Find Authentic Retreats in Tamarindo Costa Rica

"The Lodge is everything claimed: great yoga, lovely extracurriculars, yummy meals, comfortable rooms and best and most surprising friends everywhere. My week there was an absolute delight and may require a return visit soon. Thank you, thank you, thank you. "

"Thank you, Hector for a lovely week's yoga. It is not easy to do what you are doing with such a wide variety of people, with differing abilities and expectations, coming and going. You are creative, effective, soulful and a delight. Please keep doing what you do! "

"I loved El Sabanero and can’t wait to return. Kurt and Harold were so lovely; very thoughtful and kind making sure my stay and experience was pleasant and fulfilling. Harold really helped get me a last minute covid test for my flight home, lifesaver. The grounds were thoughtfully maintained by an amazing groundskeeper. There was always at least one masseuse one site. The pool was always clean and made for some stunning photos. Hector was an amazing yoga instructor, I loved waking up to his classes. It was the perfect place for me to recharge and make some amazing friendships. As a solo female traveler, this was hands down the best experience I’ve had"

"I can't imagine having a much better experience than my visit to El Sabanero for a retreat. It is a true sanctuary for relaxation, connection, yoga, delicious healthy food and spiritual rejuvenation. Kurt and the whole team are extremely welcoming and you will quickly feel like you are part of the El Sab family to the extent that you will likely have a very hard time leaving. The rooms are super cozy and contain everything you might want. The Lodge seems to attract nothing but incredible people and I made many life long friends from the experience. This is also a great place to base out of if you are looking to do some of the many tours in the area and the team will help you book and organize the tour with other travelers at the Lodge. The retreat was truly the highlight of my trip to Costa Rica. If you are having a hard time deciding on which retreat to chose as I was, look no further! I know I will be back soon :) "

"I am speaking as a solo female traveler, I needed some time to escape, relax, and find my peace again, and El Sabanero gave me exactly what I was looking for and so much more. The Location: You are hidden in the beautiful jungle staying in the perfect eco-lodge. The bungalows are perfect, small AC unit, fridge, and bed/bathroom. There are beautiful areas around the property to sit in a hammock and read, paint, journal etc. There is a perfect infinity pool overlooking mountains and palm trees. The flowers and foliage are beautiful. The sounds of the jungle act as a perfect meditative white noise at night. You are guaranteed to see and experience the untouched beauty of nature. There are walks/hikes that you can take around the property. There is a daily shuttle that takes you to Tamarindo for beach/market/surfing/restaurant experiences. The staff at El Sabanero will ensure that your needs are met and if you want to get a ride into town before/after the shuttle service and/or want to go somewhere else, there are trusted drivers you can schedule to help you get there. The food: AMAZING. You are provided 3 healthy, hearty meals with LOTS of variety. You start your morning with fruit and coffee, followed by a full breakfast. There is always coffee, tea, water, available throughout the day. You can buy some fruit and snacks if you please and store them in your own fridge. Lunch is always full of vegetables and sustenance. Dinner is an experience as you sit with other travelers at the lodge and get to know everyone while you share another amazing meal. I cannot say enough about the healthy eating here, I usually feel so bloated after vacations, but this was quite the opposite--came back feeling refreshed and "detoxed" from preservatives. If you choose, there are loads of other food options in and around town or you can walk to a pizza bar down the hill (very safe to walk!). The yoga/meditation: It was the perfect balance between restorative and power flow. The instructors are Hector (AM): he is a local and has a beautiful spirit, guides you through different yoga styles every morning and changes the practices to meet the group, spending a good amount of focus on how your body is feeling. Jaime: Another beautiful spirit, motivating, well-traveled and cultured, and bases her practice off how you're feeling that day. She takes the time to give perfect instruction on how to experience a pose you may have been too scared to try (i.e. I did my first headstand because of her!) and her smile and energy are contagious. She alternated teaching at night. Jeka: Yet another beautiful human! She also alternated the evening classes and focused on Baptiste style of yoga, working in breath work and meditation into her practices. She has inspirational and beautiful reminders throughout class to listen to your body, stop letting your ego control your practice, and made classes playful and enjoyable. Meditation: led by different instructors while I was there, including Hector, Jeka, and Kurt. Every experience was different and speaking as someone who was not well versed at meditation, I came home craving meditation and wanting to incorporate into my day. The staff: Kurt and Harold are just incredible. They have created a family experience at El Sabanero where I felt truly comfortable being myself. They truly catered to every need and if you have any questions at all, you can feel comfortable asking. They will try and make the experience perfect for you. Kurt would always come out to check in on us, ask us if we needed anything, and share his inspirational life stories. He exudes a loving vibe and I felt safe under his care and guidance during my trip. Adventures: There are plenty of opportunities for "adventure tours" i.e. ziplining, hiking, waterfall swimming, sloth farm visits, crocodile tours, river rafting etc. El Sabanero will help you set up the ride, payment, and you do not need to book anything in "advance". Just show up and go with the flow if that's your vibe! Overall, I will never stop raving about my experience here. El Sabanero gave me an opportunity to discover myself in a non-judgemental environment, balanced with yoga, meditation, mindfulness, adventure, fun, late night talks with the other travelers and discovering a new family. Be willing to leave your ego and judgment at the door when you show up, be ready to learn how to go with the flow and find the perfect vacation/reset for yourself. Truly a beautiful and transformative experience. Thank you to everyone at El Sabanero. Pura Vida!"

