Rainforest Yoga & Volcanic Hot Springs Wellness Retreat in Costa Rica

The Blue River Hotel & Eco Resort sits on the slopes of the Rincon de la Vieja volcano in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, about an hour and 20 minutes from Liberia International Airport. The property has won 18 national and international awards and has been rated Number 1 on Trip Advisor for the Rincon de la Vieja area for six straight years. You're here for the combination of a working rainforest adventure resort and a dedicated yoga center, which is not something you find everywhere.

There's a full schedule of optional excursions included in the price: nature hikes with a trusted guide, horseback riding, zip-lining, white-water rafting, and visits to the waterfalls and hot springs. The non-negotiable part of each day is the yoga, led by Miss Jenny, a RYT 200 certified instructor with a decade of experience in organizational psychology. She has a reputation for making you feel at home on the mat, whether you're a total beginner or heading into a headstand.

The resort itself has hot springs, a freshwater pool with a waterslide, a botanical garden, a butterfly farm, a natural sauna, a volcanic mud bath, a hummingbird center, a bird sanctuary, lagoons with turtles and caimans, a spa, a gym, and the Tiki Bar restaurant. It's all-inclusive, so your meals, accommodation, and most activities are bundled into one price. Guests have called the rooms 'large cabins' — they're small suites, really, with private balconies and hammocks.

What makes this one different: most yoga retreats are either pure beach-chill or full-on fitness bootcamps. This one lets you pick your own flavor each day. You can take a 90-minute vinyasa class and then hike up to a volcano crater, or you can skip the hike and read in a hammock. The reviews are full of people who came alone, threw themselves into the adventure bits, and left with new friends. The retreat runs year-round, but the high season from December to April is the driest and busiest, so the host asks that you check availability before booking in those months.

What's included

- Airport pickup and drop-off - 4 nights accommodation in a shared or private suite - 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) - Daily yoga classes - Group excursions and activities - Guided nature hikes - Access to hot springs, mud bath, sauna, and pools - Welcome drink - Luggage storage - Free parking - Wi-Fi connection - Taxes

What's not included

- Travel insurance - Visa fees - Snacks and alcoholic beverages - Additional treatments and spa services - Extra activities not listed in the itinerary - Massages and spa treatments