Nayara Tented Camp · Costa Rica

Every tent opens directly onto a private deck with a natural mineral hot-spring pool overlooking the Arenal rainforest.

Nayara Tented Camp is the hotel I would choose in Arenal when you want the volcano to be part of the room.

Set high above the rainforest on a reforested hillside, the luxury tents face Arenal Volcano, with enormous terraces and private plunge pools fed by natural mineral hot springs. It feels adventurous enough that children are genuinely excited by it and luxurious enough that nobody is remotely camping.

There are air-conditioned bedrooms, freestanding soaking tubs, indoor and outdoor showers, complimentary laundry and breakfast that can be delivered to your terrace.

The only thing vaguely resembling camping is the canvas.

Nayara Tented Camp is wonderful for couples, but I think it becomes particularly interesting for families with older children and teenagers. The Family Tents give children a separate sleeping space while keeping everyone connected in one private compound, and the hotel specifically recommends this setup for families whose children are old enough to appreciate a little independence.

There is one important thing to know before falling in love with that setup:

There are only six Family Tents.

For Christmas and New Year’s, Presidents’ Week, spring break and other high-demand school-holiday periods, I would book these much earlier than I would an ordinary hotel room. Nayara’s current FAQ specifically recommends booking well in advance during the holiday season because of high demand.

At a glance

Where

Arenal, Costa Rica, high on a reforested rainforest hillside facing the volcano

Best for

Families with older children and teenagers, multigenerational groups, and anyone who wants Arenal in front of the bed

Accommodations

Nayara Tent approx. 1,700 sq ft · Family Tent approx. 2,860 sq ft · Grand Tent approx. 4,804 sq ft · Casa Paloma and Casa Dana approx. 7,664 sq ft

Sleeps

Standard tent, two adults and two children · Family Tent, up to six adults · Grand Tent, four adults and two children · Residences, up to 12 adults

Hot springs

Every tent has its own plunge pool fed by natural mineral hot springs

The catch

There are only six Family Tents, and each uses two connected structures, so they cannot be created on demand

Recognition

No. 1 resort in Central America, Travel + Leisure 2026 World’s Best Awards

Ideal stay

Three or four nights, usually paired with a Pacific beach half

Book by

As early as you can for Christmas, New Year’s, Presidents’ Week and spring break

Compare with

Nayara Springs for an adults-only trip, or the full Springs vs. Tented Camp vs. Gardens comparison

Book this one for the Family Tent and the volcano view. If neither is driving the decision, Gardens will make you just as happy for less.

Six Family Tents. That is the entire inventory for the room most families come here for.

Send me your dates and I will tell you what is actually left, and whether the Grand Tent is the better answer for your family anyway.

Why stay at Nayara Tented Camp?

The view.

Elevated high on the hillside, Tented Camp offers some of the clearest, most dramatic Arenal Volcano views on the property.

That is the simplest answer.

Nayara Tented Camp sits higher on the hillside than neighboring Nayara Gardens and Nayara Springs, giving its accommodations some of the strongest views of Arenal Volcano on the entire Nayara estate. Virtuoso specifically calls out the volcano views as a standout advantage of Tented Camp.

But I would not choose it solely because it photographs beautifully.

The tents are enormous. Every standard Nayara Tent has its own hot-spring-fed plunge pool. Families can book two-bedroom configurations. Larger groups can move into the Grand Tent or one of two private residences. And guests have access to the restaurants, activities and wildlife experiences throughout the broader Nayara property.

It is one of the rare hotels that can make both a ten-year-old and his very particular mother equally excited about where they are sleeping.

First, these are not really tents

Fully air-conditioned 1,700-square-foot suites featuring four-poster king beds, plush daybeds, and zero zippers in sight.

If the word “tented” is making you picture a zipper and a flashlight, we can clear that up immediately.

The standard Nayara Tent measures approximately 1,700 square feet and is elevated on stilts above the rainforest. Inside is a four-poster king bed, two twin daybeds, a substantial bathroom with bathtub, dressing areas and indoor and outdoor showers. Outside is a private terrace with its own mineral hot-spring plunge pool.

They are also fully air-conditioned.

This is glamping only in the most technical sense of the word.

