The Retreat Costa Rica

The grounds are stunning, and the food was some of the best I’ve ever had, from the treats left in my room to the gluten-free cakes. Everyone was genuinely lovely. I especially loved the sound bath and yoga, the guided hike was amazing and well led, and the newly built Santosha is beautiful. Such a nourishing experience for my mind and soul. Thank you all 🩵 [August 2025]

I loved the peaceful grounds and the views, and both spa visits were fantastic. The food was fresh, healthy, creative, and incredible. That soup every night was great, too. Servers were kind and helpful, especially Jonathan C. and Pablo, who learned my name. The turn-down cookies were sooo good, and the bed, pillows, and linens were really comfortable. I booked and paid for a deluxe room but ended up in the gorgeous Papaya room, a luxury loft with a great bathtub view. I’m not sure if that was a mistake or an upgrade, but nobody mentioned it and I didn’t complain. The diffuser in the room was a nice touch. The check-in and communication were frustrating. They said they’d message me when my room was ready after I arrived early, but at 3:15pm, fifteen minutes after check-in time, I still hadn’t heard anything. I had to go to the front desk, then wait another 30 minutes to get into my room. Check-in felt rushed, nobody went over meal times, and overall communication was poor. Some front desk staff weren’t very friendly or helpful, and WhatsApp was just as unresponsive as other reviews say. My bathroom’s glass door and mini mirror were filthy when I arrived, and there was toothpaste in the sink from the last guest. The hot tubs at both the main pool and spa were lukewarm, even after I asked for help. They seemed broken or switched off. I enjoyed the free wellness classes, but they were all back to back on one day. I wish they’d been spread over a few days so I could do more. At the restaurant, you have to wait for a bill to sign even though it’s $0 with meals included, just to leave a tip. Once I tried leaving after putting cash on the table and they chased me down. They could easily let guests leave one larger tip at the end for the staff. I wouldn’t buy a package, either. The math doesn’t add up and it felt like a money grab. It wasn’t clear what was included, and I was told yoga cost $34 before finding out it was free. Food at the second location down the hill isn’t included, not even coffee, so I felt bad for guests staying there who had to come up the hill for everything. I had a lovely time, but this didn’t feel like a 5-star stay to me.

The internet in my premium room was a little slow, but that was okay since I came to disconnect and rejuvenate. It was an amazing stay in a beautiful place, and I loved the Santosha wellness area. Everyone was warm and friendly, from Alan on the airport transport to the front desk team. Carlos led a lovely nature hike and gave me helpful gym advice for training my muscles. The pool sound healing was awesome, and I looked forward to Victoria’s twice-daily yoga sessions every day. Sol and the staff made breakfast, lunch, and dinner so delicious and beautiful. Michael was a very kind server, as was Juan Jose. Thanks as well to Alejandro A at the front desk, Oscar at night, and many more. The food was lovely, too.

The food was the standout for my wife and me. The ingredients, creativity, presentation, flavor, and nutritional value were all outstanding. We also tried the Mystique dinner, and together it was by far the best culinary experience we’ve ever had. We came to celebrate our 15th anniversary Oct. 20th thru the 24th, and the staff’s hospitality, service, and friendliness were exceptional. The resort has so much going for it, from the location and pools to the spa. The spa services felt idyllic, and we enjoyed the Yoga classes and sound bath meditations. Carlos’s help as a personal trainer in the gym was useful and fun. If you want a place to re-center and focus on personal wellness, this is a great choice.