If you’re looking for a luxury hotel in Arenal, the Springs Resort and Spa Arenal is one of the best. It has a large property with its own adventure center, a spa, several on-site restaurants, luxury private villas and a stunning view of Arenal Volcano.
The Springs Resort and Spa is ideal for honeymooners, couples and families and it’s also a favorite among celebrities who visit Costa Rica (Kardashians, Will Smith and Beyonce and the Bachelor was filmed there).
Here is our Springs Resort and Spa review. If you’re not staying at the hotel, they offer hot spring resort 1 and 2 day passes for non hotel guests to enjoy their hot springs and pools. We offer a small discount for their hot springs passes!
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The Springs Resort and Spa Costa Rica
The Springs Resort and Spa is 13 kilometers (8 miles) from La Fortuna. You do not need a 4×4 to get there.
As soon as you arrive at the hotel, the valet greets you with a cold drink and directs you where to go. The staff is very kind and helpful, feel free to ask them all the questions you have about the hotel, La Fortuna, the property and anything else.
From the lobby, there is a wonderful view of Arenal Volcano and the hot spring pools below.
Then to get around rooms, they offer golf carts to help you move your luggage. If you’re staying in one of the villas, the golf carts are included for your use.
Rooms and Villas
The Springs Resort has all sorts of accommodation options for your stay. They have standard rooms and big villas ideal for big groups and families. As we were just two people, we stayed in a standard room in the Aracari building. For our second stay, we were in Oropendola.
Both have wonderful views of the volcano and are close to the hot springs pools, but our room in Aracari was a bit nicer with a Jaccuzi and pull out couch.
Both rooms had a big bathroom and bathtub. Our Oropendola room had two full bathrooms!
Restaurants
They have many restaurants: a treetop terrace grill, a sushi bar, the Trout restaurant by Club River, Tres Casacadas and Las Ventanas.
We ate at the Ginger sushi bar, terrace grill and Tres Cascadas restaurant. The breakfast and Tres Cascadas food was excellent and it was reasonably priced for a high end resort. I was happy they had lots of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options.
I wasn’t that impressed with the sushi bar though. Las Ventanas is an indoor restaurant that is by reservation only, if you want a more refined night time meal.
One thing I was very pleased was that the staff was really attentive to food allergies and diet restrictions, which are all the more common nowadays.
They made sure to take careful note of Yeison’s shrimp allergy and my lactose intolerance and offered alternatives.
The breakfast is a buffet, with a juice bar, omelette bar, pastries, typical Costa Rican and American dishes, fruit and salad.
It wasn’t the most extensive breakfast buffet we’ve ever had at a luxury resort and it was not included in the room rate, it was around $25 USD plus taxes per person.
Property and Amenities
The resort has all the amenities for a very comfortable and convenient stay: spa, gym, game room, multiple restaurants, lobby sitting areas, a mini golf course, trails, strong Wifi throughout.
One thing we absolutely loved was the game room. Even if it’s supposed to be for kids, it’s a lot of fun for adults too with a foos ball table, a ping pong table, video games and more fun games.
I really liked that they had a room for kids with all sorts of games, so that they can mingle with other kids while the parents enjoy some time off.
The spa was lovely with big fluffy robes and a very nice dressing room. They even gave us a plate of chocolate covered strawberries at the end which was very nice!
The gym is fantastic. It has a separate cardio and weight room with plenty of clean machines and weights.
From everywhere you are on the property, there is an amazing view of Arenal Volcano. The lobby, restaurants, and hot springs pools. It’s one of the best parts about The Springs!
Los Perdidos Hot Springs and Club Rio Hot Springs
For us, this is the highlight of the resorts: their hot springs pools. Their hot springs resort is absolutely gorgeous and perfectly landscaped and maintained to make you feel like you’re walking through a tropical jungle and water paradise.
Their property is so big as they have the hotel and Club Rio sections and they have pools in both sections.
