# Where to Do Yoga in Costa Rica, Region by Region > For a yoga trip, most people choose the Pacific coast: Nosara for a quiet, structured week with more retreat centers than any other area we cover, Santa Teresa for yoga with surf and a livelier town, and Montezuma for a small, slow village by the forest. The South Pacific and the Osa Peninsula suit you if you want deep jungle and wildlife, the Caribbean if you want a different culture and rain pattern, and Arenal or the Central Valley if you'd rather be in the mountains or close to the airport. Source: https://costarica-yoga-retreats.com/where-to-do-yoga-in-costa-rica/ Last checked: 2026-11-04 Most retreat centers we profile: Nosara, then Santa Teresa and Mal Pais, Montezuma, and the South Pacific (Dominical, Uvita, Osa) Airports: Guanacaste Airport in Liberia (LIR) for the north Pacific; Juan Santamaria in Alajuela (SJO) for everywhere else Ferry: Santa Teresa, Mal Pais, Montezuma and Cabuya are usually reached on the Puntarenas to Paquera ferry (Naviera Tambor) Pacific side weather: dry December to March, rainy May to October, wettest in September and October (IMN); the Central Valley follows a similar pattern Caribbean weather: no real dry season; the driest spells are February to March and September to October (IMN) Surf with your yoga: Nosara, Santa Teresa, Tamarindo and Playa Negra, Jaco, Dominical and Uvita Places checked: 2026-Nov-03; our profile of each one notes its current status Costa Rica is small, but its yoga towns feel very different: a week in Nosara is not a week in Puerto Viejo. This guide covers each region where you can practice: what it's like, who it suits, how to get there, when it rains, and the retreat centers, schools and studios we profile there. We checked every place named here on 2026-Nov-03, and each links to our profile, which notes whether it's still open. Our [guide to choosing a yoga retreat in Costa Rica](/yoga-retreats-costa-rica/) covers what kind of retreat; this page covers where. ## Which part of Costa Rica is best for yoga? There's no single best region, only the best one for your trip. Nosara has more of the retreat centers we profile than any other area and suits a first retreat or a teacher training. Santa Teresa suits yoga with surf (see [our yoga and surf guide](/yoga-and-surf-costa-rica/)) and a livelier town, and Montezuma a slow village week. The South Pacific and the Caribbean suit a trip built around rainforest and wildlife, the Central Pacific a short trip from San Jose, and Arenal or the Central Valley a week in the mountains or a class near the airport. ## Costa Rica's yoga regions compared Drive times below are approximate: they're the ones each region's centers give on their own websites (the ICT's for Jaco), and roads, the ferry queue and weather can add time. Rainy months come from the [IMN, Costa Rica's national weather institute](https://www.imn.ac.cr/documents/10179/31165/clima-regiones-climat.pdf/cb3b55c3-f358-495a-b66c-90e677e35f57), with Bodhi Surf + Yoga's and Rancho Margot's own seasons for the South Pacific and Arenal. | Region | Vibe | Best for | Nearest airport | Drive time (approximate) | Rainy months | Surf? | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Nosara | Quiet, health-minded, forest and long beaches | First retreats, teacher training, structured weeks | Liberia (LIR) | About 2.5 hours from LIR; about 5 hours from SJO | May to October, wettest September and October | Yes | | Santa Teresa and Mal Pais | Surf town, young, lively | Yoga plus surf, solo travelers | San Jose (SJO), with the ferry | About 4.5 hours from SJO with the ferry; about 5 hours from LIR | May to October | Yes | | Montezuma and Cabuya | Small village, slow, bohemian | Quiet weeks, nature, small groups | San Jose (SJO), with the ferry | About 4 hours from SJO with the ferry; roughly 3 hours from LIR | May to October | Nearby (Santa Teresa is about 25 minutes from Anamaya) | | Samara, Tamarindo, Playa Negra | Beach towns, easy access | Drop-in classes, short trips, surf | Liberia (LIR) | About 1 hour from LIR to the Tamarindo area | May to October | Yes (Samara is gentle) | | Central Pacific | Busy beach towns, national park | Short trips from San Jose | San Jose (SJO) | About 1.5 hours from San Jose to Jaco; Manuel Antonio is farther | May to October | Yes (Jaco area) | | South Pacific | Rainforest, whales, remote | Nature lovers, longer stays | San Jose (SJO), or flights to Puerto Jimenez | About 3.5 hours from SJO to Uvita; most people fly to the Osa (about 45 minutes to Puerto Jimenez) | May to November, longest rainy season | Yes (Dominical, Uvita) | | Caribbean | Afro-Caribbean, rainforest to the sea | Culture, a different season | San Jose (SJO), or flights to Limon | 4 to 6 hours from SJO | Rain all year; driest February to March and September to October | Some (see Costa Rica Surf) | | Arenal and the mountains | Volcano, lake, cloud forest, cooler | Nature, no beach needed | San Jose (SJO) or Liberia (LIR) | About 3.5 hours to Rancho Margot from either | Rainy June to November; rainy, chilly days possible in any month | No | | Central Valley | City, coffee hills, mild climate | Classes, a night before or after a retreat | San Jose (SJO) | Short: the airport is in the valley | Roughly May to October | No | The IMN says the Pacific side of the country is dry from December to March and rainy from May to October, with a drier spell, the veranillo or "little summer", in July and August. The rains start first in the southeast and end there last, so the South Pacific stays wet longest. The Central Valley, on the Pacific side of the mountains, follows a similar pattern. For surf breaks and skill levels, our sister site [Costa Rica Surf](https://costaricasurf.org/) goes deeper. ## Nosara, Guanacaste: the most yoga in one place ![The coast at Nosara from a light aircraft: rocky points, pale beaches and unbroken forest behind them](/static/img/p04-nosara-aerial-1600.webp "Photo: Alegutierrezc, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons") Nosara sits on the Pacific side of the Nicoya Peninsula, in Guanacaste. Costa Rica's tourism board (the ICT, which runs visitcostarica.com) describes Playa Nosara and Playa Guiones as long, pale-sand beaches with strong waves. Most of the yoga is around Playa Guiones and Playa Pelada. ### What Nosara is like Nosara spreads out along gravel roads rather than gathering in a town center, with houses and shalas set back in the trees behind the beach. Yoga came early: the Nosara Yoga Institute opened in 1994 and was sold in 2016, and our [profile of the Nosara Yoga Institute](/nosara-yoga-institute/) keeps its history. > "The Institute has been a hub to draw people here. We were the first yoga in town. ... Now Nosara is known for yoga and healthy living." > > **Don Stapleton**, co-founder of the Nosara Yoga Institute, which he ran from 1994 to 2016, in a 2016 interview with Voz de Guanacaste ### Who Nosara suits Nosara suits a first retreat, a teacher training (see [our teacher-training guide](/yoga-teacher-training-costa-rica/)), a structured week with few distractions, and surfers. It suits you less if you want nightlife, shops within walking distance, or an easy drive. > "As a yoga instructor and practitioner, I feel the responsibility to live a conscious life and for that to show not only in my classes, but also in the way I relate to the environment around me." > > **Melany Martínez**, Costa Rican yoga teacher who founded and heads the Retreats Department at Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort, Nosara, quoted by La Nación in 2021 (translated from Spanish) ### Getting to Nosara Fly into [Guanacaste Airport in Liberia](https://www.guanacasteairport.com/en). The Harmony Hotel puts the drive at about 2.5 hours and calls the roads "infamously bumpy"; from San Jose, PachaMama gives about 5 hours. Sansa flies small planes to Nosara's airstrip, less than an hour from San Jose and about 20 minutes from Liberia, according to [Harmony's FAQ](https://www.harmonynosara.com/faq). From May to November, PachaMama says you need a four-wheel-drive car to reach it. ### Yoga centers we profile in and around Nosara - [Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort](/bodhi-tree-yoga-resort/): a large yoga resort and teacher-training center in the hills above Guiones. - [Blue Spirit](/blue-spirit-retreats/): a retreat center on a hill above Playa Guiones that hosts visiting teachers and their groups. - [Harmony Hotel](/harmony-hotel/): a hotel a short walk from Playa Guiones, with daily yoga and a wellness center. - [Nosara Wellness](/nosara-wellness/): yoga, massage and physical therapy near Playa Pelada. - [Marianne Wells Yoga School](/marianne-wells-yoga-school/): teacher