Busy working Texans often daydream about pausing life’s regularly scheduled programming of work, home, and family responsibilities while pondering the perfect escape for a digital detox in a lush oasis ideal for self-care and rejuvenation. 

Holding the perfect prescription for restoring your health and chi, The Retreat Costa Rica awaits your arrival. This boutique wellness resort resembles a secret botanical garden perched among the clouds where the fresh air smells like mango trees, ubiquitous skies are filled with birds and rainbows, and blooming flowers border native stone pathways built into the base of Crystal Quartz Mountain. Perched in the city of Atenas located inland from the Pacific Ocean’s Gulf of Nicoya, this accommodating resort arranges your private transportation from the San José International Airport located only 40 minutes away. Every inch of this luxurious property is designed to recharge your batteries. From farm-to-table meals to daily restorative yoga classes and sweeping panoramic views featuring Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity, The Retreat envelopes you in deeply therapeutic natural surroundings while awakening the senses and facilitating a state of inner peace. 

A Dream Come True

Created and founded by celebrity chef, bestselling author, and health and wellness life coach Diana Stobo, The Retreat Costa Rica opened in May 2016 in what is deemed by National Geographic Society to be one of the “best climates in the world.” After experiencing her own journey to wellness through transformative nutritional and lifestyle modifications, Stobo held a vision for bringing this concept of wellness-centered travel and promotion through a sense of community centered around thinking and eating for optimal health. The Retreat Costa Rica was born and has continued to thrive as a mecca of wellness for thousands who have graced the grounds of this impeccable property for nearly a decade. Stobo believes we can thrive through the lifespan by using food as a modality to transform our lives through implementation of strategies including gut and hormonal balance. 

“The energy you release into the world is the energy you get back.”
–Diana Stobo

Healthy Habitats

With 18 thoughtfully appointed elegant guest rooms designed to quiet the mind and relax the body, The Retreat reflects an outside-in design concept with copious natural light and breathtaking mountain views through floor-to-ceiling windows where generously sized rain showers and soaking tubs seem to lean into the green tree canopies and blue skies on the opposite side of the glass. Balcony swings facing the landscape beckon for cat naps, novels, and journals for reflection. The resort never feels noisy or crowded as your days begin with a sense of calm. After being greeted by The Retreat’s colorful resident peacocks meandering through the luscious gardens, savor the serenity of your mornings over fresh Costa Rican coffee from beans harvested at the property’s own coffee plantation. Steep a hot cup of tea made with leaves boasting medicinal benefits to suit both your individual palate and health needs. Sit down to breakfast often consisting of perfectly ripened papaya, pineapple, mango, chia pudding with coconut milk, freshly squeezed juices, and locally sourced eggs as you listen to the serenade of resident birds and wildlife. 

Sink into a swinging bed or chaise lounge by one of two pristine saline swimming pools. Then take a dip beneath the waterfalls while gazing upon the vibrant green mountainside, stroll along the walkway to observe the calming koi pond, and feel the tension leave your body as your blood pressure naturally drops. Stretch out your tight body and clear your mind at the serene yoga studio featuring morning (and afternoon) classes taught daily by highly experienced instructors with a contagious passion for mindfulness. The property’s onsite jungle trails wind through the Crystal Quartz Mountain, inviting you to explore nearby scenic overlooks and waterfalls at your own pace. Most wellness travelers can deeply appreciate a challenging hike while connecting with an abundance of nature among an oasis of tranquility merely steps from their private suite. 

Guests may choose from a multitude of results-driven resort packages to suit their specific wellness needs whether focused on The Art of Resting, Emotional Healing and Recovery, Fitness Reboot and Fat Burning, Luxury Spa Healing and Beautifying, The Naked Challenge Signature Detox package, or even Mastering Menopause. All packages include three nutritious meals at the property’s main dining establishment of Sol Terrace while focusing on personalized goals centered around renewal of your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. 

Gastronomics

The property’s chefs sustainably source eighty percent of their ingredients from onsite gardens boasting organically grown superfoods including fresh tropical fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Simple recipes are created with all-natural ingredients free of refined sweeteners and flavoring while featuring fresh seasonal items that routinely evolve. Menu options are therefore based on a “chef’s choice” system at two (current) onsite restaurants including the primary dining area of “Sol Terrace” and the “Gratitude Café,” featuring lighter fare at the spa lounge. Your server will verbally share each day’s selections, guaranteed to be expertly created with the freshest of ingredients, fullest of local flavors, and artfully presented with your optimal wellness at heart. Guests may request selections to meet their dietary needs including but not limited to menus that are plant-based, dairy-free, grain-free, or gluten-free. Appropriately sized portions ensure your optimal nutrition while minimizing even biodegradable waste at this highly sustainable establishment. 

