Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa Commits to Regenerative Tourism and New Guest Experiences

The 105-room Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa has launched a “Legacy of Regeneration,” an operation-wide commitment to regenerative tourism that builds on its history as one of Costa Rica’s original eco-resorts.

This initiative integrates the resort’s founding principles—environmental stewardship, proactive community engagement and wellness for guests and employees—into every aspect of operations, creating a model of purposeful luxury tourism.

As part of this program, Tabacón is introducing new guest experiences for 2025 that highlight the property’s unique natural assets: a Balneotherapy Concierge program and an exclusive hiking trail that opens access to the resort’s previously unexplored 900-acre reserve.

The new hiking trail gives guests the chance to explore the resort’s 900-acre reserve for the first time. Led by a naturalist guide, the walk traverses rainforest at the base of Arenal Volcano and crosses land that was rewilded from pasture more than 30 years ago. Today the reserve supports roughly 200 plant and wildlife species, including wild pigs, colorful frogs, basilisk lizards, guava trees and the stately Kapok tree—often called the Costa Rican Broccoli Tree and thought to have inspired the Tree of Souls in the film Avatar.

The route includes stops at the thermal springs and the source of the Tabacón River, overlooks of an area reclaimed by nature after the 1968 eruption of Arenal Volcano, and the Green Lagoon, named for its lime-green hue and dense rainforest surroundings. Guests are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app before the hike to log wildlife sightings as part of Tabacón’s ongoing nature-mapping project. Trail options begin at 1.5 hours, start from $65 per person and are limited to groups of eight.

Tabacón offers the largest thermal experience in Costa Rica with 18 naturally flowing pools ranging from 75 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. The new Balneotherapy Concierge provides guidance on how to maximize the therapeutic benefits of these waters. Accessible to thermal resort guests via QR download, the program outlines three suggested Balneotherapy Journeys—Detox & Renew, Skin Care Boost and Calm & Serene—each selected for the water’s specific mineral profile. The journeys include recommended routes, ideal durations in each pool and suggested hot-and-cold transitions.

The concierge guide also suggests ways to customize each journey with complementary menu items from Ave restaurant and spa treatments from Spa at Tabacón, enriching the thermal experience. Tabacón will launch an immersive three-night Balneotherapy Concierge package that bundles these dining and spa elements into a curated stay.

“Our ‘Legacy of Regeneration’ commitment focuses on making sustainable hospitality joyful and rewarding,” said Andrey Gomez, general manager of Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa. “We are blessed with natural resources and want to share these responsibly in a way that connects the dots—guests can see the source of the Tabacón River on a hike through our rainforest reserve, enjoy a restorative journey in our thermal river, be cocooned in nature at our award-winning spa and learn about Costa Rican traditions through our culinary offerings.”

Tabacón is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and a founding member of its Considerate Collection of actively sustainable hotels. The resort also serves as a convenient base for nearby excursions such as Arenal Volcano National Park, where visitors can encounter wildlife like howler monkeys, toucans and coatis.