Muay Thai & Beach Training Retreat in Nosara, Costa Rica

Most days start at 7:00 AM with either a beach jog or optional yoga, then breakfast at 8:00. The first Muay Thai session runs 10:00-11:30, lunch is at noon, and a second training block runs 1:30-3:00 in the afternoon. Evenings are loose: drinks and games by the fire pit at 5:30 on most days, dinner at 7:00, then whatever you like.

The December 12 arrival day starts at 2:00 PM with check-in, followed by dinner and an opening ceremony at 6:30. Day 1 includes a waterfall tour in the afternoon (included in the price). Days 2 and 3 have optional surf lessons in the morning instead of the beach jog. Day 4 swaps the morning jog for yoga (not included) and adds a fire pit session at 5:30. Days 5 and 6 return to the beach jog plus two training blocks. Departure day is December 19, with coffee and tea before you head out.

Kru Vivek Nakarmi is the lead instructor and owner of Pentagon MMA. He is the WBC USA Muay Thai Mid-Atlantic Regional Director and a decorated professional fighter with titles going back to 2006, including WKA National Champion, multiple WKA and IKF World Kickboxing medals, and the 2017 USMTA 135 lb Professional Championship. He teaches beginners and competitive athletes in the same room.

What separates this from a standard Muay Thai holiday is that it's a gym trip, not a resort class. The training is the same programme Pentagon runs in Arlington, twice a day, with the same coach, just moved to a jungle resort with an infinity pool. You're training alongside people who know each other from the home gym, which makes it easier to settle in if you're travelling alone.

Jungle's Edge is an all-inclusive eco-resort with a training studio on site, a large communal kitchen, an infinity pool, a gym, and a cold plunge. The beach is a 15-20 minute walk, or the hotel can arrange a tuk tuk. LIR (Liberia, Guanacaste Airport) is about 2.5 hours away by car, and round-trip shared shuttle service is included if you arrive and depart between 11 AM and 3 PM on the start and end dates.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation at Jungle's Edge - Twice-daily Muay Thai training with Kru Vivek Nakarmi - Daily gourmet meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Dinner on arrival day - Breakfast on departure day - Fresh squeezed juice at breakfast - Roundtrip airport transportation (within specified arrival/departure windows) - Access to the infinity pool - Unlimited gym access - Unlimited cold plunge access - Waterfall tour (extra charge for children) - Wi-Fi internet access - One load of laundry

What's not included

- Airfare - Alcoholic drinks - Smoothies - Specialty coffees - Beach transfers (15-20 minute walk, or hotel can arrange tuk tuk) - Drop-in yoga classes at Bodhi Tree - Surf lessons - Massages - Other activities bookable through the resort