The Retreat Costa Rica is an eleven-room wellness resort set high on a mountain about a half-hour drive from San Jose. The brainchild of award-winning author and healthy lifestyle guru, Diana Stobo, her vision for The Retreat is nothing less than to actualize ‘heaven on earth’. Stobo’s dream: to create a refuge where guests can eat ‘clean’ food, exercise, relax, and reconnect with the joy of life.
So is The Retreat Costa Rica divine? The answer: Yum, Om, Aah…. Aha!
The Retreat Costa Rica: Yum
The kitchen is the nucleus of The Retreat, an open, bustling, hive of culinary passion, where guests are always welcome. Leveraging the bounty of an on-site organic garden, the team of chefs delights diners with inventive takes on all that is fresh and toxin-free, much of it served raw.
Devoid of wheat, sugar, meat and dairy, the fare at The Retreat has a cleansing, energizing effect. Stobo’s recommended dietary regimen discourages alcohol and caffeine, but gratefully, there is forgiveness in heaven. The Retreat has a fully stocked bar, including organic wines, and serves a satisfying cup of rich, French press coffee.
To be clear, the dining at The Retreat is not about deprivation. Even the most dubious gourmand becomes a convert after a taste of The Retreat’s devilishly delicious crème brûlée made of cauliflower – yes, cauliflower.
The Retreat Costa Rica: Om
The Retreat Costa Rica exudes serenity. Set on a verdant quartz mountain with vistas to the distant sea, the setting is inherently soothing. The rooms and common areas are balanced by Feng Shui Artist Marie K’noos, to promote a sense of harmony. Guest quarters are contemporary whitewashed havens, splashed with playful pops of color. The bath amenities contain nurturing ingredients such as ylang ylang, mint, and papaya.
The Zen focus of The Retreat extends to the active options. Yoga classes are conducted twice daily in a sun-kissed hilltop pavilion overlooking the lush mountains. Classes are small and highly personalized – the perfect forum for beginners and veterans alike.
Reluctant yogis can opt for the gym, or trade the treadmill for a nature walk through the rainforest to a pristine waterfall. To nurture the mind, The Retreat staff hosts wellness workshops covering such topics as herbal medicines and organic gardening.
The Retreat Costa Rica: Aah
Even downtime at The Retreat is blissful. The spa employs innovative, edible ingredients such as coffee, coconut and chocolate mint in body scrubs. Detox massages target lymphatic drainage and stimulate circulation. Body wraps use the medicinal properties of gold-infused volcanic clay and herbs to restore skin health.
When the priority is unfettered idleness, The Retreat is a conducive habitat. Cushy loungers surround the saltwater pool. A cozy fire pit anchors the mountaintop terrace. The nightly chorus of the rainforest creatures propels dream-charged slumber.
The Retreat Costa Rica: Aha!
Heaven? Haven’t been there. Can’t say. But The Retreat Costa Rica is certainly a lofty, otherworldly perch full of revelations.
Perhaps it is the instant you realize how great your body feels when naturally fueled. Maybe it is the second you truly understand the connection between your breath and your sense of well-being. It could be the way your personal interactions flourish without the constant intrusion of technology.
‘Aha’ moments are rapturous, and the ultimate souvenirs: take-home treasures that stay with you for a lifetime.
The Retreat appears to be outstanding. An idyllic setting and perhaps a new look at changing lifestyle. Good find
Indeed, we returned from The Retreat Costa Rica rethinking what we put on our plates at home, Patsy. Thanks for reading. We appreciate your comments.