"Playa Negra CR is a beautiful area with wonderful nature and cute restaurants. As a solo female traveler, I felt entirely safe in the town.
Peace Retreat is also beautiful, but I WOULD NEVER LET SOMEONE I CARE FOR STAY THERE.
I had many unsettling experiences. Here are the top two:
(1) I asked the hotel to arrange a surf lesson for me and another guest. While surfing I severely injured my knee and was unable to walk or stand on my left leg. The instructor had no idea how to handle the situation and just offered me a beer to “chill out.” They didn’t take my injury seriously at all and I had to struggle to advocate for myself in a foreign language (thank goodness I have working medical Spanish). I demanded to head back to the hotel because I assumed they had some plan for handling emergencies.
After returning to the hotel I was shocked at the level of care. They clearly have no ability to handle a medical event and were unwilling to even take my injury seriously.
No one there had medical skills or even a basic first aid kit. All I wanted was an ice pack and an ace bandage and they had neither. They had to go off site to get a bag of ice. It is irresponsible that a rural place where people are regularly practicing sports is so unprepared. I'm scared to think about what would have happened if I had a more time sensitive medical issue. I have zero confidence in this team.
On top of that Kevin--the owner of the hotel--was a total weirdo with me. Cell service is spotty on the property so I found myself sitting in a public area icing my leg and trying to make some phone calls. Kevin sat down next to me and told me I should ask "why me? why now?" and “what is the universe telling me with this injury?” When I told him I was busy scheduling a wheelchair escort for my airplane home, he scoffed and said “really” as if I was just being dramatic. I asked him to leave so I could handle my own care.
Now that I’m home and have seen a doctor, it turns out I have a torn meniscus and need surgery. So I wasn’t being dramatic.
I am not angry that I got hurt during a risky sport -- I signed up for that risk. But I am livid at the hotel's general negligence. I saw a hotel staff member give the instructor two $20 bills on the $150 USD they charged us. I understand that a hotel upcharges for concierge services, and have no problem with them making a reasonable profit. But I can’t help but think I would have had a safer experience if they profited a little less and hired a vendor with appropriate skills. Same goes for their lack of staff training at the hotel site.
(2) Even before my medical event, I was wildly uncomfortable with the “yoga classes” taught by Kevin.
Each “class” started with a 45 minute sermon (videotaped and posted online!). Kevin made us circle around him while he presented a "problem" and a "solution."The problem was us: he told us were “monsters“, “repressed”, and “broken." The solution was yoga, and by extension, him the instructor.
The problem + solution framework is a classic sales technique designed to prey upon the insecurities of someone so that they purchase your product. It is irresponsible to casually poke at people's trauma without care or context. If students resisted or questioned this framework, they were dismissed as "not ready for the message."
When the sermons finally ended, there would be 30-40 minutes of light yoga. The experience was abrasive at best and abusive at worst.
These are just my two worst experiences. There were several others as well. If you stay here, please do your research and be prepared to take care of yourself."
Highly Rated Retreats in Los Pargos Provincia De Guanacaste Costa Rica
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Types of Retreat in Los Pargos Provincia De Guanacaste Costa Rica
Short Retreats in Los Pargos Provincia De Guanacaste Costa Rica
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Upcoming Retreats in Los Pargos Provincia De Guanacaste Costa Rica
Experiences on Retreat
"Peace retreat with @getawayyogis was quite amazing! The resort is located in the heart of a beautiful jungle far from the noise I surround myself with daily. Melody Butler, Darcy Henry, Kevin and Serena were wonderful facilitators that led us in mindful, heart opening flows that left me feeling truly grateful and grounded. The daily excursions including the waterfall hike, riding horses on the beach and zip lining through a beautiful jungle were exhilarating and brought out the warrior in me! I can’t say enough good things about this retreat, and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to experience, this magical place with some pretty amazing people. The facility itself was very clean and run efficiently by staff members who were always smiling and eager to answer questions or assist you. The food was wholesome and presented beautifully. Just wished I had asked Serena more questions about the various meals! I am still processing the inner peace and contentment I feel and trying to cultivate that feeling as I go through my back to real life daily experiences. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience Peace Retreat if you have the chance to go!!!"
