In search of eternal youth, I traveled to Hacienda AltaGracia in Costa Rica's Pérez Zeledón valley - a Blue Zone known for its exceptionally long-lived residents. The invitation to experience the Estée Lauder Skin Longevity Institute at this Auberge Collection property was met with polite suspicion. After all, I had always believed that longevity came from living life fully, not by following some formula.
Upon arrival, I found myself enveloped in a clean and fresh air that seemed almost otherworldly. The resort's Casa de Agua spa housed the Skin Longevity Institute, where 15 years of research into the secrets of aging had yielded a patented technology. But it was the land itself that did all the work before any brand even arrived.
My visit coincided with a weekly dinner at Cienfuegos, where meat was cooked over coconut husk flames while horses performed a rodeo in an adjacent ring. It was there that I met Rebecca Gordon, an astrologer who brought her expertise to Hacienda AltaGracia's rotating Masters in Residence program.
Gordon led us through a private question and threw dice with numbers that supposedly held the answer. The next morning, she delivered a full year-ahead analysis from an outdoor yoga pavilion. Her forecast was both surprising and reassuring - a banner financial year ahead, a February eclipse cracking open new income, and a seven-year cycle of health reinvention.
I also met Joomee Song, a celebrity facialist whose Kaika method began with diagnosing chronic jaw tension that compresses the lymphatic system, the face's only drainage mechanism. Her treatment released years of stored tension, leaving me feeling genuinely rested and slimmer.
The food at Hacienda AltaGracia was tied to this philosophy - every dish arriving from a specific hillside, pickled, fermented, or grilled over wood. Grano, the signature restaurant, served plates that tasted like they came directly from the earth. This kitchen understood good food as a form of respect, not a luxury.
For those who have tried everything and still sense something essential has been missing, Hacienda AltaGracia offers an experience unlike any other. Here, you can let your face be restored by a facialist and your year illuminated by an astrologer, all while savoring food that tastes like it's never been anywhere else. It's not about finding the secret to eternal youth but rather about beginning again, with a newfound appreciation for life itself.
Upon arrival, I found myself enveloped in a clean and fresh air that seemed almost otherworldly. The resort's Casa de Agua spa housed the Skin Longevity Institute, where 15 years of research into the secrets of aging had yielded a patented technology. But it was the land itself that did all the work before any brand even arrived.
My visit coincided with a weekly dinner at Cienfuegos, where meat was cooked over coconut husk flames while horses performed a rodeo in an adjacent ring. It was there that I met Rebecca Gordon, an astrologer who brought her expertise to Hacienda AltaGracia's rotating Masters in Residence program.
Gordon led us through a private question and threw dice with numbers that supposedly held the answer. The next morning, she delivered a full year-ahead analysis from an outdoor yoga pavilion. Her forecast was both surprising and reassuring - a banner financial year ahead, a February eclipse cracking open new income, and a seven-year cycle of health reinvention.
I also met Joomee Song, a celebrity facialist whose Kaika method began with diagnosing chronic jaw tension that compresses the lymphatic system, the face's only drainage mechanism. Her treatment released years of stored tension, leaving me feeling genuinely rested and slimmer.
The food at Hacienda AltaGracia was tied to this philosophy - every dish arriving from a specific hillside, pickled, fermented, or grilled over wood. Grano, the signature restaurant, served plates that tasted like they came directly from the earth. This kitchen understood good food as a form of respect, not a luxury.
For those who have tried everything and still sense something essential has been missing, Hacienda AltaGracia offers an experience unlike any other. Here, you can let your face be restored by a facialist and your year illuminated by an astrologer, all while savoring food that tastes like it's never been anywhere else. It's not about finding the secret to eternal youth but rather about beginning again, with a newfound appreciation for life itself.
and I am totally obsessed! They're all about living life to the fullest and finding balance within yourself 
. The way they incorporate nature and wellness into their entire experience is literally genius 
. From their patented skincare tech to their astrologer-led readings, it's like a holistic retreat for your mind, body, and soul 
. And let's not forget about the food - I mean, who needs fancy restaurants when you can have plates that taste like they're straight from the earth? 
The vibe is so chill and inviting, it makes me wanna book a trip ASAP 
. Has anyone else heard of this place or is it just some hidden gem? 
. I mean, who needs a spa day when you can just drink your way to glowing skin? 
Living in a Blue Zone is like living proof that you don't need fancy formulas to live a long and happy life. The food there sounds amazing too - who knew eating locally sourced, pickled, and fermented could be so satisfying? 
It's all about slowing down and appreciating the little things, I think. My kid would love the spa services they have there, especially that facialist who helped you release stored tension! 
I don't need some astrologer or facialist telling me how to live my life... although, I guess the avocado toast at Grano looks pretty good 
.
I'd totally book a spot there ASAP! 
The idea that good food is a form of respect, not just a luxury, is also something I'm all for. 
Have you guys ever tried eating at restaurants where the chefs are super passionate about their craft? It makes all the difference in the taste, right? 
. I mean, paying thousands of dollars to have some astrologer tell you about your future and a facialist magically fix your jaw tension? No thanks 
Give me a good old-fashioned diner any day of the week 
.