$250 DEPOSIT TO SAVE MY SPOT

"I never would have dreamed when I signed up that it would have such an impact on me and my life - and I think the long term effects are still to come!" - Jennifer

There's really no "typical day" in Costa Rica - everything is laid back and easy, Pura Vida style - a day will include: Morning yoga, breakfast, lunch, lounge time, afternoon/evening yoga, and dinner - did we mention all of the food is SUPER fresh and amazing! Other activities throughout the day might include: a trip into town for a fresh coconut to drink, surfing, stand up paddle boarding, lounging on the beach, drinking a beer in the hammock, bird watching for parrots, listening to the sounds of the jungle, zip-lining, and basking in the bright, glorious sun! (remember, it's January everywhere else... brrr!)

Our group is limited to 30 guests in total - connections are made, bonds are formed - everyone becomes fast friends!   

An All Inclusive Package (Does not include airfare):

• 7 days, 6 nights accommodations at Vida Asana Eco Lodge and Yoga School - all rooms with private bathroom, hot water, fridge, air conditioning, and ceiling fan

• 2 Daily Yoga classes taught by Rachel and Lara, including: Vinyasa Flow, Restorative, Pranayama, and Meditation (yoga classes are suitable for all levels - we pride ourselves on helping you in your practice!)

• All group ground transportation (including group ground transfer to/from San Jose airport)

• 3 fresh, healthy, homecooked, local meals/day inspired by the Vida Asana cookbook Sustenance    

• A semi-private Surf Lesson with Soul Surf Surfing School (One instructor per Two students)

• A boat tour through the Monkey Mangrove

• Ample time to explore Playa Hermosa (the closest beach town) and nearby Jaco (the closest town, about 15 mins away)

• A heart centered Cacao Ceremony with a 5th generation, native Costa Rican, woman Cacao farmer

• Snoozing in hammocks under palm trees

• Unlimited Costa Rican coffee (some say it’s the best they’ve ever had…)

• 24/7 Access to the entire Vida Asana 3 acre facility including pool, jungle yoga shala, lounge, gift shop, restaurant and gardens

• A hike through the Rainmaker forest, with hanging bridges

• Stop at the famous Crocodile bridge

• NYE celebration with Sangria and Live Music, then a trip to the beach for fireworks at midnight

VIEW A SAMPLE SCHEDULE HERE

"The retreat was everything I expected and more. Structured but loose enough to work in what I wanted to do. The right amount of yoga, and at an appropriate level for our group. A real vacation in a beautiful setting with yoga as a plus! The perfect way to re-set your energy/body/mind going into a new year." - Maggie

Pricing (rates are per/person - excluding airfare):

The people you will meet in Costa Rica are amazing!

If you'd like to be in a shared room, but you are coming by yourself - no worries! We will assign you an awesome new friend of the same gender :)

Please make your $250 deposit to save your spot for this incredible experience! 

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* Shared - two or three separate beds, private bathroom, air conditioning, ceiling fan, plenty of room to spread out and feels spacious - particularly with the great outdoors a few steps from your front door.

Spring Rate $1450 ($250 deposit paid by June 21, 2019)

Early Bird $1550 ($250 deposit paid by October 1, 2019)

Regular Rate $1650

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* Single - The room, and private bathroom, is all yours! (limited availability)

Spring Rate $1750 ($250 deposit paid by June 21, 2019)

Early Bird $1850 ($250 deposit paid by October 1, 2019) 

Regular Rate $1950

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Register for Spring Pricing - $250 deposit due by June 21

Still have questions? No worries, we'd love to help!

Email: rachel@heartthreadyoga.com

Call/text Rachel at 607-222-1726

"Sean and the staff really made their resort feel like they were opening up their home to us. That's exactly what I wanted going away on a long trip away from my family. I'm happy I stayed at their lodge instead of at a fancy resort :) They were so kind to accommodate extra rides for us, and even bought us ice cream!" - Kathleen  

Additional Activities:

We know that some people want to lounge around, read a book, and rest on vacation, while others want to explore the favorite activities of the locals, so we've added these adventures 'a la carte' - pricing is approximate, and may vary slightly closer to the trip:    

Ocean View Zip-lining - $40

Pressure Point, Swedish, or Deep Tissue Massage - $60/hour

"This retreat will change your life. It is the perfect combination of yoga, meditation, and fun. The teachers are awesome - they teach for all levels. The activities are great, but you don't have to do them if you want to spend the day at the beach or getting a massage. The food is delicious and healthy. Vida Asana is a great jungle retreat. I give this retreat an A+" - Nicole

**Frequently Asked Questions:

1) What should I bring to Costa Rica? Multiple bathing suits, yoga clothes, sun dresses, light shorts, etc, yoga mat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a book, shoes you feel good walking in. One jacket to leave and return in! Pack light - temperatures will be in the low 80’s, but not too humid as "winter" is their hot, sunny & dry season. Dress is very, very casual ALL the time! It’s super beach culture vibes.