trainings held in Nosara, at Bodhi Tree or at Finca Austria above the Nosara River valley. North of Nosara, around San Juanillo, it's quieter still: [PachaMama](/pachamama-yoga-retreat/) runs silent retreats and meditation in the forest, [Alya Retreat Center](/alya-retreat-center/) is a small center near the beaches, and [Hacienda del Sol](/hacienda-del-sol/) is an eco-hotel with yoga. More in our [Nosara section](/category/retreat-centers/guanacaste/nosara/) and older [Nosara town guide](/most-popular-destinations-in-costa-rica-nosara/). ## Santa Teresa and Mal Pais: yoga with surf and a bit of life ::: triptych "Santa Teresa and Mal Pais: surfers and rocks at sunset, dusk on the beach, and the forested coast seen from the hills" ![People standing on rocks in the surf at sunset at Santa Teresa](/static/img/scenes/playa-santa-teresa.webp "Photo: Costa Rica Yoga Retreats") ![Dusk over the beach at Santa Teresa](/static/img/scenes/santa-teresa-dusk.webp "Photo: Costa Rica Yoga Retreats") ![Sunset over the forested coast and a curving bay, seen from the hills above Mal Pais](/static/img/scenes/mal-pais-sunset.webp "Photo: Costa Rica Yoga Retreats") ::: Santa Teresa and Mal Pais run together along the southwest tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, in Puntarenas province, with one main road along the coast and forested hills behind. ### What Santa Teresa is like Santa Teresa is a surf town first, and yoga fits around the waves: a class before the morning session, another at sunset. It's younger and busier than Nosara, with more restaurants and more going on after dark. Mal Pais, at the southern end, is rockier and calmer. > "It's also hard to get to. You have to go on a journey to get here. You feel like you’re at the end of the world." > > **Lauren Rudick**, yoga teacher and teacher trainer, speaking of Santa Teresa in a 2017 interview with WeTravel Academy ### Who Santa Teresa suits It suits yoga and surf in one trip, solo travelers who want to meet people, and anyone who likes a choice of food and things to do. It suits you less if you want silence or a center where every hour is planned. ### Getting to Santa Teresa Most people fly into San Jose. [Horizon Hotel and Yoga Center](https://horizon-yogahotel.com/travel/) puts the drive at around 4.5 hours, using the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera and the road through Cobano, or around 5 hours by road from Liberia. The ferry is run by [Naviera Tambor](https://navieratambor.com/), which sells only part of each crossing's space online; the [ICT's ferry guide](https://www.visitcostarica.com/blog/what-you-need-know-about-ferry) explains the rest. The fastest way in is a 30-minute flight from San Jose to the Cobano airstrip, then a drive Horizon puts at about 25 minutes and Pura Vida Adventures at up to an hour. Horizon recommends a four-wheel drive, and Hotel Tropico Latino warns of uneven roads, dust or mud depending on the season. ### Yoga centers we profile in Santa Teresa and Mal Pais - [Horizon Hotel and Yoga Center](/horizon-yoga-hotel/): a hillside hotel with ocean views and daily yoga. - [Hotel Tropico Latino](/tropico-latino/): a beachfront hotel with daily yoga on an oceanfront deck. - [Pura Vida Adventures](/pura-vida-adventures-surf-yoga-retreats-for-women/): surf and yoga retreats for women. - [Shaka Costa Rica](/shaka-beach-retreat/): a surf camp with daily yoga at Playa Hermosa, just north of Santa Teresa. - [Nautilus Surf and Yoga Villas](/nautilus-boutique-hotel/): boutique villas with yoga, formerly the Nautilus Boutique Hotel. More in our [Santa Teresa](/category/retreat-centers/southern-nicoya-peninsula/santa-teresa/) and [Mal Pais](/category/retreat-centers/southern-nicoya-peninsula/santa-teresa/malpais/) sections. For food, beaches and getting around, our sister site [Santa Teresa](https://www.santa-teresa.com/) is the better read. ### Nosara or Santa Teresa? Nosara has more retreat centers and a quieter, more structured feel, and it's closer to Liberia. Santa Teresa has more surf culture, food and evening life, and it's reached from San Jose with the ferry. Both have good waves. If you want your days planned around the mat, start with Nosara; if yoga is part of a surf trip, start with Santa Teresa. ## Montezuma and Cabuya: the small village by the forest ::: slideshow "Montezuma: the beach by the village, the waterfall, and