The History of Serenity by Nature
Serenity has been in business for a short time so far. On the other hand, the property has more than 32 years of rich history. We are writing this in mid-2024, just in case you are reading this in the near or far future. We hope to stay many years preserving the legacy of this beautiful place.
We think it is good now to talk about the property and its original conception, in the wake of an event with a customer who found enigmatic “cabins” near the creek and thought these were “guest rooms”. These are classrooms. Why are they there? The facts behind it are quite interesting indeed, so let’s get into it.
Costa Rica in the 90s
It is 1992 and Costa Rica is having an economic boom thanks to 50 years of uninterrupted social development. Public education and health, cheap electricity, water, and telecommunications, and no army make this country accessible to locals and foreigners.
Costa Rica enjoys good relationships with almost every country in the world but mostly with English spoken ones.
Also, this Central American country has the fame of being one of the most respectful of nature, counting dozens of reserves, parks, and protected areas.
Because of these and other reasons, the ICLC, or the Instituto de Cultura y Lengua Costarricense was founded in Carrillos of Poas town, near Tacares de Grecia.
The ICLC’s premise was to teach Spanish to english speakers while offering hosting.
It was a total success because of the quality of the people working there, property’s design and the commitment of its founders. The fact that the Juan Santamaria International Airport is just 25 minutes away helped too.
ICLC days
The property was constructed the way an educational institution should be. In other words, it was built as a campus. Kiosks and classrooms were scattered around everywhere so small groups could enjoy lessons in privacy.
Those aforementioned “cabins” are no more than classrooms strategically located away from the rooms and never counted with electricity. Such intention was always these to be distraction-free so the students can focus on the lessons.
These classrooms counted with no more than a table, a few chairs, and a slate. It was quite simple but cozy, perfect for a good study session.
In the other hand, an auditorium, an amphitheater, and an event hall were used for the big group lessons.
For those 30 years, the ICLC had received thousands of students of all nationalities, becoming referents in the language teaching scene.
In a turn of events, the pandemic came to Costa Rica in 2020, and flights were impossible or restricted. Thus, hard times came for a school whose main revenue was from foreign students. The ICLC had no more remedy than halting its activities.
Serenity by Nature Hotel
After 3 years of hiatus, a new administration came in and changed the business model. They instantly fell in love with the property. It was evident the campus was excellent for the new guests who were coming and would appreciate contact with nature.
Serenity started being visited by both locals and foreign tourists. Yet, there is still a lot to do as the property’s full potential has not been exploited.
The old classrooms are still there, sometimes confusing guests, as they do not know what their purpose was in the past.
One would think that demolishing them would be the easiest solution but as they are part of the history of the property, we want to respect them. Instead, we are planning to restore them to their former glory in the near future. What their purpose will be is yet to be seen but we have some good ideas in our heads.
Some of these ideas involve groups of people including students, long-term stay guests, spiritual or religious retreats, and business gatherings, among others.
The campus is perfect for these kinds of group activities.
So, stay tuned and expect more news from us soon. We hope you enjoyed this article. If you want to contact us, please visit this section or write to us using the WhatsApp button on the right side of the screen.
