Rest & Restore: A Seven-Day Nervous System Reset in the Costa Rican Jungle

Hacienda del Sol sits on a quiet stretch of jungle in San Juanillo, on Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula, five minutes from the beach and deliberately off the beaten path. The property is small and private, with individual bungalows, and the week follows one framework the team calls the 8 Element Method, Life Nutrition for the Nervous System™. Practically, that means daily yoga and movement classes, guided time in nature, restorative bodywork, and three meals a day plus fresh-pressed juices, all made by an on-site chef. Some ingredients come straight from the property's own garden.

A typical day starts with movement, then breakfast, then either a guided nature outing or a restorative treatment. Afternoons are open for the pool, reading, or a walk to the beach. Dinner is chef-made and served on-site. One-on-one support is available throughout the week, and guests are asked to share their health history during booking so the team can tailor the programme.

The setting matters here. This is a remote, peaceful part of Costa Rica about three hours from major medical facilities, which the team frames as part of what makes the land feel restorative. It's quiet and safe, and the aim is for guests to arrive depleted and leave feeling like themselves again. There is nothing to manage — meals, movement, bodywork, and accommodation are all handled.

What separates this from a standard wellness resort week is the level of personal attention. Group sizes are kept small, the bungalows are private, and the programme is adjusted based on the health history you provide. If you're weighing this against a larger retreat, the trade-off is intimacy and quiet over variety and nightlife — there isn't much of either here, by design.

The team is based on-site year-round and runs multiple retreat formats under the same method, so the 8 Element framework is consistent across weeks rather than improvised per group. San Juanillo itself is a small fishing village with a calm swimming beach, a handful of sodas and restaurants, and not much else. That's the point.

What's included

- 7 nights in your own private bungalow - Daily yoga and movement classes - Chef-made meals, three times a day - Fresh-pressed juices - Restorative bodywork sessions - Guided time in nature - One-on-one expert support and guidance - Produce grown and picked fresh on the property - Use of the pool and grounds

What's not included

- Flights to and from Costa Rica - Airport transfers (confirm with the team) - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Additional spa or bodywork treatments beyond those scheduled - Alcoholic drinks - Gratuities