A wellness retreat in Costa Rica that goes beyond rest and relaxation
TheGrio...
From a chakra-clearing ritual and cacao ceremony to spotting sloths in the rainforest, a wellness retreat in Costa Rica offered a deeper way to reconnect, reflect, and reset.
Wellness in Costa Rica feels different. Here, restoration isn’t limited to a massage or a quiet afternoon by the pool. It can mean connecting with the rhythms of the moon, learning the origins of cacao and coffee, participating in centuries-old traditions, walking through a rainforest, or simply slowing down enough to notice the landscape around you.
During a wellness retreat at Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, I experienced a version of luxury that extended well beyond beautiful accommodations and ocean views. The retreat brought together traditional Costa Rican culture, spiritual practices, culinary experiences and restorative treatments, creating an itinerary designed not only to help guests relax, but to reconnect.
Arriving in Guanacaste
Located along Playa Penca in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Province, Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique sits on the Peninsula Papagayo, about 17 miles—a 30- to 40-minute drive—from Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia. That proximity is part of the appeal; the transition is quick, and the landscape soon shifts into the tropical scenery that defines Guanacaste.
The resort is terraced into the cliffside, its architecture designed around the property’s natural contours. Its 188 keys—148 guest rooms and 40 suites and villas—feature floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping Pacific views. It is the kind of arrival where the destination announces itself immediately.
A Room With a View
My suite continued that sense of place. The king bed faced floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sparkling blue water, while a private furnished balcony offered another place to take in the view. A freestanding soaking tub sat just steps from the balcony alongside a private plunge pool, creating a setting where even an ordinary morning could feel like a ritual.
Natural tones and organic-inspired décor reinforced the tranquility without sacrificing the refined elegance expected of a Waldorf Astoria property. The spa-inspired bathroom featured an oversized rainfall shower with balcony views, dual vanities and a separate water closet, while plush robes and 24-hour personal concierge service rounded out the accommodations.
But the most memorable amenity wasn’t inside the room at all—it was the feeling of being surrounded by nature. From the moment I opened the curtains, the ocean became the centerpiece of relaxation.
For Jane de Forest, who hosted the Transform·Create·Become retreat at the property, that connection between resort and environment is central to the experience. She described spaces like the softly lit Moon Room, the open-air Wellness Shala, and the Hermosa Ceremonial room as elevating everything from astrology readings to cacao ceremonies, and credited a staff skilled in sound baths and meditation, plus an ocean “warm as bathwater,” as a natural place for guests to decompress between sessions. For De Forest, that combination of design, hospitality, and nature creates the ideal environment for her work: helping people align with their authentic power and awaken their highest potential.
Looking Inward
The retreat began with a chakra-clearing session and an astrological consultation with De Forest that quickly became more introspective than I expected. Before the chakra work, Jane performed a smudge ritual on me, using smoke to cleanse and release unwanted or negative energy. Standing there as it moved around me, the symbolism felt appropriate—I had arrived carrying experiences, emotions and old patterns I’d been learning to process. The ritual created a physical marker between what I had carried into the room and what I was willing to release.
We talked about intuition and finding my voice—I’d been consciously working on my throat chakra, learning to speak more firmly and advocate for myself. That resonated because wellness, for me, isn’t necessarily about becoming calmer or softer. Sometimes it’s about becoming more honest.
The session moved into astrology—Mercury retrograde, lunar cycles, and how birth charts offer a framework for understanding life patterns. De Forest described my chart as a logical mind paired with an intuitive, emotionally receptive energy, a contradiction she suggested could complicate articulating feelings. We also talked about writing as emotional processing—a reminder that as a journalist, it helps me make sense of myself, not just the world.
Then the reading turned personal. De Forest connected my sense of duty and resilience to Saturn’s influence in my chart—discipline, but also obstacles that can feel heavier than what others experience. That was unexpectedly comforting; a particular loneliness comes from appearing strong, when people see the finished product but not what it took to get there. We also discussed my late parents and how those relationships continue to shape who I’m becoming.
