The Retreat Costa Rica: The Best Luxury Wellness Retreat Review
Looking for the best luxury wellness retreat in Costa Rica, or maybe ever? Overall, the experience that The Retreat Costa Rica provides to its guests is unreal and unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced! I highly recommend it if you’re in need of some rest and relaxation, going through a tough time, or want to treat yourself.
From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel at home. Every single person greeted us by name and ensured we were enjoying every moment of our stay.
We opted for the Immersive Wellness Program, which included a Healing Touch massage, three personalized meals a day, a cooking class, a customized spa itinerary, and more! In this post, I’ll share my experience at The Retreat Costa Rica, highlighting my favorite aspects, the room options, dining experiences, and other amazing amenities.
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Main Pool and Jacuzzi
Just looking at The Retreat Costa Rica pool again brings me so much joy! I absolutely loved coming out here to relax, read a book or hang out with my friend and the other hotel guests.
You can also see the daybeds in the back, which side note – these sort of trap the sun during the day and can really heat up! So make sure to put on your sunscreen, or avoid these during the day!
The jacuzzi is located at the far side of the pool; you get a really great view of the rainforest when in the jacuzzi. I recommend coming here at night or before dinner time!
Tours & Excursions
The Retreat Costa Rica offers a variety of private excursions so you can explore the beautiful country of Costa Rica! As nice as the resort, is it was really fun to leave the property for a day and explore Costa Rica’s wildlife!
If you’re staying at The Retreat Costa Rica for more than 3 days, I definitely recommend taking advantage of one of the many tours!
The great thing about each tour and excursion is that since it will be you / your group only, it can be customized fully to your preferences. So if you want to skip something, or see if you can add in something else, definitely let The Retreat Costa Rica team know and they can work with you to accommodate your preferences!
La Paz Waterfall Garden and Poás Volcano Adventure
We went on the La Paz Waterfall Garden tour. It was a full day, visiting the Arenal Volcano, grabbing lunch at a local restaurant, and exploring the La Paz Waterfall Gardens.
Unfortunately when we were there at the end of November, it was really cloudy at the Arenal Volcano so we weren’t able to see anything! I would definitely recommend waiting until your trip gets closer to check the weather to make sure you will be able to see everything you want to. The front desk can help you with deciding on which excursion to choose, depending on the weather!
For more information on the La Paz Waterfall Gardens and my time there, check out my recent post with everything you need to know!
Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna And The Adventure
Based on what I heard from other resort guests and The Retreat Costa Rica front desk, this excursion tends to be the most popular!
You’ll get to spend a full day exploring the Rainforest, including seeing a volcano, crossing hanging bridges, admiring giant waterfalls, and relaxing in mineral-rich hot springs. The thermal mineral pools come directly from a volcano, which is crazy and definitely worth checking out!
Beach Play Date and Surfing Adventure at Jacó Beach
This was another option that we really considered. The Retreat Costa Rica is located about in the middle of Costa Rica, so you aren’t able to just walk to a beach from the resort, which makes this excursion really appealing.
Jacó Beach is renowned for its world-class surfing and sustainable tourism. The tour goes through Orotina for fresh coconut water, then stops at the “Bridge of the Crocodiles” over the Tárcoles River to view large crocodiles. Then, you’ll get to enjoy beach time, relaxation, or pre-booked surf lessons at Jacó. After visiting Playa Hermosa and having lunch, you’ll return to Jacó to explore the local artist community, shop for souvenirs, or watch the sunset.
For all of the tours and excursions that The Retreat Costa Rica offers, make sure to check out their website.
Nature Hike
The Retreat Costa Rica has a hiking path on-site, with the full route taking you 2 hours through The Retreat Costa Rica’s organic coffee plantation down to a waterfall! It is also said that the hike has a palpable energetic impulse.
We did not get the chance to explore the hiking path, but heard good things. You can take a self-guided tour whenever you would like; just make sure you tell the front desk when you are heading out on the hike so that they are aware since there is not great cell reception on the entire path.
Alternatively, there is a group hike offered during the week with a guide that will point the fauna, indigenous plants and trees, and different bird species you encounter. Make sure to ask the staff when you check in when this is so you can plan accordingly!
Daily Yoga Classes
There are daily Yoga (morning) and Yoga Nidra (evening) classes that are included with your stay held at the Yoga Pavilion and Yoga Room. The Pavilion overlooks The Retreat Costa Rica with views straight to the Pacific Ocean on a clear day!
I went to a couple Yoga Nidra classes for the first time ever, and they were really transformative. It was very meditative, with a bit of light stretching.
This was the perfect way to wind down before dinner! And definitely something I want to incorporate more of into my daily life at home, although it is much less peaceful here in Los Angeles.
Loose Leaf Herbal Tea Bar
There is a loose leaf herbal tea and coffee bar right between the Library and the Dining Room! I have never seen anything like it; they had so many different herbal teas like chamomile, lavender, peppermint, green, earl grey, and detox teas.
We probably drank like 3-4 cups of tea every day, it was amazing! The tea leaves are so fresh and flavorful; it’s really cool to see how much of a difference it makes.
The Retreat Costa Rica Rooms
When booking on The Retreat Costa Rica’s website, you can choose from three room options: a Deluxe Room, a Premium Room, or a Luxury Loft. Each room is a bit different and they all have their own names. We stayed in Mandarina, a Premium Room and loved it!
The view was incredible, and the hanging chair was so fun to lounge on in the morning. Check out the view from our room in the morning:
The Retreat Costa Rica Dining
I would really recommend opting for a package, or a room with meals included. There is essentially a personal chef on-site that crafts unique meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
The culinary experience is outstanding, with all food being organic, fresh, and anti-inflammatory. Most ingredients come directly from the farm on the property, ensuring a farm-to-table experience that enhances the quality and flavor of every dish.
What sets this place apart is the personalized meal service tailored to your dietary restrictions. I have a severe tree nut allergy that they were able to accommodate, which was a huge relief and added to the enjoyment of my stay.
The dishes were not only healthy but also incredibly creative and delicious. Here are some photos to give you a glimpse of the fantastic meals I enjoyed:
The Amenities
Vida Mía Healing Center & Spa
The Spa is world class, offers Ayurveda services and is located on top of a quartz mountain which gives it an additional powerful healing energy. There are so many different service options, like acupuncture, massages, facials, Ayurveda treatments, crystal healings, scrubs, and even introspective workshops.
One healing touch experience was included as part of our package, and we also added on a bunch of different treatments like other massages, facials, etc. I tried Reiki for the first time and it was magical. I felt like a different person coming out of my treatment!
Hotel Gym
One of my favorite amenities at any hotel I visit is the hotel gym. I love being able to keep up my routine as much as I can when I travel.
The Retreat Costa Rica’s gym was small but had everything I needed to work up a sweat each morning. You can also pay for personal training sessions!
Reading Room and Crystal Display
When you’re at The Retreat Costa Rica, there are a couple of rooms inside that you can relax in. One of these is the Reading Room, which has various books and games that all hotel guests have access to at any time.
Another room is the Crystal Room, where there are a lot of these healing crystals on a shelf. The energy all throughout The Retreat Costa Rica, and especially in this room, is just magical.
Photo Gallery
Overall, The Retreat Costa Rica is an incredible luxury wellness resort that I highly recommend you stay at the next time you visit Costa Rica, or if you are looking for a wellness retreat. It has everything you could ever want out of a retreat, plus a variety of wellness packages to tailor your experience to exactly what you are looking for.
Make sure to follow along on Instagram for more, and send me a DM if you are going to Costa Rica soon and want any more tips on where to go!
mariss
