Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa – Worth Staying or Just for a Day Pass?

If you’ve ever dreamed of soaking in natural hot springs, surrounded by lush jungle, with a volcano in the background—all while your kid is happily splashing in water that’s the perfect bath temperature—then Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa in Costa Rica’s Arenal region needs to be on your radar.

We stayed here during our trip to Costa Rica, and it was one of the best family-friendly luxury experiences we’ve had. Between the gorgeous, natural thermal springs, the onsite babysitting, the sloth-spotting opportunities, and the amazing breakfast, it checked every box for a vacation that felt both relaxing and adventurous.

Oh, and if you book smart (more on that below), you can get VIP perks like resort credits, and room upgrades at no extra cost:

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Why Tabacón Is Ideal if You Plan to Soak Often

Tabacón is famous for its thermal river, a series of completely natural hot spring pools set within a lush jungle. The best part? The water is warm, not scalding. Unlike some hot springs that are murky or simply too hot to enjoy for more than 10 minutes, these pools range from 98–104°F (37–40°C)—basically, the perfect bathwater temp that I can stay in for an hour (and my toddler could, too).

Some of the springs are shallow and full of volcanic stones and sand, and they have a few pools that are paved as well for easier swimming. They also have an adults and guests-only area called Shangri-la.

So is it better to stay at Tabacon, or get a day pass instead? IMO, it’s better to stay onsite. Here’s why:

🌅 Exclusive guest-only access from 8-10 AM means no crowds, just peace.
💦 If you want to do the springs each day of your stay in La Fortuna in addition to other activities, rather than one full day of hot springs, it makes a lot more sense to have access whenever you want it.
🌙 Hot springs stay open until 10 PM, which means you can enjoy them right before bed without having to stay all day to get your money’s worth.
Shangri-La, the adults only area, is only open to hotel guests (and we took full advantage after bed time! More on that later).

Book Through a Small Luxury Hotels of the World Agent for Extra Perks 💎

Tabacón is part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and if you book through an SLH advisor (like me!), you’ll unlock exclusive free upgrades that make a luxury stay even better. These perks typically include:

💰 $100 resort credit (hello, spa time)
🏡 Room upgrade (subject to availability)
⏰ Early check-in and late check-out (when available)

These little extras can be worth hundreds. If you’re interested, reach out to me, and I’ll help you book with these perks!

Sloths, Hanging Bridges, and Jungle Adventures 🌿🐒

Tabacón’s property itself is a wildlife paradise—we literally spotted sloths just hanging out in the trees by our room.

Beyond the resort, La Fortuna is one of the best places in Costa Rica for adventure, and is located about 2.5 hours from the Liberia airport. We rented a car and stopped here after the Andaz Papagayo as part of our Costa Rica road trip. Shuttle vans are also available as well as private transport with a driver.

Some must-dos:

🦥 Bogarin Trail is the best place to see wild sloths and who knows what else?
🌉 Mistico Hanging Bridges offers stunning jungle canopy views (bring a hiking backpack carrier for little ones!)
🌋 Arenal Volcano National Park has easy trails with amazing views

If your kids are too young for big hikes, Tabacón itself has jungle walking paths, so you can get the nature experience without leaving the resort.

Babysitting Service = Parents’ Night Out in the Hot Springs

Tabacón offers onsite babysitting for $20 per hour, which means you can put your kid to bed and then go sneak off for a moonlit soak in the hot springs (which is exactly what we did). Floating in a warm pool, surrounded by jungle sounds, under the stars? Pure magic.

If you want to maximize your relaxation, they also have a full-service spa with open-air treatment rooms set right by the river.

When to Visit and Room Rates 🗓️

☀️ Dry Season (Best Weather, Peak Prices): December – April
🌤️ Shoulder Season (Good Weather, Fewer Crowds): May – August
🌧️ Rainy Season (Cheapest, But Wet!): September – November

Rooms start at $500 per night, but keep in mind you’re getting access to the hot springs (which cost day visitors $90 per person). Staying here means you can enjoy the springs crowd-free in the morning and late at night.

Final Thoughts: Is Tabacón Worth It? 🌎

Absolutely. If you want to experience Costa Rica’s best hot springs, see amazing wildlife, and have a mix of relaxation and adventure, Tabacón is a dream stay—especially if you take advantage of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World perks.

The combination of kid-friendly pools, a babysitting service, jungle adventures, and incredible food made this one of the most memorable stops on our Costa Rica trip.

Thinking about booking? Reach out to me, and I’ll help you lock in VIP perks at no extra cost! ✈️🌴

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