Tucked away in a quiet corner of El Mangroove Hotel Guanacaste in Costa Rica is a unique space with a distinctive design inspired by its environment: the Bearth Spa. Here, at El Mangroove, architecture is meant to take backstage, framing the natural elements and the breathtaking majesty of the mangrove forest that surrounds it.
Set on the Gulf of Papagayo’s Playa Panama shore, the hotel was designed to blend into the surrounding landscape. Speaking about the initial concept, the property owner, Andres Pacheco, shared that being conscious of the location was their biggest concern. The existing forest, with its enormous and beautiful mangrove trees, demanded respect. “I wanted to do the type of architecture that would exist behind the scenes,” added architect Ronald Zurcher, “we tried to be very, very simple with it so as not to compete with the natural beauty of the place.”
Gulf Of Papagayo, Guanacaste Province
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
The Bearth Spa at the El Mangroove. Photos by Kateryna Topol
In the heart of the resort is a black-tiled pool facing the beach, bustling with lively people, music, and the ambient noise of the restaurants. But with a short walk inland, the noise fades into the distance as your eyes meet the open-air entrance into the spa.
A calm and friendly smile welcomes guests, and after a quick guided tour, a glass door opens to reveal a secluded garden. An oval-shaped marsh greets you silently. An elevated zigzagged bamboo path leads to a row of pristine massage cabanas, white curtains gently flowing in the wind. In the dry season, walking two feet above ground feels like floating. In the rainy season, it must feel like walking on water. Gasping in astonishment might feel like the most natural reaction at first glance.
Time slows down in the garden, evoking feelings of peace and serenity. The tranquil atmosphere is amplified by the soothing sounds of flowing water and the subtle movement of greenery. Tall trees create distance between the four cabanas, placed far enough to ensure privacy. Each cabana, built from sustainable materials, is covered by a wide-cap roof. Looking at it from afar, you can almost imagine the rain melodically tapping it during the green season, naturally creating therapeutic ambient noise. Today, on a hot and sunny day, the sounds of moving leaves and tiny wildlife hidden in the green set an equally peaceful scene.
Costa Rica is home to an extraordinary variety of flora and fauna, much of which lives at this resort. Native lush vegetation is the primary building block of the Bearth Spa. A field of grassy vetiver carpets the area, growing tall along the pathways. Majestic guanacaste trees are set in line between the cabanas, shading the area from the heavy winds and the bright sun. Tall, luscious Bromelia karatas plants line the edges mixed with a few seagrape bushes, shiny pearl bunches peeking through.
The spa takes a Renaissance approach, facilitating a “rebirth of body and mind”. The goal is to rejuvenate physically and spiritually using traditional healing techniques with a few modern touches. Each treatment is accompanied by organic, locally sourced ingredients like seaweed, coffee, and tropical fruits in the form of scrabs, oils, and lotions. The services in the garden area of the spa are limited to classic massages enriched by essential oils that amplify natural scents. Guests looking for full body wraps, masks, and skin quenches are treated in private suites inside with access to an individual spa shower.
Each outdoor cabana has a single massage bed, and during the treatment, all but one curtain are drawn, framing a picture window into nature. As your head and body rest on the soft bed, a fresh breeze circulates throughout the space while the tropical wind gently brushes against your skin.
This immersive experience is in perfect synergy with nature. Behind resting eyelids, butterflies and crustaceans rustle in the leaves, birds chirp and whistle up in the trees. Even for those struggling to relax, the meditative state might come naturally while expert hands work away your troubles one lomi-lomi movement at a time. Waking from this experience is reminiscent of waking from a restful dream, renewed and refreshed, both body and mind.
Keep exploring Costa Rica
Álula Mag