ALAJUELA, COSTA RICA
The Retreat Costa Rica
Holistic Wellness, Longevity and Emotional Healing
About The Retreat Costa Rica
The Retreat Costa Rica is an adults-only wellness resort in Atenas, in the hills of Costa Rica’s Central Valley. Set on a 60-acre crystal-quartz mountain above the rainforest canopy, it looks out across the valley to the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Nicoya, with organic gardens, a working farm and a coffee plantation spread across the grounds. The resort was founded by chef, author and wellness expert Diana Stobo on the belief that feeling better shouldn’t require sacrifice or restriction.
Every stay is built around twice-daily yoga, anti-inflammatory food grown partly in the resort’s own gardens and the 740sqm Vida Mía spa, with a rotating weekly schedule of guided hikes, sound healing and art therapy alongside. Whether the focus is emotional healing, detox, rest or longevity, programmes draw on holistic therapies, authentic Ayurveda and the physician-guided diagnostics and regenerative medicine of the Vida Mía Longevity Suite.
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40 mins
FROM SAN JOSE AIRPORT
26
ROOMS AND RESIDENCE
16+
ADULTS ONLY
80+
SPA TREATMENTS & THERAPIES
Wellness Programmes
3, 5 or 7 nights
A restorative stay with daily yoga, nourishing meals and mountain calm
5 nights
A supportive programme to release emotional weight and restore inner balance
7 nights
An active programme to build strength, boost metabolism and burn fat
7 nights
An indulgent spa programme to restore radiance and renew the skin
7 nights
A thorough signature detox to cleanse, reset and restore energy
7 nights
A supportive programme helping women navigate menopause with confidence
Who It's For
The Retreat suits guests looking for an adults-only destination spa in Costa Rica where wellness sits alongside the pleasures of a holiday, from yoga and treatments to a glass of wine at sunset. It’s particularly suited to:
01
Those wanting wellness without the rules
Twice-daily yoga and anti-inflammatory meals, with cocktails, local organic wines and rooftop fine dining when the mood takes.
02
Guests recovering from burnout or a difficult period
Dedicated rest and emotional healing programmes, with life coaching, energy healing, sound healing and Reiki.
03
Women navigating menopause and healthy ageing
A dedicated menopause programme alongside hormone therapy and longevity medicine at the Vida Mía Longevity Suite.
04
Solo travellers
Just 26 rooms, a sociable dining atmosphere and a daily schedule of classes make it easy to connect, with plenty of space for time alone.
The Retreat Philosophy
The Retreat was created by chef, author and wellness expert Diana Stobo with a simple intention: to help people heal through food, nature and care. Her philosophy is that wellbeing isn’t restrictive or one-dimensional, but joyful and social, from a nourishing meal shared with someone new to an evening yoga class above the valley.
The approach is integrative and personal, drawing on Ayurveda, energy healing, sound healing, functional and regenerative medicine and contemplative practice, and letting each guest engage with whatever resonates. Nothing on the schedule is mandatory — guests can join every class or simply rest.
Hotel Facilities
The Retreat is spread across a 60-acre crystal-quartz mountain, from the Crystal Lobby and library to the Peacock Pavilion, where couches and a fire pit look out over the main house and the resident peacocks wander through. Three saltwater pools are set across the grounds — the main pool and jacuzzi overlooking the valley, the Santosha pool and a quiet spa pool at Vida Mía — and trails wind through the Crystal Mountain reserve past hidden rivers, jungle swings and lookout points. Santosha, the resort’s newest area, sits a short walk from the main house and spa, linked by a scenic path and a complimentary shuttle, and brings together the yoga studio, a 24-hour gym, the Santosha pool beneath the Guanacaste tree, La Diosa and Mystique.
A rotating weekly schedule runs alongside twice-daily yoga, with guided nature hikes, sound healing, art therapy, cooking and juicing classes, rare tea tastings, natural wine tastings and workshops with the resort’s healing specialists. Most activities are included, with a few premium experiences available at an additional cost, and the working farm, organic gardens and coffee plantation can all be explored on the grounds.
Wellness Facilities
The award-winning Vida Mía Healing Center and Spa covers around 740sqm and was designed along Feng Shui principles, with views across the valley and mountains to the Pacific, the Gulf of Nicoya and the Nicoya Peninsula. Its menu of more than 80 treatments spans bodywork and energy healing, organic rituals made with ingredients from the resort’s gardens, detox therapies, crystal-infused rituals and holistic aesthetics, alongside authentic Ayurveda led by a resident practitioner from Kerala. A team of resident and visiting specialists adds Traditional Chinese Medicine, medical acupuncture, Emotion Code and energy work, sound healing and cacao ceremonies.
The Vida Mía Longevity Suite brings a physician-guided approach to healthy ageing, with therapies including neural therapy, IV medicine, photobiomodulation, molecular hydrogen, PEMF and stem cell therapy, and biological dentistry also available. An on-site med spa offers IV infusions including NAD+, bioidentical hormone therapy, exosome treatments and aesthetic procedures
For movement, the 150sqm Yoga Shala at Santosha hosts morning and evening classes for all levels, while the original open-air Yoga Terrace looks out over the main house for private sessions and self-guided practice. A 24-hour gym covers strength and cardio training, and aerial yoga, water aerobics and fitness classes rotate through the week, with private Pilates and personal training available, including guided hikes into the surrounding mountains.
