What a week in Costa Rica does to the body
- Volcano and rainforest hikes: calves, quads and glutes after steep, uneven trails
- Surfing: shoulders, upper back and neck from paddling, plus the lower back from popping up
- Zip lines and canopy tours: grip, forearms and shoulders, and a stiff neck from the harness
- Golf: rotation through the lower back and hips, and one tight shoulder
- Long drives: hours on mountain roads load the lower back, the hips and the shoulders that hold the wheel
- Packs and boards: uneven loads on one shoulder and the neck
The closest thing to a sports massage
We do not list a separate sports massage; the closest match on our menu is deep tissue massage: firm pressure, slow work on knots and trigger points, forearms and elbows along the big muscles of the legs and back. Tell the therapist what you have been doing and the session is built around it, with more time on the calves and quads after a hike, or on the shoulders and upper back after surfing.
Does a sports-style massage have to hurt? No. Firm pressure on worked muscles feels intense, and tender spots will make themselves known, but you should be able to breathe through it. Pressure is adjusted the moment you ask. A bit of soreness the next day is normal; sharp pain is not.
Thai stretches and the combination
If the problem is stiffness more than knots, Thai massage stretches the hips, hamstrings, back and shoulders through compression and acupressure, done without oil in loose clothing, and leaves the legs feeling longer and freer. The Best Combination is a good choice when you are undecided: deep tissue where the muscles are tight, Thai stretches for the hips and legs and relaxation strokes to finish. All three come in 60, 90 or 120 minutes; after several days of activity, 90 minutes gives the legs and the back enough time each.
Where and when
Most trips start and end in the Central Valley, and that is where we are: the spa in Plaza Río Segundo, Alajuela, is about 15 minutes from SJO Airport, so a recovery massage fits on the last afternoon before flying home or on a flight day before a late departure; see massage near SJO Airport. We also come to hotels, Airbnbs and villas across Alajuela, Heredia, San José and Escazú with a table, linens and oils. At the spa, 60 minutes of deep tissue or Best Combination is $55 / ₡25,000 and Thai is $80 / ₡35,000; at your hotel it is $90 / ₡45,000 for deep tissue or Best Combination and $100 / ₡50,000 for Thai, travel included, nothing to add. Friends travelling together can be massaged at the same time at the spa, 3 to 5 people with their own therapists.