The setting is the Naranjo River valley in Londres, Puntarenas, on Costa Rica's central Pacific coast. The grounds are tropical gardens and rainforest trails linking every building, with the river running through the property and a private pool for guests. Quepos and Manuel Antonio Beach are eight miles away; San José airport (SJO) is a 2.5 to 4 hour drive, and Quepos airport (XQP) is the closest domestic option.

Accommodation is split between two sites about 20 metres apart. On the main grounds are four two-storey riverside casitas — open rooms of single beds, rooms shared by two, and private rooms with a full or king bed, with bathrooms shared within each casita — plus a spacious bamboo bungalow with a queen bed and a single bed and its own private bathroom. Across the way are three suites, each with a queen and a single bed, A/C, Wi-Fi and a kitchenette, with private bathrooms. A neighbouring house adds room for 5 to 7 more on very large retreats, with a shared kitchen and living room.

Meals are cooked by an in-house culinary team from local organic farms: seasonal fruits, herbs and roots, handmade tortillas, fresh coconut milk, served family-style at long tables in the covered, open-air dining hall that seats 40. A tea and coffee bar is stocked through the day. Local chicken and fish can be added for a small fee, and dietary needs are planned with you before arrival.

What separates this from a hotel that happens to have a yoga room is the exclusivity and the support. Your group has the sanctuary, its accommodations and its grounds to itself for the week. A management team, housekeeping and meal service are all on site, and they handle room assignments, space setups and daily coordination. Retreat leaders who host here regularly point to the same things: the grounds themselves, the staff, and the food.

The centre is operated by Eco Era, a US 501(c)(3) founded in 1991. Retreats here cover roughly 80% of the operating costs of protecting the reserve in the Cerro Nara mountains, where the Naranjo and Savegre rivers begin. Groups can also book a guided trek through the Eco Era reserve among primary rainforest, headwater streams and wildlife.

What's included

- Exclusive use of the venue, accommodations and grounds for your group - Accommodation in private and shared rooms across the casitas, bungalow and neighbouring suites - Three farm-to-table, organic, family-style meals daily - Tea and coffee through the day - On-site retreat management, housekeeping and meal service - Yoga shala and fire temple with mats, bolsters, props and meditation cushions - Room assignments, space setups and day-to-day coordination - Access to the private pool, Naranjo River and rainforest trails - Wi-Fi in common areas

What's not included

- Local chicken and fish (small additional fee) - Excursions such as river rafting, horseback riding and Manuel Antonio beach days - Bodywork, breathwork, sound healing and Temazcal sweat lodge ceremonies - Airport and ground transportation for your group - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - 3% processing fee on credit card payments

More wellness retreats in Costa Rica