4 Things to Do in Costa Rica, Paradise of Sustainable and Spiritual Relaxation

Costa Rica is a paradise that has the ideal conditions to forget about stress and daily hustle and bustle through a series of unique experiences that range from savoring a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and enjoying the purest cocoa to relaxing in incredible hot springs of volcanic origin and get a spiritual retreat.

Between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, there is a country that in just over 50,000 square kilometers offers an enormous variety of landscapes and microclimates that allow the traveler to enjoy the sun, the beach, nature, adventure, and culture. But of all these possibilities, there is one that stands out above the rest: it has the ideal conditions to detoxify from stress. Costa Rica holiday is an ideal trip to improve mental and physical condition and integrate healthy habits and activities into their lifestyle, free themselves from burdens and routine and return home as a new person.

In Costa Rica, you can experiment with new relaxation techniques such as wraps, which consist of smearing yourself with volcanic mud, coffee, tropical fruits, and chocolate to hydrate your skin. Hydrotherapy and hot springs are another way to take advantage of the country's water resource and allow tourists to renew themselves and let positive energy flow throughout their bodies.

These characteristics of well-being typical of Costa Rica, known as the country of Pura Vida, have led this small Central American state to host one of the blue zones or longevity blue zones on the planet. According to a study carried out by the University of Costa Rica in 2004, it determined that mortality among 90-year-old Costa Ricans was 10% lower in the Nicoya Peninsula, south of Guanacaste. The water of this area, very rich in calcium, as well as a healthy diet, family life, and a 'Pura Vida' lifestyle, are the secrets of that longevity.

1. Taste the local fruits and vegetables.

In a relatively small territory, Costa Rica develops twelve climatic zones and a series of microclimates that allow the harvest and variety of numerous fruits and vegetables. Possibly the best way to enjoy them is to consume all-natural juices and soft drinks, a tropical luxury that is common in all the restaurants, bars, and cafes in the country. Among all the fruits, pineapple, papaya, passion fruit, and banana stand out, truly exquisite in all its forms.

But Costa Rica also has local products such as the cashew fruit, which comes from the mango family and is frequently used to make a kind of lemonade. There is also pejibaye, a vegetable from the family of the arecáceas (palm trees) that is cooked in salted water and consumed with mayonnaise placed on the bone canal.

2. Delight in the properties of pure cocoa.

Magnesium, calcium, and antioxidants are some of the important substances that cocoa beans provide, whose effects on the heart are truly beneficial. To experience its health benefits and discover the history and culture of Costa Rica, there is no better way than to participate in a cacao ceremony in the style of indigenous peoples.

The traveler will live a unique experience, sitting in a circle with other attendees of the rite, while consuming the ceremonial drink, made from boiled cocoa beans. All this accompanied by chants and mantras to the sound of traditional instruments.

3. Hot springs and volcanic mud.

The hot springs in Costa Rica come directly from the many volcanoes in the country. They are very rich in minerals and baths in them, as well as in their mud, are a tradition that goes back hundreds of years. The mud contains a high condensation of minerals such as sulfur, magnesium, and zinc that are very beneficial for health. For example, zinc and magnesium relieve inflammation of the skin and joints, while sulfur has been used to relieve skin irritations and is even considered to slow aging.

Costa Rica has numerous places scattered throughout its territory to enjoy its thermal waters, but among all those that stand out in the vicinity of the Rincón de la Vieja volcano in Guanacaste. The abundance of natural pools of warm thermal waters is another great incentive since you can enjoy a relaxing bath in the middle of nature, something that is simply a spectacular experience. An area that has a varied offer of hot springs is La Fortuna de San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is advisable to visit the certified places and in them strictly follow the indications.

4. Massages with volcanic stones.

This is one of the most popular treatments in Costa Rica and you shouldn't miss during your holidays. During the massage, the black stones are heated in water at a temperature between 50 and 65 degrees and are placed therapeutically on the skin. The heat they radiate expands through the blood vessels, promoting circulation.

This, together with the warm weight of the stones, transports the patient to a state of intense relaxation. Among the best known and most prominent places to give yourself one of these massages is Playa Montezuma, in the province of Puntarenas, known for its spa treatments that can be enjoyed outdoors. However, this relaxing therapy is also available in many other spas located in different regions of the country.