After so many decades spent crisscrossing the world, ENTREE had nearly forgotten the feeling of having a trip truly transform us. At Surf Synergy, an all-inclusive hillside Eden of wellness overlooking the coastal town of Jaco, Costa Rica, we were transformed both physically and mentally within seven glorious days, through one of the most thrilling and relaxing vacations we’ve ever had.

After checking in at a resplendently surfy cottage at the base of a steep hill surrounded by a pool, gym, and gardens full of edible plants and fruits, we were conveyed up the hill via golf cart, past Surf Synergy’s private bungalows, to the resort’s social center, a wide plaza that begins with a negative-edge swimming pool with insane views of the Pacific, mountainside jungles, and sudden appearances from wild scarlet macaws, and running up to a glass-walled, communal dining room and lounge, where all meals take place with other guests.

We were escorted to our room.

It was an attractive double-queen in the multi-floored villa that overlooks the resort, and were pleased to find a coded-entry that allowed us to forget about keys, just as we had no need to remember a wallet–or anything besides trunks–all week.

After a day of lying in the sun, drinking cold juice straight from a cache of coconuts chilling in a communal fridge, and learning the lay of the land from Surf Synergy founder Rich Naha, we learned that the resort is not your typical hang-around-in-a-hammock kind of getaway, although one can choose that if desired.

Instead, we were up at 6:30 AM for daily yoga led by the strong, beautiful Kata, who kept the class just challenging enough for our office chair-toned bodies to keep up with, lengthening, relaxing, and strengthening us through the week with visible results.  Surf Synergy thrives through having knowledgeable and passionate instructors who take a deep interest in what they’re teaching.

Three delicious daily meals, following a program designed with a professional chef, are comprised of healthy whole foods, Costa Rica’s famously epic fruits, fresh salads, and lean meats with creative sauces and preparations.

The kitchen here knocks every meal out of the park. We always went back for seconds, the active schedule and workouts involved at Surf Synergy essentially allowing us to eat whatever we wanted without counting the calories. On sushi night, which included plantain-wrapped “Tico rolls,” we even went back for thirds. And yes, there is dessert, too, and booze discretely available, if one wants it.

One of our biggest surprises was how much we enjoyed spending our time with other guests, who form a sort of family during their stay, sharing meals, adventures, conversation, and repose in equal measures, though one can always get away when needed.

The social interaction was as healthy and transformative as everything else here and we delighted in talking with our news friends, be they tech industry pros or the group of nine women rock-climbers reuniting for a friend’s birthday celebration.

As is to be expected from its name, surfing is at Surf Synergy’s core. A daily trip to one of six beaches in the area is on the schedule every day but one, throughout the week. Starting in the afternoon, the whole group (minus a couple who opted to hang back, sans judgement) piled into trucks and were driven to Jaco’s main black sand beach, where the surf was gentle enough for beginners but had plenty of more challenging waves for the initiated, with additional trips offered at extra cost.

Every guest is paired with their own individual coach, made up of talented surfers who love sharing the sport. They are patient, encouraging, and really help surfers of all levels to fine-tune everything they need to get through the waves, stand up, and ride waves all the way in, whether from the whitewater or the lineup.

Our two companions had never surfed before, or barely been in the ocean, while we hadn’t personally popped-up on a board in twenty years. Enjoying the comforts of 82-degree water, we all rode waves on our first day with help from the attentive coaches, and only got stronger and more proficient each day, with significant progress made by the end of the week.

The resort claims a 100% success rate in teaching people how to surf, from little kids to senior citizens. Once the sessions end, the coaches, mostly all Ticos and Venezuelans who were super cool to meet and hang out with, spoiled us with fresh water and amazing fruit to restore our strength while we sat on the beach. We already miss our incredible teacher, Eli. Back at Surf Synergy, the program further excels with daily video analysis, stemming from the professional video and photography taken during the surf sessions. All the guests laughed and cheered each other on as the resort’s co-founder, Marcel Oliveira, a stand-up paddleboard champion, positively assessed our abilities and suggested helpful tweaks for the next day’s session. In our plentiful downtime, we strolled the colorful grounds here, appreciating the resort’s commitment to sustainability and budding regenerative agriculture program, or simply kicked back with a book, or took a $3 Uber into town for a hike or shopping trip.

One day out of the week at Surf Synergy is dedicated to an independent adventure, to help guests’ bodies rest after a few days out on the water. Despite tempting options like a waterfall adventure, ziplining, horseback riding, and crocodile tour, we opted to spend a pleasant and invigorating morning on a small Catamaran which leisurely took us to a private beach, where we snorkeled among colorful butterflyfish, parrotfish, puffers, and even a leopard-spotted sea snake.

Rich and Marcel have something truly special on their hands with Surf Synergy, an unforgettable escape that balances adventure, tranquility, and wellness in a seamless experience that left us toned, relaxed, and stronger in body and spirit (not to mentioned tan), with our self-confidence and happiness unbelievably buoyed from the closeness of our group and the challenges we’d pushed through personally, leaving us feeling more capable and sure of ourselves.

Our ideas of a typical vacation lounging around a beach over umpteen pina coladas may have been shattered forever. Surf Synergy is a different way to vacation, one that leaves you better than when you arrived in too many ways to describe. The only thing that staved off our sadness upon leaving was the pressing motivation to make it back here again.

If you’re looking for travel that includes real experiences, health, and friendship, guided by true professionals that have been similarly captivated by Costa Rica’s stunning land and famous warmth as a conduit to better living themselves, Surf Synergy is at the top of ENTREE’s list of must-visit places.

That’s why we’ve awarded Naha and the resort with ENTREE’s “E Award of Excellence.” It’s perfect for groups, families, and individuals who want to become better versions of themselves with a lot of fun, beauty, and recreation to be enjoyed every minute of the day. https://www.surfsynergy.com/. You can call Rich Naha directly at 303-246-1957; he’s a wonderful guy, easy to talk to and will answer all your questions happily.