The Retreat Costa Rica
Alajuela, Costa Rica
Costa Rica is famed as a nature lovers’ paradise, and The Retreat Costa Rica embodies this in spades. Located 40 minutes from capital San José, the award-winning resort is nestled on a rainforest-covered quartz mountain said to emit healing energies. Nature is all-encompassing at this idyllic tropical sanctuary, which exudes quiet luxury.
It was founded in 2016 by author, health and wellness coach Diana Stobo, best-known for her book Get Naked Fast, a rather hardcore tome that recommends ditching sugar, wheat, dairy, alcohol, caffeine and meat. The Retreat is thankfully a lot less restrictive – meat is on the menu and cocktails and wines can be quaffed at the all-day bar.
The emphasis is wellness with a mind-body-soul approach, so there are relaxing saltwater pools, daily nature walks, state-of-the-art gym at the Santosha Wellness Club, mountain top yoga and award-winning Vida Mia Spa. The Retreat even has its own organic farm and cooking classes are on offer, covering everything from herbal medicine to fermentation.
In fact, The Retreat prides itself on ensuring your wellbeing transformation continues after you’ve gone home, by teaching you new life skills like the yogic breathing technique pranayama. That’s if you can tear yourself away from Costa Rica’s natural splendour.
Vida Mia Spa Healing Center & Spa
Vida Mia Spa Healing Center & Spa
Few spas can boast such stunning views as the Vida Mia, which overlooks the surrounding tree-covered valleys and mountains, all the way to the Pacific Ocean. A massive 800 square metres, the luxurious spa complex was designed along the ancient Chinese principles of Feng Shui, to harmonise the building’s energies with its natural surroundings. The decor inside is beautifully tasteful pale pastels and natural materials against a backdrop of jungle foliage outside. Plus, The Retreat is based in the district of Atenas, famed for having the most pleasant climate in the world with a year round ‘eternal spring’, according to National Geographic.
Vida Mia fuses ancient techniques with innovative and organic remedies, channelling the power of nature to connect health, beauty, relaxation and healing with proven treatments and hands-on experiences to rejuvenate the mind, body and soul.
Offering nearly 80 different wellness services from classic aromatherapy massages, facials and detoxifying body wraps, through to a range of crystal healing sessions and traditional Costa Rican herbal rituals, it’s also the first Ayurvedic healing centre in Costa Rica, led by Dr Shaveta Jasra, an Ayurvedic doctor from Kerala.
Guests can choose from nine different wellness packages, each with a different focus, including emotional healing, better sleep, weight loss, managing menopause and the signature Naked Challenge detox, created by Stobo herself, which claims will see you lose 10lbs in 10 days, and help purify the blood, rejuvenate the skin and support the cleansing of vital organs.
Or else, you can pick from treatments such as the signature Heaven On Earth massage, cupping or bamboo massage, sound healing. Reiki, reflexology, organic superfood-powered microdermabrasion facials, chromotherapy or ionic detox.
IV therapy is also on offer, such as the Megadose, an intravenous infusion consisting of 10-25 grams of concentrated vitamins plus additional nutrients and minerals, as well as aesthetic cosmetic treatments, including botox, fillers, biostimulators (injectables which encourage the production of more collagen and elastin), and a salmon sperm microneedling facial and more. Or simply plump for a spot of pilates.
Spa Facilities
- Steam room
- Pool
- Jacuzzi
- Relaxation areas
- Spa boutique
- Ayurveda treatment room
- Meditation deck
- Temple
Spa Products
- Kypris
- Shankara
- Kevc.skincare
- Biosfera
- Kottakkal
To Stay
The Retreat offers a selection of 26 accommodations, including the new Santosha Luxury Lofts. Top of the pile is The Residence, a grand villa-style sanctuary with an expansive outside patio, which inside features a fully-equipped kitchen, living room and three bedrooms of elevated comfort, all flooded with natural light. Even the most basic cosy deluxe rooms are all beautifully appointed inside and each have stunning views of the surrounding mountains and rainforest.
Check out: 11:00 am
To Eat
There are three different places to eat and drink, with guest meals served amid the plants at the open-air Sol Terrace with its farm-to-table menu with lighter snacks available from the spa. There are also poolside plates at La Diosa Sunset Lounge and Bar and elevated fine dining at Mystique Rooftop, with all menus drawing from the seasonal bounty of Costa Rica, focusing on organic, sustainable ingredients and bold flavours.