Pura Vida in Costa Rica
Retreat 2026
with Kelly Fisher
February 1-7, 2026, on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
“People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances with our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive.”—Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth
Iguana Lodge on the Osa Peninsula is the embodiment of Pura Vida lifestyle — a beautiful, pure, and peaceful retreat from everyday life, teeming with the life-force of incredible bio-diversity. It offers a chance for you to indulge yourself in healthy practices, yoga, meditation, eating tasty healthy food, and treating yourself to body work to help cleanse and purify your system. You will return home happier and ready to face the world.
Studies have shown that taking time away from the daily busy-ness, taking time to retreat, can do wonders to restore one to a more grounded, less stressful place. And how better to take such a retreat than by indulging oneself in yoga, meditation, breathwork, and spending time in the beauty of nature! During this week in paradise, you truly can indulge, er, preserve, all of the feel-good aspects of being in the body, let go of the chatter of the busy, conscious mind, and restore your sense of wholeness and joy in life.
Vacation Details
The Osa Peninsula has a unique ecosystem and is known for its biodiversity and eco-tourism. The five elements of yoga and ayurveda -- earth, water, fire, air, and sky -- come together to make life sweet at Iguana Lodge located on the beach. We will practice with the five elements to uplift our spirits, bring clarity, and simply relax in a peaceful setting during this fabulous week of yoga, ocean, jungle, sunshine, meditation, yoga nidra, relaxation, and exploration. Iguana Lodge is the only luxury resort on the beach on the Osa Peninsula. Join me to discover one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.
Location
Iguana Lodge is situated on the best beach on the Osa Peninsula. It is an unconventional paradise where “your heart will find a second home.” Spend your days on a six-mile long pristine, deserted beach that is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, walking with a friend, paddleboarding, kayaking, hiking through the rain forest, or just lounging reading a book. Choose your own adventure, if you decide you really want to leave your hammock.
There is also a pool, spa (get a massage!), ceramic studio, an award winning restaurant, there is even a tennis/pickleball court, not to mention a beautiful and fully equipped yoga pavilion.
Daily Activities
Morning meditation and yoga practice to help set the tone for your day
Early evening yoga, yoga nidra, and community activities to help you wind down
Abundant free time to go on excursions or rest on most days
Onsite free time may include: swimming, snorkeling, chemical-free pool and jacuzzi, kayaking out to the reef, hammock time, paddle-board, surfing, birding, hiking, bioluminescent evening swim, tennis and pickle-ball, and many more options
Offsite adventures may include: horseback riding, world-class fishing, nature park hiking to waterfalls, bioluminescent kayak, mango-grove kayak, whale and dolphin safari, zipline, sloth sanctuary tour, and more
Sample Schedule
6:30-7:00am: Coffee, fruit
7:00-7:30am: Meditation
7:30-9:00am: Yoga
9:00am: Breakfast
9:00am-5:00pm: Daily Excursions or Free Time
12:30-2:30pm: Lunch if you remain at Iguana Lodge
5:00-6:00pm: Yoga
6:00-6:30pm: Yoga Nidra or Kirtan
7:00-9:00pm: Dinner
Planning
Flights and Transportation
Southwest offers non-stop flights from Baltimore (BWI) to San Jose (SJO) and if you arrive before 1:30pm, you can hop a flight to Puerto Jimenez (PJM) to get to Iguana Lodge in the same day. Sansa Airlines flies from SJO to PJM; Iguana Lodge can help you set this up and it is around $350. You could drive the distance in six hours or take this one hour flight.
For the return flight if your international flight leaves after 1:30pm, you may take the PJM to SJO flight that morning to travel home all in the same day.
Southwest usually does not post flights until approximately six months in advance. When they are posted, we will send an email to let travelers know it is time to purchase your flight.
Iguana Lodge offers transportation from and to PJM for no fee. Once you have your flights, please call them to set that up.