How many people can stay in a Nayara Tent?

The standard Nayara Tent is designed for up to two adults and two children.

There is one king bed for the parents and two twin-size daybeds within the same large tent.

For a family of four with younger children who are comfortable sleeping in the same room as their parents, this can work beautifully.

For older children and teenagers, I would look very seriously at the Family Tent instead.

That extra bedroom is not glamorous when you are looking at a floor plan.

Around the third night of a family vacation, it is priceless.

The Nayara Family Tent

This is the category families need to understand before booking.

A Family Tent is not simply one larger tent with extra beds.

It is two separate tented bedrooms connected by a shared outdoor living area and terrace, creating a private two-bedroom compound of approximately 2,860 square feet.

The primary tent has the four-poster king bed.

The second tent has two queen beds.

There is also a twin daybed, and a crib can be requested for an infant. Outside, the family shares an oversized private plunge pool fed by natural hot springs.

This arrangement is why I particularly like Tented Camp for families with older children.

Parents have a real bedroom.

The children have a real bedroom.

Everyone meets outside on the terrace and shares the pool.

Nobody has to whisper after bedtime.

Nayara itself describes the Family Tent as particularly well suited to older children and teenagers, because they get an adjacent space of their own while remaining connected to their parents.

How many people can a Family Tent sleep?

This is one detail I would always verify against the exact ages and makeup of your family before booking because Nayara’s occupancy rules are more specific than simply counting beds.

The hotel currently lists a Family Tent for a maximum of six adults, or for a family configuration of two adults with two children plus one baby in a crib.

The physical setup includes one king bed, two queen beds and a twin daybed.

So if you have three children, multiple teenagers, three adults traveling with children or another less-standard family combination, I would confirm the permitted occupancy rather than assuming that because everyone physically fits, the hotel will allow the reservation.

This is exactly the sort of detail I check before booking.

There are only six Family Tents

This may be the most important thing on this page if you are traveling during school holidays.

Current room inventory lists only six Nayara Family Tents.

Six.

That is not much inventory for a hotel this popular with luxury family travelers.

And each Family Tent uses two connected tent structures, which is why the hotel cannot simply turn an ordinary room into a Family Tent because someone needs another bedroom.

Once the six are gone, they are gone.

For Christmas and New Year’s, February school breaks, Presidents’ Week, spring break and other high-demand periods, I would make Nayara Tented Camp one of the first hotels you secure in a Costa Rica itinerary.

Nayara itself advises that holiday-season reservations should be made well in advance due to demand.

This is not a hotel where I would book the beach first and circle back to Arenal six months later if the Family Tent is important to you.

What about a family of four?

This is where I would choose based on your children’s ages.

With two younger children, a standard Nayara Tent may be perfectly comfortable. You have a king bed plus two twin daybeds, all within the same 1,700-square-foot tent, and your own hot-spring pool.

With two older children or teenagers, I would strongly prefer the Family Tent if the budget allows.

The extra space is wonderful, but the privacy is really what you are buying.

Nayara’s own family guidance makes essentially the same distinction: Gardens works particularly well for younger children who sleep with their parents, while the separate adjacent bedroom at Tented Camp becomes increasingly valuable as children get older.

What about a family of 5 or a family of 6?

This requires a little more care.

The Family Tent has substantially more physical sleeping space than the standard tent, but the permitted family occupancy depends on the ages and composition of the group.

For certain families of five or six, I would compare the Family Tent with the Grand Tent instead of simply assuming the Family Tent works.

And this is where Tented Camp becomes unusually good for larger families.

The Grand Tent

The Grand Tent takes the family concept several steps further.

It measures approximately 4,804 square feet and has two proper bedrooms: a primary tent with a king bed and a second bedroom on the ground level with two queen beds. Those connect to a separate villa with a fully equipped kitchen, dining area and indoor and outdoor living spaces. There is also a fire pit and an oversized private infinity pool fed by hot springs.

The Grand Tent accommodates up to four adults and two children, or two adults and four children.

For a family of six, this can be a significantly more comfortable configuration than trying to make several individual rooms work.

It also gives you something the standard and Family Tents do not: a proper kitchen and substantial communal living space.