Dining
Dining is central to The Retreat, with three restaurants built around fresh, seasonal ingredients — 30 to 50 per cent of the produce is grown on the property. Sol Terrace is the main restaurant, set on an open-air covered terrace where peacocks often wander through at breakfast. Its anti-inflammatory menus are gluten-free, dairy-free and free of refined sugar, changing daily at the chef’s choice, with protein served at dinner and available to add through the day. All dietary requirements are accommodated.
La Diosa is the poolside lounge and bar beneath the resort’s Guanacaste tree, serving Costa Rican breakfasts, ceviche, empanadas, fresh juices and cocktails through the day. From Thursday to Saturday evenings, Mystique offers rooftop fine dining led by Executive Chef Sergio López, with an eight-course tasting menu and à la carte dishes drawing on Costa Rica’s landscapes and ancestral food traditions. Coffee from the resort’s own plantation, local organic wines and cocktails are all available.
Good to Know
Accommodation
The Retreat has 25 rooms and a three-bedroom Residence across two areas of the hillside: the main house, close to Sol Terrace and the Vida Mía spa, and Santosha, a short walk uphill with its yoga shala, gym, pool and two restaurants, linked by a scenic path and a complimentary shuttle. Rooms are finished with organic, hypoallergenic linens and essential oil diffusers, and with no phones or televisions, the only sound is birdsong.
Location
The Retreat sits on a crystal-quartz mountain above Atenas, a small town in the Central Valley of Costa Rica, surrounded by coffee farms, rainforest and rolling green hills. Atenas is known for its mild, spring-like climate throughout the year, and the resort’s hillside position gives views across the valley to the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Nicoya.
San José’s Juan Santamaría International Airport is around 40 minutes away, making The Retreat easy to reach at the start or end of a wider trip around Costa Rica. Guided off-property hikes, tours and excursions can be arranged for guests who want to explore the surrounding mountains and countryside.
Offers
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Retreat Costa Rica and what makes it special?
The Retreat is an adults-only wellness resort in Atenas, set on a crystal-quartz mountain in Costa Rica’s Central Valley with views to the Pacific Ocean. Founded by chef and author Diana Stobo, it combines twice-daily yoga, anti-inflammatory cuisine, the Vida Mía spa and a physician-guided Longevity Suite across just 26 rooms. The Retreat holds One MICHELIN Key and is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
What types of wellness programmes does The Retreat offer?
Programmes cover rest and burnout recovery, emotional healing, detox, Ayurveda, fitness and weight loss, spa and skin renewal, menopause and women’s health, and physician-guided longevity. Each begins with a welcome consultation and includes three meals a day, twice-daily yoga, the weekly activity schedule and a curated selection of spa therapies, and a fully custom programme can be arranged.
What is the Vida Mía Longevity Suite?
The Longevity Suite offers physician-guided programmes focused on healthy ageing, led by Dr Germán Madrigal Ly. Signature programmes include The Cellular Reset, The NeuroWellness Immersion and The Stem Cell Immersion, combining neural therapy, IV medicine, photobiomodulation and other regenerative therapies.
Does The Retreat offer support for menopause?
The Big M: Mastering Menopause programme is designed for women navigating perimenopause and menopause, combining Ayurvedic therapies, strength and pelvic floor classes, a self-discovery workshop and hormone-balancing cuisine. Through the Longevity Suite and on-site med spa, guests can also explore bioidentical hormone therapy and longevity medicine.
What is the food like at The Retreat?
Sol Terrace serves anti-inflammatory cuisine that is gluten-free, dairy-free and free of refined sugar, with menus that change daily and 30 to 50 per cent of produce grown on the property. La Diosa offers Costa Rican breakfasts, light bites and cocktails by the Santosha pool, and Mystique serves an eight-course tasting menu and à la carte dishes on the rooftop in the evenings.
Is The Retreat suitable for solo travellers?
Many guests visit The Retreat alone. With just 26 rooms, shared classes and a daily schedule of activities, it’s easy to connect with other guests, while the adults-only, gated setting leaves plenty of room for quiet time.
Is The Retreat adults-only?
The Retreat is adults-only, with a minimum guest age of 16. The Double Queen Rooms and the three-bedroom Residence suit friends or groups travelling together.
When is the best time to visit The Retreat?
The Central Valley’s dry season runs from December to April, bringing sunny days and clear views to the Pacific. The green season from May to November brings afternoon rain and lush landscapes, and Atenas’s mild climate means the resort is comfortable to visit throughout the year.
Are there excursions and things to do outside The Retreat?
Tours and excursions across the Central Valley can be arranged through the resort, and guided hikes lead off-property into the surrounding countryside — through the Bosque Municipal forest, up to the historic gold mines at Minas del Aguacate, and on a morning hike that ends with a traditional Costa Rican brunch. Closer to home, the resort’s own Crystal Mountain trails, coffee plantation and working farm can be explored on foot, and the town of Atenas is a short drive away.