Costa Rica is brimming with incredible retreat destinations. In fact, Costa Rica has more health-focused hotels and guesthouses than any country in Central America. But with so many to choose from, how do you find the perfect place to match your retreat goals?We’ve done the research and compiled a list of the 20 best retreat destinations in Costa Rica (in alphabetical order).
Whether you’re looking for a beach escape or jungle hideaway, you’ll find your hidden gem on this list. Rest assured that every destination in our top 20 features a dedicated yoga and/or workout space and a staff with real retreat experience.
Anamaya Resort
Montezuma, Costa Rica (5 hours from San Jose International Airport)
Anamaya Resort is truly an exotic place, built on a cliffs edge and overlooking incredible ocean views. Located in the popular hippy beach town of Montezuma, the resort is surrounded by rainforests and is just a short hike from epic jungle waterfalls. “Anamaya,” Sanskrit for “good health,” offers gourmet organic food, yoga teacher trainings, a variety of luxurious spa services, surf lessons, and cooking classes. Anamaya was constructed with a focus on protecting the environment, with rooms built using non-toxic building materials, organic fabrics, and local artisans to complete the stylish and intimate accommodations.
photo courtesy: anamayaresort.com
Blue Osa Yoga Retreat and Spa
Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica (6 hours from San Jose International Airport)
This intimate beachfront eco-resort offers the ultimate sanctuary for those seeking solace from the hectic world. Nestled off-the-beaten-path in the virgin Costa Rican rainforest on the Southern Osa Peninsula, guests have an endless selection of tranquil spaces to meditate and reflect. Only 50 meters away from the waves, you can see the private beach while practicing yoga from an elegantly designed second floor yoga studio. Onsite, there’s a chemical-free lap pool for an afternoon swim. Blue Osa encourages guests to be mindful by implementing a morning silence to a pre-dinner ritual of presenting the food during their freshly prepared organic farm-to-table communal meals.
photo courtesy: blueosa.com
Casa Marea Alta
Punta Banco, Costa Rica (6 hours from San Jose International Airport)
Casa Marea Alta is nestled at the bottom of 800 acres of private rainforest and sits directly on the beach. With stunning ocean and jungle mountain views, more wildlife than you can imagine, and an insane amount of good waves for all levels of surfers, you’ll be sure to find something to captivate you. Casa Marea Alta offers a large variety of activities and tours, including surf lessons, horseback riding tours, guided jungle tours, guided nocturnal jungle tours, thai bodywork, massage, energy healing sessions, indigenous reservation hikes, artisan chocolate making classes, snorkeling tours, SUP yoga, kitesurfing lessons, bird watching tours, and bicycle rentals.
photo courtesy: casamareaalta.com
Diamante Center
Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica (3.5 hours from San Jose International Airport)
Diamante Center is a spectacular 55-acre rainforest paradise located in the Diamante Valley of Costa Rica. Guests can enjoy the tranquility and vibrancy of the rainforest, a private river with pristine natural swimming pools, spectacular waterfalls, lovingly prepared organic meals, talented healers and educators, and incredible biodiversity. Diamante Center offers direct access to the world-renowned Nauyaca waterfalls, walking trails throughout the tropical rainforest, rivers, gardens and orchards, and abundant wildlife and birding opportunities.
DoceLunas
Jaco, Costa Rica (1.5 hours from San Jose International Airport)
DoceLunas stands out among hotels in Jaco thanks to five acres of spectacular jungle gardens, providing guests a true sense of tranquility, away from the party-hard tourist town. Towering shade trees create a beautiful natural environment, cool temperatures, and a quiet retreat just 15 minutes walking from the beach and action downtown. DoceLunas is at the base of a jungle covered mountain with thousands of acres of rainforest. Scarlet macaws fly over the hotel and roost in fruit trees frequently, toucans are abound, and white faced Capuchin monkeys often visit to eat from the abundant mango trees on the property.
photo courtesy: docelunas.com
El Sabanero Eco-Lodge
Tamarindo, Costa Rica (1 hour from Liberia International Airport)
Located on a hillside near the popular beach town of Tamarindo, El Sabanero overlooks the gorgeous Cañafistula Valley with beautiful views from all chalets. El Sabanero is in the midst of four of the most beautiful beaches in the area; Playa Avellanas, Playa Negra, Playa Junquillal and Tamarindo, all just a short shuttle away. Ziplining, horseback riding, snorkeling, sunset cruises, surfing, rafting, and turtle nesting tours are just a few of the activities that can be arranged during your stay. Lounge by the pool or on the private porch of your chalet, all which are built out of teak trees grown in the area. The surrounding tropical gardens add indispensable privacy and peace to each chalet.
photo courtesy: elsabanero.com
El Silencio Lodge
Bajos del Toro, Costa Rica (1.5 hours from San Jose International Airport)
Floating like a cloud in the rainforest canopy near the Poas Volcano, El Silencio Lodge & Spa is one of the most secluded, tranquil and relaxing luxury hotels in the Costa Rican mountains. Simple luxury and exhilarating adventures are the essence of the El Silencio guest experience. El Silencio Lodge & Spa is located in picturesque Bajos del Toro on a 500-acre private cloud forest reserve flanked by the Juan Castro Blanco and Poas Volcano National Parks.