For a multigenerational family or anyone staying four or five nights, that begins to matter.

The private residences: up to 12 guests

For larger families, there are two private residences: Casa Paloma and Casa Dana.

These are the largest accommodations at Nayara Tented Camp and can sleep up to 12 adults, with two additional baby cribs available.

Each residence is approximately 7,664 square feet with four bedrooms: two primary rooms with king beds and two additional bedrooms, each with two queen beds. There is a fully equipped kitchen, indoor and outdoor living and dining areas, a private fire pit, private concierge service and a large hot-spring-fed infinity pool. The two primary bedrooms also have their own private thermal plunge pools.

There are only two of these residences.

For a multigenerational Christmas trip or two families traveling together, I would absolutely compare one of these against booking several separate tents.

Having grandparents, parents and children together while still giving everyone a bedroom is often worth far more than another hotel room somewhere down the path.

Casa Paloma and Casa Dana belong to a small group of luxury resort villas with private pools where you get the space of a house without giving up the hotel behind it.

Which Nayara Tented Camp room is right for your family?

For two adults with up to two younger children, I would start with a standard Nayara Tent.

For parents traveling with older children or teenagers who need their own bedroom, I would look first at one of the six Family Tents.

For a larger family needing more living space, a kitchen or accommodation for up to six, I would compare the Grand Tent.

For multigenerational groups or two families traveling together, Casa Paloma or Casa Dana can accommodate up to 12 adults and create a proper private-residence experience.

The important thing is not simply asking, “What sleeps four?”

It is asking how your particular four people actually want to live for four days.

The private hot springs

Geothermal mineral hot springs piped directly into your terrace plunge pool for private soaking post-adventure.

Every Nayara Tent has one of my favorite amenities in Arenal: its own plunge pool fed by natural mineral hot springs.

So even in the entry-level accommodation, you can come back from a morning hiking or ziplining and get directly into warm thermal water without organizing another excursion.

The Family Tent has a larger shared thermal plunge pool at the center of its outdoor living space.

There are additional mineral hot springs around the larger Nayara property as well.

If wellness is a real part of why you are going to Costa Rica, it is worth seeing how Arenal compares with the best wellness resorts in Costa Rica.

I would still leave the room occasionally.

But I understand if you don’t.

The Arenal Volcano views

This is where Tented Camp has a genuine advantage over Nayara Gardens and Nayara Springs.

The property sits higher on the rainforest hillside, and the tents were elevated on stilts specifically to maximize the surrounding views while minimizing their footprint on the landscape.

When the weather cooperates, Arenal Volcano sits directly in front of you.

I would not promise a volcano view every morning because mountains have their own opinions about cloud cover.

But when it clears, this is the version of Arenal you probably had in your head when you started planning Costa Rica.

Is Nayara Tented Camp good for children?

Very.

Rainforest treehouses and suspension bridges give kids a genuine sense of adventure without sacrificing 5-star comfort.

But I think it is particularly special with school-age children and teenagers.

There is something about sleeping in a tent above the rainforest that makes the trip feel like an adventure rather than simply another beautiful resort.

Then they discover that the “tent” has air conditioning, an enormous bathtub, complimentary laundry and its own thermal pool.

A useful introduction to luxury travel.

The surrounding Arenal region gives families access to hanging bridges, wildlife walks, rafting, waterfalls, ziplining, horseback riding and volcano hikes. Nayara also has resident sloths, extraordinary birdlife and naturalist experiences within the broader estate.

You do not need to engineer excitement here.

It is already outside.

The wildlife

Native sloths, toucans, and tree frogs are regular visitors along the walkways and private decks.

The larger Nayara estate has undergone extensive reforestation, creating habitat for sloths, monkeys, toucans, frogs and countless birds.

Nayara offers complimentary activities including bird-watching and frog tours, and Tented Camp guests can explore the trails and wildlife areas across the property.

I would do a naturalist-led walk early in the trip, particularly with children.

Once a guide teaches you where to look, the walk to breakfast becomes significantly more interesting.

Also longer.

Everyone suddenly has to investigate every tree.

Dining at Nayara Tented Camp

Mornings start at Mis Amor, the property’s adults-only breakfast restaurant featuring an open kitchen and wood-fired oven.

