For years, luxury travel destinations have catered to guests seeking to boost wellness while on vacation. Today, that desire for wellness has graduated—travelers don’t just want to feel better now, they want to extend their healthy lifespan.
Enter the growing trend of “longevity travel,” where luxury destinations make intentional choices designed to support wellness for years to come, focusing on elements such as social connection, presence in nature, restorative sleep, and opportunities for movement that have been scientifically proven to extend our healthy years of life.
The properties highlighted below are creating opportunities for slower travel, deep personal connections, grounding in nature, and passive wellness.
While I haven’t personally experienced them yet, I have indeed been to Asa Wright Nature Centre in Trinidad. It was many years ago, but I can attest that it’s a lovely property that has long been beloved by birdwatchers. The other three properties listed here are in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica
Uniquely positioned at the juxtaposition of a preserved dwarf forest and hidden thermal canyon, Rio Perdido guests enjoy longevity boosts each time they breathe in the property’s hyper-oxygenated air or bathe in the healing waters of the ancient mineral-rich pools.
However, knowing that quality sleep is crucial for living a long and healthy life, the team recently debuted a new group of stilted, forest guest bungalows uniquely designed for sleep support. These accommodations offer absolute privacy, expansive views of nature, and a biophilic design that mimics natural environments and uses natural materials, helping enhance and improve sleep along with overall well-being.
Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa, Arenal Region
A key tenet of longevity travel, particularly in the luxury space, is that guests need guidance when it comes to maximizing the wellness offerings available at any given resort. At Tabacón, nestled in Costa Rica’s northern rainforest at the base of Arenal Volcano, guests have the opportunity to enjoy the healing power of bathing in the country’s largest network of naturally flowing, volcano-heated hot springs.
While hydrotherapy can offer many unique health benefits, it’s not always clear how to get the most out of immersive experiences. To that end, the team at Tabacón offers a Balneotherapy Concierge program to inform guests of the thermal spring’s healing potential and to guide them through best practices that will maximize the benefits of these therapeutic waters.
Primed for longevity travelers due to its location in one of the world’s rare Blue Zones—where residents enjoy unprecedented wellness and longevity—the team at Nantipa runs a Blue Wellness program that promotes daily practices linked to longevity and health, including diet, exercise, social connections, and environmental respect.
Key features of the experience include traditional dining menus highlighting local grains, eggs, produce, and dairy products to deliver a nutrient-rich source of minerals and vitamins; volunteering experiences at a local turtle hatchery; and the Blue Mind experience that guides guests to harness water’s restorative powers through sound, sight, smell, and ingestion.
Trinidad & Tobago
HADCO Experiences at Asa Wright Nature Centre and Mt. Plaisir Estate Hotel, Arima and Grand Riviere
Having a sense of purpose has been identified as a key element of longevity, and guests of HADCO Experiences at both of their flagship properties find said purpose in their commitment to the practice of regenerative tourism.
Stays with HADCO support initiatives such as a solar panel project at HADCO Experiences at Asa Wright Nature Centre that supplies 80% of the property’s energy needs; efforts to protect the leatherback turtle by installing turtle-friendly red lights in and around Mt. Plaisir Estate hotel; and at both Green Key certified properties, initiatives that support and strengthen the local communities, including sourcing produce, seafood, and goods from local vendors, hiring locally, partnering with community organizations, supporting nature tour guides, and refurbishing public spaces.
Melanie Votaw is the Publisher and Executive Travel Writer of LuxuryWeb Magazine. She has visited more than 50 countries on 6 continents and written for such magazines as Executive Travel, Just Luxe, Business Insider, South China Morning Post, Travel Mindset, and more. She is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, New York Travel Writers Association, and International Travel Writers Alliance. Melanie's photography has won awards, and she has also written 43 nonfiction books as either the author or ghostwriter.
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