A visit to one of Costa Rica’s best hot springs is a great way to ease into the country’s tropical beauty. For over two hundred years, people needing relief from aches and pains have turned to the mineral-rich waters of this Central American destination.
The steamy natural mineral springs that made these geothermal pools once were underground volcanic springs and have now come back to the surface. A trip to any Costa Rican thermal bath is enjoyable, whether you are looking for magical pain relief or just some R&R. Locally, hot springs are referred to by their Spanish translation, “aguas termales”.
In no particular order, here are some of Costa Rica’s best thermal springs:
Arenal Manoa Resort Hotel & Hot Springs
The four-star Arenal Manoa Hotel in Fortuna is one of the best places to stay in Arenal and has a beautiful view of the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica, which is close by. Many people come to this area for exciting outdoor activities, but it’s also an excellent place to go if you want to relax in nature.
There are two hot spring pools and a jacuzzi, and guests may have lunch, snacks, beverages, and cocktails at the full-service swim-up bar. In addition to the soothing effects of the natural hot springs, visitors can also get massages, facials, wraps, and other treatments at the spa. Enjoy a tasty supper at La Saca Restaurant as the day winds down.
The resort offers premium suites, junior suites, and superior suites. Each room is decorated in a modern style and has a desk, a safe deposit box, air conditioning, and satellite TV. All accommodations have a refrigerator, coffee machine, and a private bathroom with complimentary amenities. Guests may relax in a hydromassage tub or on a private patio, some of which provide views of Arenal Volcano.
La Fortuna San Carlos, 21007 Fortuna | +506 2479 1111 | arenalmanoa.com
Baldi Hot Springs Resort Hotel & Spa
Near the Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, Baldi Hot Springs is the largest, most luxurious, and one of the country’s most fun hot springs resorts. This property has a lot of amenities and can be used by visitors during the day and by people who want to stay overnight.
The Baldi’s spa and wellness center has pools with natural volcanic mineral water at different temperatures. There are 25 year-round, rain-or-shine thermal mineral hot water pools that flow naturally from the volcano’s base, making this the ideal vacation spot for families.
Spa services are also available, including massages, facials, wraps, exfoliations, and more. The hotel has four restaurants, serving everything from a complimentary daily buffet breakfast to international, vegetarian, and organic fare.
There are several lodging options for guests to choose from, including a superior room, a deluxe double room, a junior suite, and a family suite. The Baldi Hot Springs Hotel rooms are nicely decorated and have free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen cable TV, a coffee maker, and a minibar. The in-room private bathrooms provide complimentary toiletries, bathrobes, and slippers.
142, Provincia de Alajuela, San Carlos | +506 2479 2190 | baldihotsprings.cr
Paradise Hot Springs Resort
Located in La Fortuna, Paradise Hot Springs Resort is a slice of natural heaven near Arenal Volcano National Park. The property offers overnight accommodations and day-use passes, allowing more visitors to taste this beautiful, peaceful region.
You may unwind in one of the eight pure hot springs pools, which range in temperatures between 35ºC/95ºF to 41ºC/104ºF. After a soak, have a facial, massage, or body wrap at the spa.
At the Paradise Hot Springs Thermal Resort, you can get a complimentary local food breakfast, use the gym, get a free ride to and from the airport, and drink at the swim-up bar. In addition to a poolside bar and a patio, the hotel’s in-house restaurant, Azalia, serves a variety of world cuisines.
A flat-screen cable TV, free Wi-Fi, a mini-fridge, a coffee/tea maker, a safe, and air conditioning are included in each room. After a long day, unwind in the comfortable seats provided in certain rooms. Some of the suites even have their own little balcony or patio. Each room has its own private bathroom with a bath or shower, complimentary amenities, and a hair dryer.
La Fortuna, 142, Provincia de Alajuela, San Carlos, 21007 | +506 2479 1380 | paradisehotsprings.net
Titoku Hot Springs
The Titoku Hot Springs is a small but affordable hot springs resort close to Baldi. Guests of the Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa often spend a day in the hot springs located 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) away.
The site has eight individual hot springs, whose pools range in temperature from 34 to 66 °C/93 to 152 °F and in size (from 6 to 20 people depending on the pool). The springs at the top are the warmest, and as you move down the line of pools, the temperature slowly drops.
Titoku provides a variety of amenities for its visitors, including a lobby, a waiting area, a bar that can seat up to 30 people, a conference room that can seat up to 50 people, restrooms (including those equipped for the disabled), locker rooms, and wardrobes.