The Los Perdidos hot springs and Las Lagunas hot springs are near the rooms and the Club Rio hot springs are by the river. Las Lagunas has a swim up bar, ranchito and restaurant.
Want to visit The Springs resort but don’t want to stay at the hotel? No worries! They offer day passes and we have a $5 USD discount for The Springs Hot Springs Day Pass! It’s good for TWO days and gives you access to all their pools!
From Las Lagunas, you can walk down the property to reach Los Perdidos. Los Perdidos has seven pools and a fun monkey waterslide! At night when the lights turn on, the hot springs are absolutely gorgeous.
The hot springs down by Club Rio are around the river. There is a path that goes from the activity center along the river to the hot springs, surrounded by rainforest.
We loved the Rio Vista springs because like the name says, you have a great view of the river! I sat under the waterfall while watching people white water tube down the river.
Club Rio Outdoor Center For Hotel Guests
The Club Rio Outdoor Center is one of the reasons why the Springs Resort is such a great place for families and those looking for an “all in one” hotel. You can have adventure, relaxation, nature and wildlife all on the Springs property!
You can schedule your activities at the hotel once you check in.
They also have a wildlife sanctuary that you can walk through or schedule a guided tour.
Even if you don’t want to do any activities, I highly recommend taking the shuttle down to Club Rio to check it out.
You can enjoy the pools they have by the river, lay in a hammock, have lunch by the river at the restaurant and walk around the trails to try your hand at spotting wildlife.
We saw a baby sloth and a snake just walking around the river! It was very cool.
If you’re interested in purchasing day passes to The Springs, we offer a $5 USD discount per person. Click here to get our The Springs day pass discount!
When it comes to hot springs in Arenal, we love the Springs. The Springs property is gorgeous, the views are incredible and the pools are beautifully landscaped and well maintained.
If you’re not on a budget and want to experience one of the best hot springs resorts in Costa Rica, then a visit to The Springs Resort can’t be missed.
A Hotel For the Stars
As you can see, The Springs Resort and Spa is a truly a hotel for the stars in Costa Rica. It has rooms and villas with luxury furnishings and fantastic views, hot springs and pools that make you feel like you’re in tropical paradise and a staff so friendly, kind and helpful.
During our two stays at The Springs, we saw famous athletes, Costa Rican musicians and other local stars.
The hotel has garnered such a well known reputation that international and local stars seek it out for their stay in La Fortuna.
If you are not on a budget and looking to splurge at a luxury hotel whether it’s for your honeymoon, anniversary or simply a vacation of a lifetime with your family, then definitely consider The Springs Resort and Spa in La Fortuna!
Book your stay at The Springs Resort & Spa La Fortuna here.
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Amanda says
Hi, we are planning a trip to La Fortuna for 3 night and ending in Manuel Antonio for four 4 nights. I’m currently looking for hotels in both areas. What would you recommend? Also, what would you recommend for traveling from the airport and for traveling from La Fortuna to Manuel? We are a family of 4. Thank you!
yeison says
Hello Amanda!
We already sent you an email
Amy says
Looking to travel to CR this summer with our two teens (16 and 15). WE are not busy travelers but want a wide array of activities for our teens. We were thinking of splitting the trip (7 days) and starting in La Fourtuna and ending in CoCo but after looking at this review of the Springs resort we were wondering if it made sense to just stay here for the whole trip?
Sammi says
You could but then you wouldn’t get any beach time. I’d keep the trip split between Fortuna and Coco, in fact I have written this exact itinerary: https://mytanfeet.com/costa-rica-travel-tips/8-days-costa-rica-itinerary/
Kerry says
For the multi-pass – what if we choose 2 activities for the first day but we want to do a 3rd activity on the second day? Do we just pay the cost for that extra activity or will they now allow a 3rd activity? (We want to do horseback ride and river tube on the first day, and the animal sanctuary on the second day).
