What if the hotel of tomorrow didn’t just help you rest, but helped you reset on a biological level? What if a sustainable escape wasn’t just a buzzword, but a working blueprint for how we might live better, longer, and more in sync with nature?
Enter Velara, a revolutionary retreat currently in development on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula—one of the world’s five Blue Zones, where people live measurably longer and more vibrant lives. Set to debut its first phase in 2026, Velara promises to merge cutting-edge wellness technologies with regenerative architecture and nature-forward design. We sat down with visionary founder Kevin Wathey to talk biologically optimized living, longevity-driven hospitality, and what the future of travel might look like when wellbeing and sustainability go hand in hand.
Let’s start with the big picture—what inspired you to create Velara, and why did Costa Rica’s Blue Zone feel like the right place for this vision?
“The idea for Velara was born from both personal loss and transformation. After losing my mom to cancer, I became committed to reshaping how we think about health, not as something we fix when it’s broken, but as something we nurture every day. Costa Rica was the first international destination where I led a retreat, and the Pura Vida ethos truly changed my life. Every time I return, I’m reminded of what it feels like to intentionally ground in your body, your surroundings, and your sense of purpose. The Nicoya Peninsula’s Blue Zone felt like the natural setting for this vision. It’s one of the few places on Earth where people not only live longer, but fuller, more vibrant lives. That’s the energy we’re channeling at Velara. It’s about creating a place where you can live with clarity, connection, and vitality—not just for a week, but for life.”
Velara merges wellness, longevity, and sustainability in a genuinely next-gen way. How do you define “biologically optimized living,” and why is it so central to the project?
“Biologically optimized living means designing environments that work with your body, rather than against it. So much of our biology is shaped by the spaces we’re in—light, sound, air, timing. When those elements are out of sync, we feel it. At Velara, we’re creating spaces that help people feel more balanced, energized, and at ease. That includes using biometric data, environmental sensors, and adaptive systems that respond to your body’s natural rhythm in real time, as well as materials that promote rest, lighting that shifts with the time of day, and spaces that invite calm. It’s not about overengineering—it’s about crafting an experience that feels intuitive and aligned.”
Can you share more about the therapies and technologies that will be offered—and how they tie into environmental or regenerative principles?
“Our 25,000-square-foot Raíz Wellbeing Center is where science, nature, and self-care converge. It will offer a range of standard therapies like contrast and hyperbaric, alongside more advanced treatments like stem cell therapy, ozone, PRP, and more—all personalized to your biology and designed to support cellular recovery and repair.
We’ve taken a regenerative approach across the entire development, from native landscaping to water harvesting systems to regenerative architecture. Our culinary program will also be tailored to the individual through bio-assessments and rooted in hyper-local ingredients that nourish both the body and the ecosystem. Our goal is to give more to the land than we take from it.”
From adaptive sleep tech to bio-personalized nutrition, Velara is all about precision wellness. How do you balance this cutting-edge innovation with your commitment to sustainability?
“Just as human DNA shapes our hospitality program, nature’s DNA informs our architecture and design. We believe one of the greatest lies we’ve been sold is that we’re separate from nature. At Velara, our use of technology is intentional—if it doesn’t directly support your wellbeing or the environment, it doesn’t belong. Our residences are designed to support how you feel each day—how you sleep, how you recover, how you recharge. Yes, we offer adaptive sleep technology and real-time personalization, but ultimately, it’s about creating a space that feels effortless and intuitive—because living well shouldn’t come at the planet’s expense.”
Finally, as we celebrate Earth Month, what message do you hope Velara sends about the future of travel, living, and our relationship with the planet?
“I hope Velara inspires people to rethink what it means to live well—and to live responsibly. We’re at a turning point where people are craving more than a beautiful stay—they want a deeper connection to themselves, to others, and the Earth. Velara was built with that in mind. It’s a place where nature and innovation coexist, where design doesn’t overpower the landscape but blends into it. Most importantly, it’s a place that supports people in showing up as their fullest, healthiest, and most vibrant selves.”
– As told to by Britney Eschelman
