The word wellness has been thrown around a lot in recent years. It is defined as “the act of practising healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical and mental health outcomes”. Whilst we can all agree that healthy eating, exercise, and enjoying the outdoors help with wellness, beyond that, it can become difficult to pinpoint what it means, as it varies from person to person.
I went to Puerto Rico, a Caribbean island destination to reconnect with my wellness and to discover what it truly means to me. My first point of call was Discover Puerto Rico, the island’s official marketing organisation, which is charged with promoting the long-term economic development of all 78 Puerto Rican provinces.
My wellness journey began in Rio Grande, which translates to “Great River” in the east region of the island. A 40 minute drive from the airport, with a population of roughly 55,000, it is a region well-known for its breathtaking mountains, waterfalls, scenic views and the El Yunque rainforest.
This part of the island has some of the most luxurious hotels and the St Regis Bahia Beach Resort is no exception. What better way to start my wellness retreat than in an exotic escape hidden within a tropical forest. The St Regis is a luxurious property set within 500-acres, along a mile of golden beach, which features two golf courses and three swimming pools.The hotel embodies what comes to mind when you think of Puerto Rico. It has natural wildlife, lush greenery, winding wooden paths through perfectly manicured gardens that lead you to the two mile long sandy beach, and the feeling of being completely cut off from the outside world.
The hotel is built on a former sugar cane and coconut plantation, and the neoclassical architectural style is very evident when you step into the property. Originally opened in 2010, the hotel underwent a $60 million renovation following Hurricane Maria, before reopening in 2018. The hotel’s rooms were designed by acclaimed local designer Nono Maldonado, in dolphin-grey and sand dollar white in a chic, modern aesthetic which was inspired by the sea. Rooms are spacious and tastefully designed with custom furnishings, and a colour palette of white with ocean blues touches. I stayed in a Deluxe King room with a large marble soaking bathtub, a room sized rain shower, dual vanity sinks, with sliding glass doors to a sizeable terrace overlooking the gardens.
Spa and Fitness
The St Regis’s 10,000 square foot Iridium spa is the perfect place to indulge in a range of treatments for your body and to rejuvenate. Treatments on the menu include facials, messages, manicures, pedicures, jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms. The spa offers bespoke spa services with tailored treatments for your individual needs and what is described as ‘transformative skincare products’, which are produced using local ingredients. The massage villas incorporate rum, coffee and tropical fruits into their treatments.
For guests who want to enjoy more active pursuits, they have access to the Robert Trent Jones Jr.–designed golf course, tennis courts, state-of-the-art gym with trainer-guided classes, and on-site activities which include nature walks, a jogging trail, paddle boarding, kayaking, pilates and yoga classes with the in-house instructor.
Dining at the St Regis
There are two main restaurants at the St Regis; Paros which overlooks the Ocean is an upscale Mediterranean Greek restaurant with a Caribbean flair. The taverna-style restaurant is known for its standout signature Caribbean lobster rice rice amongst other specialties of fresh seafood and steak and wide variety of Greek wines and house cocktails such as Thunderbolt.
Seagrapes is the more casual, poolside dining option. The bistro-style dining serves sharing dishes, pizzas. Steak and pasta dishes are inspired by island flavours and are enjoyed outdoors by the pool overlooking the ocean. “The Long Awaited Voyage," a mural by local artist Arnaldo Roche Rabell, stands overlooking the lobby bar following restoration after hurricane damage. The stand-out cocktail is the local take on the bloody Mary, a cocktail which was originally created at the St Regis in New York, served with crushed plantain chips.
In the evenings, guests can enjoy the evening Champagne sabering, a regular occurrence at St. Regis properties all over the world.
For travellers who prefer to be in the middle of the action and close to nightlife, La Concha Resort is a great option. It is a beach-front hotel situated in the heart of San Juan, 2 km from the Puerto Rican Art Museum and 18 km from Castillo San Cristobal, the 18th century fortress. La Concha, which means the shell in English, is an architectural landmark that seems to be connected to the beating heart of the city. The lobby is always busy with guests checking in or out, enjoying a meal in its restaurant and coming and going from the beach or the pool. The buzzing vibe starts in the day and carries over at night when the lobby becomes a hip bar welcoming guests and visitors alike.
