The first thing you notice is the warmth with which you are welcomed when you arrive. After a ‘travel-day’ to get there, you really appreciate warm welcome. Okay you say. Doesn’t everybody? Well, here the warmth doesn’t depreciate with time. You are really welcome. And there lies the starting point for the best of the rest. The staff is bend-over-backwards accommodating for requests (they drove me into town to purchase postcards and stamps, with Mary (who everybody in town knows) handling the Spanish no less), and yet they manage to be ‘out of the way’ so you can enjoy your space. Within this acceptance, you begin to actually unwind. This is not a fast paced environment. I actually doubt you could turn in into one, but why would you want to? Once you finally come to terms with relaxation, boy, do you!!
The staff cooks up a storm. A menu that for us, was a combination of different cultures (sort of a not to strict daily geographic theme), lots of vegetables (local ones, fresh) and often chicken or freshly caught fish. But the preparation was the key. A mixture of seasonings/spices went into this that was amazing. I have never eaten so many astounding meals, ever. And amazingly enough, despite the quantity and frequency of the meals, I actually weighed 2 pounds less after. So, this food is good, healthy stuff, for sure. They really need to publish a cookbook. If you have any dietary restrictions, they are accommodated, and so subtly that you don’t realize they’ve done it. The eating area is outside, in kind of a very fancy garden cafe environment. There are no flying insects competing for your food. It is very well done.
There are activity ‘tours’ for which Blue Osa has made prearrangements with the locals who do them, and they will call for you, transport you, and put the fee on a tab for the week, which you pay when you leave. There are numerous kinds, personally, I kayaked, and went on a waterfall hike, others went ziplining over the forest canopy, surfing, horseback riding. As you are in a remote part of Costa Rica, the activities are low keyed, and very personal. No huge crowds to fight, no lines to stand in, just peacefulness.
There is a spa area, where different treatments can be provided. The practitioners are local, and excellent. The spa wraps of all kinds, massage, acupuncture, manicures, etc are on the menu. And it is the request it, put it on the tab system, too.
I was on a Yoga retreat, so we did a yoga practice every morning. This is not a requirement for staying here, but if yoga is your thing, you can’t find a better setting in which to practice than the second floor studio, with windows all around, overlooking the bay. It is beautifully done. And note, ‘windows’ are really openings, no glass, no screens. You get the breeze, the natural nature sounds — it is amazing.
The location, in the jungle, and right on the coast of Golfo Dulce (a bay off the pacific ocean), is the best part. You hear the waves all the time. You just must go for a walk on the beach, which is basically deserted (a couple of local fishermen, and nobody in the evening), so you can walk the coastline in the morning or evening in peace. If you want company, the local ‘canine-crew’ will tag along. If you want solitude, you can tell them to go back, and they amazingly do…
In my mind, I see the sunrise, and a walk on the beach in peace. It is a lasting image, still useful for busting life’s stressful moments.
It’s simple. Go.