casitas and villas surrounded by the rainforest, with plunge pools, outdoor showers, spa facilities and a broad range of Arenal activities.

And despite the arrival of the much-photographed Tented Camp, Gardens continues to earn serious guest recognition. In Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards, Nayara Gardens finished third in the Central America resort ranking and made the magazine’s global top 100 hotels. Costa Rica took all three podium places in the region that year.

I would not think of Gardens as the compromise Nayara.

For the right family, it is simply the correct one.

Who I would book Nayara Gardens for

Families with younger children.

Parents who want a luxury Costa Rica resort without turning the entire trip into a formal luxury-hotel experience.

Families who care more about wildlife, activities and spending time together than having the most dramatic room on Instagram.

Couples who want Nayara’s rainforest experience but do not require an adults-only hotel.

And anyone who would rather put some of the Costa Rica budget toward a fabulous beach hotel after Arenal.

Who should stay somewhere else?

For a honeymoon or romantic adults-only escape, I would compare Nayara Springs.

For older children, teenagers, larger families or anyone who wants the most spectacular Arenal accommodations, I would compare Nayara Tented Camp.

And if you are coming to Costa Rica primarily for a beach vacation, I would not spend seven nights in Arenal simply because you love the hotel.

Three or four is usually plenty.

How long should you stay at Nayara Gardens?

For most families, I like three nights.

Four nights is even better if you want a slower schedule or several adventure activities.

Two nights can feel frustratingly short once you factor in the transfer, arrival day and everything there is to do around Arenal.

The trick is giving yourself enough time to experience the rainforest without feeling compelled to conquer it.

One practical note: if you are traveling over a school break, Arenal rooms go early, so it helps to know when to book each school break.

Where to go after Nayara Gardens

I almost always like combining Arenal with the coast.

For families, that might mean Papagayo, Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Elena, Nosara or another Pacific beach destination depending on season, ages and what you want the second half of the trip to feel like.

For families who want the second half of the trip to be easy rather than ambitious, W Costa Rica Reserva Conchal in Guanacaste is the other pairing I use often.

The contrast is part of what makes Costa Rica work so beautifully.

Rainforest first.

Beach second.

Shoes increasingly optional.

Planning a family stay at Nayara Gardens?

Tell me your dates, your children’s ages and what else you are considering in Costa Rica. I can look at Gardens, Tented Camp and Springs side by side for your family, work out which room configuration actually fits, and build the Arenal stay into a larger itinerary.

If Gardens gives you everything your family needs, I am not going to tell you to spend more on Tented Camp. And if Tented Camp genuinely improves the trip, I will tell you that too.

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Nayara Gardens FAQs

Is Nayara Gardens good for families?

Yes. Nayara Gardens welcomes children of all ages and is specifically positioned by Nayara as its family flagship in Arenal, particularly for families with younger children.

Does Nayara Gardens have private plunge pools?

Yes. The current Arenal Pool Casitas and Rainforest Pool Villas both feature private plunge pools.

Which room is best for a family at Nayara Gardens?

For a family with one younger child, I would start with the Arenal Pool Casita. It offers a king or two twin beds, a daybed for a child, a large terrace and a private plunge pool.

Where can a family of 5 or 6 stay at Nayara Gardens?

The casitas and villas are configured mainly for two adults plus a child on a daybed, so larger families here mean two adjacent accommodations. If you need everyone under one roof, the Family Tents and Grand Tent at Nayara Tented Camp are the better starting point, and I would compare both.

Is Nayara Gardens better than Nayara Tented Camp for children?

It depends on their ages. Nayara specifically recommends Gardens particularly strongly for younger children, while the Family Tents at Tented Camp are well suited to older children and teenagers because they include an adjacent sleeping room.

Can Nayara Gardens guests use the other Nayara resorts?

The three Nayara Arenal hotels form one connected estate, and dining is available across six restaurants open to guests of the three resorts.

Does Nayara Gardens have hot springs?

Yes. Guests have access to the Termas, seven mineral hot spring pools tucked into the rainforest on the property.

Is Nayara Gardens adults only?

No. Nayara Gardens welcomes families and couples. Nayara Springs is the adults-only property within Nayara’s Arenal collection.

Is Nayara Gardens cheaper than Nayara Tented Camp?

Rates vary substantially by season and room type, but Tented Camp is positioned as Nayara’s premium Arenal property. I would compare actual rates for your dates rather than assuming the upgrade is or is not worthwhile.

How many nights should a family stay in Arenal?

I generally recommend three nights, or four if you want a slower pace and several activities.

What to read next

• Nayara Resorts Review: Springs vs. Tented Camp vs. Gardens, if you are still choosing between the three

• The 10 Best Wellness Resorts in Costa Rica, for the hot springs and spa side of the trip

• Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve vs. Four Seasons Costa Rica, for the Papagayo half

• W Costa Rica Reserva Conchal, an easier family beach pairing

Related hotels

• Nayara Tented Camp, for older children and teenagers

• Nayara Springs, the adults-only sister property

More Hotels to Explore

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