an empty beach at dawn" ![The beach at Montezuma with forest coming down to the sand](/static/img/scenes/playa-montezuma.webp "Photo: Costa Rica Yoga Retreats") ![The Montezuma waterfall dropping into its pool](/static/img/scenes/montezuma-waterfall.webp "Photo: Costa Rica Yoga Retreats") ![Driftwood on a long, empty beach at dawn, with palms along the shore](/static/img/scenes/anamaya-yoga-retreat-yoga-teacher-training.webp "Photo: Costa Rica Yoga Retreats") ::: Montezuma is a village on a small cove on the Gulf of Nicoya side of the southern Nicoya Peninsula. Behind it is a 20-meter waterfall with a natural pool, reached by a 20-minute walk along the riverbed. Cabuya is a few kilometers south, near the Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve. ### What Montezuma is like Montezuma is a walking village with a bohemian streak and forest right behind the houses. Cabuya is quieter, with a rocky path that crosses to Cabuya Island at low tide. > "Of course things have changed in the last 20 years but it is still a small & charming fishing village and very unique in Costa Rica because of its young and creative international community." > > **Dagmar Spremberg**, founder of Montezuma Yoga, Montezuma ### Who Montezuma suits It suits a slow week, a small-group retreat, or a teacher training with nature close and few distractions, and it's a good base if you like to walk everywhere. If daily surf is the point, Santa Teresa is the better fit. ### Getting to Montezuma Montezuma uses the same ferry. [Ylang Ylang Beach Resort](https://ylangylangbeachresort.com/directions) puts the trip from San Jose at about 4 hours: a crossing of about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Puntarenas to Paquera (arrive 30 to 45 minutes early), then about an hour's drive through Cobano. It also lists a 25-minute flight from San Jose, and about 3 hours by road from Liberia; Horizon gives about 5 hours for the drive from Liberia to Santa Teresa, so allow extra time. ### Yoga centers we profile in Montezuma and Cabuya - [Anamaya Resort](/anamaya-yoga-resort/): a clifftop yoga retreat and teacher-training center above Montezuma, about 25 minutes from Santa Teresa according to its [own website](https://www.anamaya.com/). Its surf program is in our [Soul Surfers at Anamaya profile](/soul-surfers-yoga-retreat-at-anamaya/). - [Montezuma Yoga](/montezuma-yoga/): its studio at the Los Mangos hotel closed in 2021; founder Dagmar Spremberg still teaches private classes and runs retreats in Montezuma. - [Ylang Ylang Beach Resort](/ylang-ylang-beach-resort/): a beachfront resort with an open-air yoga deck, reached along the sand. - [Rancho Delicioso](/permaculture-and-yoga-retreat-at-rancho-delicioso/): a permaculture farm near Cobano with yoga retreats and courses. - [The Sanctuary at Two Rivers](/the-sanctuary-at-two-rivers/): a yoga and meditation retreat center in the forest near Cabo Blanco. More in our [Montezuma](/category/retreat-centers/southern-nicoya-peninsula/montezuma/) and [Cabuya](/category/retreat-centers/southern-nicoya-peninsula/montezuma/cabuya/) sections; for the village beyond yoga, see our sister site [Montezuma Beach](https://montezumabeach.com/). ## Samara and the rest of Guanacaste: Tamarindo and Playa Negra ::: slideshow "Guanacaste's other yoga beaches: Samara's calm bay and dusk at Tamarindo" ![The wide, calm beach at Samara with a forested headland beyond](/static/img/scenes/samara-beach.webp "Photo: Costa Rica Yoga Retreats") ![Dusk over the beach at Tamarindo](/static/img/scenes/tamarindo-dusk.webp "Photo: Costa Rica Yoga Retreats") ::: Guanacaste is Costa Rica's northwest province, home to Liberia's airport and a long run of beaches. Beyond Nosara, the yoga here is mostly studio classes and hotels with yoga rather than retreat centers. ### What it's like Samara, south of Nosara, is a bay about 4 kilometers long with gentle waves and a Blue Flag, Costa Rica's environmental award for beaches, according to [the ICT's Guanacaste page](https://www.visitcostarica.com/where-to-go/guanacaste). Tamarindo, to the north, is bigger and busier, a well-known surf beach with many restaurants and an active nightlife. Playa Negra, south of Tamarindo, is a smaller, quieter surf spot. ### Who it suits It suits a short trip, a family holiday with classes on the side, or a surf trip with drop-in yoga, and it's the easiest