Hot spring pools do not accept pets, and there is an age minimum for entry. However, guests of the Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa may enjoy complimentary access. No outside food or drink is permitted near the water, so most tourists return to the hotel for a snack or lunch after a dip. The geothermal pool operation time is 10 am to 8 pm daily.
142, Provincia de Alajuela, San Carlos | +506 2479 7156 | hotelarenalkioro.com/hot-springs
Hacienda Guachipelin Hot Springs
Located at the bottom of a volcano in northwest Costa Rica lies the Hacienda Guachipelin Volcano Ranch Hotel & Hot Springs. People come to the property because of its beautiful setting, many features, and stunning views of the Guanacaste plains and the Liberian mountains.
There is an outdoor pool and a volcanic mud pool in the property’s attractive yard, and the hot springs are available to hotel guests at no extra cost. Built next to a river and including two suspension bridges, the pools are heated to steamy temperatures beyond 100 °F/37 °C.
The restaurant at the hotel serves a variety of foods, including some from Costa Rica. The hotel also has several organized trips, such as canoeing, horseback riding, hiking, and tubing down the Rio Negro Rapids.
The ultimate indulgence at this place is to become one with nature. Guests will get the impression that they are staying in the heart of the forest and can enjoy all of the conveniences of home.
For overnight accommodations, twenty ordinary rooms, forty superior rooms, two large superior family rooms, and thirteen legacy suites are available. Each room has central air conditioning, a ceiling fan, free wireless Internet, a flat-screen TV, a coffee machine, and a private bathroom with a shower.
Rincón de la Vieja, Liberia, 50101 Liberia | +506 26902900 | guachipelin.com
Ecotermales Hot Springs
The enchanting eco-friendly Ecotermales Fortuna hot springs resort is in the Northern Area of Costa Rica, approximately 10 minutes from the center of La Fortuna. The natural hot springs, run by a family and open to a small number of visitors daily, will seem like your own personal retreat from the stresses of travel.
One of the five pools has a waterfall, and all of them are between 32 and 41 °C/90 and 106 °F. Two huge pools can comfortably accommodate 50 people each. With such a great layout, it’s easy to find quiet spots, and the temperature rises gradually from the bottom to the top. All the pools have lush greenery growing around them, providing shade in some areas and making the whole place seem peaceful.
These day-use facilities include a rustic restaurant where you can have a meal, including succulent cuts of meat and sides that showcase the fine art of Costa Rican cooking. You can also relax with a drink at the patio bar overlooking the natural pond.
EcoTermales has two guest schedules, from 9 am to 4 pm and from 4 pm to 9:30 pm. Each schedule has a maximum number of guests to ensure it stays private and relaxing while making the most of its magical atmosphere.
3.5 Km Este de la Iglesia Católica, La Fortuna, San Carlos, 21007 | +506 2479 8787 | ecotermalesfortuna.cr
Tabacon Hot Springs
This five-star resort is a rare mix of nature, adventure, and relaxation and is in the middle of a tropical rainforest at the foot of Costa Rica’s impressive Arenal Volcano. The property is open for day visitors and overnight guests and is a great place to stop for a soak while traveling the country.
The resort’s waterfalls, streams, calm pools, and ponds are fed by deep, therapeutic thermal mineral water that bubbles up from the earth’s volcanic core. Tourists also come for the various river pools, which range in temperature from 72 to 105 ℉ and boast the ideal balance of mineral richness in their waters.
A visit to the Tabacon Hot Springs isn’t complete without a dip in the cascading thermal waterfalls. This kind of hydrotherapy comes straight from nature and is sure to help you relax.
Guests staying at Tabacon can use the hot river and its pools. Only overnight guests can access Shangri-La Gardens, an area reserved exclusively for adults.
In addition to its 102 guestrooms, the facility also has three bars, two spa treatment rooms, a yoga studio, and two gift stores. There are a variety of suites available, from honeymoon to Tabacon to senator. More than 80% of the resort’s 900 acres are covered by tropical rainforest, making Tabacon Grand Spa Resort one of the most biodiverse hotels in the country.
21007, Provincia de Alajuela, La Fortuna | +506 2519 1999 | tabacon.com
Termales Los Laureles
The Arenal area’s smallest hot spring facility, Termales Laureles Hot Springs, is only open for day use. Popular among both residents and tourists, this facility is known for its laid-back atmosphere and lack of frills.
