Selva Armonia

Status

open, checked 4 November 2026 on its own website (retreats listed into 2027)

Where

in the hills above Uvita, Costa Ballena, south Pacific coast

Set-up

one group at a time, 15 rooms in private bungalows, suites and shared-bathroom rooms

Food

plant-based meals from the center's own kitchen

Selva Armonia is a retreat center in the jungle-covered hills above Uvita, on the Costa Ballena stretch of the south Pacific coast. It started in 2006 and today works as a private venue: it hosts one group at a time, so a retreat here has the whole place to itself. In November 2026 its website listed retreats into 2027.

What it's like

The center sits high enough to look over the forest to the ocean. Most of the grounds are garden and jungle, with ponds, paths and a fire pit, and the main buildings use natural materials. The center has long grown fruit, herbs and vegetables on site and works with permaculture ideas.

The yoga

The open-air shala looks out over the jungle to the Pacific and is used for yoga, meditation, workshops and ceremony. What you practice depends on the group: each retreat brings its own teacher and program, from yoga and Pilates weeks to adventure and personal-growth retreats.

Rooms and food

Selva Armonia has 15 rooms across private bungalows, Bali-style suites and the Casa Grande, where rooms have a queen and a single bed, ocean views and shared bathrooms. Meals are plant-based and cooked in the center's own kitchen, and there's a small jungle spa for massage and bodywork. Check their website for current rates.

Hosting or joining a retreat

If you're a teacher, you book the whole center for your group and plan the program with the Selva team. If you're a traveler, you join one of the retreats on its calendar, run by visiting teachers; in late 2026 and 2027 they included yoga, Pilates and wellness weeks. Around Uvita you can add whale watching in Marino Ballena National Park, waterfalls, beginner surf lessons and rainforest hikes.

Who it suits (and who it doesn't)

Selva Armonia suits teachers and organizers who want a private, all-in-one jungle venue, and guests who like a small group and a view. It suits you less if you want to drop in for a night or a single class, since it doesn't take individual walk-in guests the way a hotel does. For other places on this coast, see the South Pacific section of where to do yoga in Costa Rica, and for help comparing retreats, read how to choose a yoga retreat in Costa Rica.

Getting there

Uvita is on the coastal highway south of Dominical. From San José airport (SJO) it's roughly 3 to 4 hours by road, and the last stretch climbs into the hills, so ask the center about the road and transfers when you book.

Website: Selva Armonia

This profile first ran in 2012 as a guest article by Tyler Tafelsky of Dharma & Grace Yoga. We've since rewritten it to reflect how the center works today.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Selva Armonia?

In the jungle hills above Uvita, on the Costa Ballena coast of southern Costa Rica's Pacific side.

Can I stay at Selva Armonia without a group?

Selva Armonia hosts one group at a time. To stay, you join one of the retreats on its calendar, or book the center for your own group.

What kind of food does Selva Armonia serve?

Plant-based meals from the center's own kitchen.

How many people can Selva Armonia host?

It has 15 rooms across bungalows, suites and the Casa Grande; ask the center for the group size that fits your retreat.

[Updated on: 4 November 2026]