Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort's story is the one of a nature lover that became a legend in Arenal. Costa Rican born Jaime Mikowski was a trained and board-certified architect involved in projects that ranged from low-income housing developments to single-family luxury homes. Mr. Mikowski had a knack for thinking outside the box.
His hobbies and life interests led him to distinctive personal goals that included running coffee farms, starting Costa Rica’s first vineyard, launching a solar water heating company, and designing hotels all over the country.
In the late 1980s, Jaime fell in love with a property at the base of the majestic Arenal Volcano, where a stream of hot springs ran through a marsh and grasslands. He convinced the local owners to sell him a share of the company that owned the land and spent the next few months persuading friends to invest with him on a wellnes spa concept developed around the idea of a natural encounter.
In January 1991, the original Tabacon pools and restaurant complex closed for a complete make-over, which took more than two years. Mr. Mikowski’s project aimed to reforest the existing pastures that surrounded the pools and restaurant.
The river was given some form so as to transform the marshlands and have them resemble what it could have been like before the cows grazed here lands, decades prior.
The pristine thermal waters now flowed into waterfalls, cascading pools and hidden bathing spots. Mr. Mikowski planted acres of native flora, which gave way to Tabacon’s beautiful botanical gardens.
The restaurant and kitchen were expanded, locker rooms were added, a small spa was built and, on April 13, 1993, Tabacon opened as a day destination. Finally, in late 1997, the hotel was inaugurated, with 42 comfortable guest rooms.
This marked the official beginning of Arenal as an international destination. And travelers around the world responded quickly, once word of Arenal’s unique beauty got out.
Tabacon is set on more than 900 acres of lush tropical reserve, home to Costa Rica’s largest network of naturally flowing hot springs. Tabacon offers 103 luxurious guest rooms and suites; two restaurants; four bars and a world-class spa.
While visiting the Arenal Volcano Region, Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa offers a rainforest escape unlike any other. The pursuit of a unique experience is wondrously satisfied at the moment you step into Tabacon, where you become a witness of the luscious scenery that unfolds before you.
The journey to the beautiful Costa Rican rainforest starts in rooms and suites, where a comfortable balance between architecture and nature is respected.
The hotel strives to bring the great outdoors into room by showcasing the lush landscape that characterizes these fertile lands that flank the Arenal Volcano.
The inspired new room designs assimilate local culture by including artwork and furnishings designed by Costa Rican artisans.
These visual details are complemented with an authentic service philosophy that relies on elevated hospitality standards.
Tabacon is a luxury Arenal hotel with an increased proportion of open-air common area; goal is to allow guests to comfortably immerse within the overpowering scenery; to leisurely enjoy the outdoors and achieve the desired state of peace and relaxation.
At Tabacon, all hotel guests receive complimentary and unlimited access to the thermal experience and exclusive access to adults-only Shangri-La Gardens, for the duration of their stay. The hot springs resort is open to hotel guests from 8 am to 10 pm. The extended hours access and admittance to Shangri-La are not available to one day visitors.
For the truly discerning traveler, the exclusive Senator Suites combine extensive space, extraordinary comfort and exquisite design in one thoughtful setting.
These suites are ideal for families seeking more spacious accommodations, which include a dining and living room conceptualized so as to provide the ideal space for a truly memorable experience.
Sleeping areas include a master bedroom with a king bed and terrace overlooking the impressive rainforest, and a second bedroom with two full beds.
A beautifully appointed master bathroom features an in-room Jacuzzi and separate glass-enclosed shower. A second lavatory plus a spacious walk-in closet add to the suite’s privacy and style.
Choose the vast comfort and luxury of two bedroom Tabacon Suites. Expansive areas and an elevated design assure optimal comfort.
Details aim to preserve harmony between the natural outdoors and the indoor setting. The Tabacon two bedroom suites envelop guests with views of the beautiful surrounding rainforest.
These suites include a master bedroom with dining and resting area, an ultra-comfortable king bed, and a second bedroom with two full beds.
They are appointed with luxurious bath products, an elegant bathroom with granite counters, an in-room double hot tub and separate glass-enclosed shower.
Tabacon Suites are the largest single room category, offering a luxurious setting and impressive views of the rainforest.
Elegantly designed for relaxation and comfort.
These special suites are ideal for couples on intimate getaways. It is the best choice for those celebrating a honeymoon, an anniversary, or a special occasion with your soulmate.
The natural beauty of the exotic rainforest forest and impressive views of Arenal Volcano become the backdrop for a stay full of magic and passion.
Elegant and distinctive Rainforest Room seamlessly blend indoor luxury with an outdoor terrace or balcony overlooking the tropical landscape.
Bathrooms include a two-person hot tub and a separate glass-enclosed shower.
All rainforest suites feature a king bed and a pullout sofa bed.
The furniture is handmade by Costa Rican artisans.
Experience a vast open space with unobstructed views of the exterior tropical setting magnificently complemented by a modern interior with colorful décor.
Relax in the inviting ambience of splendid and recently remodeled Orchid Rooms.
Tabacon offers a memorable dining experience surrounded by the untouched tropical rainforest of the Arenal Volcano Region.
There are two open air, full-service restaurants and four bars.
The region’s top chefs masterfully blend flavors and create new gastronomic experiences that evoke the most beloved, local culinary concepts and utilize regional ingredients.
The restaurants at Tabacon, Ave del Paraíso and Los Tucanes, specialize in Costa Rican cuisine and creative international fare.
