I knew the view would be good, I just didn’t realize how good.
When I arrived at The Retreat Costa Rica long after dark, and after hours of flying sprinkled with delays, all I wanted to do was call it a night. But the deep, freestanding bathtub in my room gave me something to dream about. Surrounded by glass on three sides, there wasn’t much that could be seen in the dark of night, but the perch was full of possibilities once the sun rose.
When I opened my eyes the next morning, the tub was the first thing that caught my gaze and quickly pulled me out of bed. I could have soaked all day, surrounded by views of the rainforest and the Pacific Ocean, but a chorus of birds convinced me it might be worth my while to get moving.
Mere steps outside my room, I was wowed by poinsettias the size of shrubs and towering walls of bougainvillea, but it was Tarzan that stopped me in my tracks. One of a handful of wild peacocks and peahens that have taken up residence at The Resort, he was strutting his flashy plumage, trying especially hard to get the attention of a pair of nearby ladies.
Luxury Lofts feature deep, freestanding tubs and impressive views.
Credit: 2023 The Retreat Costa RicaIt wasn’t even 8 a.m., but it was already clear this would not be a typical wellness resort experience.
And, as it turns out, it wasn’t meant to be.
“It’s not a normal wellness hotel,” said Diana Stobo, owner and founder of The Retreat. “My intention was you get here and surrender to a blank canvas.”
A bestselling author, chef and health and wellness life coach, Stobo opened The Retreat Costa Rica in 2016 after buying the property in Atenas, in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica, sight unseen. Recently divorced, she had a vision and simply started building.
Wellness Packages
The Retreat offers a variety of wellness packages designed not only to kickstart a visitor’s quest to improve health and wellbeing, but to arm them with the education needed to continue their mental, spiritual and physical growth long after returning home.
Pranayama (an ancient breathing technique), aromatherapy and a sound bath are just a few of the offerings featured during the bookable five-night Art of Resting experience. The seven-night Fitness Reboot & Fat Burning package, meanwhile, includes daily sessions with a fitness trainer, infrared sauna therapies, deep-tissue massages and more, while the Retreat’s newest offering, Mastering Menopause, consists of treatments ranging from Ayurveda chakra balancing and deep Pranayama breathing to wellness cooking classes.
The Retreat’s yoga studio hosts complimentary classes.
Credit: 2023 The Retreat Costa Rica“The [Mastering Menopause] program is based on subtly creating balance through our food, thoughtful exercise, spiritual enlightenment, getting the proper sleep and really nurturing yourself first,” Stobo said.
During my brief three-night stay, there wasn’t a single male guest. Stobo says that, on average, 60% of visitors are women, and the resort and spa boasts a 58% guest return rate.
Plant-Based Dining
All wellness packages include three meals per day at the on-site Sol Terrace: Nature’s Gastronomy restaurant. Meals are plant-based, but during dinner, a protein of some sort – think local fish, fowl, lamb or beef – is available. All menus are anti-inflammatory, use no refined sweeteners and are grain- and dairy-free (with the exception of some occasional goat cheese and house-made yogurt made with goat’s milk). A large portion of the produce served is harvested from The Retreat’s pesticide-free garden; coffee is also grown on the property and roasted weekly.
Most meals at Sol Terrace: Nature’s Gastronomy are plant-based.
Credit: 2023 The Retreat Costa RicaDishes are fresh and inventive, but options are limited. The kitchen is happy to accommodate dietary restrictions, but there are no menus to select from. When guests sit down to dine, the server announces what the chef has prepared, so travel advisors will want to make sure that clients realize that, other than selecting a protein at dinner, they typically will have not have choices at mealtimes.
Accommodation Options
Set on a 50-acre quartz mountain above the Pacific Ocean, The Retreat’s lush jungle location lends itself to a body and mind reset; I was up with the sun both mornings, wandering along flower-flanked paths and hiking to viewpoints. The property is located on a steep mountainside, so getting those steps in might feel more challenging than the typical walk clients are accustomed to at home.
The Retreat offers 18 bright and airy accommodations, ranging from Deluxe Rooms with garden views to the half-dozen recently introduced Luxury Lofts with private patios and bathtubs with panoramic vistas. Designed to help guests relax, there are no televisions or phones in any rooms; every room does, however, have a diffuser filled with essential oils.
A pool is located at the center of the resort.
Credit: 2023 The Retreat Costa RicaA pool and hot tub are located at the center of the resort, not far from a yoga studio where complimentary classes are offered twice per day. But the arguable star of property is the 8,000-square-foot Vida Mia Spa. Along with nearly 80 treatment possibilities ranging from acupuncture and Shankara Ayurvedic Chakra Balancing to an anti-aging facial and a Glow Coconut Scrub, there’s also a meditation deck, a fitness center, a cafe, a tea bar and — perhaps my favorite spot on the property — a second saltwater pool with pair of comfy swinging chairs complete with mountain views.
Off-Site Excursions and Activities
For clients interested in exploring Costa Rica, The Retreat offers excursions led by hotel staff to hot spots such as Arenal Volcano, the beach and a local coffee plantation — but even the most gung-ho guests often have a hard time tearing themselves away from resort grounds, choosing to simply enjoy lingering there a bit longer.
“[The experience is about] just being here and being cared for,” Stobo said. “I have 1 million stories of transformation here. I cannot tell you how it happens, [but] it happens time and time again. It’s magical.”
