# Selva Armonia

> Selva Armonia is a private retreat center and event venue in the jungle hills above Uvita, on Costa Rica's south Pacific coast. It hosts one group at a time, so it suits teachers who want to run their own retreat, and travelers who join one of the retreats on its calendar.

Source: https://costarica-yoga-retreats.com/selva-armonia/
Last checked: 2026-11-04
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

![A green-roofed open-air yoga shala in the jungle, with an orange stone path and the ocean in the distance](/static/img/old/2012-11-yoga-retreat-deck.webp)

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.

![A woman lying on a cushioned bench on a wooden balcony above the jungle](/static/img/old/2012-11-yoga-retreat-costa-rica-private-bungalow.webp)

## 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.

![A thatched open-sided building beside a lily pond, with a sandstone path](/static/img/old/2012-11-selva-armonia-lodge.webp)

## 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](/where-to-do-yoga-in-costa-rica/), and for help comparing retreats, read [how to choose a yoga retreat in Costa Rica](/yoga-retreats-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](https://www.selvaarmonia.com/)

*This profile first ran in 2012 as a guest article by Tyler Tafelsky of [Dharma & Grace Yoga](https://dharmagraceyoga.com/). 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.