The Caña Brava Lobby Bar is a perfect spot for a snack. Couples seeking an intimate dining experience can indulge in a private Gala Dinner – a Tabacon Signature Service – featuring a customized menu prepared by a dedicated chef in a romantic, candlelit, open‐air rainforest bungalow.
Guests can also enjoy snacks and beverages al fresco at the Arenal Pool Bar and Shangri-La Gardens Bar. In-room dining is available 24 hours.
If travelling with kids, ask for special menu for younger guests, if you have a specific dietary needs, chefs will be happy to modify the dishes, especially for you.
The hotel has ample experience with gluten free, dairy (or lactose) free, Kosher, vegetarian and vegan diet requirements. Menus offer a special section with extra-healthy and delicious options for those on a wellness vacation.
Snacks and drinks
Costa Rican and international
A la carte and buffet
Casual
Snacks, rum specialty drinks, infusions and cocktails
International
Gourmet cuisine, freshly prepared
Snacks and cocktails
The Spa at Tabacon is not your typical hotel spa. Memorable spa treatments are rendered in outdoors bungalows tucked away among the trees, gardens and natural hot springs. The setting offers complete privacy, which key in order to achieve the desired state of peace and balance.
The rainforest setting helps spa guests recall the splendor and serenity of the natural surroundings.
Each treatment is preceded by Tabacon’s signature spa ritual, which starts in beautifully designed, award-winning open-air resting area.
Your pre-treatment preparation includes a dip in the hot spring fed Hot Tub, remember: none of the water at Tabacon is artificially heated, chemically treated, or recirculated.
Tabacon’s open-air spa bungalows are designed for individual or couple’s therapies. In these cozy bungalows, you are sheltered by a palm thatched roof and caña brava, a local wild shrub similar to bamboo.
The structure and floor are made of very special, local hardwoods.
They are designed to allow the fresh air and scents of the rainforest become an essential part of each and every treatment. And even more significant are the spectacular sounds of the hot springs, blending perfectly with the ubiquitous sounds of wildlife.
The spa experience at Tabacon offers what is truly the most perfect match between spa design and nature.
All bungalows have a thermal spring-fed tub for two that allow you to soak in river fed thermomineral water, al fresco, in the heart of the rainforest. Hence, many guests choose to extend their treatment so as to enjoy the outdoor balneotherapy.
The Spa at Tabacon is not your typical hotel spa. Memorable spa treatments are rendered in outdoors bungalows tucked away among the trees, gardens and natural hot springs.
Discover Costa Rica´s largest network of naturally flowing thermal mineral springs in Arenal’s largest and most beautiful private, rainforest reserve.
Tabacon is flanked by the beautiful Arenal Volcano at one end and the Arenal Volcano National Park on the other. The road here literally takes you to the heard of the jungle, so expect the sounds and sights of the native flora and fauna to flood your senses. This is where the thermal experience begins.
There are five main springs source highly mineralized water that is heated underground by the Arenal Volcano’s magma. Thousands of gallons of this perfect water naturally emanate every minute. The thermal water flows throughout the resort, forming the Tabacon River. You will find dozens of cascading waterfalls and warm pools along the riverbed, of varying temperatures, water flows and degree of privacy.
Many hot springs destinations in the Arenal Volcano Region and around the world drill wells and rely on pumps and mechanical systems to fill their pools.
Others re-circulate and/or re-heat their supposed “thermal” waters, by means of gas boilers and other heating methods. All of Tabacon’s water has always been and will always be true, thermal water, naturally heated by the volcano and slowly mineralized, underground.
An essential part of exploring the wondrous world of the Tabacon Hot Springs is soaking in the cascading thermal waterfalls. This natural hydrotherapy is a surefire way to achieve proper relaxation. Guests tend to thoroughly enjoy exploring the numerous river pools, with their varying temperatures and water flows.
Some pools are vast and calm, others are small and afford privacy for those wishing to disappear in a secluded nook. And it’s not all hot; for those requiring a refreshing dunk, Tabacon offers a cold-water pool, just a couple of minutes by foot, into the dense rainforest. The main sunbathing and swimming area features five pools, a swim-up bar, and the thermal water slide.
The river-pool temperatures range from 72 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Tabacon’s water has been blessed with the perfect combination of high volume and a medicinal mineral content. Also worth noting is that sulfur content is low, which means that the water is free of strong and undesirable odors.
During their stay, Tabacon overnight guests receive complimentary and unlimited access to the thermal river and its pools. Hotel guests also receive exclusive access to Shangri-La Ggardens, adults-only hideaway.
In the Central Volcanic Mountain Range of Costa Rica, the Arenal Volcano is one of the country’s most famous volcanoes. Arenal is an active stratovolcano in northwestern Costa Rica.
Lake Arenal sits at the base of the Arenal Volcano in the northern highlands of Costa Rica. It is the country’s largest landlocked body of water, with a surface that covers nearly 33 square miles (85 square km) and a depth that reaches some 200 feet (60 m).
Fishing on Lake Arenal is a great opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Arenal Volcano and the incredible landscape surrounding Lake Arenal.
The hotel's newly designed meeting space includes a multipurpose room with large windows, providing essential brightness, spectacular views and cutting edge technology.
Arenal natural and wild beauty makes it a memorable and unique wedding destination, a remarkable place for honeymoons or romantic getaways. From the most intimate get-togethers to the grandest soirees, Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort makes every occasion an event to remember.
TABACÓN GRAND SPA THERMAL RESORT
Noreste de Centro de la Fortuna de San Carlos 13 KmProvincia de AlajuelaArenalCosta Rica