RAINFOREST REVIVAL

You can do more than sightsee in this famous Costa Rican national park.

by Irene Rawlings

A serene outdoor space with a thatched-roof pavilion surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. The pavilion has wooden floors and pillars, and in the center of the pavilion, there is a wooden platform with yoga mats laid out. The background is filled with tall trees and dense greenery. The overall ambiance of the image is calm, peaceful, and harmonious with nature.

To kick-start a healthier lifestyle, there is a place to know within Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano National Park. On 62 acres planted with vibrant bougainvillea and exotic orchids, sister hotels Nayara Tented Camp (from $1,100; nayaratentedcamp.com), Nayara Springs (from $885; nayarasprings.com), and Nayara Gardens (from $885; nayaragardens.com) facilitate three- and five-night well-being stays (from $3,500, all-inclusive). At Nayara Springs, guests stay among 35 villas built from indigenous wood and local stones, each with its own lush and fragrant garden, outdoor rain shower, and plunge pool fed by natural hot springs.

Couples can wander serpentine walking paths, pausing to listen to the warbles and whistles of tropical birds (Costa Rica is home to more than 900 bird species) and looking up to spot monkeys or sloths in the treetops. Personalized wellness programming can include yoga, meditation, sound therapy, and spa treatments, complemented by Ayurvedic-inspired meals and detox juices. Facials and massages in the open-air spa incorporate locally grown organic coffee, chocolate, and volcanic mud. Ancient wisdom touts volcanic, mineral-rich mud with the ability to bring peace and energy to both mind and body. The chocolate massage combines the sensory appeal of chocolate (made with organic cacao beans) with antioxidant properties to improve circulation and relieve stress. Each treatment room has a plunge pool where guests can take their time.

An outdoor spa treatment pavilion surrounded by lush greenery in a rainforest setting. The pavilion has a thatched roof and is supported by wooden pillars. In the foreground, there is a small pool of water. Inside the pavilion, there is a massage table adorned with a patterned linen. The image conveys a sense of tranquility and relaxation in a natural, tropical environment.

Throughout the retreat, meals can be taken on your private terrace or in one of the restaurants: Amor Loco for international fine dining accompanied by live music; the al fresco Mis Amores for wood-fired pizza and views of Arenal Volcano; Bésame Mucho for a romantic dinner with a private chef and server. The new expresso bar Mi Cafecito serves coffee from locally sourced beans that have been roasted and ground in-house.

Off property, guests can continue to heal while exploring the rainforest at their own pace—slow or fast—with a naturalist guide leading them to cross hanging bridges, walk over ancient lava fields, scale waterfalls, soak in hot springs, and float down the river through Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge (widely considered one of the most important wetlands on the planet). At Proyecto Asis Wildlife Rescue Center, the journey comes full circle. Injured animals (parrots, macaws, toucans, monkeys, sloths, and peccaries) are taken care of before being released back into the wild.