Yoga in Costa Rica
Yoga in Costa Rica: Melting + Metaphor
March 9-16, 2025
Yoga offers timeless practices that invite us to know ourselves at the most essential level, to ground into this understanding and to live authentically from there. Simply put, we do this by melting away all the layers of tension in the body, mind and breath so our essence can shine forth, like sunlight pouring through a clean glass window. This week will offer the practices and space that can invite the softening of the unnecessary holding we carry. During this time, we will weave together asana (yoga poses), pranayama (breath-work), contemplation and meditation to explore the subtle layers of body, mind and breath. We will use the metaphors and archetypes of the yoga tradition to anchor our exploration. We will be supported in this process by Costa Rica’s natural beauty in the biodiverse Osa Peninsula, filling our senses with the lush aliveness of this area.
Nereus Retreat Centre, our base for the retreat, is a beautiful and comfortable oasis located on the Osa Pensisula. This region is one of the world’s blue zones, a biodiverse oasis. The centre is near the town of Puerto Jiménez. Our private location is a small hotel with a dedicated yoga space, a saltwater pool and is located just off the beach (a short jungle path accesses the swimmable beach). The retreat’s website is linked here.
Included in the pricing is accommodations, meals and daily morning and late afternoon yoga, breathwork and meditation sessions. One morning will be off for those who wish to book an half-day excursion to a local wildlife preserve. This and all other optional excursions are offered at an additional cost. Prices for the weeklong experience will range from shared accommodation at approximately $2300 Cdn to single rooms at $3300. Prices do not include flights and add ons (like massages, excursions, etc). Please note that the prices on the Nereus website are listed in US dollars which is how you will be charged.
Booking your retreat is managed through the Nereus website. You can reserve and find more here. Below are some FAQ’s as well. Please also be in touch with any questions.
See you in Costa Rica in March 2025!
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I get to Nereus? Information on travel to and from Nereus is available here and please be in touch with me or Jen and Stuart at Nereus for additional assistance if needed. Also note that Air Canada was running flights that connected to internal flights allowing travellers to arrive at Nereus in one day of travel from Montreal. Those flights are not available now (August 2024), but I expect them to be added back this fall.
Also, for the domestic travel from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez, Sansa Airlines offers the fastest and easiest way to get to Puerto Jimenez. Nereus will provide complimentary transfers to and from the retreat center from the local airport (PJM). The domestic terminal is adjacent to the international airport (SJO) in San Jose. There are also shuttles by van that run from $45/pp. The journey by car is 6-7 hours and there is a public bus from San Jose that leaves one time per day.
Where do I stay if I have to over-night in San José? Here are recommendations provided from Nereus:
Airport hotel options - Top tip! When you do a hotel search for San José, MAKE SURE that you don't book an airport hotel in San José, California.
San José (SJO) is served by a variety of well known hotel chains.They are very comfortable and offer airport shuttles.
Hampton by Hilton San José Airport here
Fairfield by Marriott here
Holiday Inn Express here
Courtyard San José Airport Alajuela here
Hilton Garden Inn San José Airport City Mall here
There are also a large number of independently owned hotels which can be more economical.
Can I arrive at Nereus earlier than the 9th? Unfortunately, there is another ending on the morning of the 9th so we are unable to arrive on site early. Nereus or I can assist with accommodations in Puerto Jimenez or you can spend time in San Jose (see accommodations above).
If I am a single traveler, can I book a shared room? Yes. we will pair up people in rooms as needed. If you have a specific roommate request, please let Nereus know when booking.
What are the accommodations like? Accommodation: Rooms are single, double and triple occupancy. There are 12 rooms in total, 8 of them have private bathrooms and 4 rooms with shared bathrooms (2 rooms share one bathroom). Each room has screens in the windows and an a/c unit in also have screens in all bedrooms. The rooms are in villas. Some villas are single story large rooms and some are 2 story buildings with one upper and one lower unit. Double rooms can be configured to have king beds or extra long twins. In the triple rooms there are 3 extra long twin beds. Those rooms can be also configured to have a king bed and a single bed. Single rooms with shared bathrooms have one queen bed.
What is the food like? (from Nereus) At Nereus, food isn’t just fuel; it’s a feature of your immersive experience with us. Helmed by Jen, owner, chef, Ayurvedic practitioner and functional medicine nutritionist, family-style, with set-menu meals per day are individually tailored to meet dietary needs, with each and every dish having been thoughtfully considered from multiple perspectives. Colorful, plant-forward, local, seasonal, gluten-free and, above all, bursting with flavor, dining at Nereus promises to be a highlight of any stay, whether you’re an omnivore, pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan or are living with allergies or intolerances. As with our approach to everything, food is never a one-size-fits-all affair. We look forward to welcoming you to our table.
What is a typical day like? We will have both a morning and afternoon yoga session which will include asana, meditation and pranayama. There will be ample time in the day to enjoy the retreat site, book spa services, explore the nearby town and walk the beach.
Are there spa services on-site? Nereus has spa services (massage and skin care) which can be booked for an additional charge to the retreat package.
How can I get to Puerto Jimenez to explore during the retreat week? The retreat site will arrange transportation to town. A taxi costs approximately $20US each way and while the cost increases slightly with more people, it is still cost-effective to share taxis.
What additional activities are available? Information and assistance with booking excursions is provided through Nereus, including: whale watching, sea kayaking in the mangroves, cacao or vanilla farm tours, hiking in Corcovado National Park (highly recommended), deep sea fishing, etc. These can be booked separately and here are websites showing costs and options:
National park excursion here
Sea kayaking (very close to the retreat centre) here
Cacao finca (very close, in Puerto Jimenez) here