The Retreat Costa Rica is a world-class, nature-inspired oasis surrounded by the healing energies of the rainforest and crystal quartz mountains.

Situated on a 50-acre crystal quartz mountain amidst the rainforest overlooking the Pacific Ocean, The Retreat Costa Rica is a luxury wellness boutique resort that features organic gardens, lush landscapes, farm-fresh cuisine, an apothecary, and signature wellness programs. It was founded by celebrity chef, bestselling author and health/wellness life coach Diana Stobo, and its professional staff team includes Dr. Vinod Balakrishnan, a naturopath, acupuncturist, and Ayurvedic expert formerly with Taj Hotels.

The resort’s 13 rooms are simply and elegantly designed to calm and relax, and each room is named for the plants and superfoods grown on the property’s organic farm built on the south-facing side of the crystal mountain. Its menus are based on an anti-inflammatory diet and foods, and each menu is customized according to guests’ needs.

The recently unveiled Vida Mia Healing Center and Spa is located adjacent to the resort’s main house and offers stunning views from every angle. The 7,500 square-foot structure was carefully designed with ancient Feng Shui principles to balance energies throughout the construction of the building to optimize health, love, luck, and more. Its luxurious facilities include The Gratitude Lounge, The Gratitude Lounge Café and Tea Bar, meditation deck, apothecary located just below the meditation deck, quiet pool, a covered jacuzzi, and cold-water cascade.

All of the seven treatment rooms are named for indigenous healing crystals, while the spa menu offers innovative and organic remedies fused with the wisdom of ancient therapies and the metaphysical powers of the four elements—earth, water, air and fire—connecting health, beauty, relaxation, and healing. Deep in the forest lies a volcanic clay bath, surrounded by lush greens to heal and energize all the mind body systems, and the unique spa treatment offerings include Watsu Therapy, a Turkish Hammam Bubble Ritual, and more.

We spoke with Diana Stobo, Wellness Expert and Founder/Owner of The Retreat Costa Rica, who provided insider tips, special spa bonuses, must-try treatments, and more.

The entrance to Vida Mia Healing Center and Spa.

Why You’ll Love It: The Retreat Costa Rica and Vida Mia Healing Center and Spa are set on top of a quartz mountain with inspiring, amazing views and permeating positive vibes. The design and ambience are breathtakingly relaxing and enrich the concept of healing and its attributes.

The views from Vida Mia open through the deep valley and mountain region with volcanic views that extend to the Pacific Ocean, Nicoya Gulf, and Peninsula.

Key Features: Vida Mia offers open and expansive spaces and treatment rooms—all connecting to nature. Specific amenities include: Watsu quiet pool for lounging and sunbathing; Chromotherapy-enhanced steam bath facility; fitness center; outdoor yoga and meditation deck; Apothecary; covered Jacuzzi; cold water cascade; Ayurveda and Naturopath facility; indoor and outdoor relaxation lounges; Gratitude Café; rare tea and organic-biodynamic wine bar; swimming pool with sunbathing loungers and swings; and the Crystal Boutique.

The Gratitude Lounge is a resting place with big lush couches to enjoy resting and reading or sipping tea.

Insider’s Tip: All terraced treatment rooms are private with expansive views. Ask for extra time on the balconies and have your tea served there before or after your treatment.

The Meditation Deck right below the “Monkey tree” is a wonderful place to reflect, chant, pray, or be one with nature.

Snacks Served: A full a la carte menu beginning Dec. 1, 2019, that includes vegan chorizo and cheese nachos, Jack fruit sliders, Portobello and Cassava tacos, grain and fruit bowls along with homemade nut milkshakes, fruity granita/slushies, biodynamic wines, rare teas, matcha and beet lattes, and various healthy snacks.

Vida Mia was carefully designed with ancient Feng Shui principles balancing energies throughout the construction of the building to optimize, health, wealth, charisma, love, sex, and luck.

Bonus: Upon arrival, guests are served a special healing tea at the crystal-infused Gratitude Lounge. Our staff doctor is available for consultation of a holistic wellness/Ayurveda and personal goals to reach one’s highest potential of transformation and health in our spa programs.

The stunning outdoor spaces offers views and a special connection to the environment for ultimate relaxation.

Insider’s Favorite: I love a traditional healing massage that is done well, and our therapists are top-trained, very well-connected and intuitive healers, offering what your body needs at the time. And I always add a 20 to 40-minute Ayurvedic Kansa wand therapy all over the body that stimulates your energy systems to rebalance. The feeling is a deep meditative state of parasympathetic synergy.

The Quiet Pool is for resting, sunbathing, and enjoying the gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean while waiting for your next treatment. — **The Quiet Pool** is for resting, sunbathing, and enjoying the gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean while waiting for your next treatment.

Unique Treatment: Many of our crystal-infused scrubs and therapies are unique to Vida Mia, as I designed them for optimal energy enhancement.

All treatment rooms are named for indigenous healing crystals on the upper level and have open-air or large windowed rooms to connect the guests with the natural surroundings, to bring the outside into their treatments and to connect them to the hea… — All treatment rooms are named for indigenous healing crystals on the upper level and have open-air or large windowed rooms to connect the guests with the natural surroundings, to bring the outside into their treatments and to connect them to the healing elements.

Splurge Treatment: For lovers, the uniquely designed couples therapy room begs romance and connection. The treatment is decadent with crystals and hands-on. sensual infused body oils to arouse the tantric energies between couples. A moonstone-dusted chromotherapy bath is included, as well as chakra balancing private meditation on a hanging bed that rests over the mountains and trees.

Most of Vida Mia’s facial treatments and body products are made in-house from herbs grown in the resort’s garden.

Featured Products: Shankara Naturals are the premier products that we use on our guests, but most of our facial treatments and our body products are made in-house and hand-muddled from nature’s medicinal herbs grown in our garden and combined with synergistic oils.

For more information and to book a treatment, visit the website and follow the resort on Instagram: @theretreatcostarica

[Images courtesy of The Retreat Costa Rica]