She also described a strong connection in my chart to feminine and nurturing energy—Cancer and the moon as symbols of intuition and receptivity—which struck a chord, since I’d been feeling more comfortable in my femininity lately, and more comfortable allowing myself to receive.
The reading eventually turned toward career, travel, relationships, and the possibility of a life that doesn’t follow a conventional timeline. That felt freeing. The most memorable message wasn’t a prediction; it was permission—to trust my intuition, embrace change, and enjoy where I am without constantly asking what comes next.
Cacao as Connection
That afternoon, the retreat shifted from astrology to cacao. At the Waldorf Astoria Spa, a ceremony centered on authentic Bribri indigenous cacao offered an intimate encounter with Costa Rican tradition, incorporating guided meditation, sound healing, and sacred chants. After the morning’s conversation, the experience felt especially meaningful—less like an isolated treatment and more like one layer of reflection building on another.
Into the Rainforest
The next day, the focus shifted from inner reflection to the natural world. Through the resort’s partnership with FincaVentura, a family business built around sharing the Bijagua region’s natural and cultural beauty, we took a private rainforest tour through Alajuela. The experience offered an organic look at the cultivation and preparation of local crops within the larger ecosystem.
Walking through the rainforest felt less like sightseeing and more like entering a living classroom, as our guides connected the landscape to the crops, wildlife and traditions distinctive to the region—everything from cacao and coffee to pineapple and sugarcane. Spotting sloths nestled in the trees instantly put the scale of the experience into perspective. In a destination known for its beaches and luxury resorts, the rainforest reminded me that Costa Rica’s greatest luxury may be its biodiversity. It was a different kind of wellness: not necessarily quiet, but deeply grounding.
Experiencing Costa Rica Through Food
Along the way, tastings celebrated the country’s authentic flavors, and the day concluded with a traditional lunch made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Learning how cacao and coffee are produced—and tasting them in more traditional forms—made the connection between destination and dining feel tangible.
Back at the resort, dining became another way to experience the destination. Of all the restaurants on property, La Finca was my favorite: a sophisticated interior paired with a bespoke menu of local ingredients, the lobster a particular standout. At Tico Tica, dinner unfolded with panoramic views of Playa Penca and a menu built around the open flame. At Vida Pool & Grill, the atmosphere turned relaxed and beachside, with fresh ceviches and crispy tostones. And there was simply time to enjoy the resort—an afternoon overlooking the water, sunset drinks at The Terrace as the sky shifted over the Pacific.
A Ritual Rooted in Sugarcane
The experience that stayed with me most was the Trapiche ritual. Inspired by Costa Rica’s sugarcane heritage, it began with a raw sugar scrub, then moved into a cane honey wrap and full-body massage at the property’s spa—a treatment designed around the traditional trapiche, connecting a familiar agricultural product with an entirely different kind of ritual: restoration. It was another reminder that the most compelling wellness experiences don’t necessarily separate us from a place. They can bring us closer to it.
Making the Tradition
The retreat continued with another distinctly Costa Rican tradition: a tamales cooking class. Guided by the chef, I learned to prepare one of the country’s most beloved dishes, from seasoning the filling to wrapping tamales in banana leaves. It was messy and hands-on, and perhaps more memorable because it wasn’t about simply being served a beautiful meal—it was about participating in the process.
That distinction ultimately defined the trip. Luxury was certainly part of it: ocean views, elegant dining rooms, sunset cocktails and beautifully designed spaces. But the most compelling moments weren’t always the most polished—they were the moments of participation and sensory experience: learning, tasting, listening, walking through the rainforest, spotting sloths in the trees, moving through a smudge ritual, sitting with cacao, making tamales, and watching the sunset without rushing to the next activity.
Costa Rica reminded me that wellness doesn’t always mean escaping life. Sometimes it means being more present in it, and more connected to the world around you. And perhaps that is the most luxurious experience of all.