Costa Rica´s Best Guide

And if we ’ re talking spas, look no further than native volcanic clay for face masks, and open-air palapas where the scent of ylang ylang and frangipani waft through the air while you receive the best massage of your life. It is no wonder that the number of retreat centers in Costa Rica has gone from just 6 when we opened our Center in 2006, 17 years ago, to now over 200. Thousands of people have relished in these oases in nature, created to help them pause to find themselves again, to start anew on the path to real wellness. And we are proud to

be one of the first, and still going strong today. AmaTierra, or “Beloved Earth” as we like to translate our name, came into existence in 2006 when my husband Bob and I were looking for a change from life in the U.S.A. I was in private practice as a massage therapist, herbalist and yoga instructor in Tucson, Arizona, and even before the onslaught of cell phones and social media, I was seeing that life was getting more and more sped-up, and people more and more stressed. We wanted to create a place where people could really take a

breather, re-set, and just BE for a while. With the help of some generous and kind investors, we bought a ten-room B&B in the central mountains, and built a ample yoga studio surrounded by nature and with a 4 room spa space below. Since that day, we have welcomed over 4,000 people into our space, assisted by a dedicated and hard-working staff of Costa Rican people who are now family to us. On our 3 hectares (7.5 acres) of mostly forested land, AmaTierra is home to mango and coconut trees, and some of the best ginger and turmeric you ’ ll find in Costa Rica. Guests can walk the trails, participate in a medicinal herb walk, detox and start fresh with better nutrition, and get pampered in our spa. Continued on Page 34

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COSTA RICA ´ S BEST GUIDE MAGAZINE