One reason Tented Camp works for three or four nights is that you are not restricted to a single restaurant.

Guests can dine throughout Nayara’s connected Arenal properties, giving you access to restaurants at Tented Camp, Nayara Gardens and Nayara Springs.

That means you can have Mediterranean-inspired dining at Ayla, head elsewhere on the property for Italian, Asian-Latin or Costa Rican cooking, and still return to your very quiet tent afterward.

This shared ecosystem is one of the things Nayara does particularly well.

The individual hotels feel distinct.

You do not have to eat the same grilled fish four nights in a row.

Nayara Tented Camp vs. Nayara Gardens for families

This is the comparison I would make first.

Nayara Gardens is my first look for families with younger children.

Its Pool Casitas have daybeds in the same room as the parents, private plunge pools and an easier setup for children who are not quite ready for their own separate bedroom.

Nayara itself recommends Gardens particularly for younger children, while positioning Tented Camp’s Family Tents for older children and teenagers.

Tented Camp is the splurge.

You get the more dramatic volcano views, the extraordinary tented architecture and, if you secure one of those six Family Tents, genuine two-bedroom separation.

For a family with teenagers, I may absolutely spend more for Tented Camp.

For a family with a four-year-old and seven-year-old?

I might book Gardens and put the difference toward a fabulous beach resort.

Read my full Nayara comparison: Springs vs. Tented Camp vs. Gardens.

Nayara Tented Camp vs. Nayara Springs

For couples, this becomes more interesting.

Nayara Springs is adults only, smaller and more intimate. It is my first look for a honeymoon or anniversary when privacy, romance and wellness are the priority.

Tented Camp gives you the more dramatic accommodation and better volcano views.

If I were booking a honeymoon, I would not assume one is automatically better.

Springs is quieter.

Tented Camp is more cinematic.

Read my complete guide to Nayara Springs.

Which Nayara hotel in Arenal should you choose?

For a honeymoon or adults-only trip: Nayara Springs.

For families with younger children: Nayara Gardens.

For older children, teenagers, multigenerational families or anyone who really wants the Arenal Volcano view: Nayara Tented Camp.

All three sit within the same interconnected Nayara rainforest estate.

The best one is not necessarily the most expensive.

Although, inconveniently, sometimes it is.

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

Is Nayara Tented Camp worth the price?

If you are going to use the hotel, yes.

I would not spend this much for a room you plan to leave at 7:00 every morning and return to after dinner.

You are paying for that terrace.

The thermal plunge pool.

The volcano view.

Breakfast outside.

The wildlife.

And the ability to come back after a morning adventure and decide that the afternoon’s activity is absolutely nothing.

Nayara Tented Camp was named the No. 1 resort in Central America in Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards and No. 28 among hotels worldwide. It is the fifth time in six years that readers have voted it the top resort in Central America.

The hype around this one is substantial.

Fortunately, so is the actual tent.

When should you book Nayara Tented Camp?

Earlier than you think if you need a specific family configuration.

There are plenty of standard Nayara Tents relative to the specialty categories, but only six Family Tents, one Grand Tent and two private residences in the current inventory.

That makes holiday availability disproportionately difficult for larger families.

Christmas and New Year’s would be my biggest concern, followed by Presidents’ Week, spring break and other popular school vacation dates.

The hotel itself specifically advises booking well ahead for holiday season because demand is high.

If you are flexible about room configuration, we have more options.

If you need that exact Family Tent, flexibility disappears rather quickly.

How long should you stay?

For most families, I like three or four nights.

Three is enough for two meaningful adventure days plus some time to enjoy the resort.

Four is wonderful if you want rafting, hanging bridges, wildlife, spa time and an afternoon where nobody has to put on real clothes.

Two nights feels too short for a hotel like this.

Especially after you have paid for a private hot spring pool.

Where should you go after Arenal?

Usually the beach.

I love pairing Nayara with a completely different version of Costa Rica afterward, whether that is Papagayo, Costa Elena, Nosara, Santa Teresa or elsewhere on the Pacific Coast.

Arenal gives you rainforest, wildlife and adventure.

The second half gives you the beach.