Views of Arenal Volcano may be enjoyed from the property’s seven hot tubs and two cold plunge pools, both located in the garden area. All of the pools, which have temperatures ranging from 25⁰C/77⁰F to 45⁰C/113⁰F, are surrounded by a lush garden filled with native plants and flowers.
Playgrounds and picnic spots are available for guests with children to enjoy. Towels and a changing room are at your disposal.
Even though the facility is only available during the day, there are several nearby hotels and resorts for overnight guests. However, if you go to Termales Laureles, you may pitch a tent and sleep under the stars at their property campground. Heliconias Cocktails & BBQ is the hotel’s on-site restaurant, where you can eat delicious food while gazing over the Arenal Volcano.
7 Km al oeste carretera hacia el Volcán Arenal La Fortuna, San Carlos, Alajuela | +506 2479 1431 | termaleslaureles.com
Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa
Just 10 minutes outside of La Fortuna, Costa Rica, you’ll find the eco-friendly Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa. The hotel is on 27 acres of sweeping, green land and has views of flowing streams and gardens full of colorful plants and exclusive warm water baths.
Arenal Volcano National Park is a beautiful place to visit, and you can do it in peace thanks to the resort’s serene rainforest environment and its closeness to the rejuvenating waters of the Titoku hot springs. Take advantage of the hotel’s free shuttle to the nearby Titok hot springs, where you may relax in the soothing waters of the hot springs at no additional cost or treat yourself to a massage, spa therapy, or cosmetic treatment at the hotel’s Neidin Spa.
Relax in the free-form pool surrounded by gorgeous landscaping, or enjoy a meal in the hotel’s excellent restaurant.
Unwind in one of 53 deluxe suites, ideal for two people or a small family. All suites provide guests with two balconies, free Wi-Fi, hydromassage hot tubs, a refrigerator, a coffee maker, a minibar, cable television, and a view of the volcano and surrounding mountains. Breakfast is provided free of charge every morning, and guests also have access to free parking on-site.
10km Carretera al Volcan de la Fortuna, 50201 | +506 2479 1700 | hotelarenalkioro.com
Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience
This resort is nestled at the foot of Arenal Volcano, only a short drive from the bustling town of La Fortuna. The Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience provides a peaceful retreat without being too far from the area’s many attractions and restaurants. The resort has everything a couple, family, or group of friends might want for the ideal vacation in Costa Rica.
Only lodge guests have access to the resort’s thermal hot springs. At the Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience, you may unwind in the mineral-rich thermal waters among roaring waterfalls, verdant tropical botanic gardens, and almost complete solitude.
Waterways, waterfalls, and quiet pools of varying temperatures can be found at both of the resort’s major springs: the one above ground, near the cold water free-form swimming pool, and the one below ground, complete with its own swim-up bar. A restaurant serving authentic Costa Rican cuisine is also available.
The resort offers superior rooms, junior suites, and superior thermal rooms. All accommodations have free Wi-Fi, a refrigerator, air conditioning, a desk, and a flat-screen TV; some also feature private patios and hot springs pools. Every room has a private bathroom with a shower or tub, towels, toiletries, and a hair dryer.
7km Oeste del centro de la Fortuna, 21007 | +506 2479 2800 | volcanolodge.com
Kalambu Hot Springs
In the hills above La Fortuna, you’ll find several natural hot springs, and a visit to Kalambu Hot Springs Water Park is a must for relaxation and wild adventures. Near the Arenal Volcano, visitors can soak in thermally heated pools and enjoy all the rides and slides of a modern waterpark.
Soothe your muscles in the thermal pool’s underground hot water. These therapeutic waters ease stress and anxiety by lowering blood pressure and reducing muscular tightness. Relax your aching muscles by sitting just beneath the waterfall and letting the hot water trickle down on them. Towels and lockers may be rented, and a restaurant is on-site, but no outside food is permitted.
Other attractions include the Mammoth, a four-story structure where guests ride a broad circular raft approximately 400 feet/122 meters down a steep, twisting slide. You can also challenge your buddies to a race down the Triple Slide and see who can reach the water’s edge first.
Children can have fun in the interactive play area, which includes a large bucket that can spray water on unsuspecting guests. Special rates for groups and birthday parties are offered.
Kalambu Hot Springs, Rte 142, La Fortuna | +506 2479 0170 | kalambu.com
On your next vacation to Costa Rica, consider visiting some of these top-notch hot springs. Most have lodging on-site, so if planning on staying overnight, remember to reserve your room or suite well in advance.
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