Arrival in Liberia
We stayed in a resort my husband has had his eyes on, The Nayara Resorts, located in La Fortuna. When he booked the accommodation, there was a special: if you stayed four nights, the fifth night was free. We took advantage of the savings opportunity since this is a high-end resort in Costa Rica. Our vacation was at the end of January, and it was the perfect time to escape the cold winter in Ohio and explore this warm paradise. This trip was memorable because it was a surprise for my birthday. My husband planned everything from start to finish, and all I had to do was sit back and enjoy. January is a great time to visit, as it begins their dry season and the temperatures are in the 70s and 80s. They still tend to have some afternoon showers, which is typical for the time of year. The best way to prepare is to pack clothes that dry quickly. The recommended material to wear is Polyester for this very reason.
We landed at the Liberia International Airport (LIR), and the hotel assisted in booking transportation to arrive at the resort. It was around a 3-hour drive from the airport on narrow, windy roads, so if you’re prone to getting car sick, bring medication. A few minutes into our travels, a beautiful double rainbow welcomed us.
Nayara Resorts
Once we arrived at Nayara Resorts, I was immediately impressed. The secluded resort was in the jungle, and the scenery was so gorgeous it looked fake. We received a complimentary local drink at the check-in counter as we waited for our room assignment in Nayara Gardens. The staff uses golf carts to get around the resort, and you can request them throughout your stay to get around. When we were assigned a room, a gentleman carted us to our accommodation.
When we got to the room, they decorated it for my birthday, which was above and beyond. There were balloons, rose petals on the floor in the shape of balloons, and a birthday cake made out of towels. I love it when places pay attention to small details like anniversaries, birthdays, and honeymoons. The room was breathtaking, and we had a private, spacious balcony equipped with an outside jacuzzi and hammock. Unfortunately, there was a cloud hovering over the volcano our entire trip, but we would’ve been able to see the tip from our balcony if the skies were clear. There was an indoor and outdoor shower, a double vanity, and a giant king bed in front of the French doors leading to the balcony. Once we were settled and unpacked, we decided to grab a map and explore the resort grounds.
Nayara Resort Grounds
The unique experience about this particular resort is it’s three separate resorts in one, and you have access to all three of them. They had several pools, restaurants, an award-winning spa, a fitness center, and hot springs on-site. There was so much to do; we spent most of our time relaxing at the resort because it was so peaceful. We were genuinely embracing ourselves in their Pura Vida lifestyle. This phrase is commonly used as it embodies their go-with-the-flow lifestyle.
Our first stop was to see the hot springs. Some were situated in a more secluded and private area, while others had loungers and were more open. In this section, there was a bar with hanging swings. I appreciate the resort providing essentials like towels and sunscreen. Afterward, we walked up to the main infinity pool with a view of the volcano with a swim-up bar. Each pool area had a restaurant so you could stay there all day and relax. The pool loungers were extremely comfortable, and a server would periodically come by to take drink or food orders. We visited a Sunday through Friday, and the resort offers a daily happy hour at each bar in the resort on weekdays. The menu rotated each day, and each bar served different drinks! If we didn’t like the specials at one place, we would check out another! This was a great way to save money since breakfast was the only included meal.
The breakfast options were fantastic; they offered a buffet and plated style at separate restaurants every morning. We alternated almost daily, but the buffet breakfast was closer to our bungalow. The plated breakfast was served in an open-air restaurant perfect for listening to wildlife and bird watching. Both of these locations offer a view of the volcano.
Arenal Volcano/La Fortuna Waterfall Tour
We signed up for one off-site adventure while we were thereto enjoy the Arenal Volcano National Park. It was managed through a third party since the one the resort offered was booked up. I’d make sure to book any tours in advance next time.
The guided tour went through the National Park, and we stopped to explore wildlife. Our guide was highly knowledgeable about the different species we saw in the rainforest, and he took his time. We could spot many species of local birds, such as a hummingbird, red-eyed tree frog, green iguana, and toucan. The iconic part of the tour was the suspension hanging bridges we walked across above the jungle. The staff monitors these closely to ensure compliance. We had to wait a bit before crossing the first one, but there were around six. The bridges would sway in the wind, so if you’re afraid of heights, this may not be the adventure for you.
