Costa Rica Opens for Several US States

September 9th, 2020

Costa Rica is opening its borders on September 1st to US citizens who are residents Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, D.C., and as of September 15 to Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Colorado (with driver’s licenses from those states). Additional requirements include a negative Covid test result within 48 hours of travel to Costa Rica, medical insurance, and a health pass form – full requirements listed on Visit Costa Rica’s website here.

Just below the Arenal volcano in the tropical rainforest, Nayara Tented Camp and Nayara Springs are both currently open (operating at 50% occupancy). Nayara Springs is adults only and Nayara Tented Camp (just opened in December 2019) is family friendly, so those looking for a getaway with or without children can find a perfect refuge.

The property is within a sloth sanctuary (currently 15 sloths living in the trees) and home to myriad animals such as tree frogs, toucans, and monkeys. Each accommodation is completely private. At Nayara Springs, there are large villas with private plunge pools fed by naturally warm hot springs surrounded by lush vegetation. At Nayara Tented Camp, the sprawling luxury tents have big decks, also with private mineral spring-fed plunge pools, but with views of the volcano. A must-do is room service breakfast of local coffee (roasted on property), fresh fruit, and eggs with beans, plantains, and rice.

The spa is open air, cantilevered over the rainforest with a fresh breeze and the sound of the trickling spring below. Every restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating – whether it’s a wine paired dinner at Nostalgia Wine bar (with an impressive list of South American labels), some Peruvian-influenced sushi at Asia Luna, modern dishes with local ingredients punctuated by nightly live music at Amor Loco, or pizza fresh out of the oven or refreshing ceviche at Mis Amores – all with some artisanal cocktails.

Nayara Resorts is committed to the reforestation cause. Nayara Tented Camp sits on a hillside that was completely deforested by farmers over 50 years ago to become a cattle pasture. Nayara hired a reforestation expert (Matthew Flynn of VIDA) and has been working tirelessly to rebuild the rainforest that was destroyed, planting 40,000 indigenous trees and expanding the sloth sanctuary from sister property Nayara Springs. One bright spot in having to close to guests during Covid is that the land has sat undisturbed with the property’s gardeners still on hand to tend to the project. That combined with the steady rains has led to thicker, greener, and taller foliage. The wildlife is returning to the hillside with birds and monkeys making it their home. (The monkeys need a “corridor” of trees to traverse the rainforest.)

 

Some socially distanced activities:

On property:

  • Private yoga sessions
  • Nature walk through the sloth sanctuary
  • Private dining in the designated private dining areas overlooking the rainforest

Off property:

  • Hanging bridges walk
  • Horseback riding
  • Ziplining

 

Nayara Resorts has implemented new hygiene and distancing protocols to keep guests as safe as possible. For those who need to work or tune into remote learning, there is WiFi all over the properties and international calls are complimentary.

 

How to get there

Nayara Resorts are a two-and-a-half-hour drive from either San Jose or Liberia (the two main international airports). Nayara can arrange private transfers with naturalist guides driving guests to point out wildlife and interesting landscapes along the way.

 

Rates at Nayara Springs start at $619.50 per night.

Rates at Nayara Tented Camp start at $720 per night.

 

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