coast to reach from Liberia. For a full retreat program, Nosara is close. ### Getting there Los Altos de Eros, 15 minutes from Tamarindo, gives about 1 hour from Liberia airport and about 4 hours from San Jose. Samara is on the road south of Nosara, reached through Nicoya. ### Yoga places we profile in Guanacaste - [Playa Negra Yoga Center](/playa-negra-yoga-center/): yoga classes and retreats near the surf break at Playa Negra. - [Reflexion Yoga Tamarindo](/reflexion-yoga-tamarindo/): yoga classes and yoga therapy in Tamarindo. - [Los Altos de Eros](/los-altos-de-eros/): an adults-only boutique hotel and spa with yoga, inland from Tamarindo. We don't profile a yoga center in Samara yet. See our [Guanacaste](/category/retreat-centers/guanacaste/), [Playa Negra](/category/retreat-centers/guanacaste/playa-negra/) and [Tamarindo](/category/retreat-centers/guanacaste/tamarindo-guanacaste/) sections and our older guide to [Guanacaste's beaches](/some-must-see-beaches-in-guanacaste/). ## The Central Pacific: Jaco, Playa Hermosa and Manuel Antonio ![A white-sand beach and forested point in Manuel Antonio National Park](/static/img/p04-manuel-antonio-1600.webp "Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC0, Wikimedia Commons") The Central Pacific is the coast closest to San Jose. [The ICT](https://www.visitcostarica.com/where-to-go/central-pacific) puts Jaco only 1 hour and 30 minutes from the capital, and calls Manuel Antonio the second most visited national park in the country, known for monkeys, sloths and white-sand beaches. ### What it's like Jaco is a busy surf town with a strong nightlife, and Playa Hermosa, just south, is quieter. Manuel Antonio, near the port town of Quepos, has hillside hotels in the rainforest above the national park. It's the most developed yoga coast, with plenty of services and less of a retreat-village feel. ### Who it suits It suits a short trip, a first visit without a long drive, yoga with surf lessons or Spanish classes, and seeing wildlife in a national park without going far. ### Getting there Vida Asana, near Playa Hermosa, says it's about 90 minutes from San Jose airport. Manuel Antonio is farther down the coast; Prana Rainforest Retreat notes that flights from San Jose to Quepos take about 20 minutes, and Quepos is 8 minutes from the retreat by car. ### Yoga places we profile on the Central Pacific - [Aurora Yoga Studio](/aurora-yoga-jaco/): a yoga studio in the middle of Jaco. - [School of the World](/school-of-the-world/): a surf, Spanish and yoga school in Jaco. - [Vida Asana](/vida-asana/): a yoga retreat center near the surf at Playa Hermosa. - [Prana Rainforest Retreat](/prana-rainforest-retreat/): a rainforest retreat near Manuel Antonio National Park. More in our [Central Pacific](/category/retreat-centers/central-pacific/), [Jaco](/category/retreat-centers/central-pacific/jaco/) and [Manuel Antonio](/category/retreat-centers/central-pacific/manuel-antonio/) sections, and our older guide to [the Central Pacific](/central-pacific-the-most-popular-tourist-destination-in-costa-rica/). ## The South Pacific: Dominical, Uvita and the Osa Peninsula ::: slideshow "The South Pacific: the whale-tail sandbar at Uvita, Danyasa near Dominical, the Osa coast, Blue Osa, and a stormy sunset in the far south" ![The sandbar at Uvita stretching out to sea at low tide, shaped like a whale's tail](/static/img/scenes/uvita-tombolo.webp "Photo: Costa Rica Yoga Retreats") ![The covered lounge deck among tropical plants at Danyasa Eco-Retreat, Dominical](/static/img/scenes/danyasa-eco-resort-retreats.webp "Photo: Costa Rica Yoga Retreats") ![A quiet beach with palms and dark rocks on the Osa Peninsula](/static/img/scenes/osa-peninsula.webp "Photo: Costa Rica Yoga Retreats") ![The pool and open-sided lounge pavilion at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat and Spa](/static/img/scenes/blue-osa-yoga-sanctuary-and-spa.webp "Photo: Costa Rica Yoga Retreats") ![An orange sunset under storm clouds over the Pacific, from our Yoga Farm photos](/static/img/scenes/the-yoga-farm.webp "Photo: Costa Rica Yoga Retreats") ::: South of Quepos the coast gets greener and emptier. Dominical is a surf beach with strong waves; Uvita and Playa Ballena belong to Marino Ballena National Park, where [the ICT](https://www.visitcostarica.com/where-to-go/south-pacific) says you can see humpback whales from