Posada Natura is a family-owned retreat center on the Naranjo River in Costa Rica's Central Pacific region. Retreat leaders book the property for their group, bring their own students and run their own program. The venue supplies the rooms, practice spaces, food and on-site staff.

The week is built around two practice spaces. The upstairs open-air shala holds 40 and is stocked with mats, bolsters, props and meditation cushions. The octagon fire temple, built around ancient boulders, holds 30 and suits ceremony, sound and circle work. With two rooms, you can run a workshop or small group in one while the shala is being set up for the next class.

The main difference from sharing a hotel is exclusive use: no other guests are on the property during your retreat. The on-site team takes care of housekeeping, meals and logistics, so you can spend your time teaching instead of chasing towels and timetables. Three family-style, farm-to-table, organic meals are served every day, with tea and coffee available all day.

Getting there is by road. Most groups fly into San José, and the drive takes about 2.5 to 4 hours depending on traffic. A group shuttle turns that drive into the first shared part of the retreat. Once you're there, Manuel Antonio is eight miles away, close enough for a beach day.

The team can arrange waterfall excursions, river rafting, horseback riding and Manuel Antonio beach days. On site, you can add bodywork, breathwork, sound healing and a Temazcal sweat lodge. Every retreat hosted here also helps fund a nonprofit that protects more than 10,000 acres of rainforest in the Cerro Nara mountains.

The numbers are straightforward. The rate is $200 per person, per day for groups of 20 to 30, and $220 for groups of 12 to 19. The minimum is 12 guests, and groups over 30 get a custom quote. There are no taxes, bank wire payments carry no added fee, and credit cards carry a 3% processing fee.

What's included

- Exclusive use of the riverside casitas, octagon bungalow and neighboring suites - Three family-style, farm-to-table, organic meals daily - All-day tea and coffee - Upstairs open-air yoga shala that holds 40 - Mats, bolsters, props and meditation cushions - On-site team for housekeeping, meals and logistics - No added taxes

What's not included

- Flights to Costa Rica - Yoga teacher or retreat leader (groups bring their own) - 3% processing fee on credit card payments - Optional excursions, arranged on request - Optional bodywork, breathwork, sound healing and Temazcal sessions, arranged on request

More wellness retreats in Costa Rica