By the time you leave, everyone has forgotten what day it is.

That is generally a good sign.

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

Booking Nayara Tented Camp through Sebastian Luxe Travel

This is one of those hotels where room configuration matters as much as rate.

I can compare Nayara Tented Camp, Nayara Gardens and Nayara Springs for your dates, determine whether your family actually needs one of the six Family Tents, look at the Grand Tent or residences for larger groups and compare the available rates and advisor benefits.

For holiday travel, I can also tell you when the accommodation is the part of the trip we should secure first.

Because if you need a Family Tent over Christmas, finding flights first and deciding on Arenal later is not the order I would choose.

There is no planning fee for my hotel bookings.

And if your family will genuinely be just as happy at Nayara Gardens, I will tell you.

If Tented Camp is worth the splurge, I will tell you that too.

Planning a family stay at Nayara Tented Camp?

Send me your dates, your children’s ages and exactly who is traveling. I can compare the standard tents, the six Family Tents, the Grand Tent and the private residences, and tell you which one your family will actually use.

I book Nayara through preferred partner programs, so where they apply you get added benefits at the same rate you would pay direct.

No planning fee · Client reviews · About Kate

Nayara Tented Camp FAQs

How many Family Tents does Nayara Tented Camp have?

Current room inventory lists six Family Tents. Each Family Tent consists of two connected tented bedrooms sharing outdoor living space and a private hot-spring-fed plunge pool.

Because there are only six, I recommend booking them particularly early for Christmas, New Year’s, Presidents’ Week, spring break and other high-demand family travel periods. Nayara advises advance booking during the holiday season because of high demand.

How is a Nayara Family Tent set up?

It is essentially a two-bedroom private compound. The primary tent has a four-poster king bed, while the second tent has two queen beds. There is also a twin daybed and an infant crib can be requested. The two spaces connect through an outdoor living area and share an oversized mineral hot-spring plunge pool.

How many people can stay in a Nayara Family Tent?

Nayara currently lists a maximum of six adults, or a family configuration of two adults, two children and one baby in a crib. Because permitted occupancy depends on the makeup and ages of the family, I recommend confirming any different combination before booking.

Can a family of 4 stay in a standard Nayara Tent?

Yes. A standard Nayara Tent accommodates two adults and two children and includes a king bed and two twin daybeds in the same large tent.

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

Compare the Family Tent with the Grand Tent. The Grand Tent accommodates four adults and two children, or two adults and four children, and adds a kitchen and substantial living space. For larger groups still, Casa Paloma and Casa Dana sleep up to 12 adults. Permitted occupancy depends on the ages and makeup of the group, so I confirm it before booking.

What is the largest accommodation at Nayara Tented Camp?

Casa Paloma and Casa Dana are the two private residences. Each measures approximately 7,664 square feet, has four bedrooms and can accommodate up to 12 adults, with two baby cribs also available.

What is the Grand Tent?

The Grand Tent is a two-bedroom accommodation with a king bedroom, a second bedroom with two queen beds, a fully equipped kitchen, living and dining spaces, a fire pit and an oversized hot-spring infinity pool. It can accommodate four adults and two children or two adults and four children.

Does every tent at Nayara Tented Camp have a private hot spring pool?

Yes. Standard Nayara Tents have private mineral hot-spring plunge pools, as do the Family Tents and larger accommodation categories.

Is Nayara Tented Camp good for teenagers?

Very. I particularly like the Family Tent setup for older children and teenagers because they have their own adjacent bedroom rather than sharing the parents’ room. Nayara itself recommends this configuration particularly for older kids and teens.

Is Nayara Tented Camp better than Nayara Gardens?

It depends on the ages of the children and your budget. I generally prefer Gardens for younger children and Tented Camp for older children and teenagers, particularly when the two-bedroom Family Tent and stronger volcano views matter to the family.

Read my full Nayara comparison: Springs vs. Tented Camp vs. Gardens.

Is Nayara Tented Camp better than Nayara Springs?

For families, yes, because Nayara Springs is adults only. For couples, I would compare them. Springs is more intimate and romantic, while Tented Camp offers the more dramatic tented accommodations and stronger volcano views.

Read my guide to Nayara Springs.

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

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