The Best Natural Hot Springs in Costa Rica

The luxurious Springs Resort in La Fortuna certainly lives up to its name. Onsite, there are three hot springs: La Lagunas, Perdido and Club Rio Springs. La Lagunas has eight pools with a swim-up bar and volcano views, while Perdido is a maze of forest trails with another seven pools to lounge in (plus a Monkey Slide for kids). While the other two have a man-made feel, Club Rio is more natural; it features tumbling waterfalls overlooking the river canyon. After day river tubing or horseback riding, where else would you rather relax?

More than 25 natural spring-fed pools make up the Baldi Hot Springs resort, arguably the largest of its kind in the world. Unwind in the bubbling jacuzzi that fits 60 people, surrounded by singing tropical birds, or sweat it out in Costa Rica’s biggest sauna. Kids will be well occupied at the Baldi Kids area, packed with water slides and whirling bowls. Escape the noise of the pools and retreat to the spa for a thermo-mineral massage, using chocolate, coconut and pineapple to soften the skin.

Just ten minutes outside of La Fortuna, Hotel Arenal Kioro sits among 27 acres (11ha) of rolling countryside. Onsite, the hotel has its own hot springs to soak in, plus they offer a free shuttle and entry to the Titokú hot springs, one of the more serene thermal pools in the area. Maximum capacity is 80 people, so it’s rare that you’ll find the pools to be over-crowded. Refresh afterwards with an ice cold mojito in the bar. Alternatively, book a Bath Ritual at the hotel spa, where you can unwind in a private petal-filled tub, infused with milk and honey.

For the ultimate Costa Rican rainforest experience, book the Arenal Observatory Lodge. Here, you’ll feel truly among the treetops, overlooking 270 acres (110ha) of rainforest and the Arenal volcano. It was originally built as a scientific research station for the Smithsonian Institution. Join a daily guided tour with a naturalist guide before taking a dip in the spring-water fed pool. Just up the road is the Rio Agua Caliente, a local natural pool that’s completely free for anyone to enjoy.