CONTACT INFORMATION Dialing the resort from Costa Rica: 2-483-0033 Dialing the resort from the US (678) 388-9564 Dialing US reservations (770) 483-0238
DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO PURA VIDA SPA in Alajuela
From SJO Airport (approximately 20 minutes) As you exit the SJO airport, make a right. Immediately after exiting the airport you will go under the Pan-American Highway and take the ramp to the right following the sign to Alajuela. This ramp will loop around and merge onto the main highway. Make your way immediately to the right lane and take the first off ramp to your right, again following the sign to Alajuela. Take this road about 2 kilometers past the Mall Internacional on your left. Go to the second traffic light and make a right. Continue straight through several traffic lights. You will pass a McDonald´s on your right. Two blocks after the McDonald´s, follow the flow of traffic which will be making a left turn (there is a Martinizing dry cleaning store on the corner.) After this turn, continue straight about 6 blocks. At a traffic light you will see a building on the right with Coca-Cola signs painted on it. Take a right at this corner. Just after the turn you will see a large red structure on your left, which is a soccer stadium.
From within the province of Alajuela Starting from “el stadio”, the soccer stadium in Alajuela: Start measuring! Exactly 7 kilometers from here, toward Carrizal, you will find a cantina (Bar) on the left called the “Apolo 15”. Make a sharp left turn that is almost a U-turn and go 700 meters. Stay to the left on the paved road until you come to a huge stone wall on your left. Stop at the first cream-colored gate where a guard is posted. The guard will check in with our reception desk and direct you on where to go.
PURA VIDA SPA AIRPORT TRANSFER from SJO Airport pick-up and drop-off are included with all inclusive bookings such as Group Retreats, Pure Life Cleanse, Mind Body Spirit. Flight details, arrival date and time must be provided 2 weeks prior to arrival date. Email details to reservations@puravidaspa.com. Pura Vida Spa’s driver will wait for you past immigration and customs, outside the exit door. The driver will have a sign which reads, “Villas Pura Vida + your last name”. You should not accept help from anyone who is not properly identified as Pura Vida Staff or holding a sign with your name on it. If delayed, please call Pura Vida Spa in Costa Rica.
Please fill out the form below to arrange a Pura Vida shuttle to and from the San Jose International Airport (SJO). Please download Shuttle transporation instructions about meeting the designated driver. Once the shuttle request form is received by us, a shuttle confirmation will be emailed to you.
PLEASE NOTE: For Nightly Rate Reservations, the shuttle service is not included but can be arranged for an additional $25 round trip per person or $12.50 one way. Please contact the Reservations Office 888-767-7375 ext 233 or email reservations@puravidaspa.com to make these arrangements.
Group Shuttle Reservations
Please make your group shuttle reservations below. You can reserve a one way or round trip. All fields are required in order to process your reservation.
Mind Body Spirit Shuttle Reservations
Please make your Mind Body shuttle reservations below. You can reserve a one way or round trip. All fields are required in order to process your reservation.
* All Fields Are Required
* All Fields Are Required
The staff at Pura Vida Yoga Retreat & Spa looks forward to being your host at our beautiful mountain resort in Costa Rica! The following information will help you prepare for the trip and ensure a rich and fulfilling experience for your students.
When do I pay my balance? Please call the reservations office 5-7 days prior to your arrival to pay your balance. We accept Visa and MasterCard only.
Do you accept U.S. Dollars? Yes, we accept U.S. Dollars, traveler's checks and Visa or MasterCard at Pura Vida
Is there an ATM? We do not have an ATM here on the property of Pura Vida but there are numerous ones available in the nearby town of Alajuela.
Can I register for spa and trips before I go? Because the spa treatments we offer change somewhat from week to week (depending on which therapists are here), we ask that you wait until arrival to arrange appointments at the Wellness Center. Once you arrive you will also have a schedule for your week and will better know what times work better for you to arrange appointments.
Check In / Check OutCheck in consists of filling out a simple form followed by a brief orientation. Check in time is 2:00 pm. and check out time is 11:00 am. If your departing flight leaves early in the morning, please check out the day before and settle any costs you may have incurred during your stay. For payment of balance due and extras incurred, we accept cash, traveler's checks, Visa and MasterCard.
ReceptionOur reception is open from 7:30 am to 10:00 pm for guest services and staff is available 24 hours a day for emergencies.
Tips The staff gratuities are not included in the package price. We recommend $50 per guest for the entire week for the general staff of 50 people. We ask you to tip your massage therapist and tour guides separately.
Do I need shots? No shots or vaccinations are needed for visits to Costa Rica.
Do the people at the resort speak English? Everyone in office, the yoga teachers and the massage therapists all speak English.
Do you have heat and air conditioning? The ambient temperature at Pura Vida is about ideal. The year round temperature is 70 to 80 degrees during the day with mild nights.Thus, none of our rooms or facilities has air conditioning or heating.
Children & Infants Children are welcome are Pura Vida, but we do not provide child care. Local sitting assistance is available for a very moderate cost; otherwise, children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. For childcare request, please contact the resort directly @ 011-506-2-483-0033 or email:frontdesk@puravidaspacr.com.
Are there activities for Children? While here, they can use our pool and hot tub. There is also a guest lounge with a television, VCR and modest video library as well as a couple of board games, magazines and books. Children really enjoy our eco-excursions, too. (Please note that some tours have age minimums.)