August to October and from December to April. Farther south, the Osa Peninsula holds Corcovado National Park, which the ICT calls the place with the highest concentration of plants and animals in the country. ### What it's like This is rainforest country, with lodges in the trees or on empty beaches and small towns. On the Osa, some places are off-grid or at the end of a long road. Yoga here is often part of a nature trip: a class, then a hike or a boat trip to look for whales. ### Who it suits It suits you if wildlife and quiet matter more than cafes, or if you want a retreat that feels remote. Uvita and Dominical are easier, with towns and beginner surf nearby; the Osa suits travelers happy to fly in on a small plane or spend most of a day on the road. ### Getting there Bodhi Surf + Yoga says Uvita is about 3.5 hours from San Jose on the coastal route. Blue Osa, about 11 kilometers south of Puerto Jimenez, sends its guests on a 45-minute domestic flight from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez, then picks them up by shuttle. The rainy season runs longest here: Bodhi Surf + Yoga calls May to November the wetter months, with September and October the peak. ### Yoga centers we profile on the South Pacific - **Dominical:** [Danyasa Eco-Retreat](/danyasa-yoga-retreats-and-teacher-training/), with yoga teacher trainings and daily classes, and [Waterfall Villas](/waterfall-villas-boutique-eco-retreat/), a boutique eco-retreat by a waterfall above town. - **Uvita:** [Bodhi Surf + Yoga](/bodhi-surf/), a surf and yoga camp at Bahia Ballena whose FAQ points beginners to the gentle waves at Playa Chaman, and [Selva Armonia](/selva-armonia/), private wellness retreats in the hills. - **The Osa Peninsula:** [Blue Osa Yoga Retreat + Spa](/blue-osa-yoga-sanctuary-and-spa/), a beachfront yoga retreat near Puerto Jimenez; [Ojo del Mar](/ojo-del-mar/), a small nature lodge with yoga; [Encanta La Vida](/encanta-la-vida/), a jungle lodge at Matapalo on the tip of the peninsula; [Luna Lodge](/luna-lodge/), an eco-lodge with a yoga platform next to Corcovado; and [Women's Quest](/womens-quest/), which runs a women's surf and yoga week at Matapalo. - **Near Pavones:** [The Yoga Farm](/the-yoga-farm/), an off-grid yoga farm at Punta Banco. - **Inland:** [Rio Chirripo Retreat](/rio-chirripo-yoga-retreat/), a riverside yoga retreat below Mount Chirripo. See our [Southern Pacific](/category/retreat-centers/southern-pacific/), [Dominical](/category/retreat-centers/central-pacific/dominical/), [Uvita](/category/retreat-centers/central-pacific/uvita/), [Osa Peninsula](/category/retreat-centers/southern-pacific/osa-peninsula/) and [Pavones](/category/retreat-centers/southern-pacific/pavones/) sections. ## The Caribbean: Puerto Viejo and Cahuita ::: triptych "The Caribbean: Cahuita's beach, boats at Puerto Viejo, and a class on Samasati's deck above the rainforest" ![A curving beach backed by rainforest and palms at Cahuita](/static/img/scenes/cahuita-beach.webp "Photo: Costa Rica Yoga Retreats") ![Fishing boats pulled up on the beach at Puerto Viejo at dusk](/static/img/scenes/puerto-viejo-boat.webp "Photo: Costa Rica Yoga Retreats") ![A yoga class on an open deck above the rainforest at Samasati Nature Retreat](/static/img/scenes/samasati-own.webp "Photo: Costa Rica Yoga Retreats") ::: The southern Caribbean coast, in Limon province, feels like a different country. [The ICT](https://www.visitcostarica.com/where-to-go/caribbean) describes a culture of African descent with Indigenous influences, and rainforest that reaches the sea; Cahuita National Park protects a reef with 35 species of coral. ### What it's like Puerto Viejo is colorful and relaxed, and the ICT notes its varied food. Cocles, Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva stretch south along the coast toward Manzanillo, and Cahuita, to the north, is smaller and sleepier. Yoga here is mostly in jungle lodges and small retreat centers in the hills behind the beaches. > "in Limón we've been doing yoga for a long time, but it's the first time we're holding a mass event here, we're very excited" > > **Carlos Avellán**, organizer of the 2015 International Yoga Day classes in Limón, quoted by El Mundo CR (translated from Spanish) ### Weather on the Caribbean coast The IMN says the Caribbean slope has no true dry season: even its least rainy months get a lot of