"My experience at Peace Retreat was wonderful from beginning to end. The room was great, clean and offered a welcome respite from traditional hotel space. The open air cool breeze concept nourished my soul at night. Spa services were 5 star, papaya mask was awesome! Yoga classes were great as well as the food. Highly recommended! "
"There were 20 of us YOGIS who came to Peace retreat for one week in January 2023 with @getawayogis group based out of Texas. We had an exceptional and amazing time with our yoga instructors (Melody and Darcy) and also had the priveledge to have Kevin and Sorina lead two yoga classes for us. Those yoga classes got really deep with some tools and exercises to open us up to being vunerable, aware and open to change-I WOKE UP for sure! The yoga instruction was great as well. The atompshere, the food, the staff, the ceremonies (cacao & sweat lodge-very authentice and rich), and serene location made for an awesome time! I highly recommend this place. The staff were SO GIVING and fantastic. They took GREAT CARE OF US.
I stayed in the casa verde, which is a hostel like set up, with this heavy mesh screening and partial walls seperating a sleeping area. I could hear all the nature and wind outside which was a BONUS for me! The stars and beach were amazing too. The beach is a 20 minute walk from the retreat center.I highly recommend it!"
"I'd consider myself... we'll say extremely selective when it comes to practice & retreat, and Peace proved to be one of the absolute best I've experienced. Their teachers are phenomenal, practice is authentic, food is nourishing, and the environment is supportive & serene (if you're sensitive to sound I suggest sharing that with staff in case there's construction going on nearby).
Facilities are kept very clean and the staff is basically a band of yogis –– compassionate, motivated & very happy to help.
The spa is next level and offers everything from massage to reflexology to energy healing, and if you visit while any sort of ceremony is offered (cacao, sweat lodge, etc.) I can't give a higher recommendation.
I had quite the 'ah hah' experience during my second sweat lodge which proved to be the perspective shift I'd been searching for.
In short, highly highly highly recommended in every possible way🤍"
"My week was connected, beautiful, healing, peaceful, awakening and filled with good, wholesome food, conversation and body awareness. I feel renewed in the best possible way. I am a lawyer and tend toward rigidity. I felt permission to be myself and learn from those who have a more flexible and flowing nature. It’s a space that welcomes everyone as they are. Highly recommend. "
"Peace Retreat is amazing in so many ways. The grounds are immaculate. The staff is friendly. I love my little cabin and it soothes the soul."
"I enjoyed Peace Retreat immensely. My trip was a great experience. I purchased the spa package 3 massages, breakfast/dinner meals and transportation. I also went Zip lining. Transportation was great, the divers were professional and friendly. I traveled alone but always felt safe. My massages were relaxing and therapeutic. The meals were AMAZING, the kitchen does it right! wonderful, simple, home made, thoughtful, friendly. Great coffee and tea also. Yoga was poignant, thoughtful and the venerability shown made class very easy to relax. The true lack of ego was appreciated. I met a group of wonderful ladies (mostly from CO) and individual travelers like myself. Zip Lining was so fun, I enjoyed getting out of my comfort zone with my like minded sisters. The beach is stunning. It was April and it was Hot and I loved it. "
"The setting invited stillness organically. The morning yoga class had a nice flow and timing to encourage ujjayi breathing. The food was absolutely delicious (including the homemade ice cream available!). Andara, who managed the logistics, was extremely helpful for scheduling excursions, airport shuttles and spa treatments-- she was very easy to talk with, knowledgable, accomadating and friendly. For booking, the cabinas are cooler for sleeping than the rooms. The rooms and facilities were kept extremely clean. After visiting Tamarindo for an excursion, was so grateful to be at Los Pargos and Playa Negra-- so much quieter and less touristy. The beach was not crowded at all. "
"I first visited Peace Retreat in 2015. The truly peaceful haven that it was has stuck with me since and if you’ve asked me about retreats at any point in the last several years, it was one I recommended.
Give me twice-a-day yoga, surfing, beaching, hiking, hammock-ing or however else you choose to spend the time between nights in a simple but perfectly comfortable open-air hut, plus fresh plant-based meals the color of the rainbow and goodbye!
