The Springs Resort and Spa combines luxury with rainforest immersion. Pools are scattered across a hillside overlooking Arenal Volcano, each designed to blend into its surroundings, with temperatures from 86°F to 104°F clearly marked. Some are intimate and tucked away, others cascade in wide terraces. The Perdido Springs create a playful circuit of seven smaller pools, complete with a monkey waterslide for children, while Club Rio, down by the river, adds sweeping canyon and rainforest views. A soak here followed by a massage at the resort’s spa is one of Arenal’s signature experiences.

The Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort is the area’s classic hot springs destination, built around a naturally heated river that flows through tropical gardens. Pools and waterfalls form a trail through the rainforest, making it easy to wander from one to the next. Day passes give access to the main grounds, while hotel guests also enjoy Shangri-La Gardens, a quiet, adults-only enclave with private pools, cabanas, and attentive service.

Ecotermales offers something different: a tranquil family-owned retreat in thick jungle. Entry is capped at just 100 visitors per day, preserving a quiet, intimate atmosphere. Four crystalline pools range from 91°F to 105°F, with one waterfall cascade for those who like to stand under the flow. This is one of the most authentic hot spring experiences in the region.

Titokú Hot Springs, operated by Arenal Kioro, is a boutique setting of eight cascading pools that step down from hot to cool. Set apart from the hotel but open to the public by reservation, Titokú is small, serene, and beautifully landscaped. Guests at Arenal Kioro itself also have access to seven on-site hot springs at the base of the volcano, surrounded by thick vegetation that gives the feeling of soaking inside the rainforest itself.

Paradise Hot Springs offers an affordable, easygoing experience. Eight pools of varying temperature are set amid tropical gardens, and admission numbers are kept limited to avoid crowds. Couples and friends often choose this spot for its relaxed pace.

Rio Perdido, near Bagaces and warmed by the Miravalles Volcano, is one of the most unique. A boutique hotel tucked into a canyon of dry forest, it offers three geothermal pools and a warm mineral river that winds through the property. Trails lead to secluded swimming spots, and the signature mud treatments are a perfect way to finish an active morning of ziplining or biking.

The Rio Celeste, inside Tenorio Volcano National Park, is one of Costa Rica’s natural wonders. Two rivers converge here, and their mineral mix creates a vivid turquoise-blue water unlike anywhere else. Along the trail you’ll find hot springs, small geysers, waterfalls, and viewpoints over primary and secondary forest. Staying at Rio Celeste Hideaway, a boutique lodge on 150 acres of rainforest, puts you within walking distance of the park and offers private access to falls and trails.

Rincón de la Vieja is known for its adventure circuits as much as its thermal pools. Trails pass bubbling mud pots, fumaroles, and even a mini-volcano, while horseback rides lead to natural lava-rock pools on the Blanco River. The Oropéndola waterfall and the twin cascades of Las Chorreras are popular cool-off spots, often visited before a mud bath and long soak in the thermal pools.

Set in the foothills of Rincón de la Vieja, the Borinquen Mountain Resort, brings all of this into one property. Natural spring-fed pools, volcanic mud baths, and steam rooms are complemented by a yoga deck with mountain views. It’s an eco-friendly retreat ideal for both active explorers and those who simply want to sink into hot mineral water and stay there.