The hotel is enjoying somewhat of a revival following a complete renovation in 2019. The original hotel, which was designed by Osvaldo Toro and Miguel Ferrer, opened in 1958 and was considered one of the coolest hotels in Puerto Rico at the time. However, following a period of decline and abandonment, with a possible demolition on the cards, the Renaissance Hotel group took over the hotel and brought in Architect José R. Marchand and designer Jorge Rosselló to redesign the hotel. The signature seashell-shaped floating venue designed by architect Mario Salvatori was celebrated for its innovative design and engineering.
La Concha resort brings the island’s tropical features into the building. From the outside, you are faced with its concrete facade and as soon as you stop into the lobby, you are met with an open space, with the lobby bar in the middle and the reception desk tucked away on the right. You can move seamlessly through the lobby to the pool and beach area before taking the lift up to your room.
The compact retro-style rooms come with flat-screen TVs with cable channels, coffee makers, and iPod docks. Most of the rooms include an outdoor balcony with ocean views. Junior suites have pull-out sofas and Suites have a separate living room area. The hotel offers holiday packages for friends and couples getaway and celebrations. It included credit for dinner in one of their restaurants, a bottle of fizz upon arrival and a breakfast buffet depending on the package. Other guest amenities include a 24-hour casino, two pools and a fitness centre.
Wellness Program
The hotel has a dedicated on-site wellness instructor and fitness centre for guests who want to recharge and connect with their wellness. The wellness instructor can compile a dedicated offering based on your individual needs and her signature program is one-to-one underwater yoga which takes place in a designated private area away from other guests so you can focus on your wellbeing. The goal of the program is to allow guests to experience wellness with a mixture of programs for mental and physical balance.
Dining at La Concha
La Concha has seven restaurants which are open on different days and times, offering a variety of cuisines for their international guests. Aroma Cafe is a lobby bar open daily from 6am-11am. Guests going on day trips or catching early flights can grab a quick bite, coffee and juices or enjoy a hearty breakfast. Serafina offers a unique take on traditional Italian cuisine with pasta and pizza dishes and serves weekend brunches with a great collection of cocktails.
Komakai is a sushi bar located in the hotel lobby which serves sushi, sashimi and traditional and signature rolls. Solera is a sophisticated, multi-level open-air poolside restaurant with seating and casual tropical style lounge areas. The Loft Beachfront serves classic brunch dishes such as pancakes, french toast and omelettes.
Food is an important part of my wellness journey and Puerto Rico is an island well-known for its culinary delights and specialised national dishes. Puerto Rican cuisine, known by locals as cocina criolla, is as diverse as the island’s history. The island was colonised by the Spanish, who brought enslaved Africans to work the plantation fields, and was acquired by the U.S in 1898 following the Spanish-American war.
The Spanish brought wheat, rice and olive oil, its African enslaved workers introduced cooking techniques and Americans have also influenced the cuisine, all of which are evident in the diversity and variety you see today.
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To enjoy the tastes of Puerto Rico whilst learning about the architecture, historical landmarks and history, I took part in a walking food tour in Old San Juan. It lasts about 3 hours and takes you around the old town, stopping at six different restaurants with an expert guide and true “SanJuanero”, native who narrates throughout the tour, providing valuable information and insight into the island’s cuisine. Each stop is different with a “must eat cuisine”, local origin coffee and pastry, passion fruit ice lolly, tapas style bites, mofongo and rice as well as a dessert stop. It is a unique opportunity to experience the tastes and sights of the Old Town, as you stroll the cobblestone streets in a small group.
The Eclipse experience is described as “an eclectic fusion of Caribbean cuisine with Puerto Rican undertones”. This award winning restaurant, situated inside the Villa Montana Beach Resort is headed by Puerto Rican Chef Rafael Grau, is a winner of the 2022 Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. All ingredients are sourced locally from farmers and local growers, using organic produce, organic meats and freshly caught seafood off the coast.
It offers a boho-vibe with rustic industrial pieces, antique silverware, vintage driftwood tables, against the backdrop of ocean views. Guests can enjoy traditional Neapolitan wood-fired pizza made in a wood burning oven. On the Brunch menu are oysters, pancakes, buttermilk waffles, smoked salmon, stuffed French toast and pasta and meat dishes. On offer is a wide selection of wines, champagnes and cocktails.