What you won't need - hair drier or hot iron (humidity will ruin it anyway, embrace the beach look), high heels, fancy clothes

2) Do I need a passport? Yes!!! If you don't have one start this process now - USPS Passport Website. It can take up to 6 weeks to receive your passport, and sometimes longer. If you wait until the last minute you will have to pay $$$ in extra fees to expedite. If you already have a passport, check the expiration date - if it is expiring within 90 days of your travel plans to/from the USA, you need to renew it before you leave.

3) What are the best websites to use for buying my flight? Google flights, Orbitz, Travelocity, Expedia - you can even set up automated emails to be sent to you with low prices from your destination to San Jose (SJO). Also, remember that you just need to get to the SJO airport - it doesn't really matter where you fly out of! So if you have a friend in a major city, or there are multiple surrounding airports, check with all of them! Once you sign up for the retreat, we will of course share any amazing airline deals that we find with you!     

4) When should I arrive? We will meet at the San Jose, CR (SJO) airport on Sunday December 29 by 1pm, and then take the private shuttle together to Vida Asana, which is 90mins away in Playa Hermosa, near Jaco. Try to take the first flight out of your home airport that morning. If you arrive much later than the group for any reason (including major flight delays/cancellations, weather, etc) you will be responsible for getting/paying for a cab. They are easily found and reliable but the trip to our retreat center (Vida Asana) would cost around $90. There are also a couple of ride share services, Easy Rider and Interbus, that cost around $35. They leave the airports around 3 times/day. We are more than happy to help setup any additional cab services that might be needed. Additionally if you would like to arrive in San Jose the night before (Saturday 28th), there are many great, safe, clean, fairly inexpensive accommodations near the airport where you could stay, and then meet us at the airport by 1pm on the 29th to catch our group shuttle. (Many people have done this option in the past 7 years that this retreat has been going).  

5) When should I schedule my return flight for? We will have another private shuttle that takes our group back to the San Jose airport (SJO) on Saturday January 4. Try to schedule your flight to leave around 2pm if possible - if there is a really great deal on a flight out of somewhere that leaves a little earlier, let us know so we can share that info with others(!), and we will try to accommodate, but as a general guideline try for a flight in the early to late afternoon. We need to leave Vida Asana 4 hours before the first flight of the group back, so if everyone books their return flight around 2pm or later, we can leave Vida Asana at 10am :)   

6) What will the weather be like? Hot, sunny, and dry, between 85-95 degrees during the day. This is Costa Rica's dry season so we shouldn't be bugged by mosquitos much, if at all. Nights will be breezy and around 70-75 degrees.

7) How much free time will I have? Plenty! We don't like to go on over-structured vacations and we assume you don't either. We want to give you ample time to go to the beach, swim, surf, get fresh fruit smoothies at the fruit shack, have a beer or two, watch the waves, read a book in the shade at Vida Asana, explore the rain forest, star gaze, whatever! There is one (included) big group trip - to the Monkey Mangrove Boat tour, and the Rainmaker Forest with hanging bridges (these are two different activities, on the same day to cut down on the driving time), along with twice daily yoga, breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Cacao Ceremony, and surfing. If you like to stay active we will have plenty to occupy your time such as surf school, (or you can just rent a board for the week and surf at will), zip-lining, visiting our tiny beach village of Playa Hermosa or the bigger surf town Jaco, getting a massage, etc. There are also beach cruiser bikes, and hammocks at Vida Asana, along with their pool, beautiful grounds, and some great hiking not too far away. Also remember that everything is optional!

See a sample schedule here

8) Is Costa Rica dangerous? As with anywhere in the world you should be mindful of locking up your valuables, but Costa Rica is relatively safe. Unlike many other resort vacation countries, you can wander outside Vida Asana and into town without fear. You will likely meet some of the nicest strangers you've ever met. Costa Ricans are generally pleasant, carefree, super friendly, and very generous.