Are there a lot of insects? Being in the tropics, there is a lot of insect life in general in Costa Rica. However, our elevation keeps this issue at a minimum and our guests find it remarkably bug-free here.
Do you offer a laundry service? Yes, we offer a laundry service to our guests. The charge is $8 per load to wash, dry and fold.
How far are you from the ocean? The closest beaches to Pura Vida are about 2 hours away on the Pacific coast.
Costa Rica's Travel Document / Immunization Requirements:
Citizens of the U.S. and CANADA may enter Costa Rica with a valid passport. Citizens of the following countries/cities are required to have yellow fever vaccine or will be denied entry: In SOUTH AMERICA: Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Venezuela (San Andres is an exception), Providence, Santa Catalina. In AFRICA: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Camerun, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leona, Sudan. Citizens of countries outside the U.S and Canada, should check with applicable Costa Rican Consulate in your country for more recent requirements and rules governing entrance into Costa Rica.
Please note that Costa Rican law requires your passport be valid for at least 90 days after the date you enter the country. This means that if your passport will expire within the next 90 days, you must renew it before your trip. Check with your airline or travel agent for more information. You are required to carry your passport with you at all times. If you are stopped by officials, a photocopy with your photo, passport number and entry stamp will usually suffice and is recommended.
What do I need to bring with me? Flashlight, alarm clock, sunscreen and hat, bathing suit, day pack/backpack, walking/hiking shoes, sandals with straps, sweater/sweatshirt, insect repellant, toiletries, warm pajamas (cool nights), rainwear/poncho (May-Nov.).
Our resort is very secure, yet as a standard precaution we recommend that you store your valuables (cash, credit cards, passports, plane tickets, etc) in the safe available in the office.
Is Costa Rica safe? Generally, Costa Rica is quite safe. Like any place, normal precautions and care should be taken depending upon where you are visiting. Violent crime is rare in Costa Rica while theft of personal property (from automobiles and hotel rooms) is more common. Big cities, beach areas and anyplace with a concentration of tourists is more likely to draw thieves and such.
Is Pura Vida a safe place for single women to visit? Yes, our property is very secure. The area around Pura Vida is also safe to walk around in and many people (male and female) enjoy a walk or run in the surrounding neighborhood and coffee fields.
Pura Vida Spa is a private, gated, 8-acre mountainside estate in Costa Rica’s Alajuela province. It is only 20 minutes northwest of the SJO International Airport and 45 minutes from downtown San Jose. Located at almost 5,000 feet above sea-level, year-round temperatures at Pura Vida range from 70 to 80 degrees during the day with mild nights in the high 50s to low 60s. May through November is the Green Season in Costa Rica.
Sunrise/Sunsets The sun rises here all year round 5:30 am and by 6:00 am everyone is usually naturally awake and alert. Sunset is around 6:00 pm all year round.
What is the address to Pura Vida Spa Resort? The mailing address is: Villas Pura Vida Retreat Center Apartado 1112, Alajuela 4050, Costa Rica
The physical address is: 700 metros al sur de salon Apolo 15 Pavas de Carrizal, Alajuela, Costa Rica
What is the phone number to the resort? The phone number to Pura Vida Spa is 011-506-2-483-0033. The fax number is 011-506-2-483-0041.
WI-FI Free Wi-Fi is available in the restaurant and guest lounge. We also have free high-speed internet available in our guest lounge free of charge.
Can I use my laptop? Yes! Free Wi-Fi is available in our guest lounge, pool area and restaurant.
Can I use my cell phone? Most cell phones work, however, you will need to contact your provider for assistance
We have bottled water in your room and at the bar. Soft drinks, beer and wine are also available. Our restaurant is casual buffet and our staff take great pride in serving delicious meals. The menu includes a variety of vegetarian fare as well as chicken and fish. We also can accommodate vegan and high-protein diets.
Is the water safe to drink? Yes, the water at Pura Vida is safe to drink from every faucet on the property. We filter our water on the premises with both a 1-micron filter and a UV filter. Countrywide, water quality standards in Costa Rica are generally quite high and visitors normally do not have any problems. There is now alkaline water available in the restaurant at no additional cost.
Meal Times Breakfast 7:30am-9:00am; Lunch 1:00pm-2:30pm; Dinner 6:30pm-8:00pm
Airport Transportation Airport pick-up and drop-off are included in the package price. Our representative will be waiting for you at the terminal exit with a sign listing your name and "PURA VIDA".
How do I get into town? The easiest way to get to town is by taxi. We can usually have a taxi for you in 15 minutes or less. The cost to downtown Alajuela is about $15 per taxi. There is also a public bus route that picks up near Pura Vida and goes to downtown Alajuela once per hour. The cost is less than 50 cents per person.
Can I rent a car? Yes, our staff will gladly help arrange this for you upon arrival at the resort. There are several companies that will drop off your rental car to you here at Pura Vida. You will need a valid driver's license, passport and credit card.
How much is a cab? Taxicab rates depend, of course, on the distance you want to travel. Taxis in Costa Rica charge by the trip and not per person. So, sharing taxis can really cut down on the cost. Generally taxis can accommodate up to 4 people. A trip to downtown Alajuela is about $15 each way, to the airport is $25 each way, to downtown San José is around $75 each way, and to Jacó (the nearest beach) is about $110 each way.
