Muay Thai Training Retreat in Nosara, Costa Rica

A typical day starts at 7:00 AM with a beach jog, followed by breakfast at 8:00. The first Muay Thai session runs 10:00–11:30, then lunch at noon. Afternoons have a second Muay Thai session from 1:30 to 3:00, and the rest of the day is free — the pool, the cold plunge, the gym, or a walk into town. Drinks and games by the fire pit start around 5:30 on most afternoons, and dinner is at 7:00. Day 1 swaps the afternoon session for a waterfall tour that's included in the price. Day 4 opens with optional yoga instead of a jog. On days 2 and 3, surf lessons are available in the morning for around $90 per person, arranged separately.

Training is led by Kru Vivek Nakarmi. He's a decorated professional fighter — 2006 WKA National Champion, silver and bronze medals at the WKA and IKF World Kickboxing Tournaments across 2006–2010, the 2014 Thai Championship Boxing 135 lb title, the 2015 Warrior's Cup 135 lb title, and the 2017 USMTA 135 lb Professional Championship. He's also a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu purple belt and holds the WBC USA Muay Thai Mid-Atlantic Regional Director role. Sessions are open to all levels; the page describes coaching that works for beginners and competitive athletes in the same room.

Where you sleep depends on what you book. The Glamping Huts are the budget option — one full bed and two single beds, private bathroom, two ceiling fans, a reflective roof, LED lighting, a small cooking area, and access to the large communal kitchen. No A/C and no hot water, but they stay dry and cool at night. The Jungle Room is a private one-bedroom suite with a queen bed, air conditioning, deluxe linens and mattress, private bathroom, refrigerator, and ceiling fan, steps from the training studio. The Casitas are air-conditioned one-room suites with one queen and two single beds and a private bathroom, available for shared occupancy only. The Lotus is a two-bedroom suite with a private patio, one queen bedroom and a second room with two single beds, private bathroom, ceiling fans, deluxe linens, and a full kitchen — good for families or small groups. Bamboo has two air-conditioned bedrooms (one queen, two singles), two private bathrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen.

Meals are included daily: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus dinner on arrival day and breakfast on departure day. Fresh squeezed juice comes with breakfast. Waterfall tour is included. What's not included: airfare, alcoholic drinks, smoothies, specialty coffees, beach transfers (it's a 15–20 minute walk or a Tuk Tuk the hotel can arrange), drop-in yoga at Bodhi Tree, and anything booked through the resort like surf lessons and massages.

The retreat runs December 12–19. Arrival day has check-in at 2:00 PM, dinner and an opening ceremony at 6:30 PM. Departure day is coffee, tea, and out. Airport transfers are included if you land between 11 AM and 3 PM on the 12th and leave between 11 AM and 3 PM on the 19th — the closest airport is LIR, Liberia, about 2.5 hours from the venue. The page lists a sample flight itinerary from Washington, DC for anyone coming from that area.

What separates this from a generic tropical fitness week is the coaching and the structure. You're training twice a day under a coach who fought professionally at 135 lbs and now directs WBC USA Muay Thai in the Mid-Atlantic. The schedule is fixed and the food, lodging, and transport are handled, so the only thing you're deciding each day is how hard to go in the afternoon session.

What's included

- Twice-daily Muay Thai training led by Kru Vivek - 7 nights of accommodations at Jungle's Edge - Daily gourmet meals (breakfast, lunch, and 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 use of gym - Unlimited use of cold plunge - 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 to beach) - Drop-in yoga classes at nearby Bodhi Tree - Surf lessons - Massages and other activities booked through the resort