About The Retreat
2026 Dates
19th – 27th March
Join us for our Pura Vida Winter Sun Adventure Yoga Holiday in Costa Rica. Stay for 3 nights in Arenal National Park and experience the volcano, hot springs, rain forest and hanging bridges, staying in a private tented camp. Then enjoy 7 nights of relaxing in the hip surf town and wellness mecca of Nosara.
We have adapted our Costa Rica adventure, to include a 3-night adventure in the region of Alajuela, La Fortuna, so that you can explore the Arenal Volcano National Park and what it has to offer. This 10 day adventure has volcanos, cloud forests, hot springs, bird life, beaches, surf, and yoga making up the sweet pura vida Costa Rica is known for.
You will start your Costa Rica yoga adventure in Arenal for 3 nights, staying in an exclusive boutique glamping hotel that has 8 single occupancy private beautiful tents and two twin occupancy tents, all with en-suite bathrooms and a veranda. With a yoga shala, pool and private grounds, relax here after an exhilarating day of adventure.
In Fortuna, you will hike around the Arenal volcano and enjoy the thermal hot springs one day and the next day explore the jungle on the hanging bridges when the animals are most active. With yoga twice a day to balance and restore and friendly staff you will be looked after.
Next stop, Nosara! Your home from home for the next 7 nights. Based on the Pacific coast, you will be staying in a gorgeous private luxury villa that is only a few minutes walk from the beautiful surf and sand of Playa Guiones, one of the main surf and swim beaches in Nosara.
Relax and enjoy the spaciousness of the main villa, the private pool with a seating area; and what is called a Rancho, a downstairs open-air dining and relaxation space with a few bedrooms located here and the yoga shala is situated on the first floor above.
Beautifully, yoga takes place in the yoga shala to the sounds of monkeys and tropical birds each morning and evening. After a delicious breakfast, take a dip in the pool or take a short walk down the beach. Maybe, relax at the villa or try surfing on one of the best surf beaches in the country.
You may wish to wander into town or feel exhilarated with one of the many activities on offer in the surrounding area. Maybe zip-lining through the rainforest canopy, a quad bike tour along the coast, visiting a chocolate or coffee factory and so much more.
Accommodation
This yoga holiday in Costa Rica has two locations. See below to find out about both accommodations.
La Fortuna, Arenal National Park
Our accommodation for the first 3 nights is a boutique family-tented camp hotel committed to sustainability and natural connection, designed to offer guests a unique experience that combines camping adventure with rest and relaxation on the slopes of the magical Arenal Volcano.
There are 8 tents with a double bed, a bathroom with toilet, sink and shower, a hairdryer, a decking with two chairs overlooking the rainforest, air conditioning, a safe, wifi. There is a swimming pool and sun loungers, spacious private grounds, a dining area, a yoga deck and even a fitness centre if you like working out too.
Nosara
A beautiful boutique yoga villa in a private beachside compound. You will be staying in the Nosara area of the district of La Guanacaste on the northwest coast of Costa Rica.
The closest beach is Playa Las Guinoes at 7 minute walk away – that is right, we are situated right next to the beach and centrally in the beachside town of Nosara so shops, cafes, and restaurants and a choice of beaches are on your doorstep.
Boasting a stunning rooftop yoga studio – the top floor of the ‘rancho.’ In Costa Rica, a rancho is a separate building from the main house on the ground floor and is a contemporary and relaxed outdoor living space with a lounge, dining and bar area.
The yoga shala is above this and is well equipped with all yoga equipment and has views of the jungle and you will hear the jungle inhabitants of monkeys, crickets and more.
There are two bedrooms in the rancho, a single with a double bed and a twin with two single beds that share a bathroom. The pool separates the rancho from the main house and has sunbeds to relax on and read a book or sunbathe and doze.
In the main house, there is plenty of space with another living space and there is the master single room with a king-size double bed and large terrace as well as an en-suite bathroom.
There are two twins with queen beds and one has an en-suite bathroom and the other shares the bathroom with the twin bunk room, this has two bunk beds, one for each person. This bunk room can sleep 3/4 people also so if you are a group of friends this could be for you.
Each room has air-conditioning and a ceiling fan, a closet, a safety deposit box, pool towels, housekeeping services, and hand and body wash in private bathrooms.
Here are the options of what you can do whilst on your yoga holiday Costa Rica:
- Surf on the best surf beach Playa Guiones
- Visit Nosara town for a matcha latte
- Visit local famous yoga retreat centre Bodhi Tree Resort and try out a class
- Enjoy a coffee plantation tour
- Enjoy a chocolate factory tour
- Fly amongst the canopy of the rainforest on a zip-line tour
- Hire quad bikes and get to explore more of the local area – along the coast or inland
- Hike San Juan mountain range
- Explore surrounding beaches
- Enjoy a river cruise down river Nosara and river Montana
Yoga
Morning yoga on your yoga holiday Costa Rica:
To begin, wake up early to the sounds of the jungle, arriving on your mat at our yoga shala. Moving on, the practice will begin as a gentle awakening, building up to more dynamic postures. Soon, you will find you can settle into meditation quicker than before, that silence is something to be cherished. Feel energised and refreshed and ready for your day in the sun.
Evening yoga on your yoga holiday Costa Rica:
Arrive at our yoga shala for sunset yoga! Furthermore, we will have a beach sunset yoga evening on one evening too. Our evenings are for Yin and restorative to unwind from the activities of the day before settling into a more restorative practice, yoga Nidra, and guided meditation.
