Pura Vida — Pavas de Carrizal, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Many different options await yogis at Pura Vida, a meditation retreat center surrounded by coffee plantations in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica, about 45 minutes from downtown San José. You can opt to participate in the three-, five-, or seven-night Mind Body Spirit Package, take on the Pure Life Cleanse, attend one of the many scheduled wellness workshops, or simply spend a few nights at the resort and enjoy its extensive spa treatments. The Mind Body Spirit packages ($595-2,790 per person) include nightly accommodations, buffet-style meals, yoga and meditation sessions, a one hour-long massage, and transportation to and from San José airport. The five- and seven-night packages offer eco-adventure tours (to Poas Volcano, for example) and guided hikes as well.
The Pure Life Cleanse ($2,370-3,665) is a physical and emotional cleanse combining a detoxifying diet of fresh juices with yoga and journaling sessions, lifestyle seminars and eco-adventure tours. Available spa treatments include Shamanic healing sessions, deep tissue massages, facials, exfoliations, aroma treatments and a variety of water therapies. Pura Vida hosts a number of interesting retreats throughout the year, with topics such as personal growth, women’s health, communication and nutrition; check its website for the current schedule.
Pura Vida has 53 different rooms, which can sleep over 100 people. Accommodations range from deluxe tents with carpeted floors and shared bathrooms to fancy suites with a living room, Jacuzzi and private Bali-style shower. The center has four yoga halls, which can hold between 16 and 80 people, and some are equipped with heaters to accommodate hot yoga sessions. Pura Vida’s certified conservation property has a pool, hot tub, botanical gardens, hammocks and fitness equipment, along with a variety of African drums and percussion instruments for impromptu drum circles.
