Retreat Centers
Boca Sombrero Surf and Yoga
Boca Sombrero is a beachfront lodge at Playa Sombrero, near Cabo Matapalo on the tip of the Osa Peninsula, used mostly by visiting teachers for group surf and yoga retreats. Its own website is gone, but it still appears as a venue on retreat listings, so it suits groups and people booking a teacher-led retreat rather than walk-in guests.
By Monirul Hoque · Published · Updated
Update, November 2026: Boca Sombrero's own website address now leads to an unrelated business, so we've removed the link. The lodge still appears as a venue on retreat listings, including a teacher-led yoga and surf week advertised for April 2027, but it lists no public schedule of its own. Book through a retreat organizer, or check a current listing before you plan a trip.
Boca Sombrero sits on Playa Sombrero, a quiet, semi-private beach near Cabo Matapalo at the southern tip of the Osa Peninsula. It's a small, rustic property between the rainforest and the sea, and these days it works mainly as a place that yoga teachers and retreat companies rent for their groups, usually for surf and yoga weeks (see our yoga and surf guide).
The setting and the lodging
Listings describe a mix of beachfront houses and simpler thatch-roof tent platforms. Guest reviews name houses such as Casa Playa and Casa Rio, a palapa-style house, a small pool and an open-air kitchen. The tent platforms are the budget option, and one older review mentions a shared outhouse. Expect jungle living: the property is off the grid, insects come with the territory, and listings say wifi reaches only the main house.
Surf and yoga
The beach in front of the lodge has a break that retreat listings describe as suited to beginner and intermediate surfers, and the well-known Matapalo point breaks nearby suit stronger surfers. Yoga is taught by the teacher who brings the group, so the style and level depend on the retreat you book. Ask the organizer how many classes a day are included, whether surf lessons and boards are part of the package, and which rooms you'll stay in.
Retreat programs here have also included kayaking, waterfall rappelling, zip-lining, spa treatments and farm-to-table meals. The wider area is known for wildlife: scarlet macaws and monkeys are common around Matapalo, and Corcovado National Park is a day trip away.
Who it suits
It suits you if you want a remote, simple jungle-and-beach week with a group and a teacher you trust, and you don't mind basic comforts. It doesn't suit you if you want a hotel with a daily class schedule you can drop into. For that kind of stay on the Osa, see our profiles of Blue Osa Yoga Retreat + Spa near Puerto Jimenez, Encanta La Vida at Matapalo and Luna Lodge next to Corcovado. For the region as a whole, read the South Pacific section of our guide to where to do yoga in Costa Rica.
Getting there
Most people fly from San José to Puerto Jimenez, about 45 minutes on a small plane. Retreat listings say the drive from Puerto Jimenez to Boca Sombrero takes about 40 minutes by taxi, the last part on a dirt road. Driving the whole way from San José takes most of a day.
Frequently asked questions
Is Boca Sombrero still open?
We couldn't confirm it directly in November 2026, because its website no longer works. It still appears as a venue on retreat listings, including one for April 2027, so book through an organizer.
Can I stay at Boca Sombrero without joining a retreat?
We found no current way to book a room on your own. The lodge now shows up mainly as a venue for group retreats.
Is the surf at Boca Sombrero good for beginners?
Retreat listings describe the beach break in front of the lodge as suited to beginners and intermediates, with the Matapalo point breaks nearby for experienced surfers.
[Updated on: 4 November 2026]
