Church of the Open Sky: yoga, surf + rapture

Join us in Costa Rica March 22—29!

Yoga and surfing are how we pray in Costa Rica—a most potent way to worship, as iconic surfer Tom Blake put it, in "the blessed church of the open sky."

Join this most unholy trinity for a week of working hard on mat and board, lounging and feasting copiously, and unmitigated hilarity at the beachside bar. Alex, Schuyler & Nikki each bring their own particular teaching flavor to this retreat, and the combination has been called transcendental.

The Osa Peninisula has captured Kuli hearts for more than two decades. You could call it our ecumenical Mecca. Our first decade was spent at the truly off-grid heaven of Tierra de Milagros. Then we moved down the beach to the sweetest private surf break imaginable at Boca Sombrero. Now we are forging deeper into the jungle, closer to a variety of different surf spots and experimenting with bougier digs at the spectacular boutique Osa Clandestina lodge. The food is spectacular, the rooms gorgeous and sublimely comfortable, and their spectacular property backs up to a hundred acres of a private rainforest reserve. (We also have beachside lodging options that are more modest—and modestly priced—that are a 5 minute walk to the retreat property. Click here to peruse photos). Beyond the pristine beaches, you will discover waterfalls, tide pools and gorgeous hiking trails. 

Expect to be roused by the jungle alarm clock—howler monkeys at 6am—for coffee, a light nosh and a sunrise surf session or your first yoga class of the day. Days are weirdly long in the Osa, so there will also be plenty of time to swim, kayak, rappel a waterfall or matapalo tree, or explore the jungle on foot or horseback. We schedule our two daily yoga classes to fit the tides, but every day there will be a strong Kula Flow class and a mellower Honey Flow or Alextravaganza. 

A little about the surf: this is one of the warmest, most pristine spots in Central America. It's a perfect place both for newbies to learn to surf and for experienced surfers to rip it up without any agro locals dropping in on them. (See more details and a rough estimate of cost for lessons, board rentals, etc HERE). The beach which is right in front of Osa Clandestina—Pan Dulce—is ideal for beginner and intermediate level surfers. A short walk away is an epic break called Backwash, and a little further down the dirt road is Matapalo—both world class point breaks. (And if you are not interested in surfing or if you bring a new-to-Kula friend or lover, don’t worry—there will be something for everyone). 

The way we play in the Osa is metaphysical—as well as a good old fashioned ass kicking. And if your shoulders are already sore just reading this, don't worry—there's a pina colada and a hammock with your name on it.  

Get ready to pray the Kula way.

DISCLAIMER: If you venture to the wilds of the Osa, you might quit your day job and go permanently off the grid. Don't blame us. You've been warned.

Arriving to Osa Clandestina:

Book a flight to San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO). From there, book a 45-minute flight on Sansa to Puerto Jimenez. You can also see if Green Air has flights between SJO and Puerto Jimenez. We’ll pick you up in a taxi; it’s about a 60-minute ride to the property.

Please take care when booking, as you’ll want to carefully coordinate your international flight with your local flight to Puerto Jimenez. Ensure there are convenient departures on Sansa before you pull the trigger on your international flight. If you don’t find suitable options same-day, you can fly to SJO on Saturday, sleep overnight, and then fly to Puerto Jimenez on Sunday morning. Apply the same logic to your departing flight itinerary.

If you wish to stay overnight in San Jose, we can recommend the following hotels located adjacent to the SJO airport: Marriott Courtyard San Jose Airport Alajuela; or Marriott Hotel Costa Rica Hacienda Belen.

For something a little more upscale, if you have the time, we also love Finca Rosa Blanca - Coffee Farm and Inn. It's also located relatively close to San Jose's international airport (SJO).

Price includes: accommodation; 2 yoga classes daily; meals.

Price does not include: airfare; taxis to and from Osa Clandestina or the offsite lodging (Casa Linda, Casa Bambu, and/or Casa Piña); extra activities; bodywork sessions; or alcoholic beverages purchased onsite.

Please note we are unable to offer refunds or credits for any payments made. No one books a retreat with the intention of cancelling—so we strongly advise you to purchase travel insurance to protect your investment. We use www.squaremouth.com, which is an aggregator site (similar to Skyscanner) you can use to book the most appropriate policy for your trip.