My favorite part about this trip was simply being outside the ENTIRE time. It's always clean, surrounded by happy animals, and really well organized — not a single meal or activity was late in my full week there. The massage therapist was great (I had three!) and while the walk to the beach is a little trek, it's welcome extra exercise that makes the sleep that much better.
I'm a runner and found great paths in the surrounded roads and hills for morning jogs. Sunsets on the beach were stunning, and sleep in the huts is unbeatable. (Don't be afraid of no AC, really.)
Needless to say, Peace Retreat: Tan bueno. Highly recommended."
"I came to the Peace Retreat not knowing what to expect. This was my first time traveling solo, out of the country and to Costa Rica! Words cannot express my amazing experience at the retreat! You would have to experience this for yourself to get the full picture. The Peace Retreat is so warm and welcoming, I felt a part of a group I had never met, which I have to say I was a little nervous about. I felt at home, at peace and very connected with everyone that I came across! I felt so much benefit from Kevin and Serena in their way of teaching, they are very warm and welcoming, their yoga classes gave so much more than I could have expected! I had a cabana I stayed in for five nights, it was very comfortable and relaxing. The meals were fantastic and everyone that is a part of the Peace Retreat make it a wonderful place! The Peace Retreat is just an amazing experience, transformative and a relaxing get away! Thank You ❤️"
"Construction work, a dry swimming pool and meals were an additional price.
After studying yoga in India, Nepal, Guatemala, and on a separate occasion in Costa Rica, I found the yoga classes dangerous from an energetic releasing standpoint. Pranayama is not meant to be released from the mouth, it disrupts the nervous system. Nose hair is there to filter toxins out."
"The yoga shala was super clean with peaceful and natural environment. Beside yoga, I could walk to to beach, relaxed at the pool or eat& drink at restaurants/cafes. The room I was staying was clean and quiet and the breakfast & dinner were so delicious. I definitely go back to the place again soon. Thank you."
"I'd never been to Costa Rica or a yoga retreat. The retreat itself is a hidden paradise located in a very remote area within walking distance to the beach which was beautiful. I was very impressed with how clean the rooms and amenities were. The staff was very accommodating with helping to organize trips etc. If you go in March, I highly recommend NOT doing zip lining. It was brutally hot and dry. Snorkeling was fun, especially visiting the local crocodile lagoon. We saw an array of colorful fish. Paddle boarding was also a memorable adventure. The mangroves are beautiful. Don't forget the bug spray! We took a day trip to Tamarindo and had lunch. The beach is gorgeous and the shopping was a delight. We had dinner at Villa Deevena and that was a magical 5 star experience. On our last night we watched the sunset at Lola's.
The yoga, workshops and spa treatment were excellent."
"Hello! I needed to get away from the busy vibes of NYC so i decided to travel alone to Costa Rica, and I have to say that Peace Retreat exceeded my expectations. Everything from excursions and food were just perfect. I’m vegan so i was nervous I wouldn’t be able to find substantial food but they were able to accommodate every day while staying there. Definitely would like to stay longer next time because everyone was so nice and the place is so serene and clean....loved it!"
"I first visited Peace Retreat Costa Rica 5 years ago. It was simple, I looked for "Peace" and I needed to "Retreat" from my busy life in Canada. From someone I knew I heard that Costa Rica is known for pristine nature and friendly people and has quite of few Yoga resorts. So I typed in the Google Search "Peace Retreat Costa Rica", and voila - it popped right up; really, it was that easy. I guess when you know what you are looking for it ain't too hard to find - thanks Google lol
From then, I made contact and saw lovely cabina's and property and knew this is where I need to be. I booked the trip few days later and it was even better than I had imagined. The resort is located in the jungle, so off main roads, which makes it perfect as there is no pollution of any kind - noise, cars, lights etc. - it is just pure nature that surrounds you. = Cars only enter the resort if they are bringing new guests, fresh fruit or bread - all great by the ways. The property is surrounded by trees and is full of various birds and howling monkeys that start and end the days with, well - howls.
I've visited 5 times and always stayed in the same cabina, and I will continue to go back; they also have fully equipped rooms if you prefer that style. For me cabina is somewhere between tent and a room, and make stay more enjoyable as if feels like you are outside.
