High in the Costa Rican mountains, deep in the rain forest, there’s a volcano named Arenal that presides. It’s a spectacular sight, poking above the tropical trees and into the clouds. And when you’re a guest at Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa, it’s not only your daily view, it’s your most valuable resource—heating the natural geothermal mineral springs that flow from its base throughout the entire landscape, the resort, the spa, and your room’s shower…making a stay here visually, sensorially, and awesomely one-of-a-kind.

The resort spans 900 acres of tropical terrain, home to more flora and fauna than you can wrap your brain around: Elegant and eccentric flowers that spring from the grounds like earthly rainbows, flocks of Disney-esque toucans in the trees, sloths hanging around…This thriving ecosystem surrounds the 105 high-luxury guest rooms (many with large decks for wildlife-spotting, star-gazing, and thermal bath-soaking), private pools, and the Grand Spa.  

Back in the late 1980s, founder Jaime Mikowski fell in love with the area, and envisioned transforming what was then pastureland into a natural retreat. He bought the land and reforested the pastures, adding over 200 plant species, and restored the thermal waters' flow into waterfalls and hidden bathing spots. Today, Tabacón continues its keen respect for nature, embracing sustainable practices and harnessing solar power and geothermal energy to operate.

At The Spa, the rich landscape is leveraged for its health and relaxation benefits—guests enjoy treatments in open-air bungalows amidst jungle greenery with a soothing soundtrack of birds and the hot spring waterfalls. It’s the spa’s immersive environment that’s key to achieving wellbeing, says spa director, Monica Sanabria. “Life is passing so fast and humans are trying to survive stress,” she says. “Returning to the simple elements of nature is the clue to becoming healthier and happier. Tabacón is the epitome of this healing environment.”

Here you’ll find signature therapies like yoga, massages, facials, and holistic treatments, designed to align body and mind with the idyllic surroundings. The Volcanic Mud Wrap uses the local creamy clay to detox your body and promote rebuilding of collagen. A Tamarind Exfoliation treatment enlists Costa Rican tamarind to renew your skin. High in antioxidants and super hydrating, the tropical fruit tamps down inflammation and helps cellular regeneration for an anti-aging experience.  And Shirodhara, a traditional Indian practice, calms the nerves, reduces anxiety, and improves sleep by pouring warm oil over the sixth chakra.

The spa uses custom-formulated botanical products made locally by Biosfera, a skincare brand that sources Costa Rica's natural organic raw materials. “This is a way of supporting small farmers and producers—by obtaining crops produced in artisanal ways and preserving their benefits by ethical formulating practices,” explains Sanabria. 

Beyond the spa, the hot springs provide natural hydrotherapy through cascading waterfalls and river pools carved from smooth rock, with temperatures ranging from 72 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. “Tabacón’s sodium chloride thermal water offers a wide range of benefits for the skin and overall health,” says Sanabria. “The water has minerals with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that moisturize, soothe, repair, and promote circulation.” And of course, make you feel relaxed and blissful.  

If you have the emotional strength to leave the hot springs, exploring the area provides a mind-blowing view of the landscape range and wildlife.  The guides at Pure Trek will take you repelling down waterfalls safely, while making you feel utterly super-heroic for doing so, and have you hovering over the forest at astounding heights on a canopy bridge/wildlife tour, pointing out the monkeys, birds, spiders and more. 

It's an understatement to say that a get-away to Tabacón is a break from everyday life. Here, you’ll ditch the noise of technology and stress, and get accustomed to the howls of monkeys, the pokey pace of sloths, the funniness of toucans and their bright yellow beaks. With deluxe accommodations, body-pampering, healthy high-end meals, and intense natural beauty, Tabacón offers an escape into another world, one that’ll stay with you long after you’re returned home.