TravelWorld International Magazine, Winter 2021 - The Magic of the Holidays

Stunning mountain views of Nicoya
Peninsula and the Pacific Ocean
greet you every day –
beautiful with or
without sunshine.
This journey began at Juan Santamaria
International Airport, and it took about
40-minutes to get to Atenas and the
entrance of The Retreat. This hotel is
located on a 50-acre quartz mountain so
another (short) ride was required to go
up the steep mountain to the cozy and
inviting check-in area. If you rent a car,
be sure to contact the hotel and let them
know what kind of vehicle you have; they’ll
guide you.
The idea of staying at a hotel located
on a quartz mountain was intriguing
to me as I felt that it was the perfect
location for a wellness retreat with
the anticipated bonus of the healing
benefits of quartz. Diana Stobo,
owner, bestselling author, and health
and wellness life coach created this
transforming retreat. The Retreat
offers the tools to assist guests with
better health practices, letting go
of stress, and the peaceful space to
relax and just be. There’s much
more to Diana’s story and what led
her to create this magical place that
she refers to as “Heaven on Earth.”
Having experienced The Retreat, I
couldn’t agree more.
Each day you’re greeted by the
beauty of nature at every turn –
from the birds chirping, to the
sound of water flowing, to the
deep color of the red ginger along
the paths. The beauty of the
property is also noteworthy as it is
an intimate space with 13 peaceful
rooms, the Vida Mia Healing
Center and Spa, farm-to-table
organic restaurants, 2 saltwater
pools, a yoga studio, meditation
deck, organic gardens, and
magnificent views. The beauty
of the valley was so mesmerizing
I couldn’t help but be in the
moment as I gazed over the flora
and fauna of this fertile land.
Story and Photos by Donna Adinolfi
“Once a year go someplace you’ve never
been before.” - Dalai Lama
I took this advice and went
someplace new, which was also
a bucket list destination, Costa
Rica.
You’ve likely heard “Pura Vida”
in relation to Costa Rica – it’s a
way of life – and evident with
just about everyone you meet. I,
for one, needed a lesson in the
“Pure Life,” as far as living more
simply, and it certainly unfolded
during my journey.
Winter is a great time to visit
Costa Rica as it is considered the
dry season and the new year is a
great way to immerse yourself in a
wellness retreat and connect to Pura
Vida.
Costa Rica is best discovered by
exploring different areas. My
opinion, yes. But you’ll see that it’s
a desirable way to see the country
as there’s more to Costa Rica than
sunning on the beach.
The Pacific region goes through its dry
season from December to March while
the Caribbean region’s dry season is
typically February and March.
This glimpse of Costa Rica is about
the Central Valley, which includes San
José, Heredia, and the Alajuela areas.
Although winter is also considered dry
season, it does vary with the altitude,
and you could see some rain, even
though the rainy season is between
May and October. Bring a raincoat!
The Main Pool & Jacuzzi for when
it’s time to relax especially under the
therapeutic waterfall. Ahh…
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