DAYSPA Previews the Four Seasons Costa Rica’s New Wellness Program

We enjoyed a sneak peek of the recently launched roster firsthand.

It’s not every day that we’re invited to a luxury spa resort in Central America, so when such opportunities do arise, we snap them up. With wellness now so ingrained in our daily culture, and in the lives of the spa owners to whom DAYSPA caters, we’re curious to personally check out as many programs as possible. So we packed our bags and jumped on the five-hour direct flight, generously provided by Alaska Airlines, from LAX to Liberia, in the northwest of Costa Rica.

The purpose of the four-night press trip was to experience a preview of the new Pura Vida For All program at the Four Seasons Costa Rica. Pura Vida is the common expression bandied about by ticos, as the locals are known, that literally means “Pure Life.” It’s actually more along the lines of the Swahili “hakuna matata”—essentially, “no worries.”

The 181-key resort is located on the Peninsula Papagayo in the northwest of the country. The entire peninsula—which also encompasses Marina Papagayo, the 18-hole Arnold Palmer-designed golf course and Prieta Beach Club—was acquired by Gencom, a luxury hospitality and residential real estate investment and development firm just days before our visit.

Although plans for a major renovation were recently announced, the property is beautiful in its current state, from the striking design of the main resort buildings (architect Ronald Zürcher Gurdián is said to have been inspired by armadillos and turtles) to the lovingly decorated guest suites, which boast marble bathrooms with deep baths and are stocked with big bottles of Ortigia toiletries from Sicily. Large private balconies, complete with cushy sofas and chairs, provided the perfect viewpoint for the dramatic thunderstorms that punctuated our stay. (There’s a reason Costa Rica is so green, we soon discovered!)

The full Four Seasons program is still being rolled out (it’s set to launch in early 2017), but its six components— wellness, spirituality, fitness, nutrition, voluntourism and disconnect to reconnect—are already in place. Guests can customize their own programs: When it comes to fitness, for instance, they’re free to choose between walks, kayaking, paddleboarding, Pilates and more.

Day One focused on nutrition and wellness, and kicked off with a group yoga session hosted by mellifluously voiced yogi Alberto. Next, we rode in golf carts up to one of the private residences that dot the hillside. Located on a corner plot with a lavish plunge pool and sweeping ocean views, it’s no wonder these villas are popular celeb hideaways. Following a freshly cooked breakfast, we were whisked back down to the spa for a Rebalancing Energy Treatment, designed to restore equilibrium to the chakras. With the help of hot stones, Manuel worked his magic on my stressed-out limbs—dinky stones between the toes were an unexpected but welcome touch! Next came a dip in the spectacular outdoor hot and cold plunge pools. Back up at the villa, we were treated to a healthy cooking demo of everything from guacamole to gazpacho by executive chef Hugo Gutiérrez.

Healthy cuisine is a cornerstone of the resort’s Pura Vida For All program, and icons showcasing sustainable, locally sourced ingredients can be found on the menus of its five food and beverage outlets. Guests can explore the theme further with a local natural remedies class that showcases the healing properties of native Costa Rican herbs and foods.

Next, we sat down with Kelli Ricco, the resort’s wellness and fitness coordinator, and founder of the new program. Ricco—who also offers private and Skype wellness consultations—talked about the famous Blue Zones, where life expectancy is the highest in the world, one of which is in Costa Rica. She encouraged us to explore our spirituality and asked us to talk about how we would like to be remembered. Fast friends by now, none of us in the group held back and soon the tears were flowing!

Day Two began with breakfast at casual on-site eatery Sol y Sombra. This was by far the most lavish buffet I’ve ever encountered, from the healthy—fresh local fruits, warm oatmeal and home-baked blueberry muffins—to the hearty (bacon, eggs, burritos). Next came the part of the trip I’d been looking forward to most—a voluntourism excursion to paint a local school, arranged through the Four Seasons’ partnership with local charitable organization Creciendo Juntos (“Growing Together”).

The excited kids treated us to a well-rehearsed display of traditional Costa Rican dancing followed by a rendition of Thriller, complete with zombie makeup and moves! Two hours later, with sore muscles and paint flecks in our hair as souvenirs, we headed back to the hotel. Four Seasons guests who prefer to participate in other ways can help by donating backpacks stocked with school supplies, for example. Dinner at high-end Italian restaurant Cena Sociale involved another gustatory blowout—but we weren’t complaining!

Day three was the most action-packed of the trip, encompassing horseback riding and tubing on the Rio Negro near the Nicaraguan border. All huge fun, but for me the highlight was the unscheduled stop at the hot springs hidden deep in the forest. (Who needs all the bells and whistles when you can just soak in centuries-old warm water, as Mother Nature intended?) At dinner that night, held at upscale steakhouse Caracol, the property’s general manager Rajiv Malhotra formally welcomed us to the resort and spoke further about the program.

Day Four included some solo downtime, and I packed in as much as I could: Adults-only pool, check! Waterfall pool, check! Both white sandy beaches, check! I even found time to tackle most of the Pura Vista hike—a steep, thigh-wobbling wooden stairway tucked into the forest by the beach. Sadly, as lunchtime approached, it was time to leave, but not without our lovingly prepared packed lunches! (Seriously, given all the—albeit healthy—food consumed during the trip, it’s a miracle that my scales didn’t scream, “One at a time, please!” when I finally had the courage to step on them a few days later.)

From the impeccable resort service to the local wildlife (monkeys and lizards and crabs, oh my!), this was an unforgettable experience. It was also a much needed time-out from the daily grind that forced me to realize how important it is to make wellness—from food to fitness—a priority. Even if I only manage 10 minutes of meditation a day or one hike a week in my local park, it’s a start… but if the Four Seasons Costa Rica comes calling again, I won’t say no!—Lesley McCave