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

The Retreat’s anti-inflammatory
dinner is with colorful veggies and
locally sourced chicken.
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A daily
treat at
The Retreat
is Cappuccino
and Coconut
Milk –
so much
better with
Costa Rican
coffee.
Nothing says
the tropics
more than
these exotic
refreshers at
The Retreat,
healthy, vibrant,
and nourishing.
Breakfast begins with
anti-inflammatory juices,
fresh fruit, chia pudding,
granola, and a chef’s special.
As you meander through the property,
be ready to work your thighs and abs too
because it is on a steep mountainside.
Going to meals, the pool, the spa, and
fitness studio will get you to 10,000 steps
before you know it. Note: If you do have
mobility challenges, it’s best to discuss
them with the resort administration before
you arrive so that you will be prepared.
Dining was certainly a highlight of
The Retreat as the chef created some of
the most amazing farm-to-table (antiinflammatory)
meals you could imagine.
They are artfully plated to engage all the
senses and boast colorful, fresh, organic,
and locally sourced and sustainable items.
The kitchen is also grain and dairy free,
although you’ll see goat yogurt and cheese
used at times. But keep in mind that the
menu is customized for each guest. Best
of all, you can see what’s going on in the
kitchen as it’s an “open kitchen” and you
can view how meals are prepared and the
ingredients used. You can take cooking
classes to engage in the practice of cooking
healthy and bring what you learned home
with you – all part of what I like to call,
the tools of wellbeing.
Fonzie,
The
Retreat’s
Peacock,
greets everyone
each day while his mate,
Jane, is nowhere to be found.
Rather than hibernating during the
winter, guests can create healthier
lifestyles by choosing one of several
offerings from packages that include
anti-inflammatory meals, hikes, yoga
and more. For example, the Art of
Resting package is suited for most
of us after the intense last couple of
years we’ve experienced. The 5-Night
Holistic Medical Spa Retreat package
is a more intense program that is led
by Dr. Vinod Balakrishnan. It includes
yoga, nutrition (doctor prescribes
based on your Dosha), Abhyanga
Equilibrium Treatments, and more.
Guests are asked to complete a
questionnaire for a personalized plan
for the journey and will then go home
with a plan to continue their Ayurvedic
practice.
Even though you may want to relax
and enjoy everything this resort offers,
you may also be ready for a little
adventure - it is Costa Rica, after all.
On-property nature hikes, exploring
the crystal quartz mountain, are
possible as well as off-property tours
like the La Paz Waterfall Garden and
Poas Volcano Adventure. Maybe you’ll
see a sloth! (Sadly, I didn’t see any).
If you do want to visit a beach, Jaco
Beach is the closest to The Retreat at
about 40-minutes away. You may
even make a stop at the “Bridge of
Crocodiles.” The concierge can assist
with this one too.
As for me, I was content soaking
in the positive vibes of The Retreat
for my three days. As I explored the
property, I immersed myself in the spa,
yoga, and learned more about antiinflammatory
cooking and ayurvedic
practices from Dr. Vinod.
“The excitement lies in the exploration of the world around us.” - Jim Peebles
Winter is a great time to explore Costa
Rica even among the clouds of the Central
Valley and Alajuela.
As you travel around Alajuela, be sure to
stop in Sarchi. This town is famous for
the brightly colored and hand painted
oxcarts (they’re still in use) and Sarchi
is also known for furniture building and
local artisans - consider making a stop
at Carratas Eloy Alfaro, which opened in
1923, for a tour and shopping.
Colorful Oxcart located in Sarchi,
Costa Rica, which is the birthplace
of the oxcarts. Visit the Eloy Alfaro
oxcart factory for a tour.
As my journey continued beyond Sarchi,
I couldn’t help but wonder what this
next experience would be like as we
approached El Silencio Lodge & Spa.
This luxury lodge is located within
Bajos del Toro, which is also a UNESCO
cultural heritage site, amid lush valleys
and breathtaking waterfalls. This resort
offers stunning views as it is on a 500-
acre private cloud forest and surrounded
by the Juan Castro Blanco and Poas
Volcano National Parks. Don’t forget
to pack your rain jacket, it may come
in handy as you hike up to explore the
property’s three waterfalls.
First, I must mention that even though
this was my home for only one night,
albeit a short stay, it was spectacular!
With so much to explore on property, you
might find it hard to leave your luxury
suite or villa, with amazing floor to ceiling
cloud forest views, attention to detail
beyond ordinary, and you can enjoy it all
from either the handcrafted rocking chairs
or the heated outdoor jet pool.
Food is the highlight
of any journey,
especially when it’s
from an organic farm
and greenhouse.
Vegetables, spices, and
herbs – all from the Lunch at El Silencio
property – are featured included Gallos,
on Las Ventanas authentic cuisine
of Costa Rica,
Restaurant’s gardento-table
seasonal veggies inside a
with meat and or
menus. Check out the corn tortilla.
trout pond to catch
your dinner (or simply choose trout from
the menu).
Activities continue year-round so you’ll
find as much to do in the winter as you do
in the summer since it averages 50-70°F
year-round with January being the coldest
month at 61°F. Expect it to be mild
during the day and chilly in the evening
with a mix of sun (in the morning), rain,
clouds and yes, mist, most days.
More about the activities as one of the
best yoga classes I’ve ever experienced was
with Karla. It included sound healing, and
while our class was surrounded by floating
clouds, it led to a profound yogic journey.
This is “Karla”,
Yoga & Sound
Healing Instructor
at El Silencio
Lodge & Spa.
Home for the night in one of
the 2-Bedroom Villas at El
Silencio Lodge & Spa.
I planted a stinging nettle during the
tree planting ceremony at El Silencio
Lodge & Spa, in honor of my mom.
Another winter activity to consider
is the Night Walk as it’s when the
Cloud Forest comes alive, and our
senses intensify. Enjoy the scents
and sounds of nature by exploring
the trails of El Silencio at sunset
(weather permitting).
The most personal experience
had to do with the tree planting
activity offered at El Silencio.
The tree planting ceremony is
complimentary as you plant a tree
in Costa Rica’s carbon-offsetting
forests to help bring back colorful
Quetzal birds to the region. While
my hope is that these birds return,
it was even more meaningful to me
on that day as I planted the stinging
nettle tree in honor of my mom.
Everything about this resort
exceeded my expectations.
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