Mandala Ojochal

I recently went on a yoga/wellness retreat at this location. It was the first retreat that had been held here. The leaders of the retreat did a great job, but the organization of the retreat could have been better. The physical facilities were not completely finished. There were no washers and dryers in many units which we had been told would be there so many people did not pack enough clothes. The rooms were kept very clean. There were kitchens with appliances, etc., but we had no way to buy any food to prepare in the rooms so they were useless. There was a lot of walking up and down hills and a lot of steps which some of the older participants were not prepared for. The chef was excellent with the included meals. The Mandala shala
was absolutely beautiful with a moat, the apartments themselves were very stark with concrete floors and concrete walls with no framed pictures or decorations of any kind. Some of the rooms even had the sofas on the outside balconies so they were very hot in the afternoons with the sun shining on them in the humidity all day long. The air conditioning worked well, but in the bedrooms, the large bright white light on the unit actually cast shadows in the room. The grounds were beautiful with all the tropical plants and a huge Kapok tree in the middle.. the one swimming pool available to all was very small. Some units had small square pools You could sit in and the Rio units had a larger, very pleasant pool and outdoor area. I can’t speak for the other people, some of whom were from Florida and used to this type of heat, but for me, the location is miserable because of the humidity.

For the first time in 8 years, I had my phone off for 6 days straight. It was absolute paradise, and very relaxing at Mandala. The birds, nature, wildlife was so beautiful and serene. The apps I fall asleep too, I was living in real time in the rainforest jungle, seemed unreal but it was very real and magical. I had quality time with my Mother, and we connected without all the daily distractions and stress of everyday life. I will be back to Mandala to recharge and connect with nature as soon as I can, I absolutely love this incredible place and the owners Lee and Dawn are welcoming and friendly. The staff Jorge was very accommodating to all needs of everyone, and we were a big group. The Massage therapist Rachelle, and Alexia were wonderful. The water therapy was out of this world! Highly recommend. The Yoga and Fasica instructors Elizabeth and Laura were professional and full of knowledge. DID I SAY I LOVE THIS PLACE?! YES!!

I stayed at Mandala Ojochal for a week-long retreat, and the experience was incredible. The main yoga shala is truly one of a kind—beautifully designed and unlike any space I’ve seen before. The property itself is thoughtfully landscaped and easy to navigate, making it simple to visit friends in other villas.

Jorge, the site manager, was exceptionally attentive, kind, and helpful throughout the stay. He communicated clearly with all attendees and ensured we had everything we needed for a memorable experience.

I would highly recommend staying here if you have the opportunity.

Our stay at Mandala Ojochal was really so lovely. Starting the day with yoga and then a nice breakfast buffet with lots of fresh fruit (some grown on the property!), and then having time to relax and to take small adventures in the surrounding area - all of this was just what I needed. The highlight for me was a holotropic breathwork session with Dawn on the last day. It led to a big emotional release, and since then I have been feeling much lighter and naturally connecting with a lot of gratitude. I work as a mental health therapist, and I really appreciate the care and respect that all of the staff display towards guests and each other. Thank you Mandala Ojochal, you are doing it right, and we will absolutely be back in the future.

We loved the brand new modern facilities built sustainably with natural materials. We especially loved the yoga deck surrounded by water -its the best I've seen in all of Costa Rica and a great way to start our mornings. Seconded by outdoor showers overlooking nature. The owners care and it showed throughout our stay. We'll be back!!