Sammi says
Hi Kerry, you will have to pay for the extra activity separately, the multi adventure pass only allows 2 activities. You can put a note in our booking form that you want to add a third activity, unfortunately we cannot give a discount on the 3rd activity but for the normal package we have our $10 discount
Melissa says
Hi,
I was debating between a day pass between Tabacon and Club Rio. We have an 8 year old so there will be 3 of us. Do you recommend this better for more activity and beauty with a child? Just checking in if you still feel the same since Covid…we will be there in April 2022. Do you think the river will be too low to tube? Thank you!
Sammi says
Club Rio hands down, they have the river and other activities like horseback riding, tubing, etc. and the hot springs are so nice. Tabacon is gorgeous of course but its just hot springs and pools and it is very crowded there.
The river should be fine to tube, there is always water in La Fortuna
Melissa says
Thank you for your response…it looks like we won’t be able to go to Club Rio because it isn’t open to outside guests during the time we will be there. Do you have another recommendation for us for hot springs with an 8 year old? Thank you!
Sammi says
There are tons of hot springs in La Fortuna, you can check our recommendations: Best Arenal hot springs
Cristina Herrera says
If you stay at the Springs Resort, is the horseback riding and tubing included or do you pay extra for these activities?
Sammi says
You pay extra for their Club Rio activities even as hotel guests
Christine says
Is the rate for Club Rio the same for hotel guests as it for non-hotel guests?
Sammi says
Actually for the Springs guest, you have access to the hot springs included and the prices are different for individual activities so if you’re staying at The Springs Resort, you can book activities directly with the front desk/tour desk
Shauna says
This is very helpful reading this. I know it was written back in 2018 prior to COVID. Have these packages changed since then? We are looking to book 2 nights beginning of june. Traveling with our 8 & 11 year old. We are first staying for 2 nights at Kioro. Then wanted to try out somewhere different. Friends told us to stay at Baldi hot springs and get a family suite. But found your article and the springs look amazing. Baldi is about $400 cheaper. We could stay at Baldi and do this package, but not sure that makes sense. Tobocan is already booked. Thanks for your help.
Sammi says
Hi Shauna, the Springs Resort is definitely a more upscale luxury resort than Baldi so it’ll depend on your budget… because you can definitely stat at Baldi or even another hotel without hot springs and book the multi adventure package to enjoy the Springs’ hot springs. I will have to say that although Baldi hot springs are fun, our favorite is the Springs hot spring resort and their outdoor river club is amazing.
Cyndie says
Are lockers available for change of clothes, storage of valuables, etc. if you get either Club Rio Outdoor Pass or the hot springs only 2-day pass? And transportation from our hotel and back is only included in the first day of Outdoor pass, and not at all for the hot springs pass, right? Thanks for your wonderful website!
Sammi says
Hi Cyndie, There are changing rooms, lockers ($5 rental) and bathrooms at Club Rio. Please bring a change of clothes, swimsuit, sunscreen mosquito repellent and water shoes or closed toed shoes. They have complimentary towels and water shoes for rent ($4).
For the multi adventure package, transportation is only included for the day you do activities, not for the 2nd day hot spring pass.
Jenny Jessen says
I greatly appreciate all of the information! Is it possible to book the multi- activity pass, but come the day before as your “second day?” We arrive later in the evening and would like to use our pass, but go back the next morning for activities. Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Jenny! That is fine, just write a note in the comment section that you would like to do the hot spring pass first and then the activities on your secondd ay.
Adi says
Hi,
I really don’t know what to decide.. tabacon or springs resort?
we come on september – A couple on our honey moon..
we heard about tabacon good things.
what do you prefer?
Sammi says
Hi Adi, both are great. Tabacon is definitely more well landscaped and very beautiful with more gardens but it’s super duper crowded and a small facility. When we visited, we actually had to wait in line to get into the pools and each one was packed. Food is very good at Tabacon though, their buffet was excellent. The Springs is much more spread out as the property is humungous, and they have a handful of different hot spring sections. It doesn’t have the Tabacon river so it doesn’t feel as “natural” as Tabacon but it’s way bigger, nicely maintained and they also have a waterslide.