If you’re headed to Costa Rica in search of eco-conscious wellness, Camila Aguilar, lead concierge at Nantipa has a few suggestions.
Recognised by UNESCO as one of world’s five Blue Zones – areas where people live the longest and healthiest – Santa Teresa in Costa Rica is the perfect place to rediscover your mojo. Check into boutique Tico Beach property Nantipa, and you’ll meet lead concierge Camila Aguilar, who combines concierge duties with yoga instruction.
Where are your favourite places to hang out in Santa Teresa?
You can’t live in Santa Teresa and not love the beach – it’s the reason I moved here in the first place. Nantipa is one of the only hotels in the area that’s right on the beach so I’m close to it all day and the sunsets are exceptional. Other than Santa Teresa, Playa Hermosa is my favourite beach. I’m learning to surf and this beach is great for all levels. I also love eating out and as a vegetarian you can find options everywhere. My favourite is a little café called Ani’s that has amazing healthy bowls.
Tell us about the yoga you offer at Nantipa
We’ve just opened a new outdoor yoga shala and now offer a wider variety of yoga classes and wellness activities. I love working around a good vinyasa style yoga, and this can be adapted for all levels during group lessons. For private lessons, we offer Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin and Acroyoga, which is done in pairs, making it idea for honeymooners and families, or anyone looking to enjoy a playful practice that promotes teamwork and trust.
Guests are drawn to Nantipa for sunsets, yoga and surfing. How do you ensure they get the most out of their stay?
The partners we work with look for ways to make sure everyone has fun. At the end of our surf lessons, for example, you get to drink a coconut that the instructors open right there using a rock. Our most popular experiences are water-based: a hike and swim at the Montezuma waterfall, a trip out to sea with local fishermen that might include a stop at an underwater volcano; a private boat trip to Isla Tortuga returning at sunset; or horse riding through the waves. We also have a partnership with a local non-profit, Cirenas, and guests can volunteer on its permaculture farm or participate in turtle hatching if the timing’s right.
Tell us about the dining scene in Santa Teresa
You can find high-end dining at places like Katana for Asian-fusion cuisine or Casa del Mar for seafood in a great location. You can also try out one of our local sodas, which offer a more local dining experience like rice and beans, or rondon (Caribbean coconut stew). At Nantipa, Manzú is a high-end restaurant with a low-key vibe that sits right on the beach. People come to eat straight after sunset – you don’t have to dress up and your toes are in the sand. Local fruits are used in many dishes but I love them in cocktails, especially a Spicy Passionfruit Daquiri. You should also try the Chiliguaro, a spicy shot of our Costa Rican liquor, guaro.
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What about wellness retreats?
We currently offer a Transcendental Wellness experience, which has been designed to help people navigate their mind, body and spirit to achieve better personal understanding through a combination of meditation, therapeutic yoga, life coaching and personal training with a holistic wellness expert. This autumn, we’ll be expanding our programme to introduce more themed retreats.
What about your new suites?
In November we’ll be opening eight new Nanku Suites. Many of these will have two queen beds so we can expand our wellness offering from being mainly spa focused into the retreat space. The culinary team is establishing an on-site vegetable garden so we can offer farm-to-table experiences and our new outdoor grill means guests can watch us cook the day’s catch.
