Retreat Highlights

• Daily Yoga Classes taught by Savonn. The classes will be theme based and will be a blend of styles to best fit the overall group and time of day. You will experience a variety of nurturing classes that will enable you to feel focused and clear, and depending on the type of practice more energized or relaxed.
• Meals- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Snacks:  Local chef, Lily Murillo Abarca, prepares delicious meals  using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Each morning begins with tropical fruits, yogurt, homemade granola and fresh brewed coffee and tea. 2nd breakfast follows the first yoga session, lunch is mid-day and dinner around 7pm. Each meal is well thought out, expertly prepared, delicious and filling.
• 9 days and 8 nights at Boca Sombrero.  Boca Sombrero is an ocean front paradise set in the amazing rainforest of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula.
• The Osa Penisula alone is worth the trek to see all manner of bio-diversity and wildlife including monkeys, sloths, exotic birds and more.
• Sand, Surf and Sun: Miles of un-populated beaches with tide pools, seashells, and a refreshing freshwater stream that is meters from the sea.  A private, pristine surf break is minutes from the yoga deck. There is 1 swimming pool, 1 cold plunge pool, plenty of tide pools and plenty of spots for ocean swimming.
• Time to Relax, Renew and Restore:  Hammock-swinging and long languid afternoons with a book or journal, or time to daydream and nap.

Location

The retreat is held at Boca Sombrero on the Southern end of the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica.

“The pristine rainforests and rugged natural beauty of the Osa Peninsula make this region among the most beautiful areas in Costa Rica. Declared ‘one of the most biologically intense places on earth’ by National Geographic Magazine, the Osa Peninsula has, along with Drake Bay, become the premier eco-tourism destination in the country. The Osa Peninsula is a secluded nature wonderland, playing home to many of the country’s rare and endangered animal and bird species, including squirrel monkeys, jaguars, and other forest cats. With a large chunk of the peninsula forming the Corcovado National Park, this area has the single largest expanse of a lowland tropical rainforest in Central America and is one of the tallest rainforests in the world. The area hosts more than 375 bird species, a fourth of Costa Rica’s tree species and more than 4000-5000 vascular plant species, many of which are found nowhere else on earth. The rain forest is made up of 700 tree species — the greatest diversity of tree species in all of Central America.

Nestled between the Osa Peninsula and Costa Rica’s south Pacific Coast is the Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf), a large bay ringed by rivers, secluded beaches, and the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve. The Golfo Dulce is one of only three tropical fjords in the entire world. Its marine environment is very special and very fragile. The mangroves within the gulf are a crucial nursery for corvina, shrimp and other marine life. Due to the many rivers that flow into the Gulf from the surrounding Rain Forest, the water in the Gulf is rich with minerals and provides a healthy food source for many marine animals and mammals. December to May is prime time to view Humpback and Blue Whales breeching. These majestic animals visit the Gulf to give birth to their young. They live there for many months while the calves grow large enough to take to the open sea. There are three species of porpoise that live and breed year-round in the Gulf, including the Spinner, Bottle-Nose and the Black-Spotted Dolphins. You can see these fantastic creatures daily along the rivers playing, swimming, and fishing.

Other possible sightings in the Gulf may include, manta rays, 6 different species of turtles, large schools of tuna, and an occasional billfish, such as marlin or sailfish, looking for those schools of tuna for their dinner. The Golfo Dulce is an incredibly scenic and environmentally important aspect of this area and a must-see during your visit.”

Optional Excursions, Bodywork, Spa Treatments and/or Add Ons:

• Surfing Lessons:  a private, pristine break is minutes from the yoga deck. This is a perfect place for newbies to learn to surf as well as more experienced surfers to enjoy long sessions in warm, uncrowded waters.  Surf instructors onsite will tailor the lessons to the best tides and times.
• Ocean Kayaking: including mangrove, sunset sessions and bioluminescent tours.
• Chocolate Growing and Making Tour and Tasting:  tour Finca Kobo, a local organic cacao plantation, and learn about how conservation of the rainforest and sustainable agriculture can co-exist.  The tour includes a chocolate tasting and guided easy hike.
• Bodywork-  Massage and Acupuncture:  Receive a luxurious massage in an open air, secluded beachside pavilion.  And/or schedule time for acupuncture. The professional and knowledgeable bodyworkers have extensive experience working with yoga students of all shapes, sizes and ages.
• Spa Services: Not to be missed is a trip to Alison’s Jungle spa.  Balance the mind and body, nurture the skin and soul, with specially designed and a wide selection of treatments, such as deep tissue and Thai massage, facials, body scrubs, body wraps, hair and feet therapies, and more. Spa treatments are pure to the core and feature all natural ingredients sourced from the surrounding water and rainforest. Organic ingredients range from local cacao beans, costa rican coffee, purely extracted Osa mud, freshly picked ylang ylang flowers, coconut milk and much much more…
• Bird Watching Tours:  Amateur and serious birdwatchers are always thrilled with the early morning tours led by Felipe.  In the Osa Penisula there are over 430 species of birds.  You will see common and rare types including trogons, red-legged honeycreepers many different types of tanagers, hummingbirds.  Toucans and Scarlet Macaws will fly overhead,  Herons and owls will abound.
• Hiking-  Locally or Nearby Corcovado National Park: A guided hike is an excellent way to discover the area and offers a chance to see some of the extraordinary wildlife. A full day guided hike into Corcovado National Park, the jewel of Costa Rica’s park system, can be arranged, while a walk up the near by Carbonera river is also a great option.  You will most likely see monkeys, sloths, toucans, morphos, plus other wildlife, flora and fauna.
• Strangler Fig Tree Climbing: Strangler Fig Trees make for excellent climbing experiences.  Scale the largest original jungle gym.  Start with a guided hike through the jungle to an enormous, user-friendly Strangler Fig, roughly a 70 feet to a viewing roost  that is 450 feet over the Golfo Dulce. You will be harnessed in and carefully supported with you climb the tree and jump down.  An exhilarating and unique local experience.
• Dolphin Watch, Boat Tour and Visit to Animal Wildlife Sanctuary:  This is one of the favorite excursions of the retreat. The Osa Wildlife Sanctuary is an animal rescue center accessible only by boat and is completely surrounded by Piedras Blancas National Park.  It is one of the most interesting and worthwhile animal sanctuary projects in Costa Rica.  It is a local enterprise wholly committed to providing wildlife rescue and rehabilitation for orphaned, injured and displaced animals indigenous to the southern zone of Costa Rica. To get to the sanctuary you will go by boat on a guided tour of the Golfo Dulce where you will be surrounded by dolphins and other marine animals.  There are opportunities to swim and snorkel the reefs (when and where conditions permit). The tour of the of the animal sanctuary is life changing.  You will meet rescued monkeys, sloths, toucans, macaws, kinkajous, tayras, peccaries and more.
• Horseback Riding with Optional Waterfall Rappelling: ride through a lowland meadow, denser rain forest, and to the top of the mountain then back down and along the beach. Well trained horses enable people of all ages to experience exciting riding tours in along remote and will  trails overlooking gorgeous landscapes .  You will  learn interesting facts related to the local landscape and vegetation and get the chance to observe different kind of birds, reptiles and mammals.  Don’t miss the Waterfall Rappel.  While the horses rest at the top of the mountain, you will be expertly assisted in rappelling through a tropical waterfall  that drops over 100 feet high into a greenish-blue swimming hole. Once you get in the natural pool, enjoy a refreshing dip and a spectacular view.
• AND MORE..each year we look to add on other adventures, excursions and services.  Please ask if there is something else that you are interested in doing while on the retreat.