Muay Thai Training Retreat in Nosara, Costa Rica with Kru Vivek Nakarmi

The retreat is organised by Pentagon Mixed Martial Arts, a gym in Arlington, VA that runs adult Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu programs, kids' classes and summer camps. This is the first time they've taken the training experience abroad, and they've built the week around their head coach, Kru Vivek Nakarmi.

Training runs twice daily in a covered studio at Jungle's Edge, usually 10:00-11:30 AM and again 1:30-3:00 PM. Kru Vivek teaches traditional Muay Thai technique — punches, kicks, elbows, knees, clinch work — and mixes in modern training methods. The camp is open to all levels; beginners train alongside competitive athletes, with kids welcome to join their parents under adult supervision. On day one there's a beach jog before breakfast, and on days five and six the beach jog returns.

Afternoons and evenings are deliberately loose. There's a waterfall tour on day one (included), then free time to rest, swim in the infinity pool, use the cold plunge, or walk into town. Drinks and games by the fire pit happen before dinner on most nights. Yoga at Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort is a short walk away and around $20 per class on a drop-in basis; surf lessons can be organised in the mornings for roughly $90 per person. Both are extras, not part of the package.

The whole thing runs at Jungle's Edge, an all-inclusive eco-resort built for exactly this kind of trip — simple, comfortable, quiet, and close to the water. It's not a luxury hotel and doesn't pretend to be. There's a shared kitchen, banana trees everywhere, and a training studio a few steps from the rooms. The point is to remove friction so you can train and rest.

Nosara is the other draw. It's on the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste, one of five Blue Zones globally, and the town leans into that: clean air, good water, a strong community feel, and a pace that's noticeably slower than most beach destinations. There's high-speed internet if you need it, a range of international restaurants, and local markets. Most people find the combination of hard training and a genuinely low-key setting is what makes the week stick.

What's included

- Twice-daily Muay Thai training led by Kru Vivek Nakarmi - 7 nights of accommodation 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 the gym - Unlimited use of the 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) - Drop-in yoga classes at nearby Bodhi Tree - Other activities bookable through the resort, such as surf lessons and massages