The owner and operator Kevin is a great human and phenomenal Yoga Teacher; his partner Serena is no different. You don't meet these types of people everyday, that is for sure. Kevin is always around either teaching classes, running courses, or mingling with guests.
Jessica, Angela, and Marcus are few of the nicest locals you will meet who take care of the guest and the property. They are always great to see and are definitely add value to the place.The property is classified as Wellness Resort and focus is on relaxation and well-being - you will get very relaxed there.
The beach, Playa Negra is phenomenal and is located a nice 30 min walk from the resort - great daily exercise to build appetite. It has a long stretch of glass like walkway into the Pacific ocean which is clean and warm. The beach and Costa Rica is very safe. Everyone you see, whether walking, on a motorcycle or in a car will wave at you and smile - it really is amazing. There are numerous beaches around but you need a car of other mean of transportion to see them; for me Playa Negra offers more than enough. There you can set a camp on the beach or move closer to the trees if you need shade. If you feel like a walk, you can take a hike along the beach for about 1.5 km over white and clean sand listening to large surf style waves crashing at volcano formation of rocks. The portion of flat area of the beach is actually charcoal color as it is made of crushed volcano stones; I regularly bathe myself in it but no ones minds lol
There are 2 stores in case you want to buy and cook your own food, and few restaurants including food being deliciously prepared by cooks at the Peace Retreat. The resort also offer massage, hiking trips, free bicycles to use, and trips to local touristy town of Tamarindo.
You can do yoga twice a day with talented instructors, or on your own in 2 gorgeous studios at any time, day or night.
I could go all day, but I think you get the picture. Peace Retreat will blow your mind and make you realize why you need to do something like this every year.
See you there...in November.
Pura Vida."
"Having never traveled out of the US before and certainly never alone, I had the absolute BEST experience in Costa Rica. I was nervous on the plane ride there and questioned why I was traveling so far and alone, but from the moment I arrived I felt nothing but comfort and happiness. When I first arrived at Peace Retreat in Los Pargos, I was completely overwhelmed with the beauty that was surrounding. Bountiful Mango trees and monkeys everywhere, so so many green trees, and a super refreshing spa like swimming pool. Jess (and lola!) at Peace Retreat was so incredibly inviting and helpful in answering every question I had prior to and during my stay. Yoga with Kevin is something i'll always hold close to my heart! Oh and don't get me started about mi amiga, Lila who works in Peace's on site restaurant, Salud <3 I felt SO at home at Peace Retreat and was sad to leave after only 7 days. I loved absolutely everything about my stay, from the sounds of the monkeys, birds, and rain, to the breath taking *no filter needed* sunsets. The retreat location is remote enough to feel as though you are on a true adventure but has absolutely all of the amenities that you'd need on site. Shops, restaurants, and the beach are all a quick walk or bike ride away. I will be forever grateful for my time spent at Peace Retreat and cannot wait to return!"
"I came across Peace Retreat 4 years ago when I was looking for a non-touristy place that I can rewind in nature and get my thoughts together. I was looking to "retreat" and find some "peace" - and I knew Costa Rica was a place that offers some of the cleanest and preserved nature and gorgeous beaches coupled with warm and welcoming people.
Peace Retreat is one of a kind place, where you will find that simple life is what we need and really want. It has been my annual ritual to go there just before the full season starts (end of October) and wind down the summer and prepare for the winter ahead.
25 minutes away is one of the most beautiful beaches you will see, a jewel of Los Pargos area - Playa Negra with flat glass like surface of about 200 yards easing into the ocean with surf like waves; and full of pockets with shade from nearby treas.
The Retreat itself is phenomenal; great location in the middle of the woods, off the main road but still close enough to the center of the small city; pool, large kitchen and dinning area, two yoga studio, plenty of washrooms and showers, all in serene and well kept area.
Kevin and Serena, owners and managers of this great place, are friendly, present, and welcoming. The staff supporting the operation is joy to see and interact with. Always smiling and happy to help, whether it is a word in Spanish, direction, or suggestion.
Peace Retreat offers some of the best Yoga classes and courses, if you are looking to advance your practice, but you can also do your own thing and use studios for your personal practice.
Many return, and if you decide to go, you will too."