Refreshing Costa Rica Yoga Retreats

Costa Rica spas are surrounded by natural rain forest, abundant wildlife, and the timeless sound of the sea. These spas create the perfect setting for a serene retreat experience. Spas that offer yoga classes, meditation, vegetarian food options, and ample solitude are springing up all over the country. Most Costa Rica spas also offer other spa services like massage, as well as local eco-tours and private hiking rails.

One relaxing choice is Samasati, located in Puerto Viejo del Talamanca in a dense forest on a hillside above the Caribbean Ocean. Samasati bills itself as a ‘nature retreat’ and offers two large yoga rooms with hardwood floors and lots of windows looking out on the surrounding forest and gardens. Props and mats are available upon request, and regular workshops and structured retreats are offered on a ongoing basis to fit all skill levels.

Guests at Samasati can choose an economical bungalow with a shared bathroom, a slightly more expensive guesthouse with a private bathroom, or a deluxe private home for accommodation. The on site restaurant serves fresh, local vegetarian fare buffet style, with the occasional fish offering. The spa at Samsati offers deep tissue massage as well as other bodywork. To check out available packages or to have the friendly staff help design a custom package, check out www.samasati.com for options and pricing.

If you want to fit a small Costa Rica yoga retreat into an otherwise hectic tour of the country, Sueno Azul Resort at www.suenoazulresort.com is a great choice. Located only one hour outside the capital city of San Jose, this Costa Rica spa is situated between two rivers in the lowland region just outside National Park Braulio Carillo.

The deep green surroundings at Sueno Azul are naturally relaxing, and the on site Yoga Studio staff will gladly set up Costa Rica yoga retreat packages that include transportation to the resort from San Juan, all daily meals, yoga classes and spa services, and a bonus one-day tour of the surrounding canopy, waterfall, and butterfly gardens. All 65 rooms at Sueno Azul Resort are spacious and simple and come with fans and air-conditioning as well as private terraces. Some of the junior suites include an in-room Jacuzzi tub and a double terrace with mountain views.

If you are looking for a Costa Rica spa experience combined with an option for lively interaction if you want a break from all that solitude and inner peace, Tabacon Grand Spa and Thermal Resort at the foot of the Arenal volcano can offer you a broad range of spa services and yoga classes alongside all the noise and excitement you want. The choice is yours. Tabacon (www.tabacon.com) is one of the top-rated spas in the entire country, and when you are done retreating, Mount Arenal awaits.

Wherever you decide to stay in Costa Rica, if you are a yoga aficionado, ask about spa facilities and yoga. As Costa Rica becomes ever more the hot destination for American ex-pats and North American tourists, more and more hotels and hostels are offering yoga, massage, meditation, and vegetarian fare as a matter of course. Especially at the major hotels, chances are very good that whatever you want is already there. All you have to do is ask.