The 4 Best Surf and Yoga Retreats in Costa Rica
If you’re familiar with our site or blog, you know by now I absolutely love Costa Rica. Having lived there for a few years, it holds a special place in my heart. There are plenty of amazing surf spots in Costa Rica, a great culture and vibe, and incredible nature and scenery. As would be expected in such a laid-back, beautiful country, there are also several great yoga and surf retreats.
There are many different things to consider when looking at surf and yoga camps in Costa Rica. You might consider your budget, where in Costa Rica you’d like to be, getting to your destination, the types of waves you want to surf, and the season. These are all things you want to consider in general when planning a surf trip.
The surf season in Costa Rica is generally during the wet season, from late April to late October. This essentially coincides with the North American summer. When we say the surf season is this time, it’s because it is when the southern swells come in from the deep Pacific. If you’re really new to surfing, the season may not matter as much, as you won’t need the deep and big swells to get started. If you’re new to surfing, you might consider going outside surf season to find quieter waves and lower costs!
Zeneida’s Surf Garden
Our favorite surf and yoga camps in Costa Rica
Zeneida’s Surf Garden is a beautiful surf hostel in Santa Teresa, one of our favorite surf towns in Costa Rica. One of the jokes at Zeneida’s Garden is that everybody who comes wants to stay for longer (and many do). It’s really a lovely place. With beautiful gardens and grounds right on the beach, just stepping inside will help you breathe a little more deeply.
They offer surf and yoga camps year-round, and offer plenty more. You can surf, skate, do yoga, meditate, eat their delicious healthy meals, explore the surrounding area, and dive into the local culture. It’s a relatively young crowd and very social, but not a big party scene. They have a beautiful, laid-back atmosphere on their property. People who go often make lifelong friends at this surf camp.
I wouldn’t qualify them as a budget-friendly surf and yoga camp, but they are quite reasonable. In our opinion, it’s one of the best values for your money you’re going to find. They offer a bit of everything for everyone, with shared dorms, private rooms, and private studios with kitchenettes.
The surf in Santa Teresa is great for beginners and beginner-intermediates. There are surf lessons every day for surfers of all levels, and camps include massages, ice baths, and daily yoga classes. They offer 4 day camps, 5 day camps, 6 day camps, and a 5 day couples surf and yoga camp!
Getting to Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa is relatively far from San Jose, but there are many ways to get there. The first and most straightforward is to rent a car and drive. It will take a little over 5 hours, and you’ll first head to Puntarenas. From there, you’ll take a ferry over to the Nicoya Peninsula and continue driving. You can also drive straight there without the ferry, but it’s a much longer trip!
There are also plenty of companies offering private transfers if you don’t want to drive yourself. These may cost anywhere from $200-400, depending on the size car you want. If you want to bring your boards with you, you’ll need to rent a bigger car or book a bigger transport. It is worth noting that Zeneida’s will have plenty of boards to rent.
For the fastest option, you can take a flight from Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose directly to Tambor or Cobano. We recommend using SANSA, a local airline specializing in these flights to go direct to Cobano. From Cobano, you’re just about a half hour away and can find a taxi. Flights will cost around $100-150 each way, and it takes under an hour.
Akih Pods
Best hostel-style surf and yoga retreats
Like Zeneida’s Gardens, Akih Pods made our list of The 6 Best Surf Camps in Costa Rica in general. Although Akih Pods is super budget-friendly, it’s not a budget-quality hostel in many ways. The surf instruction is top-tier on the beginner-friendly waves of Santa Teresa. It’s definitely a chill vibe, with lots of love and kindness in the air. And they offer tons of activities.
During your stay, you’ll be welcomed by Rapha and a super friendly team into their space with common kitchen areas, a social area, lounge areas, and of course the surf and yoga program. It is indeed a hostel, and not a luxury surf and yoga retreat, so you will likely be sleeping in a dorm with 5 other people. But, you probably won’t be doing much other than sleeping in there anyway!
