The Retreat Costa Rica - Wellness Resort & Spa

For my first visit to Costa Rica, I'm spoiled: The Retreat is the epitome of non-fussy, luxury. Stunning views, excellent rooms, amazing *vegan* restaurant - I plan to make this an annual ritual. Due in large part to the wonderful staff: Jimena (Sales), Emerson, Berny and Luis (Front Desk), Lindsay D and Ninfa (Kitchen) and Jonathan, Karina & Alex (Restaurant) all made my stay truly wonderful. The best part is the attached spa: and all the lovely wellness workshops. I booked the Emotional Healing Package, meeting daily with Dr Shaveta. A truly special Ayurvedic doctor: she was kind, patient, so available. She and Aman make for a wonderful team. I can't wait to return!

By far the BEST hotel near San Jose. Saturday morning we left from San Jose at around 11am and arrived at the property at 11.35am. As soon as we arrived, they always receive us with a smile and the most delicious welcome mocktail :) yum! On this time the room was already ready, but on previous visits we left our bags at the lobby and enjoyed the pool. The food here is the MOST AMAZING. You definitely won't find better food than this. Every meal (breakfast - lunch and dinner) is better than the other. We always look forward for the food, really each plate is an experience! The pool's are amazing - the climate is amazing - we really are fans of this hotel!! No regrets :)

I stayed at the Retreat for a yoga retreat, and it was phenomenal. The staff was incredible (special shout out to Alejandro at the front desk who took us on the best excursion to town). The food is super healthy and fresh, and all the accommodations were breathtakingly beautiful and comfortable. If you want a luxurious resort while in Costa Rica, stay here! Two great pools and peacocks roam the property! Heads up-- the incidental charge is quite high-- $1500-- and it's a very steep driveway to get to the property, so coordinate transit with the staff. It's about an hour away from the beach and volcanoes and from San Jose-- wonderful spot all around!

I booked a 7-day "boot camp" experience, hoping to get back on track in terms of exercise, diet, and personal priorities. I was also expecting to loose a few pounds for all this effort. My daily personal trainer Alejandra was outstanding. She challenged me with an entirely different set of "functional mobility" exercises incorporating weights and bands each day. I left feeling definite improvements, along with the desire to continue training. The "pre-set" all natural, no gluten/sugar/dairy meals were varied and I'm sure my gut biome is grateful. However, the dining hours were not convenient. Breakfast didn't start till 8:30 and my fitness training started at 9. I needed nourishment but not a full stomach. Not an option here. Also, I had expected to lose a few pounds given the huge boost in exercise -- not just training, but also up and down the hills to get to the restaurant, spa, gym, pool. However, the restaurant menu is not focused on low calorie, and I ended up not losing even so much as an ounce. The Spa offers a variety of massages, and the Thai massage was particularly authentic. Likewise, a variety of facials are offered and the Radiant Sunshine one was wonderful. Some of the other "infrared sauna" and Bemer therapies (included in my boot camp package) were not as satisfying, but they did give me an hour or more to lay quietly and meditate. Really enjoyed the "free" Restorative Yoga practice at 4 pm each day. A great way to stretch and meditate/contemplate. Never made it to the 8 am active Yoga practice because they had me scheduled for 9 am fitness (with no time whatsoever for breakfast). The room was lovely. The views were delightful. The staff were all extremely friendly. I left feeling healthy and rejuvenated. And I would consider returning, but would probably book exactly what activities/services I wanted -- when I wanted them -- and skip paying for things I did not enjoy but were included in the package.

This is truly a place to relax. It is casual, natural, luxurious and elegant all at once. There are plenty of things to enjoy at your own pace. Happiness, beauty and peace everywhere you go. The closet I can imagine heaven on Earth.

This was an exceptional experience. My first time in Costa Rica and I went alone and I felt so supported and safe traveling to a new country by myself. From the airport pick up through every experience for 5 nights, the staff were above and beyond. The spa experiences were very magical - it felt luxurious and relaxing and deeply nourishing. The hiking trails right off the property were so beautiful. There were 6 peacocks on property that would just roam freely. The food was so delicious and felt so nice to feel good after every meal with the organic, gf, dairy free menu. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a very rejuvenating experience.

I just returned home from a 13-night stay (first time at this place, first time traveling solo), and I'm already planning a trip back! The beauty of the mountains is incredible, the spa is world class, the food reset my whole system, the twice-daily yoga calmed me, and the staff is exceptional, to a person. Also, it felt so safe and welcoming, providing the perfect mix of solitude and community, on my schedule. This place is a gem.

I would love to give them five stars and in many ways they are. But I need to draw the attention to shortcomings so those this will not be good for are alerted The scenery five stars The peacocks five stars Many of the healing trea**ents five stars but, they need to understand their programs as presented and advise that some people with mobility issues or other medical issues will need a little more TLC then they offer. So I went to a source for the definition of rest as I bought the rest program an instance or period of relaxing or ceasing to engage in strenuous or stressful activity: No way is this rest It is more like boot camp I arrived with booking the best room Noted On a higher level with a view It was dark and the embarked with me on a journey down a steep hill with cobblestone steps very poorly lit and not for a hike up and down as per rest This was a serious hike up and down When the staff person almost fell I said no way They gave me another room for the night Ok a quick fix The next day another room down a very steep incline I was recovering from a foot injury OK a hike up that hill to get a cup of coffee They accommated with help some but offer no room service. Dark ar night another hike up the hill for dinner They did send someone to help Ok the spa great antother hike down a hill cobblestone steps and up three flights of stairs Ok by day 2 days I was getting better at it but geez let people know what they are in for===Rest this is not rest The meals are ok but limited I asked for some fish for lunch= not included 15 dollars for about 3 oz Ok fine For boot csmp you need a bit more then this I dont know about hiking for your first cup of codffee in the morning Pleae The Retreat let people know I felt sorry for two guests I meet huffing and puffing up the hill or stairs to their room And I would also point our the shower is backwards you have to get wet to adjust it Knobs go on the other side folks Ok it is a great plece with alot of p[otential But very little true empathy for anyone who cant muster it up at the first inning They did help When I called and said I canno** hike that hill in the dark one more time they made an exception to the room Guys offer room service for an extra fee Talk to people before booking Please let them know what they are in for Note If you have any weakness or disability ar all makwe sure where they are putting you and what they offer Do not book blinded by the reviews