The next morning, we headed for the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park tour with Nayara concierges Ana and Pablo, who were so amazingly knowledgeable about all the nature and wildlife there. The tour brings you to fifteen bridges in total, nine are regular bridges and the remaining six are hanging suspension bridges. When we first entered we spotted a group of coatis, Costa Rica’s version of the raccoon, and a monkey hanging out in a tree. We also spotted palm tree bats, which are very small and make their home in the palm trees. Of course, you will see a variety of exotic birds all over the place as well.
It only takes about 3 hours to walk all of the bridges, but if you’re afraid of heights I’d suggest you don’t do the hanging bridges tour. Some of the bridges were those rickety ones where it’s a little scary to walk across and you feel like you’re going all over the place, like in one of those adventure, action movies. However, it was fascinating walking across the bridges in the rainforest and taking in all the nature.
Chris in Front of the Arenal Volcano
There were nice views of the Arenal Volcano as well in the near distance. Ana told me that there are areas of the hanging bridges that are wheelchair accessible too, which I thought was great information. Ziplining is available too if you would prefer to zip through the rainforest. Finish your tour with a refreshing Imperial, Costa Rica’s official beer.
After our tour, we went to Mis Amores for lunch, a Latin bistro with great views of the volcano when there are no clouds. Mis Amores showcases the flavors of Northern Italy crafted from old family recipes. They serve delicious wood-fired pizza, and we ordered the Margarita Pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, basil, and extra virgin olive oil; and Quatro Staggioni Pizza with artichoke, mushrooms, olives, and parma ham. Accompany your pizza with the watermelon salad with fresh diced watermelon, burrata cheese, fresh herbs, and an orange juice reduction.
That afternoon we headed for the hot springs. There are several hot spring pools nestled in the rainforest, and they are all at different temperatures. Near the entrance, there’s a bar where you can order a refreshing drink before you head to one of the hot spring pools. Make sure to try the Guaro Sour, which is a popular local drink made with sugar cane. When we first entered the hot spring, I must admit they were very hot. However, you do adjust to the hot temperature after you are there for a little while. They also have ice water, towels, and lounge chairs right when you get out of the water if you need to cool down and dry off. At night, string lights are set up illuminate the hot springs and create a romantic mood.
Casa Paloma (Photo by Courtesy of Nayara Tented Camp)
During our last evening in Costa Rica, they held a cocktail reception to celebrate the official grand opening of the Nayara Tented Camp. Afterward, there was a family-style dinner at Ayla where we enjoyed Mediterranean dishes with a Middle Eastern twist helmed by Israeli chef Yanir Elnasi. Live music was playing, and Ruth mentioned that the band was one of the best that performs at the resort. We also were able to tour one of the newly opened private residences of Nayara Tented Camp. These include Casa Paloma and Casa Dana, magnificent four-bedroom tents designed for family or group travel. These accommodations also come with their own personal concierge, and a personal chef is available to prepare your meals. Nayara Tented Camp has a total of 38 accommodations altogether and a cute gift shop on the property as well.
The next morning, on the way to the airport, our driver had lots of information to share with us, including how brown birds make the best melodies. He also told us about the rare Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (monteverdeinfo.com/cloud-forests), whose Spanish name is Bosque Nuboso and is part of the cloud forests that cover 1% of global woodlands; the Bosque Eterno de Los Niños (acmcr.org/content), also called the Children’s Eternal Forest, which is Costa Rica’s largest private reserve funded by donations from children in 44 countries and is run by a nonprofit conservation organization; and The Continental Divide in Costa Rica, where visitors can see the Pacific side of the country to the left and the Caribbean side to the right.
If you’re looking for a few days of rest and relaxation with someone special, Nayara Tented Camp is the place to go. It’s so peaceful and secluded, away from all the hustle and bustle of urban life. I will never forget this fascinating trip with its amazing views of the Arenal Volcano and all the wonderful experiences I had while I was in the rainforest. It was truly magical. Pura Vida!
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