Long before wellness became a global, multi-trillion-dollar industry, Costa Rica—consistently ranked among the world’s happiest countries—quietly shaped its own approach to holistic living. Pura vida, the national saying meaning “pure life” which is woven into everyday conversation, has always expressed something deeper: A worldview rooted in presence, gratitude, and trust in the rhythm of nature. There, wellbeing isn’t a prescriptive regimen, but a way of moving through life with intention and joy.
“This philosophy naturally aligns with holistic wellbeing, where emotional, physical, and environmental harmony all play essential roles,” says Hotel Belmar Managing Director, Pedro Belmar.
As wellness tourism evolves beyond standard spa menus, Costa Rica feels ahead of its time. The country, home to the Nicoya Peninsula’s Blue Zone, helped shape the modern idea of integrated wellness by drawing on its most abundant resources—biodiversity, agrarian traditions, and a deep respect for the wild—and weaving them into authentic experiences that extend beyond the treatment room.
“Nature is the ultimate healer,” says Auberge Resorts Collection VP of Operations, Wellbeing, Vivianne Garcia-Tuñon, noting its ability to lower stress and activate the “happy four” hormones (dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins) in the brain.
From Monteverde’s cloud forest to the beaches of the Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica continues to redefine what next-generation wellness looks like.
Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Collection, Costa Rica
Tucked along 180 private acres in the foothills of the Talamanca Mountains, Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Collection embodies a philosophy shaped by the same principles that guide Costa Rican life. Here, nature isn’t a backdrop; it’s the healer, teacher, and heartbeat of wellness.
“Hacienda AltaGracia’s approach to wellness centers on the joy of wellbeing, achieved through a deep and reverent connection to Mother Earth,” says Garcia-Tuñon. “Each treatment, program, and experience honors ancient traditions and the natural rhythms of the land, creating transformative moments of awe.”
Every guest receives a consultation with an integrative health coach before arrival. These conversations inform personalized itineraries inspired by both best-in-class longevity science and Blue Zone wisdom. Casa de Agua—the largest spa in Central America—reflects this hybrid approach. Many treatments incorporate local ingredients—like volcanic stone and mineral clay—and unfold outdoors. The River Bath, one of the property’s most beloved experiences, leads guests into the forest to immerse in cold, crystalline mountain water and cleanse their aura followed by a detoxifying scrub and warm herbal soak.
Daily life serves as an invitation to reconnect with the land as well: Horseback rides along trails with sweeping views of the valley, open-air yoga classes, and dinners rooted in plant-forward, Costa Rican home cooking all celebrate the region’s natural and cultural richness while inviting a deeper connection to nature and self.
Hotel Belmar, Costa Rica
Wrapped in the cool mist of the Monteverde cloud forest—where trees drip with orchids and birdsong seems to rise from every direction—you’ll discover Hotel Belmar. The family-owned, regenerative property sits within an exceptionally biodiverse ecosystem that naturally slows the body and resets the mind.
“Instead of focusing solely on traditional spa treatments, we emphasize rituals, encounters, and spaces that restore balance: Clean mountain air, farm-to-table nourishment, daily yoga, handcrafted natural beverages, and meaningful connections with the land through sustainable practices,” says Belmar. “Wellness here feels natural, unforced, and personal.”
At Hotel Belmar, guests are invited to visit Finca Madre Tierra, Costa Rica’s first carbon neutral farm, to grind sugarcane, pick coffee beans, and harvest their own lunch to be prepared by a chef back at the property. Garden-to-glass cocktail classes highlight herbs and botanicals grown steps away, while kombucha, vegetable juices, super-food smoothies, and even craft beer are made on-site in a nod to Costa Rica’s agrarian traditions.
Canopy walks in the hotel’s private reserve SAVIA immerse travelers in the quiet of nature, whether they’re watching the sunset from a towering suspension bridge or forest bathing along a trail that encourages stillness and presence of mind.
Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica
Flanked by sparkling Pacific waters, the 1,400-acre Peninsula Papagayo has become the poster child of relaxation in Costa Rica, boasting five-star resorts, uncrowded golden sand beaches, and pristine dry tropical forests. Here, Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo takes a notably inclusive approach to wellness, designed to meet guests wherever they may be.
“Wellness should feel natural, not forced,” says Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo Senior Director of Wellness, Spa, and Retail Arnaud Dieutegard. “Some guests seek deep inner work, others simply want to enjoy good food, family time, nature, or rest. For us, wellness is not about adding more—it is removing what gets in the way of feeling present and connected.”
In recent years, the resort has evolved from a traditional spa model into a full-spectrum experience grounded in both scientific innovation and ancestral practices. Biomarker-driven programs, longevity consultations, and performance recovery sessions coexist with energy therapies, intention-setting rituals, and ceremonies rooted in Costa Rican culture.