Yoga Teacher
Claire Yates
Claire started her yoga journey way back in the 1990’s at dance school, and after a career of more than 25 years as a dance teacher, decided to hang up her ballet shoes and retrain to become a yoga teacher. It was the best decision ever!
Claire believes each class is a personal journey. She carefully crafts the class to the student, looking at ways to adapt asana (postures) to every individual in the room. She really would like to encourage people who don’t think they are bendy enough or look a certain way to come and experience yoga in a welcoming accessible environment!
Aside from asana, the physical practice, Claire’s classes will also have a strong emphasis on pranayama (breathing techniques) and dhyana (meditation). Her restorative classes bring a focus to pranayama and meditation that make them feel safe and accessible to everyone.
Claire believes the practice of yoga should lead you to find some quietness of the mind. To press pause on the constant chatter of the brain and external distractions and let yourself be present, at that moment, whether you are in child’s pose, or headstand the intention is the same. Being present, allowing the breath to flow.
Claires personal practice is Ashtanga, and she has studied both at the Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute (KPJAYI) in Mysore, and with Authorised Teachers of the lineage throughout Asia.
After Mysore she went to work on a Yoga Retreat in Thailand, and another, a little closer to home in the Carpathian Mountains. Returning home, she came back to the UK in 2017 and has been teaching in the UK ever since.
When she is not on the mat you can find her walking in the countryside with her dog, or on a board either in the sea, lake or mountains!
Retreat Schedule
Day 1
Depart San Jose at 10am and begin your journey to Arenal (with a stopover to buy lunch), enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the venue, take a wander in to La Fortuna, relax by the pool, evening yoga and dinner
Day 2
Enjoy a day out walking around Arenal volcano, breakfast and lunch included and go out for dinner
Day 3
Up early to walk the hanging bridges when the animals are most active, breakfast and lunch included, go out for dinner
Day 4
Early morning yoga and breakfast and depart to go to Nosara your beach destination. 5 hour transfer, arrive at 4pm, evening yoga and dinner
Day 4 – 9
Beach life! Relax and enjoy excursions of your choice
Day 9
Departure for transfer to airport
A Typical Day
7am: Morning coffee and pre-yoga snacks
7.30am – 9am: Energising morning yoga class
9am: Costa Rican style vegan breakfast
10am-4pm: Enjoy an excursion, beach day, relax by the pool
4pm-6.30pm: Evening sunset yoga
7pm: 2 course evening vegan meal
Retreat Price
A twin room means two people sharing a room with two separate beds.
Arenal: Single occupancy tent with en-suite
Nosara: Single occupancy room with en-suite
Standard Price: £2979
Arenal: single occupancy tent with en-suite
Nosara: Single occupancy room with a shared bathroom
Standard Price: £2879
Arenal: single occupancy tent with en-suite
Nosara: Single occupancy double bed with single bed above, for one person with a shared bathroom.
Standard price: £2879
Arenal: Twin tent for two people, with own bathroom to share between you.
Nosara: Twin room for two people with own bathroom to share between you.
Standard price: £2679pp
Included
- In Nosara, stay in a private Villa situated a stone’s throw from the Pacific Ocean, private pool, air conditioning.
- In Arenal, stay in a boutique hotel tented camp with pool, yoga shala, lots of single occupancy tents
- Transfers from San Jose Airport to Arenal, Arenal to Nosara, Nosara to the airport
- 2 x 1.5hr yoga classes in our mountainous and beach yoga shalas each day
- All vegetarian/plant-based breakfasts for 8 mornings
- Vegetarian/plant-based evening meals for 5 evening: 1 in Arenal and 4 in Nosara
- In Arenal: Over two days: hike Arenal volcano, walk the hanging bridges and enjoy the thermal hot springs
- 2 lunches on Arenal excursions and 1 lunch in Nosara
- All transfers for Arenal activities included
- All yoga equipment in Nosara and yoga mats in Arenal
- Amazing AY Retreat team to look after your every need
Not included
- Flights, insurance
- Extra activities in Nosara such as: quad bike and coffee plantation tour, zip line, surf lessons/hire
- Treatments
- Lunches throughout
- 2 evening meals out – one in Arenal, 1 in Nosara
How to get here
We highly recommend that you fly into Costa Rica the day before the retreat begins. That way, you will have a night’s sleep to help recover from your long flight and feel ready and refreshed for your adventure ahead.
We recommend that you book to stay in Hilton Garden Inn San Jose Airport City Mall on the day before the retreat start date. It is right next to the airport, has a free airport shuttle service and a pool.
Your meeting point for the transfer will be in the Arrivals area at San Jose Juan Santamaria (SJO)at 10:30am to take you to Arenal. If you are arriving in the morning of the retreat start date please stay in the arrivals section. If you are staying in a nearby hotel, please make your way back to San Jose Juan Santamaria (SJO) airport to the arrivals section ready for the transfer.
We DO NOT recommend that you go into central San Jose – the airport is actually located in Alajuela, 40 minutes out of San Jose itself.
We recommend the following transfer times in 2025:
OUT: 10.30am pick-up from SJO arrivals (see info above)
RETURN: 6am Return transfer from Nosara.
The transfer takes 4.5 hours. You will be departing from the villa at 6am to get to the airport for 10.30/11am. Please don’t book a flight to depart before 1pm.
By Plane flying into San Jose Juan Santamaria (SJO). Flight deals return from £500!
Booking
To make an enquiry or book this Pura Vida Winter Sun Adventure Yoga Holiday in Costa Rica, send your request to the team who will get back to you within 24 hours.
