THE RETREAT COSTA RICA

The Retreat is a boutique retreat in the Costa Rican rainforest, and the perfect setting to connect with nature, nourish your body, and renew your soul.

The spa offerings are plentiful and include traditional Ayurvedic treatments, crystal healing, and a Vichy shower massage. There is a small gym on property, and yoga and hiking are offered daily. For those looking for more activity and culture, third-party tours and excursions are available to guests. The cuisine is impeccable and as fresh as it gets.

Overall, a luxe, lush, and reasonably priced destination to unwind and relax and escape the everyday chaos of life.

• Getting There

  The retreat is perched upon Costa Rica’s Crystal Quartz Mountain which is located in the town of Atenas; about a 40-minute drive from San Jose International Airport (SJO). A cab service can take you to the property gates at which point a representative from the Retreat will meet you to switch cars and take you down the steep hillside to the main house and guest suites. Any time you wish to get in and out of the property or for a day-excursions, this is the approach you must take as well.

• Accomodations

  The resort has a total of 18 guest rooms, most of which contain a single king bed. The standard rooms are clean and coastal, while the newly constructed loft suites feel like you’re in a private treehouse overlooking the Costa Rican rainforest. There are no TVs in the rooms, but the main house has different lounging areas with a small library of books, cards, and coloring books. This is one of the few retreats I have been where they provide turn down service complete with a freshly baked cookie (usually made by other guests in the cooking class) and a printout of your itinerary for the next day. Laundry service is provided at an additional charge.

• Activity

  The Retreat offers two yoga classes daily which are usually a morning flow and evening restorative classes. The instructors come from around the world and are on a 6-week rotation, so you’ll likely have the same one for all of the classes you take during your stay. All yoga mats and props are provided. A guided daily hike is offered direct from the property which is about 3-4 miles depending on the route and the rest of the group. It does, however, frequently get cancelled during rainy season due to inclement weather. There is also a small gym in the spa area which has the essential equipment but it’s pretty tight and a little dated.

• Amenities

  The Retreat offers a wide range of spa services from Ayurvedic treatments and traditional Eastern medicine to organic spa facials and a Vichy shower massage. The treatments rooms are clean and simple and make you feel like you’re magically connected with nature with the open doors and windows. The sounds of nature provide a natural ambiance to your treatments which incorporate traditional Ayurvedic practices (healing crystals, Tibetan sound bowls, palo santo, essential oils, etc.) and conclude with a cup of anti-inflammatory turmeric tea which was my absolute fav.

• Cuisine

  I was truly blown away by the food at the Retreat which is all organic (80% of which comes directly from the garden on property) and primarily plant based, but they do use eggs and goat’s milk and offer animal proteins for dinner including fish, chicken and beef. Breakfast is a two-course meal beginning with a plate of fresh fruit, a green juice, orange juice, chia pudding with fresh granola followed by the special of the day which was usually some sort of combination of veggies and eggs. Lunch is also a two-course meal usually starting with a salad followed by a plant-based entrée and paired with a refreshingly fruity drink of the day. Dinner is a three-course meal beginning with a vegetable soup, followed by an entrée which includes fish, chicken or beef (vegetables only upon request), and a small desert. It’s a lot of food (certainly more than I am used to), but it’s all so fresh and delicious and impeccably prepared that it’s hard not to eat it all, and there are no snacks during the day, so the portions keep you full until your next meal. They do offer a Naked Detox Challenge as well, which is a liquid fasting program comprised of various juices, teas, soups and mineral broths. This upgrade requires a 7-night minimum stay. Morning tea and coffee are available at the main house and wine is available for purchase throughout the day.

• Clientele

  With its central location, guests of the Retreat come from around the world. The price point is such that a wider range of people can afford to stay here which makes it feel a little more down-to-earth than some of the more uppity, luxury marketed options. There are a good mix of solo and group travelers, and as with many wellness destinations, usually more women than men.

• Duration + Cost

  Guests can stay as long as they wish under the nightly rate packages which run between $250-800 per night depending on the season and the room (very affordable for the quality, IMO). All meals are included along with a spa treatment and cooking class. If you choose to partake in the Naked Challenge, a 7-night minimum stay is required and comes at an additional cost.

• PROS

  • Price + Incentives – this place is truly an affordable hidden gem. The grounds, food and service are wonderful for what you pay and what’s included in your stay. They also offer enticing incentives for guests to return (25% discount) which is becoming more and more rare in the wellness travel industry.

  • Spa Facilities + Treatments – INCREDIBLE. From the vibe of the treatment rooms down to the palo santo smudged to conclude the service, every treatment and provider here far exceeded my expectations. The ambience is so relaxing and peaceful.

  • Staff – as soon as you arrive, most of the staff knows you by name and they are as kind as can be. The owner, Diana, and her partner, Enrique (who is very easy on the eyes, I might add), are around the property often and they are super friendly as well. You are made to feel a part of their home.

  • Cuisine – aside from the little baby slug that made it into my salad one day, each meal was impeccably delicious, satiating and nicely prepared. You can taste the freshness and feel the love that went into its preparation.

• CONS

  • Dietary Restrictions Beware – I asked for a strictly vegan diet during my stay, but most mornings, I was still served eggs, and every night they still pushed the fish, meat or chicken option on me. The portions were also quite large and seemed fairly high in sugar between the different fruits, drinks, juices and desserts.

  • Bugs – inevitable pretty much anywhere in Costa Rica, and this place is no exception. I’ve definitely experienced worse…I think being up in the mountains helps.

  • Unpredictable Weather – the rain can roll in pretty hard and fast, but thankfully, it rolls out nearly just as quick. Can be hard to plan outdoor activities or get in pool time during the rainy season.

INSIDER TIPS

• They take American dollars, so you don’t need to exchange currency during or prior to your trip.

• Book Ayurvedic treatments with the resident Ayurvedic doctor…his services are incredible, especially if you’re suffering for any sort of ailments you’d like to heal with natural remedies.

• If you go on the hikes and/or find yourself getting eaten alive by the bugs, ask a staff member to show you the citronella plant which you can crush and rub on your skin for a natural repellant.

• Use the morning to get in any pool time or outdoor activities as the weather tends to be most clear during this time but can turn very quickly during the afternoon

• You get a smoothie if you go on the hikes and an extra cookie if you attend the cooking class.

• Being perched up in the mountains, the climate is often not as warm as you might think outside of high season (December – April).  Most mornings and evenings call for pants and long-sleeves, especially if you run cold like me.

• Get to know the staff as you’ll have the same faces waiting on you for most of your meals and spa services…they are all very kind.