Retreat Centers
Espiritu Salvaje Wellness Center
Espiritu Salvaje was a retreat center on a hillside near Uvita, on Costa Rica's south Pacific coast, used for week-long programs with hatha yoga, meditation, dance and kirtan. We couldn't confirm in November 2026 that it still operates, so check directly before planning a trip.
Update, November 2026: We couldn't confirm that Espiritu Salvaje is still running. Global Journeys, the organization whose website we listed for it, is still in business but no longer mentions the center, and we found no recent listings, so check directly before planning a visit.
Espiritu Salvaje was a retreat center on the hills near Uvita, on the south Pacific coast, with views over the ocean. When we first wrote about it, groups came for week-long programs that mixed yoga, meditation and time outdoors.
What a week included
A typical week included:
- Hatha yoga and meditation sessions.
- Dance and movement, kirtan (call-and-response chanting) and evening programs.
- 6 nights' lodging and 3 meals a day, much of the food from the center's own gardens.
- Beach time and hikes.
Rooms
Most guests slept in 2 large group rooms with ocean-view verandas, each with 10 bunk beds and its own bathroom. A few private rooms were available for people who wanted their own space.
The setting
The land had rainforest trails, a freshwater swimming hole and large old trees within a short walk, and the beaches around Uvita are close by. Birdwatching was one of the easy pleasures here.
Getting to Uvita
Uvita is on the coastal highway south of Dominical; the center was about 24 kilometers south of Dominical. Bodhi Surf + Yoga, also in Uvita, puts the drive from San José at about 3.5 hours on the coastal route.
Other options near Uvita
Uvita still has yoga places we've confirmed are open, such as Bodhi Surf + Yoga, and Dominical has Danyasa Eco-Retreat. See where to do yoga in Costa Rica for the whole south Pacific coast, and our yoga retreats guide for how to choose.
Frequently asked questions
Is Espiritu Salvaje still open?
We couldn't confirm it in November 2026. We found no current website or retreat listings for it.
Where was Espiritu Salvaje?
On the hills near Uvita, on Costa Rica's south Pacific coast, south of Dominical.
Are there other yoga retreats near Uvita?
Yes. We profile Bodhi Surf + Yoga in Uvita and Danyasa Eco-Retreat in Dominical, both open when we checked in November 2026.
[Updated on: 4 November 2026]
