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The Retreat Costa Rica - Wellness Resort & Spa
Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica · Independent · Core Luxury
Diana Stobo, the chef and wellness writer, opened The Retreat in 2015 on a 50-acre quartz mountain above Atenas, starting with eight rooms and growing to 25. Vida Mía Spa, Costa Rica's first Ayurvedic healing center, sits beside two infinity pools looking toward the Pacific. Condé Nast Traveller's 2025 UK Readers' Choice ranked it the world's number-one destination spa, with a 99.80 score.
- 25 rooms
- Opened 2015
- Neighborhood: Barrio Jesús
About The Retreat Costa Rica - Wellness Resort & Spa
- Condé Nast Traveller (UK) 2025 Readers' Choice ranked The Retreat number one among destination spas worldwide, scoring 99.80.
- Founded by chef, author, and wellness coach Diana Stobo; the house grew from 8 rooms to 25 without becoming a large resort.
- Vida Mía Spa opened a few years after the hotel and is described as Costa Rica's first Ayurvedic healing center, led by Dr. Shaveta Jasra.
- The 50-acre estate sits on a quartz ridge west of San Jose, with organic gardens feeding anti-inflammatory menus at Sol Terrace, La Diosa, and Mystique.
History
Founded by health entrepreneur Diana Stobo in 2015, The Retreat was established on a 50-acre crystal quartz mountain to offer a transformative wellness experience centered on "nourishment through the senses." Originally opened as an intimate 8-room retreat, it has since expanded to 25 luxury rooms and suites while maintaining its philosophy of a sophisticated, non-restrictive lifestyle. The property gained global acclaim for its integrated medical wellness programs and was named the #1 Destination Spa in the World by Condé Nast in 2025.
The setting
8 km from Atenas Central Park. 9 km from Monumento Nacional al Boyero Costarricense.
Restaurants and bars
- Sol Terrace — Restaurant · Anti-inflammatory cuisine grown from our own gardens
- La Diosa — Bar · Fresh juices, handcrafted cocktails & light bites
- Mystique — Restaurant · Elevated gastronomy
- La Diosa Poolside Lounge — Poolside · À la carte poolside menu, snacks, cocktails, mocktails, ligh
- Mystique Rooftop Fine Dining — Restaurant · Creative Costa Rican cuisine
Experiences
- The Retreat Experience — Three daily meals, twice-daily yoga, and a full calendar of wellness activities, all included from arrival.
- The Naked Challenge — A signature detox journey to cleanse, restore and renew from within.
- Vida Mía Healing Center & Spa — Full-service 8,000-square-foot spa offering over 80 treatments across six categories, with organic ingredients grown in the resort's own gardens.
- Longevity programs at The Longevity Suite (Vida Mía) — Physician-supervised longevity centre offering diagnostics, regenerative medicine and programmes including The Cellular Reset, The NeuroWellness Immersion and The Stem Cell Immersion.
- Santosha Yoga Shala — A 1,600-square-foot dedicated movement space; twice-daily yoga, including Yoga Flow at 7:00 AM and Restorative Yoga at 4:00 PM.
- Daily rotating wellness activities — Sound healing, cooking classes, tea ceremonies, workshops and other experiences at 3:00 PM daily, participation optional.
Amenities
- Vida Mía Spa & Ayurvedic Healing Center with crystal-infused treatments
- Two infinity pools with panoramic mountain and Pacific Ocean views
- Three organic farm-to-table restaurants (Sol Terrace, La Diosa, and Mystique)
- Mountaintop yoga pavilion offering twice-daily sessions and sound healing
- Guided nature hikes and forest bathing across the 50-acre estate
- Organic gardens and greenhouse providing anti-inflammatory cuisine ingredients
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Water sports
- Adults-only
Awards
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
- Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice #1 Destination Spa (UK) (2025)
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