Arenal Costa Rica has become a destination synonymous with luxurious hot springs surrounded by tropical rainforest. Thanks to geothermal waters heated by Arenal volcano, the area is home to some of the best hot springs in Costa Rica. There are many options for hot springs in Arenal, ranging from free to budget-friendly to ultra-luxurious. So which are the best hot springs Arenal has to offer?

Best Hot Springs in Arenal- The Springs

Well, the answer to that question depends on what you’re looking for in a hot spring experience. If you’re looking for a lush tropical rainforest setting, breathtaking Arenal volcano views, waterfalls, hot spring pools of varying temperatures, a swim-up bar, a ridiculously fun water slide, and the best therapeutic mineral content in the Arenal area, then The Springs Resort and Spa boasts the best hot springs in Arenal.

We visited with our children and had a blast, but it is also extremely romantic and ideal for couples! The Springs at Arenal seamlessly combines exhilarating family fun with secluded romantic luxury in the middle of the rainforest. No matter your age, you’re sure to love soaking in these hot springs in Arenal. Find out more about why we think The Springs are the best hot springs in Arenal Costa Rica!

Two Day Pass at The Springs Costa Rica

If you’re not staying at The Springs, you can buy a 2 day pass to use the hot springs and pools, 5 restaurants and 5 bars. The 2 day pass costs $65 per person and is valid from 8am until 10pm. We definitely recommend spending 2 full days here, since there are so many different areas to enjoy. Honestly, $65 for 2 days is a reasonable price considering that Tabacon (the most well-known hot springs in Arenal) charges $105-115 per day, although their price does include 2 meals.

For an additional fee ($15 per person) guests at The Springs can take a guided tour of the Wildlife Preserve located at Club Rio. The wildlife preserve has jungle cats, monkeys, sloths, toucans and more that were rescued from poachers or donated for various reasons. Our kids really enjoyed the wildlife sanctuary tour, where they learned the importance of leaving wild animals where they belong- in nature.

Overview of Hot Springs at The Springs in Costa Rica

With 28 mineral laden hot springs ranging in temperature from 83 to 103 degrees Fahrenheit, there’s no shortage of places to unwind and soak away any tension from the day. The Springs has 2 separate hot spring areas on the property. Las Lagunas (The Lagoons) is located at the base of the reception building and has 12 pools on 2 acres of lush landscaping.

Perdido Springs (Lost Springs) is a connected system of trails and seven spring fed pools hidden inside the rainforest 100 meters down the hill from La Lagunas. The trail leading to these pools is called Heliconia Walk and is lined with beautiful flowering heliconias and other rainforest vegetation. Make sure not to miss this area!

There is also a hot spring down by the river at Club Rio, although we missed that one so don’t have a photo of it. If you take the bus to Club Rio for the animal sanctuary tour, check out the hot springs while you’re down there.

The pools are filled with hot mineral water from natural hot springs near the base of Arenal River and pumped into the pools. New hot water continually flows into the system during the day and then the pools are completely drained, cleaned and refilled every night. You certainly can feel reassured that the water is clean in these hot springs!

How minerals make The Springs the best hot springs in Arenal

The thermal springs at The Springs are not just pretty and luxurious, but offer therapeutic benefits from the minerals in the water. The Springs has the highest level of bicarbonates in the Arenal area. This mineral is considered the most important component of medically therapeutic hot springs, which makes The Springs the best hot springs in Arenal for therapeutic benefits. Some of the positive effects of bicarbonates include improving circulation and nervous system imbalances. Soaking in these waters aids against cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and mild atherosclerosis. Other beneficial minerals in The Springs at Arenal include sodium, calcium, potassium, boron, magnesium, iron and sulfur. Click here to see more information about the minerals at The Springs.

