Sunrise Vinyasa and Beach Hiking Week in Costa Rica

The retreat runs from Saturday to Saturday at a six-room property set back from Playa Carmen. There are two classes a day: an energising vinyasa practice at 7am on the deck, and a slower yin or restorative session at 5pm, usually under the rancho. In between there's a structured activity most days — a sunrise hike up to the Montezuma waterfalls, a beginner surf lesson at Playa Hermosa, a cacao farm visit — plus one full free day midweek for whatever you want.

The teaching is led by Marta Ruiz, who has run these weeks here since 2018. She trained in Mysore and later did her 500-hour with a senior teacher in San Francisco, and she's taught for fourteen years. She's known for keeping classes slow enough that beginners aren't lost and detailed enough that people who've practised for years still get something. She also surfs, and usually paddles out with whoever wants company on the free afternoons.

What makes this week different from the dozens of other yoga retreats on this coast is the size and the schedule. Most places here run 20-plus people and cram in workshops. This one caps at 12, runs two classes a day and leaves the middle of the day completely alone. You're not being programmed from 6am to 9pm.

The property is a five-minute walk from the sand at Playa Carmen and about ten minutes from the main strip of Santa Teresa, where the cafés and the surf shops are. It sits in a patch of jungle, so howler monkeys wake you before your alarm most mornings, and there's a small pool for the hot part of the day.

Food is straightforward and local — gallo pinto at breakfast, big salads and rice bowls at lunch, fish or a vegetarian main at dinner. Most of the produce comes from the Cóbano market, and the kitchen will work around allergies or dietary needs if you tell them at booking.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation in shared or private rooms - Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner - Two yoga classes per day (vinyasa and yin/restorative) - Guided waterfall hike - Beginner surf lesson with board and instructor - Cacao farm visit and tasting - Yoga mats and props - Wifi in common areas - Use of pool and gardens

What's not included

- Flights to and from Costa Rica - Airport transfers and shuttle (can be arranged for an extra cost) - Travel insurance - Meals eaten off the property - Additional surf lessons or board hire beyond the included lesson - Massage and spa treatments - Alcohol - Personal expenses and tips