4 Day Rainforest Yoga Retreat in El Castillo, Costa Rica
Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica
Expert tip: This is one of the most popular yoga retreats offered in Costa Rica.
This yoga holiday immersed in the beauty of the Costa Rica jungle, with the tranquility and natural beauty of Essence Arenal, provides you with the space to journey inward, renew, and refresh your body, mind, and spirit. Grounding at the organic permaculture farm, pool, and nourish your body with the functional organic smoothies or gourmet vegetarian farm to table cuisine. With the guidance of a certified naturopath and yoga instructors, you will have a transformational stay!
Meet the instructors
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Highlights
- Forest walks
- Daily 75-minute morning yoga class
- Daily spa circuit access (jacuzzi, steam room, sauna)
- Unlimited access to permaculture farm and trails, pool, and facilities
- 3 nights accommodation
- 3 daily meals with 1 natural juice (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Yoga styles
Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (US$ 150 per person)
Juan Santamaría International Airport (US$ 150 per person)
Accommodation
Facilities
- Hot tub / Jacuzzi
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Volleyball court
- Yoga deck
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- Laundry
During the retreat you will be staying in an accommodation which is private.
All beds have orthopedic mattresses and anti-allergic pillows. The eco-hotel has majestic views of the Arenal Volcano, the Arenal Lake, and the El Castillo Valley.
All rooms have free Wi-Fi, hot water in the shower, a small desk, and a safe. They also provide free parking and a laundry service (at additional cost).
During your stay, you have unlimited access to the organic farm, swimming pool, rainforest trails, volleyball court, and yoga / exercise deck. The on-site restaurant is open daily to serve healthy, organic vegetarian / vegan meals from locally sourced produce and from their farm. Enjoy a range of treatments and therapies in their jungle spa with Temazcal sweat lodge, or consultation with their on-site naturopathic doctor.
Program
Step away from the demands of daily life and into a space designed for reflection, rejuvenation, and personal growth. Essence invite you to embrace stillness, reconnect with yourself, and cultivate a deeper sense of purpose.
Over the next few days, you will experience moments of tranquility, inspiration, and transformation. Surrounded by nature and supported by a community of like-minded individuals, you’ll find the freedom to explore new perspectives, nurture your well-being, and awaken your inner strength.
Whether you seek rest, clarity, or connection, this retreat is an opportunity to realign with what truly matters. Open your heart, embrace the journey, and let this experience guide you toward renewed energy and insight.
Welcome... we’re honored to have you here!
Retreat Itinerary
07:00 - 08:15 Morning yoga practice
08:15 Optional forest walk from yoga shala to restaurant
08:30 - 09:00 Daily breakfast
09:00 - 12:00 Activities or free time
12:00 - 15:00 Daily lunch (none on arriving and departure day)
15:00 Free time: connect with nature, explore our permaculture farm, hike in the rainforest, or book a treatment in our jungle spa
16:00 - 17:00 On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, you will have sunset yoga
16:00 - 18:00 One hour in the spa circuit (Finnish sauna, jacuzzi, and Turkish bath). You will be able to enjoy this lovely and healing place with a beautiful view and aromatherapy
18:30 - 20:30 Daily dinner
21:00 Early to bed (recommended)
More activities can be included in the itinerary on site or also the schedules for the inclusions can change after the meet and greet.
Instructors
Nico Botefur
In 2008, Essence Arenal project began through destiny and universal guidance. Nico ended up in this rainforest paradise, where he immediately knew this was his place on earth to live. It has opened his eyes and he needed that change. He was 80 pounds overweight and had a wide collection of emotional wrecks stored in his soul. In a short time of balancing nutrition, emotions, and bad life habits, through learned techniques, these problems disappeared! Nico has found emotional, physical, and spiritual balance through the creation of this wonderful place. And he wants to share it with you!
Alejandro Camacho
Born in 1988 in the South of Costa Rica. In 2013 he received holistic therapy, who led him to a state of introspection about his life. It gave him the opportunity to reach a higher level of conscience, and he dedicated the following years to have a better understanding of the way he had followed. Now, he is a holistic therapist in integral balance, sound therapist, and certified Hatha yoga teacher (300 hours). He is known for his kind and soft approach to healing through energy and vibrational therapies, yoga, and integral massage, including also Reiki, Shiatsu/Thai, and Watsu.
Retreat location
Costa Rica is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the east and south, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east.
Costa Rica is home to a rich variety of plants and animals.
The retreat takes place in El Castillo, which is a charming village located near Lake Arenal and the Arenal Volcano. It's known for its tranquil atmosphere and stunning natural surroundings, making it a hidden gem for travelers seeking peace and adventure. The village offers breathtaking views of the volcano and lake, and it's surrounded by lush rainforest teeming with wildlife.
The property spans 22 hectares and features hiking trails, a permaculture farm, and a variety of wellness amenities, including yoga classes, a spa circuit (Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna), and holistic therapies like Reiki and detox treatments. Guests can also enjoy vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free meals made with local and farm-grown ingredients at the on-site restaurant.
Essence Arenal is not just a place to stay, it's an immersive experience designed to connect visitors with nature and promote relaxation and rejuvenation.