rain. The coast has two drier spells, February to March and September to October; the second falls in the Pacific's wettest months, which makes the Caribbean a good choice then. The wettest stretch is November to January, with December the wettest month, and there's a second peak in July. ### Who it suits It suits travelers who want culture and food as much as yoga, and anyone traveling in September or October. It suits you less if you want a Pacific sunset or a big center with a full daily program. ### Getting there Samasati says it's 4 to 6 hours from San Jose airport by car or shuttle van, through the mountains and a national park. There are also short flights from San Jose to Limon, about 30 to 35 minutes, followed by a drive of 40 to 45 minutes to Samasati. ### Yoga centers we profile on the Caribbean - [Samasati Nature Retreat](/samasati-nature-retreat/): a rainforest yoga retreat on a hillside above the Caribbean near Puerto Viejo. - [The Goddess Garden](/the-goddess-garden/): a yoga and wellness resort in the rainforest near Cahuita. - [Kindred Spirits](/kindred-spirits-equestrians-retreats/): yoga and horses at Cocles, on the coast south of Puerto Viejo. - [Magellan Boutique Hotel](/hotel-magellan-inn/): a boutique hotel near Cahuita, formerly the Magellan Inn. See our [Caribbean section](/category/retreat-centers/caribbean/), which includes Puerto Viejo, and our older guide to [Limon province](/top-5-cantons-of-limon-province/). ## Arenal, Monteverde and the northern mountains ::: slideshow "The mountains: Arenal Volcano above La Fortuna, and the cloud forest at Monteverde" ![Arenal Volcano with cloud on its peak above gardens near La Fortuna](/static/img/p04-arenal-1600.webp "Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC0, Wikimedia Commons") ![Dense cloud forest at Monteverde seen from a suspension bridge](/static/img/p04-monteverde-1600.webp "Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons") ::: Arenal Volcano stands 7 kilometers from the town of La Fortuna, in the Northern Plains, with hot springs around it and Lake Arenal, the country's largest artificial lake, a few kilometers away. Monteverde, in the Sierra de Tilaran north of Puntarenas, is famous for its cloud forest, and the town of Santa Elena has its hotels and restaurants. ### What it's like Up here the air is cooler. Days might mean a morning class, a forest walk or a soak in hot springs, and the yoga places are lodges and farms rather than shalas by the sea. > "Here all the energy is produced by water turbines, cooking gas is generated by biodigesters and hot water comes largely from compost ovens." > > **Juan Sostheim**, founder of Rancho Margot, El Castillo, in an interview with La Tercera (translated from Spanish) ### Who it suits It suits you if you prefer forest and volcano views to surf, want yoga with hiking and hot springs, or are adding a few mountain days to a beach trip. Pack layers. ### Weather and getting there Rain can come in any month: Rancho Margot calls December to May its dry season and June to November its rainy season, but says its rainforest microclimate still brings rainy, chilly days in the dry months. [Rancho Margot](https://www.ranchomargot.com/how-to-get-here) puts the drive at about 3.5 hours from either San Jose or Liberia, paved as far as El Fosforo and then 2.5 kilometers of gravel. El Silencio Lodge, in the cloud forest at Bajos del Toro, says it's 90 minutes from San Jose airport. ### Yoga places we profile in the mountains - [Mystica](/mystica-lodge-retreats/): a lodge and retreat center above Lake Arenal. - [Rancho Margot](/rancho-margot/): a self-sufficient farm and eco-lodge with yoga at El Castillo, by Lake Arenal. - [El Silencio Lodge and Spa](/el-silencio-lodge-spa/): a cloud-forest lodge and spa with yoga at Bajos del Toro. We don't profile a yoga center in Monteverde itself yet. See our [Northern Mountains](/category/retreat-centers/northern-mountains/), [Arenal](/category/retreat-centers/northern-mountains/arenal/) and [Monteverde](/category/retreat-centers/northern-mountains/monteverde/) sections and our older [La Fortuna guide](/popular-destination-in-costa-rica-la-fortuna-de-san-carlos/). ## The Central Valley: San Jose, Escazu and Alajuela ![The domed pavilion in Plaza Morazan, a park in central San Jose](/static/img/p04-san-jose-1600.webp "Photo: Jerrye and Roy Klotz