Las Lagunas Hot Springs

Las Lagunas Hot Springs are just off the resort and are open all day long from 8am to 10pm. We spent a lot of time there, especially at night when the pools were lit up and looked so inviting and romantic. We loved the swim-up bar, which serves anything from fruity cocktails to meals. We enjoyed dinner at the swim-up bar one night, which allowed us to maxmize our pool time. It was so nice to not have to shower and change before dinner. The kids swam until they passed out, literally in our arms that night!

The view from the main pool and swim-up bar at La Lagunas is breathtaking on a clear day. We visited during rainy season and happened to be there when it rained for 12 hours straight, unusual even for Arenal during rainy season. It was very foggy and Arenal volcano was covered in clouds at the top, but the tropical vegetation still made for spectacular scenery.

Something we loved about the hot springs is that you can enjoy them even during the rain. In fact, the cold raindrops falling on your head feel amazing as you soak in the hot thermal water. I even stayed in the hot springs one night during a thunderstorm while the kids played inside with daddy in the game room. The hot springs felt so sublime all to myself! I had a few hours of “me time” and I cannot think of anywhere more relaxing than hot springs in the rainforest.

Perdido Springs

Although we loved La Lagunas, we thought Perdido Springs was even better! The Heliconia trail is beautiful and you feel a bit like Jane and Tarzan entering the jungle. Most of the pools at Perdido Springs were empty when we visited, which made it even more exciting. Our kids were splashing around, jumping off rocks, and squealing with joy. It was nice having no one around so we didn’t have to hush them or ask them to settle down.

There’s a bar at Perdido Springs as well that serves all the pools. So even though you’re feeling lost in the rainforest, you can still sip a pina colada. The pools here also range in temperature, so if you’re getting too hot (or cold), you simply can hop over to a different pool. This was perfect for us with young kids who couldn’t tolerate the high temperatures. We could soak in the hottest spring while the kids played a few feet away in a cooler pool with waterfalls and hidden cave areas they liked to hide inside. The Springs is a win-win for families!

Monkey Slide at Perdido Springs

The monkey slide was our absolute favorite part about The Springs. We went down that slide about 100 times, but who’s counting? We could not believe how fast we flew down that thing! They provide mats you can ride on, or you can go on your stomach, butt or back. We tried every different position possible, sometimes not even sure how we ended up flipping around in the process. The only reason we were able to drag our kids away from the water slide was because we had a reservation for horseback rididing. Otherwise, we could have literally spent all day at the slide. Everyone from toddlers to teenagers to grandparents were having a blast on the monkey slide! It was the highlight of our day for sure. Since Bertaut has a water resistant phone, we took some videos of the monkey slide. Here’s one of our favorites in slow motion from an Instagram post- but you have to swipe over to the 3rd photo to play the video. While you’re there, follow us on Instagram for daily photos of our travels and adventures.

https://instagram.com/p/BmYZxNDhlXy/

Last words on the best hot springs in Arenal

Arenal is home to many of the best hot springs in Costa Rica, but they are not all created equal. We think The Springs Resort and Spa offers the best hot springs in Arenal. Since there are 28 different hot spring pools in various locations and of varying temperatures, you can easily find a secluded spot to enjoy quiet time with your loved one. If you’re visiting with kids, the vast system of hot springs means you don’t have to worry about your kids bothering anyone. Between waterfalls, a swim-up bar, fruity cocktails, super fast water slide, wildlife sanctuary, and lush rainforest trails, there are so many ways to both relax and stay entertained for days at The Springs. Two days wasn’t even enough for us, and we would love to return on another visit to Costa Rica. Check out our review of The Springs Resort and Spa to see why we think it’s one of the best family resorts in Costa Rica.

For more on Costa Rica, check out our review of Andaz Papagayo Peninsula, which is another great place to stay with kids. Diamante Eco Adventure Park is another must-do for families, with the #1 zipline in Costa Rica and its animal sanctuary. If you liked this post, please share it and pin in for later. Sign up for our email newsletter for more travel tips and inspiration to explore the world.

**Disclosure- We were guests of The Springs Resort and Spa, but all opinions are our own. We were not paid to write this post.

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