The Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León is not the only person to go in search of the fountain of eternal youth. By his very nature, mankind has tried to prolong the vigor and energy of his early years and do whatever it takes to achieve that. Three destinations offer themselves in the search to make this dream a reality.
The first of these is in Central America, more specifically in the leading ecotourism paradise of this part of the world, Costa Rica. It is the Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge and its objective is basically to restore the energy of youth through contact with nature.
This is not such a hard thing to do in Playa Nicuesa, as it is built in the middle of 4,856 hectares of tropical forest, forming part of the Piedras Blancas National Park which is subject to the strictest standards of environmental protection. Visitors to the Lodge are therefore bound to look after the surrounding ecosystem, but are also equally bound to absorb the many benefits that this has to offer.
This can take various different forms. One of these is to enjoy Playa Nicuesa’s open air activities. There is nothing better for recouping the strength of your youth than crossing the blue waters of Golfo Dulce where the lodge is located, on board a kayak. Or you can surf or go deep sea fishing on these same waters.
The list of activities is further augmented by yoga classes based on the teachings of Iyengar, Kripalu and Kundalini Yoga. Guests are thus able to explore their bodies through the connection between breathing and movement, while building suppleness and strength. The third option is through the food served at Playa Nicuesa: all meals are prepared using fruits from these same tropical forests, and are therefore always fresh and healthy.
The second recommended destination is the Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Colorado (United States). This is a property covering more than 2,000 hectares, where visitors can experience the lifestyle of the old west, with all the comforts of a modern hotel.
However in addition to the various activities on offer on the ranch itself, including the legendary cavalcades, visitors in search of the treasure of eternal youth will be most interested in the spa.
This facility opened its doors as recently as 2007, but has quickly captured the attention of lovers of wellbeing, with the variety of its treatments. Visitors can enjoy a “Stampede” massage, with the curative benefits of arnica oil to relieve pain and muscle stiffness. Equally famous are its massages using hot stones which relieve tension and promote relaxation, and the Rocky Mountain Rain Therapy, consisting of nine essential oils in their purist form applied to the spine, in order to strengthen the immune system and reinvigorate the body.
The United States is also the home of the third recommended destination in the search for eternal youth. We are referring to the Tassajara Mountain Center in California, a long established Buddhist center, which for the three months of summer each year opens its doors to visitors, so they can enjoy some of their ancestral practices.
This is when westerners get the chance to use a Japanese style bathroom, and benefit from the curative and restorative properties of the water. They can also use the Zen meditation rooms, where the center’s residents who are masters in the subject, are always available for advice. These facilities are complemented by the restaurants that only serve vegetarian food. After all the objective is to free the body and spirit from all the toxins that have lead to their deterioration, and only healthy food can help achieve this objective.
If you want to enjoy any of these retreats, visit the following web pages: www.playanicuesa.com, www.devilsthumbranch.com and www.sfzc.org/tassajara for information about rates and to make reservations. Once you have planned your trip, prepare for an experience that will allow you to turn back time, and regain the vigor and energy of your youth that maybe you thought you had lost. |
)
)
)
