Modern US wellness brand The Well is set to open its first international holistic wellbeing retreat outside of the US at the Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection, located in the foothills of Costa Rica’s Talamanca Mountains.
Adopting an integrated holistic approach, the spa will sit within a 180-acre resort – offering 50 Hacienda-style villa accommodations – which also encompasses a working coffee farm, organic vegetable gardens and horse stables.
The Well at Hacienda Alta Gracia will open in November and join the brand’s existing portfolio of two US destinations; its flagship New York location and its
latest opening in Connecticut.
Speaking exclusively to
Spa Business, The Well revealed that the upcoming retreat will mark the start of its strategic global expansion plan that includes a second location in Central America as well as destinations in Florida, California, Texas, Colorado and the UK.
After 12 months of construction, the 20,000sq ft (1,858sq m) wellness facility will launch with eight treatment rooms, supplied by Living Earth Crafts, Celluma and Hyperice.
The Well’s former director of programming Emily Johnson has been appointed as the resort’s director of wellness and programming.
Programming will range from rituals inspired by Central American rituals incorporating local flowers and herbs to craniosacral therapy, as well as binaural sound therapy, night-time astrology sessions, yoga, forest-bathing and high-tech touchless technology to foster recovery.
Spa treatments will incorporate products from skincare brand Ayuna and The Well's own in-house line, as well as local products from Costa Rica sourced for the destination.
The Well has also curated a selection of restorative activities for guests, such as Equine Therapy, Lunar Gong Baths and Silent Breakfasts, to help them connect to Hacienda AltaGracia’s core philosophy; community-oriented, a sense of belonging and learning unites visitors and locals.
To complete the offering, The Well's certified health coaches will be on hand to educate and support guests toward their individual health and wellness goals.
Coaches will conduct a thorough health history intake with guests before creating a personalised experience that can include recommendations for mindful movement classes, specialised appointments with practitioners, dietary support and integrated treatments and programmes.
All wellness journeys at the retreat will begin at its Casa de Agua, the location’s green-house style pool and heat therapy room overlooking rolling hills and lush green tree-top canopies.
Here, guests will be welcomed with a signature five-step purifying ritual to prepare them to receive the benefits of their selected therapy.
The ritual will begin with guests massaging hand-harvested plant-based Costa Rican clay into their skin before reclining on a heated stone lounger and sipping hot herbal tea while looking across the Talamanca Mountains.
Next, they’ll visit the experience shower to wash off the clay and activate the five senses to prepare them for a soothing soak in a tranquillity pool complete with gooseneck water jets to massage the neck and shoulders.
Guests will then experience the lavender-scented aromatherapy steamroom, followed by the sauna and then a final experience shower ritual before their treatment.
The Well at Hacienda’s AltaGracia’s spa facilities will also encompass a hydrotherapy tub, thermal suite, curated retail experience and multiple ranchos for outdoor mindful movement classes.
Architecture and design firm Arconsa helped supply the spa’s wet and thermal facilities while interior designer Nina Gotlieb designed the space. The spa’s retail experience was designed by School House.