PHOTO COURTESY: elsilenciolodge.com
Encantada Ocean Cottages
Esterillos Este, Costa Rica (2 hours from San Jose International Airport)
Encantada Ocean Cottages is located on Esterillos Este Beach, an undeveloped and pristine chocolate sand beach on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. The property was originally an elementary school before being converted into a quaint bed and breakfast. The spacious cottages are located on a peaceful and relaxing acre of lush green land. The hotel features a library, patio, restaurant and swimming pool hidden amoung tropical gardens. Activities include surfing, swimming, deep sea fishing, ATV tours, bicycle rentals, horseback excursions, crocodile safari, national parks and reserves, boat and kayak excursions, white-water rafting, canopy tours, ziplining, mangrove tours, canyoning and waterfall route repelling.
photo courtesy: encantadacostarica.com
Indigo Yoga Resort
Mal Pais, Costa Rica (4 hours from Liberia International Airport)
A quick five minute walk to the beach, Indigo Yoga Resort is a nestled in a lush green setting with an abundance of beautiful tropical flowers, trees, and native wildlife. Contemporary tropical accommodations also embrace traditional Costa Rican ambience & culture. Enjoy watching Howler & Capuchin monkeys and a variety of tropical birds hang in the property’s trees. Nearby activities include horseback riding, surfing, SUP, snorkeling and visits to local wildlife refuges.
Photo Courtesy: indigoyogaresort.com
La Cusinga Lodge
Uvita, Costa Rica (3.5 hours from San Jose International Airport)
This epic rainforest lodge is tucked away in a private reserve of over 600 acres, offering guests sweeping Pacific Ocean vistas, sandy beaches, and natural pools. Visitors can experience the incredible wildlife of Ballena Marine National Park, one of only two nationally protected marine zones in the whole country. In fact, La Cusinga’s founder John Tresemer was instrumental in the foundation of the park. Guests of La Cusinga have their choice between beautiful ocean and rainforest view cabins, designed with sustainably-harvested wood and local materials to maximize comfort while minimizing impact on the environment.
photo courtesy: lacusingalodge.com
Living Forest Lake Arenal Retreat
Tilaran, Costa Rica (1.5 hours from Liberia International Airport)
At Living Forest you will immerse yourself and your clients in this hidden jungle paradise, located at Lake Arenal, and surrounded by lush nature and tranquility. Wake up to the sound of the river, monkeys, toucans, birds and the smell of flowers, a truly blissful and peaceful experience filled with vibrant energy. The Living Forest Lodge offers comfortable accommodation in a natural setting. The beautiful yoga deck with open walls to the jungle brings a special energy into your classes.
Photo courtesy: lakearenalretreats.com
Living Hotel
Nosara, Costa Rica (2.5 hours from Liberia International Airport)
Living Hotel is located in a beautiful Rancho that includes a lounge area common space, an open air yoga studio and a large salt water pool. Each of the authentically Tico rooms surrounds the main Rancho along with a lush garden and relaxing hammocks. Enjoy delicious vegetarian meals and spa treatments onsite. The beach is just a quick five minutes walk along with the beachtown of Playa Guiones where you can venture out for italian gelato, surf lessons, SUP, Ziplining, Kayaking and many other excursions.
Photo courtesy: livinghotelnosara.com
Pranamar Villas
Santa Teresa, Costa Rica (6 hours from San Jose International Airport)
Pranamar Villas is an intimate, consciously designed oceanfront hotel located on the spectacular Playa Santa Teresa. Famous for year-round surf and a friendly, chill vibes, Santa Teresa attracts travelers from around the world who come to experience adventure and fun in a relaxed, tropical environment. Built around a free-form saltwater pool and tropical gardens, Pranamar’s elaborate Balinese beachfront villas offer the perfect setting to relax and escape. Sunbathe by the pool, read a book with a cocktail or smoothie by your side, or let the stress melt away with a spa treatment from the onsite GAIA Bodywork and Wellness.
