NAYARA GARDENS IS PART OF
hotel collection
OUR STORY
Our story is about stunning natural beauty, intimate spaces, and connecting with nature. Extraordinary service is given with warmth and heartfelt hospitality. Taking pride in our natural and cultural richness and being environmentally and socially responsible in everything we do.
How we do it
OUR STORIES
Don Francisco, Head of Bell-Men
Our staff is the very soul of Nayara. Our outstanding local men and women embody our internal mission of “heartfelt hospitality.” They all feel proud to work here and to show their Costa Rica to our guests through their own eyes. From Don Francisco, our Head-of-Bellmen, who is ready to point out rare birds in our lush gardens; to Jessie, La Terraza’s Captain, who makes you feel like you are the most important person in the resort; to Rosita, one of our housekeepers, who every evening surprises guests with her towel-animal designs.
Jairo Quesada, Resort Manager
Jairo is a “Tico,“ a person born and raised in Costa Rica. With over 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry, he joined Nayara as a receptionist the first day the resort opened and climbed to Resident Manager and Head of Operations. Jairo is very proud of his country and always eager to share his knowledge and friendship with the world. “You can always improve a guest’s experience by making them feel special,” Jairo tells his staff. His motto is “leadership through dialogue,“ always bringing out the best in each person.
Alfonso Pastran Calderon, Head of Landscaping
Alfonso is the head of our landscaping team. He is originally from Nicaragua and has been working the grounds since 2009. “I have seen the gardens bloom and the rainforest grow,” Alfonso proudly says. “When I started there were long areas of pasture and almost no shade from the trees. Now we have lush tropical foliage throughout the resort and the forest has grown and is full of wildlife… it’s just amazing to see Nature do its magical work!.”
Our Spa Therapists
Our therapists are the most important reason why your experience at the spa will be amazing. They are the heart of the spa, solely responsible for your wellness and relaxation. Our piece of paradise has been called a haven of tranquility in the rainforest thanks to their knowledge, dedication, and Pura Vida attitude.
MEET OUR TEAM
watch video
CERO KILÓMETROS
Gastronomic philosophy
Our kitchens are driven by the mission to offer sustainable and healthy food that uses local and seasonally available products while supporting local farmers and producers. The aim is to get to “zero kilometers” of distance between our produce and our kitchen.
Fatima Alvarez Meneses
Chef ASIA LUNA
Originally from Nicaragua, Fatima came to Costa Rica as a young girl and studied in a technical school in La Fortuna. She always helped her sister in the kitchen and one day she ran into a chef that was doing training in Asian food. Fatima fell in love with the flavors and smells of Asia; at Nayara, she trained with Peruvian and Japanese chefs to develop Asia Luna’s fusion menu. Fatima’s original creations use only fresh, seasonal produce and local flavorings. She adds a playful touch by using small plates and mixing colors and shapes. “It’s all about the guests,” Fatima says, “They are the source of my inspiration and their comments drive me to excel and to continue growing.”
COMMITED TO SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability
At Nayara, sustainable tourism is our driving motivation. We believe in building in harmony with nature, leaving space for wildlife and wilderness, while contributing to the growth of our local community. We are proud of our numerous social and environmental initiatives. We are environmentally friendly and socially responsible without compromising the design or the local culture.
Community
We think local: we want our community to thrive. The majority of our team comes from the neighboring town of La Fortuna de San Carlos. We offer them free transportation, sustainable tourism education, and health services. Some of our additional local initiatives include free early education for our employees’ children, volunteer time, and financial support to Hogarcito de Ninos, a local orphanage, and support for local artists.
Costa Rica is Green
Costa Rica is one of the greenest countries in the world, both literally and ecologically. A quarter of the country’s land is protected from development, the largest percentage of protected land in the world (the average is 8%). From the beginning, Nayara has pledged to keep a light footprint on its pristine property. We built two pedestrian bridges hanging over our forest canopy to protect the trees and wildlife below. We were rewarded the Costa Rican government’s coveted Four Leaves Award for Sustainability for our efforts and for endorsing the four tenets of sustainability that ensure we remain one of Costa Rica’s premier eco-resorts.
Energy & Water Conservation
We built sustainable and renewable buildings. Land topography allows us to orientate our rooms smartly to maximize the heating effects of sunlight and ventilation, minimizing the need for air conditioning and heating. We use energy-conserving light bulbs and lighting systems, and water-conserving faucets and towels.
COMMITED TO NATURE
Sloth Preserve
Sloths –those adorable and lethargic animals living in treetops- spend much of their lives in the canopies of the Guarumo trees, snoozing and hiding from predators. Our mission is to preserve and grow our tropical rainforest, providing a safe habitat that can support a healthy sloth population. By planting thousands of trees, we show our commitment to the preservation of the sloths’ natural habitat. As we continue our reforestation effort, our tropical rainforests are welcoming more sloths, monkeys, and birds than ever before.
Preserving the Rainforest
We have gone to great lengths to preserve and protect our piece of the rainforest—building around heritage trees, planting native species in our tropical gardens, and caring for the animals and birds who reside on our property. We also help Arenal National Park’s reforestation effort and provide sanctuary for sloths and howler monkeys.
Conservation and Reforestation
Reforestation is the most important action we can take to protect the rainforest and the wildlife that lives within it. Planting new trees reduce the number of greenhouse gases in the air and helps rebuild endangered habitats, which is the leading threat to the survival of animal species. The area where the resort is located had all of its trees cut down by a previous landowner to create a pasture. We have slowly and painstakingly replanted native species in the forest and built tropical gardens throughout the resort, creating beautiful grounds that serve as a natural refuge for birds, monkeys, and sloths. We have an extensive collection of tropical plants including palms, cycads, flowering trees, and vines.
Conservation Initiatives: Plastic Free Resorts
We are working hard to become a single-use plastic free resort. We have replaced plastic water bottles with glass reusable bottles in the villas, eliminated plastic straws, and continue to recycle plastic and cartons.
PRESS
nayara springs is part of
hotel collection
Romantic
Getaway
Luxury
Tents
Secluded
Oasis
Cultural
Adventure
Private
Island