But much of the wellness here happens far from treatment rooms. Guests surf or scuba dive along the peninsula’s coral-rich bays and paddle through the mangroves. Every room opens to the ocean breeze, creating an uninterrupted connection to the landscape. Meals celebrate fresh seafood and produce, emphasizing nourishment over restriction.
“Nature is the foundation,” Dieutegard says. “Being outdoors helps people regulate stress, slow down, and reconnect with themselves. It is not something we have to teach. Our role is to simply create the space for it to happen.”
Three More Retreats Leading a New Era of Holistic Wellness
Costa Rica isn’t the only destination where wellness has outgrown predictable spa menus. Across the world, a new generation of holistic destinations is reshaping what a wellness journey can look like, fusing ancient wisdom with cutting-edge science and immersion in nature with design-forward luxury.
All three properties—COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali, Hotel Krallerhof in the Austrian Alps, and SHA Mexico on the Riviera Maya—offer distinct philosophies and atmospheres. Yet each resort embodies what today’s travelers are craving most: transformation that lasts long after the plane ride home.
COMO Shambhala Estate, Bali
At COMO Shambhala Estate, healing flows from sacred landscapes and time-honored practices. Outside the town of Ubud and tucked into a lush jungle where the Ayung and Tibakauh Rivers meet, the 22-acre sanctuary has served as the resort flagship for the COMO Shambhala wellness brand for two decades. This year marks a new chapter for the property, which recently unveiled refreshed accommodations and reopened its Ojas wellness center—the resort’s therapeutic heart.
It all adds up to a retreat where healing is not only possible but inevitable, shaped as much by the land’s spiritual power as by the COMO Shambhala Estate’s modern approach to well-being. Outside structured programming, wellness is woven into daily life here—sunrise and full moon yoga sessions, jungle stretch classes, and Balinese purification rituals are offered as complimentary activities.
Aligned with four key Balinese temples, COMO Shambhala Estate occupies a spiritually significant site. Hydrotherapy facilities at Ojas are fed by The Source, a spring that’s a traditional place of purification in local culture. Guests will also find a new slate of high-tech offerings, including Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, which boosts cognitive function and sleep, and an infrared sauna that encourages detoxification and boosts muscle recovery.
For travelers not ready to commit to a personalized Signature Retreat or Wellness Path— holistic, multi-night stays that combine diagnostics, diet, breathwork, and hands-on healing—COMO Shambhala Estate now offers one-to-two-day Wellness Programs, each designed around specific goals. The COMO Cleanse focuses on digestive reset while Tech-Inspired Wellness uses personalized data to optimize systemic balance.
Hotel Krallerhof, Austria
Perched high in the Austrian Alps, Hotel Krallerhof feels deeply rooted in the rhythms of mountain life even as it pushes the boundaries of modern wellness. In winter, guests step straight onto the slopes of the Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn ski area, one of Austria’s largest networks with 270 kilometers of slopes. Come summer, the same terrain transforms into a playground for hikers, mountain bikers, and anglers.
But Krallerhof’s approach to wellness extends far beyond outdoor adventure. The resort’s flagship wellness space, Atmosphere, is an architectural showpiece that seamlessly blends with nature, including an Alpine Zen Garden and spring-filled swimming pond merged with an Olympic-sized infinity pool and whirlpool. Light-filled relaxation lounges, Finnish saunas, a yoga studio, and a cold-plunge pool all frame panoramic views of the Leogang peaks.
Krallerhof leans into longevity, drawing on insights from performance science and biohacking. Guests can join multi-day retreats or craft individualized programs that might include Interval Hypoxia–Hyperoxia Therapy (IHHT), red-light sessions, forest bathing, nutritional guidance, and other regenerative treatments designed to recalibrate both body and mind.
SHA Mexico, Riviera Maya
Set along the turquoise coastline of Costa Mujeres, SHA Mexico is the newest outpost of the renowned SHA wellness brand, considered a pioneer in longevity and integrative health. Its aim is both simple and ambitious: To help travelers live longer, healthier lives through a rigorously personalized and science-backed blend of Eastern and Western medicine.
Every stay begins with an in-depth health assessment, which maps out a custom program across nine core pillars, from healthy nutrition and natural therapies to preventive and healthy aging medicine and advanced aesthetics. Days might include acupuncture sessions, infrared heat therapy, Pilates, or even hypoxia training—short bursts of low-oxygen air designed to strengthen cardiovascular function.
With more than 1,000 treatments on offer and one-on-one access to medical specialists, SHA Mexico is less a traditional spa than a high-tech wellness laboratory. Here, a beach escape can double as a meaningful reset.