photo courtesy: pranamarvillas.com
Rancho Margot
Lake Arenal, Costa Rica (3.5 hours from San Jose International Airport)
Unique, enchanting and beautifully remote, Rancho Margot is a hidden gem near Arenal Volcano. Nestled in the rainforest, Rancho Margot is one of Costa Rica’s premier ecolodges. At Rancho Margot, boutique accommodation and farm-to-table dining go hand-in-hand with sustainable and self-sufficient practices to create an unparalleled retreat experience. Enjoy the six streams of the Cano Negro River coursing through the property and orchestra of peaceful sounds, courtesy of hundreds of bird species, insects, and howler monkeys. Swing in a hammock to the sounds of the forest while admiring the botanical gardens and Lake Arenal in the distance.
photo courtesy: ranchomargot.com
Samasati Retreat & Rainforst Sanctuary
Limon, Costa Rica (4 hours from San Jose International Airport)
Samasati is located on the expansive Caribbean Ocean and sits amidst 240 acres of lush 400 year old primary rainforests, gardens and mountains. Below the mountain, Samasati is surrounded by pristine beaches, far removed from overcrowded attractions and other distracting influences. As an eco-reserve, Samasati was built using oxen to haul equipment and supplies into the jungle. Water systems come from rainwater collected by hand- built structures and are reused throughout the property. Within the retreat, there’s an incredible open-air restaurant, juice bar, spa house, two beautiful and serene yoga/meditation centers, and outdoor jacuzzi.
photo courtesy: samasati.com
Sanctuary at Two Rivers
Cabuya, Costa Rica (5 hours from San Jose International Airport)
Boasting 100% off-the-grid solar powered luxury accommodations, an extensive spa menu, and gourmet organic vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free cuisine, The Sanctuary at Two Rivers is one of a select group of retreat centers in the world specifically designed and built by veteran yogis with the sole intention of creating a first-class retreat center. Imagine rising with the sun and the howls of monkeys, absent of any urban noises, all the while infusing yoga, meditation, wellness and spiritual healing with wildlife and bird watching. A mere 1000 yards away from the Pacific Ocean’s warm waters and beaches, The Sanctuary at Two Rivers has the best of all worlds and yet is relatively easily accessible, requiring a short puddle jumper flight from the capital.
photo courtesy: thesanctuarycostarica.com
Selva Armonia
Uvita, Costa Rica (3 hours from San Jose International Airport)
Set deep in the Costa Rican rainforest and overlooking the South Pacific Ocean, Selva Armonia is truly an exceptional retreat space. An authentic eco-lodge, Selva Armonia combines elegance with a rustic atmosphere in a breathtaking jungle setting. With a breathtaking view of the famous Whale’s Tail in the Pacific Ocean, Selva Armonia Retreat Center is a private and sacred space where there is something for everyone. Hike to magical waterfalls, commune with the dragonflies, watch a lotus flower unfold, be inspired to practice your art or blissfully sit and wile away the hours with a good book.
photo courtesy: selvaarmonia.com
Vida Asana
Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica (1.5 hours from San Jose International Airport)
Set in the quiet surf town of Playa Hermosa, Vida Asana is a gem, seamlessly bringing together jungle tranquility, sustainable practices, and modern creature comforts under one roof. Vida Asana’s incredible location allows guests to enjoy a wide range of activities, including canopy ziplining, tours of Manuel Antonio National Park, mountain biking, surf lessons, and much more. Led by Sean and Jessica MacDonald, Vida Asana boasts an incredible staff assembled to to ensure every retreat experience is exceptional. Vida Asana is dedicated to the local community, with both guests and full-time residents often engaging in garden building and other sustainable community support programs.
photo courtesy: vidaasana.com
Ylang Ylang Beach Resort
Montezuma, Costa Rica (5 hours from San Jose International Airport)
Ylang Ylang Beach Resort has a special history, beginning in 1981 when owners Lenny and Patricia Iacono acquired the property and moved to Costa Rica to live off of the land. At the time, Montezuma had no electricity or water services, and just two other businesses, a far cry from the eclectic beach town that defines Montezuma today. The property was originally used for cattle grazing, so Lenny and Patricia quickly began planting many trees and plants, which have turned into the lovely lush gardens that exist today. Ylang Ylang boasts a diverse selection of rooms, from epic beachfront bungalows to tranquil tent cabins, providing a sanctuary for every type of traveler.
photo courtesy: ylangylangbeachresort.com
Looking to attend a retreat?
Trip Tribe features retreats running to many of these destinations. To browse current retreats, visit Trip Tribe’s Costa Rica Yoga Retreats.
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Check out Trip Tribe’s Retreat Destinations to lead your own trip. You get to pick the destination and dates, edit your own retreat page, and earn perks for every guest who joins.