Pranamar Villas and Yoga Retreat

Update, November 2026: Pranamar's old website address no longer belongs to the hotel, so we've removed the link. The hotel is still listed on major booking sites, and a retreat organizer advertised a week of twice-daily yoga here in 2026, so it appears to be open. Book through a booking site or a retreat organizer, and check details before you go.

Pranamar sits right on the beach at the north end of Santa Teresa, toward Playa Carmen, on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. It's a small, Balinese-style property of about 10 villas and bungalows set in a garden around a pool, with the ocean a few steps away. Yoga has always been part of the place, and it's popular with teachers who bring groups for a retreat week.

The villas

The villas are built from Costa Rican bamboo and hardwoods with thatched roofs, and furnished with handmade Indonesian pieces. Most have open-air garden bathrooms, and some have stone tubs. There's a mix of:

• Poolside villas with direct access to the pool.
• Oceanfront villas with full kitchens and big verandas facing the sunset.
• Bungalows built of pine, with decks facing the ocean or the garden; one has been set up for wheelchair access.
• Kula House, a two-story house for up to 7 people with a full kitchen, for families or small groups.

Rooms have air conditioning and fans. Check a booking site for current room types and rates.

Yoga

Pranamar has an on-site yoga space and has offered daily classes and hosted retreats with visiting teachers for many years. A 2026 retreat listing for a week here included two yoga classes a day with meals and beachside lodging. If you're staying on your own, ask when you book whether a class or a retreat is running during your dates, since the schedule depends on the groups in residence. Massage and bodywork have also been offered on site.

Food

The hotel has an open-air restaurant facing the pool and the ocean. When we first wrote about it, it was called Buddha Eyes and cooked with local fish and produce; ask the hotel what's open during your stay.

Who it suits

It suits couples, small groups and anyone who wants a calm, low-key beachfront stay in Santa Teresa with yoga within reach, away from the busier center of town. It's also a good fit for a surf and yoga trip: Santa Teresa has consistent waves most of the year, with surf schools for beginners. For more about the town and other yoga places there, read the Santa Teresa section of our guide to where to do yoga in Costa Rica, including Hotel Tropico Latino down the beach. To compare retreat weeks, see our guide to choosing a yoga retreat in Costa Rica.

Getting there

Santa Teresa is about 3 hours by car from Liberia airport (LIR). From San José, most people drive or take a shuttle to Puntarenas, cross on the car ferry to Paquera (about 1 hour 15 minutes), and drive about 1 hour 15 minutes more. The nearest airstrip is Tambor, about 45 minutes away by road. The roads around Santa Teresa are dusty in the dry season and muddy in the rainy season, so a four-wheel drive helps.

Frequently asked questions

Is Pranamar in Santa Teresa still open?

It appears to be. Its old website no longer works, but in November 2026 it was still listed on major booking sites and a retreat organizer listed a week there in 2026.

Does Pranamar have yoga classes?

It has a yoga space and hosts yoga retreats. Ask when you book whether classes are running during your stay.

Is Pranamar on the beach?

Yes. It's a beachfront property at the north end of Santa Teresa, toward Playa Carmen.

[Updated on: 4 November 2026]