The second part was the La Fortuna Waterfall. We had to walk nearly 530 steps to take a picture in front of the 70-meter-high waterfall. Once we reached the bottom, we were allowed to take a refreshing swim in the Fortuna River. The water was pretty chilly, so we didn’t last long, but we enjoyed the view from the rocky foundations surrounding the waterfall. The rocks are wet and slippery, so wear appropriate shoes.
.jpg)
La Fortuna Town
We did go into the nearby town, La Fortuna, a couple of times during our stay. We ordered a taxi at the main lobby. It was around a 10-minute drive from the resort, and they take the United States Dollar, so there was no need to exchange currency. When we got into town, we ate lunch at a local restaurant, Pollo Fortuneño. It was a cute place with neon signs, hanging plants, and many photo walls. We each ordered an entree and a drink, and both were fabulous. The service wasn’t the best, but we came when the restaurant was busy, and our table was in the back corner. After lunch, we walked around town and grabbed ice cream at a nearby shop. There is a designated taxi drop-off and pick-up zone, so when we were ready to head back, we waited at the taxi stand. It’s a small, quaint town with local restaurants, bars and shops.
Spa
Upon our arrival, we booked a 60-minute couples spa on my actual birthday. They only had a few slots available when checked in, so it maybe something to book ahead of time. When we checked in for our appointment, the staff was friendly, and the sounds of nature brought a sense of tranquility and peace. Our massages took place in an open-air pavilion that allowed you to listen to the rainforest. It was a quiet and serene experience, one of the best treatments at a resort. I’d highly recommend doing a service here to get this once-in-a-lifetime service. We could access the sauna once our massages were complete, and they brought us a complimentary beverage to unwind. If you want the opportunity to feel like a queen or king, their staff are incredible at making you feel special.
Restaurants on site
The resort offers several on-site restaurants, and most require dinner reservations. We were fortunate to eat at each during our stay. They had a variety of cuisines inspired by local ingredients to give an authentic experience. There was Asia Luna, which offered Asian cuisine and sushi. La Terraza al Arenal was located near the resort entrance and offered a volcano view. They served local cuisine rich in Costa Rican flavors. Ayla, situated in the Tented Camps, offered Mediterranean dishes. This restaurant was our least favorite, but we don’t typically eat this cuisine. Lastly, Mis Amores was an Italian fine dining experience.
The most memorable experience was the Amor Local restaurant.It was exceptional service, a unique ambiance, and live entertainment. It is an adults-only restaurant, and reservations fill up quickly. We celebrated my birthday, and I received a complimentary dessert. It was a great evening to conclude our stay at the resort.
Nature-sighting
Since the Sloth is the prominent animal people seek when coming to Costa Rica, the resort had a sloth sighting map at the entrance of the resort. This map would help the guests locate them around the resort, as they would mark the spot they were last seen. When we were there, there was a mother and baby at the front of the resort. A friendly worker offered to take us up there to see them. It was amazing to see them in real life. We learned that they move slowly because the eucalyptus they eat has THC! Since he went out of his way to help us see a sloth on my birthday, we gifted him a small tip for the golf cart ride. He was so appreciative that he gave me a mini stuffed sloth from the gift shop and put it on our bungalow door handle!
We spent several hours walking around the resort grounds and locating various species. We saw toucans, sloths, boa constrictors, frogs, birds, iguanas, and monkeys! While we were enjoying a beverage at the swim-up bar by Mis Amores, we heard rustling in the tree branches. There ended up being three howler monkeys eating in the tree nearby and watching us. They would climb from tree to tree and eat hanging upside down! It was such a neat experience and made my birthday that much more memorable.
.jpg)
Conclusion
Although we were only there for five nights, we had a great time relaxing and spent most of our time unplugged. We could've stayed longer and seen more grounds outside the resort, but the resort's seclusion was remarkable. Many tours require a whole day off-site, and we didn’t want to spend the whole time running around. Our goal was to spend most of our time without an agenda. I would go back to this resort, and I recommend that anyone visiting Costa Rica check it out.
