Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa
A hot springs resort on Arenal's natural thermal river that safeguards more than 570 acres of protected reserve and holds CST Elite certification.
Google reviews
Google rating · 4.6/5 · 3,450 reviews
Stored Google rating; this is separate from the Accommodation Eco Score or Throne Score. The current Google rating may have changed.
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Environmental evidence and weighted assessment
2.4/5 Accommodation Eco Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 45%
Green flags
- Nature, biodiversity and regeneration, level 4/4.
The resort states it safeguards more than 570 acres of protected reserve, with reforestation and biodiversity monitoring (official sustainability page, 2025 report cited).
Source · 2026-10-29
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature, biodiversity and regeneration | 30% | 4/4 · Legal protection such as a reserve or conservation easement, or measured outcomes published with dates and figures (hectares restored, species monitored, nests or hatchlings counted) | 30 / 30 points | The resort states it safeguards more than 570 acres of protected reserve, with reforestation and biodiversity monitoring (official sustainability page, 2025 report cited). Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Energy and climate | 15% | 1/4 · Claim only | 3.75 / 15 points | Only a general reference to energy efficient technologies. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Water | 10% | 1/4 · Claim only; towel or linen reuse alone stays here | 2.5 / 10 points | The sustainability page says an annual report covers water and energy conservation, but no system or figure is shown on the page. “including reforestation, biodiversity studies, water and energy conservation, and community education programs” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Waste and plastic | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Food, farming and sourcing | 15% | 1/4 · Claim only, such as local or organic with no named source | 3.75 / 15 points | Partnerships with local farmers are mentioned without names or shares. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Buildings, heritage reuse and land use | 15% | 1/4 · Claim only | 3.75 / 15 points | The hot springs page claims sustainable design including low impact architecture without naming specific practices. “guided by sustainable design from low impact architecture to locally sourced cuisine and reforestation programs” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Measurement, transparency and certification | 5% | 1/4 · General commitments without specifics or results | 1.25 / 5 points | The sustainability page points to an annual Sustainability Report and the awards page lists a Costa Rican CST Elite certification, but the certificate could not be confirmed in the certifier's own directory and the report figures were not readable. “Our annual Sustainability Report highlights the progress, partnerships, and measurable actions behind the Legacy of Regeneration” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. Accommodation Eco Score weights: Nature, biodiversity and regeneration 30%, Energy and climate 15%, Water 10%, Waste and plastic 10%, Food, farming and sourcing 15%, Buildings, heritage reuse and land use 15%, Measurement, transparency and certification 5%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years. Guest travel is not scored; everyone gets there how they can.
Purity, what touches your body
1.5/5 Purity Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 11.3%
Green flags
- Pool and bathing water, level 3/4.
The home page describes bathing in a natural thermal river described as untreated and unaltered, though no test results are published.
“This is natural hydrotherapy at its purest untreated, unaltered, and constantly renewed.”
Source · 2026-11-03
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water you drink and bathe in | 25% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 25 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Food on your plate | 20% | 1/4 · Claim only, such as fresh or organic with no named source | 5 / 20 points | The hot springs page claims locally sourced cuisine without naming suppliers. “guided by sustainable design from low impact architecture to locally sourced cuisine and reforestation programs” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Grounds and pest control | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Cleaning, laundry and fragrance | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Linen, towels and mattresses | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Air and quiet | 10% | 1/4 · Claim only | 2.5 / 10 points | The hot springs page says smoking is prohibited in all public areas under national law, with no wider air quality detail. “smoking is strictly prohibited in all public areas, whether indoors or outdoors” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Pool and bathing water | 5% | 3/4 · A natural pool with biological filtration, or bathing in the sea, river or spring instead of a treated pool | 3.75 / 5 points | The home page describes bathing in a natural thermal river described as untreated and unaltered, though no test results are published. “This is natural hydrotherapy at its purest untreated, unaltered, and constantly renewed.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. Purity Score weights: Water you drink and bathe in 25%, Food on your plate 20%, Grounds and pest control 15%, Cleaning, laundry and fragrance 15%, Linen, towels and mattresses 10%, Air and quiet 10%, Pool and bathing water 5%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years.
People, ownership, work and community
1.9/5 People Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 21.3%
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership and control | 30% | 1/4 · Ownership stated without detail | 7.5 / 30 points | A Costa Rican press report says the US based company Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality bought the resort in 2025, so ownership is corporate and foreign. “La firma de origen estadounidense Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality Inc (Pursuit) emitió un comunicado de prensa este miércoles 2 de julio.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Local work and fair pay | 25% | 1/4 · Claim only, such as local staff | 6.25 / 25 points | The sustainability page lists employment and training for La Fortuna residents as a commitment, without a staff share or pay detail. “Employment opportunities, training programs, and educational initiatives form the core of our commitment to La Fortuna and its people.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Community benefit | 20% | 1/4 · Claim only | 5 / 20 points | The sustainability page claims partnerships with local farmers, artisans and schools without naming them. “Through partnerships with local farmers, artisans, schools, and service providers, we support economic development” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Access to beach and land | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Culture and heritage | 10% | 1/4 · Claim only | 2.5 / 10 points | The sustainability page says indigenous ingredients and ancestral techniques are used in the cuisine and spa, without named makers. “integrating indigenous ingredients and ancestral techniques in our cuisine and spa” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. People Score weights: Ownership and control 30%, Local work and fair pay 25%, Community benefit 20%, Access to beach and land 15%, Culture and heritage 10%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years.
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Collected research sources
These source pages were captured on 2026-10-02. Capturing a page does not establish a rating or verify its claims. Only the reviewed pillar evidence above earns assessment points. Missing findings remain unavailable.
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