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Health Habitravels - Past Luxury Adventure Travel Destinations

Costa Rica Journey Notes

February 7-14 the group on Health Habtravels retreat at Pura Vida Spa in Costa Rica's cloud forest imbibed in pura vida—or the pure life. "Pura vida!" That's how Tica's, or local Costa Rican's, greet, and why not. You can't help but feel pure and alive in this lush Central American country. When I picked up my photos the developer asked, "Where were you? It's beautiful. The greens are so green and the blues so blue!" Saturated and pure, that's Costa Rica.

Columbus named this land bridge between North and South American, which boasts incredible biodiversity "rich coast." He hoped it was rich with gold, but left when he and his crew discovered it was the Mosquito Coast and not the gold coast. By the 1800s the Spaniards were back with other Europeans, mainly Austrians and Germans, to cultivate the rich soil. They transplanted mountain chalets, European features, Nordic blue eyes, Catholicism and an immense respect for higher education. Today Costa Rica provides some of the best of world's black brew, and both coffee and banana plantations abound. But over the last 25 years, two thirds of the country has been designated as national parks and nature reserves, and now eco-tourism and environmental research rule. Here jaguars still roam free and locals have realized they profit more taking tourists to view sea turtles breed than from selling them turtle meat. Americans and Europeans come for eco-adventure thrills, to see sloths, or slo-monkeys, draped like old sacks in trees; get wakeup calls from howler monkeys and macaws, swim with dolphins and marvel at mega-sized insects. They also come to retreat at well run centers such as Pura Vida Spa and Samasati Nature Reserve that offer daily mind-body practices and wellness programs, plus access to the wonders of Costa Rica. Many North Americans come to vacation and decide to stay. The infrastructure and general high standard of living draws a constant influx of new residents from all over the globe. In fact Costa Rica receives more US pension checks than any country outside of the United States. Halfway through our 7-day retreat I heard this mantra over and over "Do we really have to go home?"

I'm already scheduling another retreat, a 2005 spring equinox jungle escape at Samasti Nature Reserve. We'll immerse in 250 acres of tropical Caribbean beach habitat. This will contrast the recent Pura Vida Spa cloud forest retreat I'll also return at some point to Pura Vida. Who wouldn't go back to the groomed, runs-smooth-as-clockwork sanctuary. The most stressful event of the February week was deciding which luscious spa treatment to indulge in next, and how to squeeze that 90 minutes of healing between the two expertly taught mind-body classes, the peaceful walking meditation, the educational hikes through plantations and to volcanoes, the wild white water rafting adventure, and exhilarating zip-line rides through the canopy that made all our Tarzan and Jane fantasies a reality. Not only did we experience inner bliss, we got to confront and conquer fears, meet great people from all over the world, and learn about another culture in the process. To view these retreat centers, which are examples of wonderful Costa Rican hospitality, visit both www.puravidaspa.com and www.samasati.com. Those of you who were with me at Pura Vida for the Valentine Magic retreat have wonderful once in a lifetime memories including surprises like the wedding ceremony conducted by Pura Vida presenter Dan Millman, author of The Peaceful Warrior, the Kitran (chanting) led by unexpected guest musicians from Corsica, the wild mountain winds, the fact that it hardly rained and yet there were rainbows, the star studded full moon nights—the purging sunrise screams coming from the dynamic meditation class—I came home on Valentine's Day rejuvenated and in love with Costa Rica, and ready to go back again and again.