They do offer pod-style living inside dorms that house 6, but also have private rooms if that is more your speed. Akih Pods is ideal for backpackers and travelers looking for a chill, understated experience. You’ll meet other travelers for sure here, as the social scene is active, but not chaotic.
Akih offers 6 day camps, 8 day camps, and 10 day camps. Their instructors will take you just a few steps down to the beach to surf in the pristine conditions of Santa Teresa. Depending on the season, surfing here is probably best for beginners or beginner/intermediates.
Getting to Akih Pods
All the info on getting to Santa Teresa in the above section on Zeneida’s Garden!
Bodhi Surf + Yoga
Best higher-end surf and yoga camp in Costa Rica
Bodhi Surf and Yoga is certainly not luxurious like some of the resorts up on the hill, but as far as a surf and yoga camp it is top-notch. They have several private bungalows and many rooms with lovely names: Gratitud, Espiritu, Armonia, Amistad, Dharma, Karma, and more. Their bungalows can house a family and have a kitchenette, a private bathroom, and balconies. Their rooms are smaller, but still private.
Located in Uvita, Bodhi has access to some solid waves for beginners. In fact, Uvita made our list of the best beginner spots in Costa Rica. We also will be honest here. We love Uvita. It may not be for everyone, but it was definitely for us. It’s a super chill atmosphere, a lot of unpaved roads and people riding bikes everywhere, and surf culture is always present around town.
Uvita has a large healing and wellness vibe. Down on the beach side, it’s often more mellow and laid-back. Up in the hills on the other side of the freeway, you can find luxurious eco-friendly and healing resorts. It is a town that draws people looking for some tranquility, surf, and healing. You’ll find lots of healthy eating options, friendly people, and cheaper prices in town as it is not overly touristy yet.
The swells can pump in the rainy season in Uvita, but in general the surf in Uvita is best for beginners and beginner-intermediates. The yoga at Bodhi is done on a beautiful outdoor platform looking at the jungle, honestly one of the best places you could possibly do yoga in our opinion!
Bodhi offers 7 day retreats for a pair or groups of 4 and two week camps for individuals and couples. The two week camps generally have a discount if you book two together for you and a friend or as a couple!
Getting to Uvita
Uvita is about 4 hours from San Jose, and you can definitely make the trek in a rented car or via private transfer. The road is all highway, and they’re pretty pothole-free. You won’t really need a 4x4 to get to Uvita or drive around town. In the rainy season, it might be helpful with the dirt roads, but definitely is not necessary.
Some people fly from San Jose to Quepos, which is about an hour to the north. That definitely will be easier than driving, but because it’s still an hour drive, it won’t really cut down travel time. We recommend driving or getting a transfer.
The other option, and most budget-friendly option, is to take a bus. When you land in San Jose, you’re actually outside the city of San Jose, so the first thing you’ll need to do is get to the Tracopa Bus Station in San Jose. You can do this via taxi or uber. From there, a bus ride to Uvita will cost about $15 a person.
Bodhi also offers direct transfers from the airport for travelers to their lodge, so ask them. Probably the easiest option here!
Pura Vida Surfers
Best beginners surf and yoga camp in Costa Rica
Another one located in Santa Teresa, Pura Vida is a great surf camp option for beginners. We’ve already said it, but Santa Teresa is just a wonderful place to learn to surf. The waves are solid for beginners and intermediates, and it’s one of the prettiest places you can surf in Central America.
There’s also ton to do in the surrounding areas. Pura Vida organizes excursions like fishing, horse riding, kayaking, and more. They also have SUP boards, massages, a lovely swimming pool, and air conditioning.
Pura Vida offers private single rooms, private double rooms, and shared dorms. Although they cater to all surfer levels, the staff really excels at helping people surfing for the first time or just getting their feet wet. Their coaches are solid, and we’ve heard amazing things from first-time surfers interested in surf and yoga here.
You’ll learn how to paddle and popup, read waves, get video analysis of your surfing to help you improve, and take care of your body. They offer a 10 day surf and yoga camp at a super reasonable rate.