"Witnessed life changing transformational journey within Self others arround me. Managed to go deepest meditative state. Truly magical place with owner with very big open hearted ever you can imagine. Devoured amazing food from lovely couple at the kitchen. What can I say it is a place to feel yourself without any stories!"

"This was life changing for me. The meals were delicious, the excursions are wonderful, and the whole place feels of nature and relaxation. The women I met here are going to be life long friends. This is not a five star hotel and its off the beaten path, but for this busy city girl- getting back to nature was exactly what I needed. The transportation was the deciding factor for me to book this retreat and I am so glad I did. I didn't have to worry about a thing."

"I went on this trip with a friend after another friend recommended El Sabanero. We had very little time to plan, but knew we needed a vacation. This was the perfect combination - once we booked our stay and our flights we didn't think about anything else until the night before we left. Everything you need is at El Sabanero - great people, amazing food, yoga for all levels and easy access to a several different excursions or a day at the beach. I came back more relaxed and motivated than I ever had from a vacation. I went on this trip with a friend, but almost all others were solo travelers."

"From the moment you walk in you’re treated like one of the family and that doesn’t stop even after you leave. You won’t find better value for accommodation, 2 yoga sessions daily and 3 delicious vegetarian meals a day. The place is beautiful and clean and the rooms are super comfortable and offer some privacy if you want to reflect on the day’s adventures or relaxation from the hammock or rocking chair on your veranda. The mountainous views and the chorus of Costa Rica’s wildlife are magical too. The place has great energy and attracts great people. We became a family and the fact I met so many people who were returning for a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th time should tell you everything you need to know. Thanks Kurt and Harold for being perfect hosts and sharing this special place with us. Thanks Donald for the food that everyone described as the “best they’ve had in CR”. Thanks Anna for the best massage I’ve ever had and for making me feel part of the family too. And to Louise, Aggie, Hector and Vivi, thanks for for the top notch yoga! Couldn’t recommend highly enough and will be back!"

"This was truly a vacation of a life time. We will be going back next year. From the second you arrive you are greated with nothing but love and harmony. Kurt the owner was one of the happiest loving people we have ever met. He made sure you have everything you need and that you meet everyone else. We made such amazing friends. Donald the chef was such a happy loving person as well and it showed in his food. We have been trying to recreate his food since we have been home. The rooms were perfect escape from everyday life. We spent our trip making friends, relaxing in the pool, and walking down the beautiful beach nearby. The only bad thing about this place was having to leave. I wish I could give them 10 stars. This place truly"

"This way my first solo trip overseas and I did an incredible amount of research before braving the adventure. El Sabanero was the first place that come up as I searched. The reviews spoke highly of the beauty, charm and warmth experienced there. So after looking at other options my heart kept bringing me back to El Sabanero. I contacted Kurt the owner so many times with so many questions and he so graciously set my worries at easy. When I arrived I felt completely welcomed, safe and loved by all. The property is an enchanting sanctuary of nature, incredible food, most amazing Yoga classes and new friends. I made amazing deep connections with everyone I met there and feel so grateful and overjoyed for choosing El Sabenero Eco Lodge for this, one of my most blissful adventure. Kurt and Karin thank you for being amazing hosts!! ❤"

"El Sabanero makes you feel at home from the moment you arrive! I have traveled to Costa Rica Several times and specifically to visit El Sabanero Eco Lodge for its beautiful grounds, tranquil atmosphere and it’s caring and attentive staff! Kurt (the owner) is a wonderful man who cares deeply that each and every guest has a unique and memorable experience. He is always available, and even when traveling alone you feel like you have a friend in Kurt! The Yoga teachers are also very unique (no 2 classes are alike), so for the Yogis traveling to the eco lodge you will not be disappointed! If I was looking for a day of adventure, relaxation or just sleeping by the beautiful pool, I was accommodated! I Can’t wait to go back."

"From the moment I arrived at El Sabanero, I was treated with love & kindess! The hosts- Kurt & Harold had everything all set up with delicious healthy meals, an oasis with your private cabin with hammock just outside overlooking the amazing views. Adventures & shuttles all set up for you for each day! I had the most amazing time for my 50th & the memory, friends & yoga are etched in my heart. I found my yearly retreat and second home at El Sabanero! I would recommend anyone who is looking for a wonderful yoga retreat that fills your soul!"