MD, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons") The Central Valley is the high basin around San Jose, Heredia, Alajuela and Cartago. San Jose sits at 1,149 meters with an average temperature of 24 degrees Celsius, according to the ICT. Juan Santamaria International Airport is in Alajuela, run by [AERIS](https://www.aeris.cr/). ### What it's like This is city yoga, in neighborhood studios where locals practice before or after work, with many classes taught in Spanish. Around the edges, the hills hold a few retreat centers. > "In ashtanga yoga, the asanas are very attractive and acrobatic, but they are just the tip of the iceberg. When the body starts to breathe and calm down, you start to enter another space of consciousness" > > **Mariela Cruz**, Costa Rican teacher who founded Namasté Yoga Studio in San José, in a 2012 interview with The Tico Times ### Who it suits It suits people living in Costa Rica, and travelers who want a class on the first or last night of a trip or a short retreat near the airport. ### Yoga places we profile in the Central Valley - [Yoga Mandir](/yoga-mandir/): a yoga school and studio in San Pedro de Montes de Oca, east of downtown San Jose. - [Krama Yoga](/krama-yoga-center/): a yoga studio, now in Santa Ana, west of the city. - [AmaTierra](/amatierra-a-retreat-for-the-whole-person/): a retreat and wellness center in the hills west of San Jose, at Turrubares. Our [Studios of the Central Valley](/category/studios-central-valley/) section lists studios in [San Jose](/category/retreat-centers/central-valley/san-jose/), [Escazu](/category/studios-central-valley/escazu-yoga-studios-central-valley/), Heredia and Alajuela; some listings are old, so check each one's status. Retreat centers are in our [Central Valley section](/category/retreat-centers/central-valley/). ## More ways to explore For seasons, flights and packing, see [our trip-planning guide](/plan-a-yoga-trip-costa-rica/). For silent, meditation, eco and spa retreats in each region, see [our guide to wellness, meditation and nature retreats](/wellness-retreats-costa-rica/). You can also browse all of our [region pages](/category/regions-of-costa-rica/) or the full list of [retreat centers](/category/retreat-centers/). ## Frequently asked questions ### Which part of Costa Rica is best for a yoga retreat? Nosara, in Guanacaste on the Nicoya Peninsula, has more of the yoga retreat centers we profile than any other area and suits a first retreat or a teacher training. Santa Teresa suits yoga with surf, Montezuma a slow village week, and the South Pacific or the Caribbean a trip built around rainforest and wildlife. ### Is Nosara or Santa Teresa better for yoga? Nosara is quieter and more structured, with more retreat centers, and it's closer to Liberia airport. Santa Teresa is a livelier surf town with more food and evening life, reached from San Jose using the Puntarenas to Paquera ferry or a short flight to Cobano. ### How do I get to Santa Teresa or Montezuma? From San Jose, drive to Puntarenas, take the Naviera Tambor ferry to Paquera, and continue through Cobano; the hotels put the whole trip at about 4 to 4.5 hours. You can also fly from San Jose to the Cobano airstrip in about 30 minutes. ### When is the rainy season in Costa Rica? On the Pacific side, the IMN says the rainy season runs from May to October, with September and October the wettest months and December to March dry; the Central Valley is similar. The Caribbean coast has no true dry season, but February to March and September to October are its driest spells. ### Where can I do yoga near San Jose? The Central Valley has city studios such as Yoga Mandir in San Pedro and Krama Yoga in Santa Ana, plus retreat centers in the hills like AmaTierra. Jaco and Playa Hermosa on the Central Pacific are about 90 minutes from the airport. ### Are there yoga retreats on the Osa Peninsula and in Uvita? Yes. In Uvita we profile Bodhi Surf + Yoga and Selva Armonia, and on the Osa Peninsula Blue Osa, Ojo del Mar, Encanta La Vida and Luna Lodge. Dominical, just north of Uvita, has Danyasa Eco-Retreat. ### What are the yoga retreats in Montezuma? In and around Montezuma we profile Anamaya Resort, Ylang Ylang Beach Resort, Rancho Delicioso near Cobano and The Sanctuary at Two Rivers near Cabuya. Montezuma Yoga's studio closed in 2021, but its founder still teaches private classes and retreats there.