Iguana Cocina Puertorriqueña, a restaurant, inside the Rio Mar Country Club, serves authentic Puerto Rican cuisine in a cosy setting. With amazing views overlooking the rainforest and River course, it was a great option for a hearty, home-cooked style dish with amazing scenery. On the menu for starters are fried local cheeses, beer battered salmon, garlic shrimps and slow-cooked pork belly. Mains include traditional arroz con pollo, Caribbean lobster, steaks and organic chicken breast and pork belly. There is also a variety of cocktails including, Puerto Rican haze, Iguanas punch and cucumber martini as well as the signature, Pina colada.
Sail Getaways is a charter company that allows guests to enjoy a private or public boat charter to a variety of trips around Puerto Rico. Each vessel has custom comfortable seating, shaded and open spaces and dry storage on the boat for comfort. The captain and crew are experienced and all vessels are U.S Coast Guard certified and carry a maximum of 26 passengers.
I joined a public charter with international guests on a snorkelling day trip to Culebra. Culebra is a small island on the east coast of Puerto Rico, well-known for its pristine sandy white sand beaches and clear waters. It is surrounded by twenty cayes and underwater landscapes making it an ideal destination for snorkelers and divers. As the island is sparsely populated, it is a great place to disconnect from the day-to-day, without the distraction of phones as there is no wifi access. The trip visits one of Culebra’s beautiful reefs and moor for about an hour and a half over a living coral reef giving guests the opportunity to snorkel over the reef and view numerous tropical fish, sea turtles, and live coral formations.
Snookering gear and floating equipment are provided to guests so you can take full advantage of the experience. You also enjoy a light lunch which is a homemade ham and cheese sandwich and unlimited water, fruit juices, soft drinks and tropical rum beverages.
A great way to experience Puerto Rico’s Condado Lagoon in the middle of the city is by doing water sports which are dotted around the lagoon. I went bicycle kayaking, which is a new take on traditional kayaking by using your legs to pedal through the lagoon as you would on a bike, and using a side placed operator to change direction rather than paddling. Riding alongside a private guide, you discover the highlights of the area, and learn about natural and artificial reefs. The tour lasts an hour and you are provided with a life jacket and your own kayak, and a detailed tutorial before you head out into the lagoon with your instructor.
Cocina Abierta, based in San Juan is the brainchild of Chef Martin Louzao. The cosmopolitan menu has a diverse range of culinary concepts and the menu is made up of five parts; starter, vegetable, seafood, poultry and pasta and red meat. Guests select one dish from each section to experience a varied tasting menu. On this occasion, I wasn’t here to eat but to cook and I joined a Puerto Rican cooking class with Chef Fanny. On the cooking menu were Mofongo and Tembleque, whilst I got to watch Chef Fanny at work creating Arroz con gandules (Puerto Rican rice with pigeon peas, and pernil (roasted Boston butt pork) which cooking students were later able to enjoy. I enjoyed making Mofongo, a traditional dish made from deep-fried green plantain which is mashed into small pieces and mixed with garlic and either salt-cured pork, butter and oil and commonly eaten as a side dish or stuffed with any meat. Tembleque is known as Puerto Rican coconut pudding and serves as a popular delicious dessert.
Tropical Rides is a horseback riding tour that takes individuals and groups horseback riding around Isabela exploring secluded beaches, and tropical forests. You have a sense of adventure, leave behind the crowds and take natural trails off the beaten path and along the Caribbean sea. The Tropical Ride stable has roughly thirty horses that are well-mannered, gentle and well cared for. There are horses for every type of experience from beginners to the more advanced riders and your horse is chosen depending on your height, weight and prior experience. You start your tour with a ride along the beach and it is an enjoyable ride along a well trodden path surrounded by spectacular ocean, soft white sandy beaches and a variety of landscape and terrain to challenge intermediate and advanced riders. Each tour lasts around 2 hours and leaves you with a fresh appreciation for nature and its natural beauty.
Final thoughts
Wellness is commonly viewed as having seven dimensions; mental, physical, social, financial, spiritual, environmental, and vocational. These dimensions are interlined and influence each other so when one dimension of our well-being is out of balance, the other dimensions are affected. Whilst the focus is often on our mental and physical wellness, there are other types of wellness such as social and environmental wellness that adds to our wellness journey.
For me, I discovered wellness means looking after my wellbeing, mental health, physical health, emotional health, spiritual health in a nurturing environment and having fun in the process.
