We recently returned from 7 nights at Nayara's Tented Camp. Some reflections:
Pros:- The "tents" (they're just villas adorned with canvas tent tops and walls) are luxurious and comfortable. Not as refined as Amans, but probably more in the "rustic luxury" vein of, say, Six Senses.
- Service is strong. Food delivery prompt, requests answered quickly, proactive touches like cleaning hiking shoes without being asked. A step up from anywhere we've been in Mexico except perhaps Chable Yucatan, so very good for this side of the world. Some might find the service too "familiar", but it felt very Costa Rican and welcoming.
- The spa was exceptional. We originally booked 2 treatments and went back for 6 more.
- The gym and yoga tent were very nice, and the daily yoga sessions were a joy (even for me with the flexibility of a board).
- Being part of the Nayara complex means lots of food options.
- As you'd expect, views from almost everywhere are stunning. Our villa looked right at the Arenal volcano on clear days.
- Probably my favorite plunge pool we've had, as it's fed directly by the hot springs, so there's no salt or chlorine and it was hot 24/7. Perfect way to start and end the day.
Cons:- On the food note, the food wasn't memorable at all. Pretty average on the whole, with a few dishes that tipped into "good" but probably a few more that veered toward "ehh not great". Perhaps the best meal we had was at the Japanese restaurant, but it likely wouldn't stay in business as a standalone in any global city.
- Most of the tents are connected by a walkway to a second tent. They put up bamboo to separate the outdoor areas, but you can sometimes hear your neighbors, which makes it feel less private.
- There isn't anywhere to enjoy walks around the resort. It's on a steep hill so you're either getting a workout or calling a golf cart. Golf carts were always prompt to arrive, but would have been nice to have some walkable trails. The whole property is on a hill, so it's understandable why that doesn't exist, but something to know if this matters to the guest.
- There's construction ongoing as they're building new tents, but we never heard it and only saw it when we were walking by.