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Costa Rica Spas & Other Workouts Across Costa Rica

Costa Rica Spas & Other Workouts Across Costa Rica. Nothern Zone's Arenal Volcano, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park, Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, Guanacaste's playa Ocotal and Papagayo area as well as Central Pacific town of Jaco and Manuel Antonio, offer a variety of Costa Rica Spa treatments you'll want to enjoy during your vacation.

Although Costa Rica still doesn't have any world-class destination spas, the conditions here are ripe, and some early efforts are beginning to mature and flourish. I expect the trend to boom here in the coming years.

Hotel Borinquen, Canas Dulces (tel. 690-1900), located on the flanks of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park in Costa Rica's Northern Zone, has the setting, natural hot springs, volcanic mud pots, and luxurious accommodations to be a world-class destination spa. However, they've so far been unable to get the spa operation up to snuff.

The Four Seasons Resort (tel. 800/819-5053 in the U.S. or 696-0098) on the Papagayo Peninsula in the Guanacaste province, Nicoya Peninsula, has raised the bar on resort spa experiences in Costa Rica. This new luxury resort has ample facilities and treatment options, as well as regularly scheduled classes in yoga, aerobics, and other disciplines.

Fusion Natural Spa, Playa Ocotal, in the Guanacaste region, Nicoya Peninsula (tel. 670-0914), is a day spa that offers a wide range of massage, aromatherapy, body-wrap, and exfoliating treatments. Half, full, and multi-day packages are available.

Occidental El Tucano  in Costa Rica's Northern Zone, (tel. 460-6000), the oldest full-service spa facility in Costa Rica, offers a wide range of treatments in a lush forested setting, with natural hot springs. It's located near Arenal Volcano National Park and La Fortuna.

Samasati, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca (tel. 800/563-9643 in the U.S. or 750-0315), is a lovely yoga retreat in some dense forest on a hillside above the Caribbean. Accommodations here range from budget to rustically luxurious.

Serenity Spa (tel. 643-4094) started out with a little storefront spa in Costa Rica's Central Pacific surfing town of Jaco Beach, but now contracts out the spa services at several large resorts up and down the Pacific coast. At last count, it was running the spas at the Marriott Los Suenos, Villas Caletas, Hotel Sí Como No, Hotel Club del Mar, Villablanca, and the San Jose Marriott (Central Valley), plus its original location in Jaco Beach.

Sueno Azul Resort, Las Horquetas de Sarapiquí,  in Costa Rica's Northern Zone, (tel. 764-4244), is a nature lodge and retreat center with a wonderful setting at the juncture of two rivers. They have regular programs and retreats.

Tabacon Hot Springs Resort & Spa, Tabacon  in Costa Rica's Northern Zone, (tel. 877/277-8291 in the U.S. and Canada or 256-1500), is a top-notch little spa with spectacular hot springs, lush gardens, and Arenal volcano view. A complete range of spa services and treatments are available at reasonable prices. The only downside here is that the volume of daily traffic to the hot springs themselves robs the place of the serenity one would want in a true Costa Rica Spa destination.

Xandari Resort & Spa, Alajuela (Central Valley) (tel. 800/686-7879 in the U.S. or 443-2020), is a unique and distinctive little luxury hotel that has recently added on some top-notch spa facilities and services. This is a good choice if you're looking for a day or two of pampering, or for day treatments while staying in Costa Rica's capital San Jose.