Destination of the Week: Tabacón Thermal Resort and Spa

Photo courtesy of Tabacón Thermal Resort and Spa

For this week’s Destination of the Week, we spoke with Andrey Gomez, General Manager of Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa, about the resort’s legacy as a pioneer of thermal tourism in Costa Rica. From its naturally flowing thermal river at the base of Arenal Volcano to its deep commitment to regenerative sustainability, Tabacón continues to offer a restorative experience rooted in nature, authenticity, and balance.

Tabacón is celebrated as a pioneer of thermal tourism in Costa Rica. How has the resort’s legacy evolved, and what continues to make its naturally flowing thermal river such a transformative experience for guests today?

Tabacón pioneered thermal tourism in Costa Rica by being the first to design an experience around a living thermal river, one that flows freely, naturally, and without human intervention. More than thirty years ago, we understood that these mineral-rich waters, heated deep within the earth and emerging at the base of the Arenal Volcano, could offer something truly extraordinary: not just relaxation, but restoration. 

That vision helped shape what thermal wellness means in Costa Rica. It also placed La Fortuna and the Arenal region on the world map not through commercialism, but by offering an authentic connection between people and nature. 

Today, the river remains our essence. Guests don’t bathe in pools, they immerse in moving water, guided by the sounds of the rainforest, the warmth of the earth, and the presence of something real. Combined with thoughtful hospitality, environmental care, and a deep respect for the place, it becomes more than a visit. It becomes a return to balance, to calm, to oneself.

Sustainability is deeply rooted in Tabacón’s philosophy. How do your regenerative tourism initiatives translate into everyday guest experiences — from the spa to the culinary program

At Tabacón, sustainability is not an initiative, it's our identity. It shapes every choice we make, from how we build, to how we serve, to how we coexist with the rainforest that surrounds us.

Our 570-acre property was once deforested land. Today, it’s home to thriving native species and a fully restored ecosystem because we chose regeneration over expansion. Guests don’t just visit a protected area; they sleep, bathe, and dine within a living rainforest brought back to life.

The thermal river flows naturally through the resort, and we return it to the earth clean, without chemical interference. Solar panels support our energy needs. Organic waste becomes compost. Native plants reduce irrigation demands. And 98% of our staff is local because sustainability begins with people. 

You taste it in our kitchens, where local farmers and artisans supply fresh ingredients. You feel it in the spa, where treatments use thermal water directly from the volcano. And you see it in the quiet confidence of a place that doesn’t claim sustainability; it practices it with every sunrise.

The resort’s location within Arenal’s largest private rainforest reserve offers guests an extraordinary connection to nature. How does this setting influence the design, wellness rituals, and sense of place at Tabacón?

Nature is not just a beautiful backdrop at Tabacón, it shapes everything. Rather than imposing architecture onto the landscape, we built around the rainforest, allowing pathways to curve with roots, rivers and volcanic stone. Guest rooms open to gardens; the spa lies hidden within palms and ceibas; and the soundscape of the resort is entirely natural - filled with birdsong, flowing water, and rain on leaves. 

Wellness rituals honor this environment too, inviting guests to slow down, breathe deeper and return to the rhythms of the earth. From thermal bathing to outdoor treatments, every program provides moments of rest as guests rediscover themselves among nature.

Chef Saul leads a culinary journey that celebrates Costa Rica’s local ingredients and artisans. How does the dining experience at Tabacón reflect both innovation and authenticity?

For Chef Saul, every dish evokes a sense of place as he uses native ingredients like heirloom crops, sustainably caught seafood and cacao from local producers. But what makes the experience exceptional is how these ingredients are reimagined with modern technique and refined presentation, without ever losing their roots.

From the thermal springs to the rainforest spa and personalized treatments, Tabacón invites travelers to reconnect with themselves. What does “well-being” mean to the resort, and how do you hope each guest feels when they leave?

At Tabacón, well-being is not a program to follow. It’s something you return to naturally, gently, without pressure. We believe the body knows what to do when the environment is right. When warmth loosens the muscles. When the sound of flowing water slows the breath. When time stretches, the rainforest becomes a mirror for stillness.

Every element of the guest experience is designed to support that reconnection without forcing it. Our role is not to prescribe healing, but to hold space for it. In the spa, in the thermal river, in every quiet moment in between. 

We hope guests leave not only relaxed, but rebalanced. More aware of their own rhythm. More connected to the earth. More present within themselves. Because true well-being doesn’t begin with doing more. It begins with remembering what was always there.