Included in Your Yoga Retreat
Six nights of lodging; Feb 1 and Feb 7 are travel days
In-room organic soaps, shampoos, and other goodies like fresh tropical flowers and a batik beach sarong
Four amazing meals a day – early and late breakfast, lunch, and dinner at an award winning restaurant
Morning meditation and yoga classes; afternoon yoga and yoga nidra; kirtan daily except on Wednesday which is an adventure day
All yoga props are included at the Iguana Lodge yoga shala; well, almost all, please bring one tennis ball for myofascial release and your own mat if you prefer to use it
Transfer from the Puerto Jimenez Airport (PJM) to Iguana Lodge, and return transfer, taxes, and gratuity
What to Bring
Yoga clothes, a bathing suit, and your normal travel wear.
The yoga studio is equipped with all the props you will need, but if you want to bring your own mat and/or meditation cushion, please do.
Bring a tennis ball.
Bring your water bottle to make sure you stay hydrated.
Comfortable shoes for walking/hiking.
Notebook/journal and writing utensil are optional.
Any other normal travel accessories, like a light windbreaker jacket.
We recommend that you purchase travel insurance in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Your Teacher
Kelly Fisher
Kelly Fisher, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, YACEP, is the current steward of the Yoga Center of Columbia. She has been teaching at YCC since 2011. She believes in the physical and spiritual healing power of yoga, and aims to empower her students to strengthen their bodies, hearts and minds through her challenging yet calming instruction. Her style is rooted in her many years of meditation practice and her multidisciplinary study of hatha yoga, tantric philosophy, and ayurveda. She was one of the first in the country to earn her Yoga Therapist certification from the International Association of Yoga Therapists. In 2017 she earned her certifications as a Yoga for Healthy Aging teacher from Baxter Bell and as an Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist from the Himalayan Institute.
Accommodations
There are two types of lodging, Club Rooms and Casitas. All are either single or double occupancy, but the Casitas may hold three roommates if you desire. First come first served as far as your view and number/type of beds. See accommodation details.
Club Rooms: like a hotel, all have air conditioning, some with queen beds, some with two twins that can be made into kings
Casitas: these stand alone, three have a beach view and one has a jungle view; some of them have air conditioning, all have either a queen or king bed plus a daybed for double occupancy
Registration
How to:
Fees:
Deposit: $795 due upon registration
Club Room Single Occupancy: $3495
Club Room Double Occupancy: $2295
Casita Single Occupancy: $3595
Casita Double Occupancy: $2595
Casita Triple Occupancy: $2095
Please note that Single Occupancy may be limited depending on number of participants.
Checks are preferred. Please make it out to Yoga Center of Columbia and in the memo line write: Pura Vida Yoga Retreat
Non-yogis are welcome, please subtract $300 from the total amount.
Deposit is due upon registration.
Final installment is due by December 1, 2025.
Your Registration Fee Includes:
Six nights of lodging; Feb 1 and Feb 7 are travel days
In-room organic soaps, shampoos, and other goodies like fresh tropical flowers and a batik beach sarong
Four amazing meals a day – early and late breakfast, lunch, and dinner at an award winning restaurant
Morning meditation and yoga classes; afternoon yoga and yoga nidra; kirtan daily except on Wednesday which is an adventure day
All yoga props are included at the Iguana Lodge yoga shala; well, almost all, please bring one tennis ball for myofascial release and your own mat if you prefer to use it
Transfer from the Puerto Jimenez Airport (PJM) to Iguana Lodge, taxes, and gratuity
Fee does not include: Airfare; Southwest offers non-stop flights from Baltimore (BWI) to San Jose (SJO) and if you arrive before 1:30pm, you can hop a flight to Puerto Jimenez (PJM) to get to Iguana Lodge in the same day. Sansa Airlines flies from SJO to PJM; Iguana Lodge can help you set this up and it is around $350. You could drive the distance in six hours or take this one hour flight.
For the return flight if your international flight leaves after 1:30pm, you may take the PJM to SJO flight that morning to travel home all in the same day.
Day trips and adventures are on your own and can be booked when you arrive at Iguana Lodge. The Corcovado National Park is considered the most biologically diverse park in the world and is a must see! This is an extra expense and you will need your passport, but will be well worth it. Read all about the different adventures here: https://www.iguanalodge.com/adventures
Cancellation Policy
Your deposit includes a $300 non-refundable administrative fee. Please get trip insurance to help cover any unforeseen circumstances. If you must cancel, a full refund minus the administrative fee will be available until December 1, 2025. After that time, a full refund minus the administrative fee will only be available if we can fill your space.