In Brief: Founded by Charlotte’s Web co-founder Josh Stanley, the Arenal Volcano destination introduces the first-of-its-kind Frequency Dome- an immersive sound sanctuary designed to support restoration and meaningful human connection.
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The Vessyl Resort – Image Credit The Vessyl
As burnout, digital overload and constant distraction become defining challenges of modern life, a new kind of wellness destination has opened in Costa Rica- one designed not to help people escape the world, but to reconnect with it.
Set on 118 acres of rainforest beneath the iconic Arenal Volcano, The Vessyl is the world’s first 4D Sound Wellness Resort, introducing a new category of immersive hospitality centered on personalized transformation, nervous system regulation, nature and meaningful human connection.
The resort is the latest venture from entrepreneur Josh Stanley, co-founder of Charlotte’s Web. More than a decade ago, Stanley and his brothers helped pioneer the modern CBD movement, transforming a once-misunderstood plant into a global wellness conversation. Today, he’s applying that same category-defining mindset to hospitality.
Rather than creating another luxury wellness retreat, Stanley envisioned a place where immersive sound, frequency, movement, adventure, nature and community come together to help guests slow down, regulate their nervous systems and reconnect- with themselves, with others re-discover, reconnect, and cultivate presence in an increasingly overstimulated world.
“We are entering a period where technology is moving faster than human beings can keep up with,” said Stanley. “People are overwhelmed, disconnected, anxious, and craving something real. The Vessyl was built to bring people back to nature, to community, to presence, and to themselves.”
Unlike traditional wellness retreats centered around rigid schedules or quick fixes, The Vessyl is designed to meet guests where they are. The resort accommodates just 33 guests at a time across six private villas, a signature treehouse, and seven thoughtfully appointed glamping tents, creating an intimate setting where rest and reflection can happen naturally.
Developed in partnership with AKEN Hotels & Resorts, The Vessyl combines immersive wellness programming with thoughtfully designed hospitality to foster a deeper connection to place, culture, nature, and ultimately, yourself.
At the heart of The Vessyl is the Frequency Dome, an immersive sound sanctuary and recording studio developed with Grammy Award-winning acoustician George Augspurger. Designed to support relaxation and restoration, the Dome features spatial audio, immersive visuals, and a custom floating floor embedded with 24 transducers allowing frequency to flow through vibration as well as sound. The space hosts meditation, breathwork, movement experiences, intimate performances, and conversations intended to foster awareness, creativity, and connection.
For Stanley, the Frequency Dome reflects a deeper belief: that sound and vibration can create moments of restoration, reflection, and connection. Music, he believes, remains one of humanity’s oldest tools for healing- bringing people together through rhythm, storytelling, and shared experience.
“Healing should feel alive,” Stanley said. “It should feel like music, laughter, adventure, nature, and being with other people. We are not trying to help people escape their lives. We are trying to help them reconnect to them.”
Beyond the Dome, The Vessyl’s programming draws inspiration from both time-honored traditions and contemporary approaches to wellbeing. Offerings include breathwork, intuitive practices such as numerology and human design, Quantum Soul Sessions with trained practitioners and healers, guided cold plunge experiences, and a state-of-the-art Vibrational Sweat Lodge inspired by Indigenous traditions. Guests may also participate in equine experiences led by Enrique Molina, whose family has raised horses in La Fortuna for generations, designed to foster presence, trust, and connection. At Rancho, The Vessyl’s signature restaurant, Chef Delvi Saul Mendoza celebrates local ingredients and regional culinary traditions while bringing a fresh perspective to Costa Rican cuisine.
Set against one of the world’s most biodiverse landscapes, The Vessyl invites guests to reconnect not only with themselves, but with the rhythms of the natural world. Surrounded by rainforest alive with toucans, monkeys, sloths, hummingbirds, and iguanas, the resort also serves as a gateway to the broader wonders of Costa Rica, including nearby waterfalls, thermal hot springs, and the iconic landscapes of Arenal National Park.
As conversations around stress, loneliness, and modern wellbeing continue to evolve, The Vessyl arrives at a moment when many travelers are seeking something deeper than relaxation. They are looking for experiences that help them reset, reconnect, and return home with a renewed sense of what matters most.