Wanderlust Travel Magazine (UK)
WELLBEING
1 Yoga
Yogis should head to the northeastern Nosara region, famous for its wellness retreats. With its long stretches of golden sands and expanses of forests, you’ll soon see why it is so easy to relax here. At Nosara’s Harmony Hotel, guests can combine morning yoga sessions with soothing surf lessons on the waves that lap Guiones Beach. Cala Luna in Guanacaste is surrounded by greenery; the hotel offers yoga classes as well as sound therapy, reiki and other holistic treatments to soothe both body and mind. The boutique Lagarta Lodge meanwhile sits in a privately owned biological reserve.
Over on Costa Rica’s Caribbean side, Samasati Yoga and Wellness Retreat offers swaying hammocks, surfing and yoga in the laidback coastal town of Puerto Viejo. With meditation classes, yoga and breathwork all on the cards, you’re bound to leave feeling rejuvenated.
2 Farm-to-table food
Being mindful about what you put in your body is easy in Costa Rica due to the bounty of fresh fruit and vegetables available.
To learn about seasonal ingredients in Costa Rica’s cuisine, join a course led by a local. Try the cooking class experience at Casa Turire, which
organises lessons with a local Turrialba valley chef. Once you’ve picked vegetables and herbs from their organic garden, you’ll learn traditional recipes and then sample your creations.
3 Hot springs
Costa Rica’s position on the Pacific Ring of Fire means it has an explosive history and volcanic topography. The result of all this geothermal activity? Natural, mineral-rich hot springs where you can relax and feel your aches melt away into the bath-like water.
A good place to relax in the hot springs is along the Tabacon River where a series of deep pools allow you to have a warm soak while listening to the sounds of the jungle. Meanwhile, on the Orosi River, the luxurious Hacienda Orosi awaits – a thermal mineral spa where steam rises from the myriad hot pools. The water here is rich in calcium, magnesium and potassium and can reach temperatures of up to 38°C. Recline in one of the many pools while admiring the view of the surrounding green hills and valleys.
4 Forest bathing
With 30 national parks all hiding numerous well-marked trails, there are countless places to unwind on a mindful stroll in Costa Rica. Forest bathing (the art of finding calm among the trees) comes naturally here and you’ll soon feel connected to the bountiful nature all around you on a jungle hike.
Don’t miss Manuel Antonio National Park to find walking trails that take you past mangrove swamps, tropical plants and up to the Escondido viewpoint where you can look out over the Pacific Ocean. Similarly, as one of Central America’s largest lowland tropical rainforests, Corcovado NP allows you to refresh yourself in nature.
At Tenorio Volcano NP, the cloud forest can be explored on foot via the many walking routes. One of the
highlights is the hour’s hike to the Celeste River and waterfall, where you are led across hanging bridges over a brilliantly blue river to a waterfall cascading into a turquoise pool.
5 The beaches
There’s nothing much more relaxing than feeling the sand between your toes and with over 300 beaches to choose from in Costa Rica, the only stress will be deciding which stretch of sand to take your shoes and socks off for.
On the Pacific Coast, Guanacaste has been called ‘The Golden Coast’ thanks to its sunsets. Visitors sit on the beach waiting for that sensational moment when the sky becomes gilted.
Over on the Caribbean side, Punta Uva beach is great for snorkelling with colourful coral just under the surface. A walk along the sand will reveal the laidback atmosphere of this small fishing town.
To really get away from it all, visit the Isla Tortugas, a pair of unspoilt islands on the Nicoya Peninsula. The islands are uninhabited, so in true Costa Rican fashion, nature rules supreme here.