9) Is Vida Asana a luxury resort? It is an Eco-lodge, charming and rustic. It's gorgeous -  there is a swimming pool, a lovely open-air dining room, and an awesome open air yoga pavilion. The rooms are colorful and comfortable. Each room has air conditioning, a mini-fridge, a ceiling fan, and very comfy beds. The windows are generally open to feel the amazing breeze, and you may find an occasional bug in your room. The staff does a great job of cleaning them, but the lodge is at the edge of a rain forest so... Pura Vida! If you prefer all-inclusive luxury resorts where you can't leave the property for fear of your life then this is not for you! The lodge is owned and run by Sean McDonald and his small team of awesome staff. They take care of everything - cooking, cleaning, repairs if needed, and they are amazing people. Each year we make easy friends with any new staff, the chefs, and we love the groundskeepers!

10) Do I need any special vaccinations? We recommend that you are up to date on all of your standard routine vaccinations. You do not need any kind of special vaccinations to enter into Costa Rica, but there are some suggestions from the US Center for Disease Control  <View those here>

11) How much extra money should I bring? ATMs are easily found here that dispense both dollars and Costa Rican colones, however most places take US dollars. Remember to let your bank/credit cards know that you are traveling! You may spend money on souvenirs in town, lunch one day in Jaco, beer & wine (if you so fancy), extra snacks (if you want to stock your fridge), surf board rental (if you already surf and just want to rent a board), and massage. You can easily avoid spending beyond what you already paid for this trip - all meals, lodging, most excursions, and yoga are included. The beaches are free! :)

12) Why are the prices of excursions subject to change? Costa Ricans, bless their hearts, are on their own time. They are so chill and it's what we love about them, but scheduling anything far in advance is damn near impossible. So though we know that we can 99% positively offer you these excursions, we can't schedule them until less than a month in advance. For that reason the prices we are quoting are what they cost currently. Odds are they'll be the same in 6-9 months too. Once we get closer to the trip date we will be able to let you know exact cost. Please plan to bring cash to pay for any extra excursions.

13) What is the food like? Very fresh, simple, and delicious. Breakfast is typically "gallo pinto" - their famous black beans & rice served with scrambled eggs, fresh fruit such as papaya, mango, watermelon. Lunch and dinner can be fish tacos, fried plantains, avocado, or whole baked fish freshly caught. The cuisine is not typically spicy like Mexican, but hot sauce is easily found. Vida Asana prepares absolute deliciously yummy meals with fresh ingredients from their garden. The food is mostly Vegetarian, with fish offered 3 times in the week, and everything is made vegan, with the option to “add on” items to make it not vegan. The chefs are also great at accommodating for food allergies and sensitivities. If you are a meat eater - FEAR NOT! We have had multiple carnivores in the past five years at retreats, and everyone always loves the food, and is never hungry! They serve up fancy, fill you up, fresh veggie cuisine, and there's always the option of heading to one of the nearby restaurants if you just really need that burger!     

13) Do I need to speak Spanish? No. Most Costa Ricans are happy to speak English, but if you know some Spanish they will love you even more. 

14) Will my cell phone work? How will I get in touch with people if I need/want to? Vida Asana has a wifi connection that works pretty well. If your phone has a data plan that works off of wifi you can use that to text/email/send pictures to all of your jealous friends and family back home. But only if you want to - remember, you're on vacation! As far as making calls - please check with your cell phone provider for information about international travel plans. If you need to contact us for any reason on the day of the retreat before we are together (delayed flight, etc) texting Rachel on WhatsApp will be the best option.

15) "Yoga twice a day... can I handle that??!" Sound like you? Here's the deal - this is not yoga boot camp! We are offering plenty of yoga so that you can do all the yoga you want. We will read the group - typically the morning practice will be a meditation/slow flow to set the pace for the day, then a  nice challenging Vinyasa some evenings, with a more Yin/restorative others to soothe your tired muscles. We know you will be pleasantly exhausted by the end of the day after yoga, surfing, swimming etc. If we see that the energy is high and everyone wants a strong evening class then we will give you that! And if you'd like even MORE yoga, you can take the daily class at Vida Asana at 10am for free!

Any others questions? Let us know! rachel@HeartThreadYoga.com

I’d like to make my $250 deposit to save my spot