An Honest Review of Nayara Tented Camp: Worth the Hype?

Nayara Tented Camp is the ultimate safari sanctuary— and in this honest Nayara Tented Camp review, I’ll share why it’s a place every luxury traveler should experience at least once in their lifetime. From the elevated luxury tents and unique vintage decor to the private plunge pools embedded in the rainforest, this place is more than worth the splurge.

Arriving at Nayara Tented Camp, Costa Rica

Our safari ‘guide’ arrived just in time to pick us up from the fancy welcome tent, before our kids could wipe their rainforest-stricken boots all over the beautiful Victorian white furniture as they made themselves comfortable while nibbling on refreshments.

‘Is this too fancy to stay with the kids?’ I briefly second-guessed my own expert travel advisor itinerary. Any ridiculous apprehensions I had about bringing the kids swiftly disappeared as we drove by a kids’ playground.

Then our open-air safari vehicle pulled up to our luxury ‘tent,’ and I had to pinch myself. After years of dreaming about this property, we were finally here. I can honestly say the entire exotic, romantic, tropical vibes lived up to my Instagram hype, and then some (well, except for one thing – I’ll mention later).

Between the flawless service and pristine details—even down to the staff’s freshly pressed safari uniforms—it was clear just how exceptionally well-run this resort is. Meeting the manager only confirmed it; the energy and pride in his ‘passion project’ radiated across the entire property (and deservingly so).

The Setting: Luxury Tents Deep in the Rainforest

This is where Nayara Tented Camp truly stands out. I have never stayed anywhere like it.

The whole luxury, vintage safari vibe they’ve got going on – I’m just gaga over it. I can’t help myself.

The style…safari-chic elegance.

Think oversized tents paired with flowing white curtains and gorgeous chandeliers. Architecture that feels like an extension of the rainforest with lots of sustainable wood, bamboo and stone. Earth-toned linens and upholstery.

And my absolute favorite – vintage accents in our room, like the leather trunk and copper soaking tub, that make it feel like an “Old World” explorer’s den.

The ‘Tent’ Itself

The room. The tent. Lol. Whatever you choose to call it. I’m not sure there is actually a term for it. It looks like a tent, but it’s definitely a solid building. I was fascinated how they pulled it off.

The romantic canopy over the bed. The vintage chest. The standalone tub. The outdoor shower. The private plunge thermal pool (we adjusted the temp to make a very hot spa). It was just us and the rainforest. The perfect place to reconnect after a few busy days.

We booked with my exclusive VIP travel advisor perks (which I secure for my clients at no extra cost!), scoring us a complimentary room upgrade upon arrival. When you book through me, you get access to the same VIP treatment—including daily complimentary breakfast, resort credits, and preferred room placement.

I couldn’t believe the 2-tented suite we got. The kids were psyched to have a building all to themselves, but when it came time to sleep, they were more excited to sleep in their little corner daybeds in our room. Can you blame them?

I just loved everything about this sanctuary we’ll call a room. It was ‘Out of Africa’ on luxury steroids. Take me back.

The Amenities

Well, this is yet another place you just won’t want to leave, with all of the amenities it has to offer.

Outside from your own little oasis of a private plunge pool, there is also a pool with views of Arenal Volcano, thermal springs, an award-winning gorgeous spa, complimentary free yoga daily in a covered outdoor studio in jungle.

The Activities

Only visiting for one night, and too fascinated by our own private room, or rooms I should say, we just couldn’t find the time to do any of their offered activities.

I was a bit bummed we didn’t do a wildlife tour, but it turned out we didn’t need to! Nayara actually created an on-site sloth sanctuary by planting over 1,000 Cecropia trees—so throughout the property, we saw cute sloths just being sloths in the trees, iguanas relaxing near ponds, and the coolest looking birds chirping around.

If you do have the time to explore, there’s plenty Nayara has to offer in terms of private or group excursions, like hanging bridges, volcano waterfalls, canyoning, ziplining, safari float, tortilla making class, and much more. Also, Nayara’s in-house naturalist guides can take you to the best local spots for exploring.

Read my Costa Rica luxury itinerary for more fun ideas – personally vetted!

Nayara Tented Camp Review by a Family with High Expectations

And no – it was not “too fancy” to bring the kids. Would I have preferred a kid-less night? Yes! I would have loved to have our honeymoon here! But the staff was so welcoming and playful with the kids, never making us feel uncomfortable. Our kids still sleep with their Nayara sloth welcome stuffies.

Nayara was much more family friendly than I realized. While it feels like the perfect honeymoon sanctuary, the kids actually loved it too. They have a game and sports area for older kids/teens and a dedicated playground for younger kids.

Our kids’ favorites? The private thermal plunge pool, plush mini-robes, outdoor shower, free mini-bar snacks, their own clubhouse hideout, and the sloth tracker map!

Pro Tips for Visiting Nayara Tented Camp

Pro Tip #1: While Nayara Tented Camp excels in almost every category, one notable drawback is that an unobstructed view of Arenal Volcano is hard to guarantee. Because the resort prioritizes sustainability and dense rainforest preservation, surrounding tree canopy naturally blocks the view corridor from many tents.

In fact, our volcano views were actually less obstructed at our other Costa Rica hotel!

If a clear volcano view is high on your priority list, book through me so I can request specific tent locations that offer the clearest view lines.

Pro Tip #2: Come with an appetite – you’ll have a huge vintage safari-style chest full of mini bar snacks, fresh fruit, and treats!

Now you see why Nayara has been voted the best hotel in Central America four consecutive years. So yes, Nayara Tented Camp is worth the hype.

But don’t just take my word for it, or T&L’s, or Instagram’s. Book with me and see for yourself.