Unique features
Activities
- Hot spring
- Hot tub / Jacuzzi
- Spa
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Temazcal
General
- Café
- Environmentally friendly
- Garden
- Luggage room / storage
- Multilingual staff
- Restaurant
- Terrace
- Yoga deck
Services
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- Internet access
- Laundry
- Parking lot
- Tour assistance
- Wireless internet
This Yoga Retreat is vegetarian-friendly
Click to see more vegetarian-friendly Yoga Retreats
Food
During this retreat, you'll enjoy three daily vegetarian or vegan meals at our on-site restaurant, accompanied by refreshing natural drinks.
At Essence, they take pride in our farm-to-table philosophy, crafting mindful, nourishing meals straight from the earth. Essence Arenal Wellness Center offers an organic, vegetarian, and vegan kitchen, using consciously sourced local ingredients to honor both the planet and your body.
The chef, passionate about creating wholesome and flavorful dishes, prepares meals that are not only delicious but also nutritious and well-balanced. Most ingredients come directly from farm to table, inspiring creative recipes that showcase the tropical bounty of Costa Rica—sourced from local farmers as well as their own land.
They cater to various dietary preferences and detox needs, ensuring that every guest receives a fulfilling and personalized culinary experience.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
- Detox juices
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Organic
- Fruitarian
- Lactose Free
- Other dietary requirements on request
Things to do (optional)
There are a wide variety of activities and tours available in the area:
- Canopy
- Rafting
- Canyoneering
- Kayak and boating on Lake Arenal
- ATV tour
- Hanging bridges
- Waterfall hike
- Arenal Volcano National Park
- Horseback riding
- Butterfly observatory
- Thermal hot springs
Spa treatments
Pamper yourself in our jungle spa, located in the middle of a permaculture farm with a unique view of the volcano and lake. Enjoy a range of treatments and therapies in our spa including:
- Reflexology
- Swedish massage
- Deep tissue massage
- Meditation sessions
- Ionic foot detox
- Temazcal sweat lodge and mud detox
- Timeline therapy
- Naturopathy
- Nutritional consultation
- NLP session
- Thai massage
- Reiki
- Sound healing
The treatments mentioned above have an additional cost.
Spa circuit
- Essence Arenal Wellness is humbled to announce the opening of their negative carbon footprint, Hydro Therapy Spa Circuit consisting of the following:
- Turkish steam bath: An aromatherapy experience with herbs from their organic permaculture farm
- Finnish sauna: A treatment where you will be surrounded by fragrant natural Laurel wood known for its antiviral properties and naturally fragranced water
- 36 jet jacuzzi: Delivers massages to different regions of the body
- General benefits of the spa circuit:
- Stronger immune system
- Better sleep
- Glowing skin
- Reduction of cellulite
- Flushing out of toxins
- Relief from arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, and Fybromalgia
- Quicker recovery from muscle injury, back pain
- Decrease in anxiety and stress
- You will have a complementary hour every day to acces to this healing place with beautiful views and aromatherapy.
What's included
- Forest walks
- Daily 75-minute morning yoga class
- Unlimited access to pool, permaculture farm, and over 3 kilometers of trails
- 3 daily vegetarian or vegan meals with a natural drink
- 3 nights accommodation in private room with bathroom
- Access to the Spa Circuit area with Finnish Sauna, Jacuzzi and Turkish Bath. You will be able to enjoy aromatherapy during one complementary hour every day
- Always available retreat host
What's not included
- Airfare
- Airport transfers
- Other excursions / activities
- Other spa treatments
- 13% goverment taxes
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport
88 km
Transfer not provided
Juan Santamaría International Airport
76 km
Transfer not provided
By Public Transportation
Take a taxi to the terminal bus station 7-10. There is a direct bus to La Fortuna once a day, but if you can't take this bus, you have to take one to San Carlos (Ciudad Quesada). Buses depart approximately every 2 hours. Get off at the bus terminal in Ciudad Quesada and take another bus to La Fortuna. From La Fortuna, you can take a taxi or an uber to Essence Arenal, or there is another public bus at 5:15 pm that comes to El Castillo. From the place where the bus drops you off, you have to walk 600 meters to their place.
By Private transfer: the costs from the SJO Airport are 150 USD per way, and 160 USD from and to Liberia airport, the payment is directly to the driver- in cash. As is a private transport can be anytime. The trip takes approximately 3 hours. Between 7:00 pm and 4:00 am it has an additional cost of 20 USD. Additional pax cost is 10 USD.
- By shuttle transportation: the cost per way per person is 66.67 USD but they have specific schedules.
- From Liberia to Essence are at 9:00am or at 15:15.
- From SJO Airport to Essence only at 8:15 am. The payment is in advanced through a link that the company send.
On the departure day from Essence to the Airports options are:
- The same option than the arriving day (private transfer)
- Shuttle transfer cost per person is 66.67 USD and the payment is in advanced through a link that the company send.
- To SJO Airport the pick-up time in Essence is only at 12:10 pm.
- To Liberia Airport the pick-up time in Essence is at 7:00 am.
They just need to know which option works for you and your flight information to proceed with arrange your transportation.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookYogaRetreats.com. All major credit cards supported.