As part of The Retreat’s gastronomic experience, guests may take a personalized cooking class with a resort chef who teaches guests how to recreate the resort’s delicious recipes using items potentially from their own personal gardens or substituting ingredients with produce that might be more readily available in one’s particular home region. The open-kitchen concept encourages curiosity and confidence in The Retreat’s culinary practices. Guests are educated and inspired to choose the most organic ingredients leading to improved digestion and decreased inflammation once they leave the property with the intention of continuing their transformative wellness journey upon returning home. After cooking class, students may walk into the gardens with the chef to more fully appreciate the source of their creations while placing their hands in the dirt to more fully appreciate the roots of their nourishment. 

Vida Mia Spa

In addition to receiving the Trip Advisor Travelers’ Choice “Best of the Best,” The Retreat Costa Rica earned the Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards while also designated as “one of the top 10 spa destinations” by Condé Nast Traveler in 2024 in addition to “2025 Best Spa Retreat – South America” by the Luxury Spa Edit Awards. Scheduling spa time at Via Mida is therefore an essential aspect of your visit to this award-winning property while encompassing what Costa Ricans refer to as “pura vida,” literally meaning “pure life” and with a greater context of living a good life filled with peace, joy, and gratitude. 

The 8000-square-foot spa’s spacious treatment rooms occupy skilled therapists, professionally trained to provide you with individualized attention and sufficient time to completely relax your mind, body, and spirit. Ancient Feng Shui principles balance energy through reflective spaces promoting rest at the Quiet Pool or Meditation Deck open for guests to relax not only between treatments but at any time of the day. Restorative spa treatments promote connection with nature while incorporating unrefined sugar body scrubs infused with essential oils and offering detoxifying massages. Over 80 offered therapeutic services blend aromatherapy into locally cultivated products from crystals to coffee, applied in ancient healing practices integrating the four elements of earth, water, air, and fire. 

Adventure Awaits

After relaxing and detoxing in the Vida Mia Spa at the Retreat Costa Rica, take time to explore some of Costa Rica’s most beautiful destinations through booking an excursion led by a friendly and knowledgeable resort guide. One highly recommended adventure includes day tripping to the Manuel Antonio National Park where the lush jungle hugs postcard-perfect, nearly surreal Pacific ocean beaches in this unspoiled slice of paradise you won’t find along just any coastline. Controlled park capacity, bag checks, and national park staff ensure this shoreline remains pristine for visitors to experience the “pura vida” exuded by this Costa Rican natural gem. 

Spend the morning searching for lazy sloths snoozing in the trees, squirrel monkeys leaping through the canopy, and colorful toucans flying overhead. Wear your bathing suit to take a refreshing cool dip in the cool azure Pacific waters with waves gently crashing onto the white sandy unspoiled beach that defines a tropical escape. Easily navigated trails filled with wildlife surprises and ocean views make every step of the hike feel fun and adventurous for the greatest of nature lovers. Your memories from Manuel Antonio National Park remain long after the tan has faded. 

Outside of Manuel Antonio National Park, guests may choose from a wide array of other on- and off-property excursions led by expert local guides to explore the beauty of the area’s natural habitats filled with wildlife and vegetation. Adventurous travelers may choose a surfing adventure at the Pacific ocean or a trip to the Arenal Volcano in the nearby Rainforest. Nature and history lovers will cherish a visit to the La Paz Waterfall Garden and Pas Volcano or the Atenas cultural tour. Smaller excursions are curated to meet each guest’s unique request while also designed to benefit the local communities of Atenas and may include scheduled visits to local farmers’ markets, the coffee plantation, or animal rescue and cultural centers. 

Property Growth

Beyond all the fresh thyme (an herbal staple at The Retreat), mango, squash, peppers, and papaya growing in the gardens, more big things are developing in 2025 at The Retreat Costa Rica with their exciting new four million dollar expansion! The 16,500 square-foot Santosha Clubhouse offers a relaxed, elegant space beneath the canopy of a giant Guanacaste tree where guests can unwind, connect, and soak up the warm decor reflecting the lush surrounding environment and history of the indigenous people. Including meditative spaces, a 50-foot lap pool, and state-of-the-art gym overlooking the mountain vista, this new community space personifies “santosha,” the Sanskrit word for “contentment.” 

The ten brand-new western-facing Santosha Lofts offer elevated accommodations with stunning vistas and a zen-like atmosphere with each luxurious unit spanning nearly 1000 square feet. Retreat guests will delight over more dining options at three new restaurants including Mystique, La Diosa and Richard’s Kitchen, each bringing unique flavors ranging from fresh and healthy local cuisine to globally inspired recipes. What better way to refuel after unwinding and working out than to pull up a chair at one of the newest and most healthy tables in the region. With so many phenomenal reasons to visit The Retreat Costa Rica, the only remaining question is when to block your calendar and post an “out-of-office” email reply closing in “Adios, and Pura Vida!” 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cover photo courtesy The Retreat Costa Rica

Brian and Dana Maass live with their dog “Chester” in Round Rock, Texas. When not working their day jobs, they can be found traveling, writing, capturing scenic photos, exploring the Hill Country, and serving the community. Follow them on Instagram at @Dana_Maass_Adventures and @Brian_Maass_Adventures.