Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection is set to open in Costa Rica in November 2021 and the well-being resort has already begun accepting reservations. Located in the foothills of the Talamanca Mountains, Auberge Resorts Collection has created an escape for those seeking total well-being and adventure. Located adjacent to one of the five “Blue Zones'' in the world, where locals live to more than 100 years of age, Hacienda AltaGracia will present a blend of Eastern and Western therapies to connect guests to powerful, effective modes of well-being. In partnership with holistic wellness provider THE WELL, the experience is built on the belief that "transformative well-being should be both peaceful and exhilarating."
Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection will stimulate the senses with programming that includes adventure, meditative escape and experiences that showcase the inherent Costa Rican warmth of spirit, complemented by inspiring culinary journeys that offer the best of Latin American cuisine, prepared with the fresh, natural ingredients that are so plentiful in this region of Costa Rica.
THE WELL at Hacienda AltaGracia will offer East-meets-West healing practices, expert-led health coaching and workshops, and transformative spa treatments. As the first international destination of THE WELL, the resort will introduce Talamancan healing traditions, bringing advanced therapies to life and integrating local healing traditions.
Each wellness experience will begin at Casa de Agua, a greenhouse-style pool and therapy room with heated stone beds for natural clay treatments and relaxation, overlooking the hills and treetop canopy. Treatments will incorporate the land such as THE WELL River Bath, a transformative journey that takes place in a massage bed embedded within the Calientillo River.
THE WELL at Hacienda AltaGracia will have eight treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy tub and a thermal suite for integrative mind and body treatments. A combination of high-tech and "age-old" techniques result in a diverse offering ranging from crafted treatments—such as Maderoterapia, or "wood therapy"—to Celluma Light Therapy and Infrared Cabins. Multiple ranchos will play host to outdoor mindful movement classes and seasonal retreats.
Experiences, On Site and Off
At El Rio, the resort’s built-in playground, guests will explore the local flora and fauna across miles of hiking trails, experience a natural bath in the Calientillo River, or climb among the tallest trees in the property’s tropical forest in search of epic views from a hidden canopy.
Home to a variety of indigenous Costa Rican horses, Los Establos is the central hub for the resort’s equine program, which includes experiences such as Talamancan Mountain riding excursions, riding lessons and cutting-edge equine therapy.
For epicurean lovers, the property will provide a variety of culinary activities, including chef-led foraging expeditions, culinary workshops and a coffee tour and tasting on the resort’s coffee plantation. Community immersions—such as lunch at a neighboring farm, where local proprietors treat guests to a traditional home-cooked Costa Rican meal around their family table—will provide guests with insight into the local way of life.
For those looking to discover even more of Costa Rica, Hacienda AltaGracia will offer day adventures and journeys to some of the most infrequently visited parts of the country. Led by expert naturists, guests will be taken to lesser-travelled, biodiverse regions of the country, with opportunities including access to Mount Chirripó, the highest point in Costa Rica where you can view both the Pacific and Caribbean Oceans, the untouched beaches of Dominical and Uvita, and Osa Peninsula, which has some of the greatest biodiversity found anywhere in the world. Guests will also be able to partake in ecological adventures through national parks, cultural immersions in the "Blue Zone," snorkeling, and diving outings in the Pacific Ocean.
Culinary and Accommodations
Drawing from ancient culinary influences and the bounty of El Cultivo, the chef’s organic garden, each of the resort’s dining venues will offer a chance to discover Latin America’s epicurean pleasures. The resort will also showcase ancestral cooking techniques and preservation styles, highlighting Hacienda AltaGracia’s commitment to sustainability.
At Grano, Hacienda AltaGracia’s signature restaurant, the gastronomical experience will highlight the culinary team’s connection to the land, penchant for experimentation and talent for creating rustic plates influenced by generational recipes and the flavors of Central America. Adjacent to the chef’s garden, the kitchen will act as a chef’s laboratory, with a focus on whole ingredients and menus adapted to the season.
The heart of Cienfuegos will be the open-fire grill, where an array of dishes from land and sea are cooked over a dried coconut husk fire. Food will be served family-style as guests enjoy a traditional Costa Rican horse show right from their tables, offering an evening of cuisine and entertainment.
At Picoteo, the resort’s poolside eatery, a menu of fresh and light offerings will be available. Located by the adults-only pool, Las Brisas, will be a laidback rancho bar.
At the heart of the resort is Mercado, a coffee bar which will draw from the surroundings of the coffee plantation. Mercado will offer an array of options, including the typical chorreador (a coffee making device used in Costa Rica), as well as an all-day menu with grab-and-go items from breakfast pastries to charcuterie and craft beer. The adjoining retail shop will stock artisanal snacks and other curated items from sustainable, local brands.
New York-based designer Nina Gotlieb has designed the interiors of the property’s hacienda-style casitas. Select room styles have private plunge pools and stone terraces with panoramic views of the San Isidro Valley or the on-site coffee plantation. Each casita will be tended to by a Compa, a dedicated liaison and experience designer, who will provide guests with personalized itineraries and unparalleled service throughout their stay.
Access
Accessible via international airports in San José or Liberia, connecting flights are available via private or scheduled charter, landing directly on the property’s airstrip or at Pérez Zeledón airport with a 40-minute vehicle transfer to the resort. Private vehicle transfers via a mountain or ocean route are also available, offering a scenic drive through the majestic Costa Rican countryside.
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