Our Home: Peace Retreat
‘Welcome to the Jungle’
We’re both Canadians living in Costa Rica and inspired every day by nature’s beauty, simplicity and harmony. We literally live in the jungle, with howler monkeys as neighbors, in the quiet town of Los Pargos, Playa Negra, situated along the stunning Pacific Gold Coast in the Province of Guanacaste. It’s a tranquil environment infused with the generous local Costa Rican ‘Pura Vida’ spirit.
Along with Swastha Yoga International, we also own and operate Peace Retreat, a charming, boutique-style wellness retreat center that we call home and where we enjoy teaching, leading, and hosting people from all over the world through custom retreats, workshops, and yoga teacher training programs.
Surrounded by nature and a 15-minute walk (or 5-min bike ride) to the ocean, it’s the ideal location to de-stress, reset, feel part of a local community, discover something new, make new friends, and reconnect with what matters most to you. Check out our Peace Retreat website or scroll down for retreat lodging options.
We invite you to our home...where the weather, water, and people are always warm. Pura Vida!
Kevin & Serena
Connecting with Nature
Classroom Discussion
Kevin at Sunset
Group Connection
Yoga Shala
So many paths (Let us help you choose the right ones!)
Pool Fun
Beach Fun
Time for Reflection
View of the Grounds from our Observatory
Surfing at world class Playa Negra (photo: France Drone Production: CLICK ON PHOTO FOR LINK)
Convenient (short) path through the jungle from Peace Retreat to town/beach
Yoga Shala
Pool
More Pool Fun
Beautiful Playa Negra Sunset
Quiet Time
Samadhi Suite
Bearings
Yoga Shala 2.0
Group Connection 2.0
Lodging Options
Peace Retreat can accommodate up to 38 people in shared accommodations. We have two yoga studio spaces, a body treatment center, a full menu kitchen and smoothie bar, swimming pool, ceremonial sweat lodge, and a boutique with travel amenities and locally made products.
Your training tuition includes shared or private accommodations which are dependent on availability and allotted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Space is limited. Accommodations at Peace Retreat are clean, simple, and well appointed. They all include a bed (single, double, or queen), closet, ceiling fan, bath towels, linens (with turn down service), and a secure safe for storing valuables. Standard rooms have ensuite bathrooms, while cabinas and multi-space dormitory options have convenient access to a community washroom facility with clean stone showers, sinks, and separate toilet stalls. Free WiFi is available, and when weather cooperates, signals are strong.
Pool Area, Main Lodge
Main Lodge
Main Lodge Standard Room Detail (Ensuite)
Cabina
Cabina Detail
Dormitory Style, Multi-Space Accommodation
1. STANDARD OPTION: Shared Accommodation
Shared accommodations at Peace Retreat during your training include:
Double or triple accommodations with your own single, double or queen bed in an Ensuite Room
Double accommodations with your own single bed in a Cabina
Shared accommodations with your own single bed in a semi-private space within a Multi-Space, dormitory style studio structure
2. UPGRADE: Private Accommodation
Upgrade to your own private accommodations depending on availability and on a first-come-first basis in either a:
Standard Room with en-suite, your own bed, ceiling fan, closet, secured safe for valuables, or a
Cabina with your own bed, ceiling fan, closet, secured safe for valuables, convenient access to clean stone showers, sinks, and separate toilet stalls in a community washroom facility.
3. EXPLORERS OPTION: Extend Your Stay
Explore everything this beautiful part of the world has to offer or relax by our pool, immerse yourself in the sounds of the jungle, a book, the beach, or our “local” vibe town. Our trainings are purposeful and intensive, which doesn’t allow for much recreation, travel, or personal time. Contact Kevin and Serena for extended stay lodging options prior to and/or after your training, or go to the Peace Retreat website for various retreat offerings. Scroll down for a list of activities and a video of our property and the surrounding area.
*All accommodations include bath towels and linens with turn-down service. Free WiFi and parking is available on site.
WATCH: Peace Retreat Costa Rica
Activities Beyond the Classroom
SURFING
The beaches adjacent to Peace Retreat offer some of the best surfing in Costa Rica, if not the world. Playa Negra is a classic Central American reef break with consistently strong surf, wave-friendly offshore winds, and few crowds, especially between the months of May and December. Things ease off from January to April, allowing beginner and intermediate surfers an opportunity to hone their skills. Nearby spots Sandy Beach and Avellanas are less hostile to beginner surfers due to their sandy bottoms and generally smaller, and often less ‘critical’ waves. Contact Kevin or Serena about lessons and/or surfboard rentals.
SWIMMING
Swimming can be dangerous in the ‘wet’ season with strong rips and sometimes silty water. But in calm seas (most often in the Northern Hemisphere winter) and slack tides, it is safe for adults and children alike, especially in the shallow areas inside the coral heads. When the sea is flat and the sun is high, the Pacific Ocean can resemble the Caribbean, with clear, turquoise-colored water., beckoning snorkelers and free divers to explore its depths. Watch for the occasional turtle or dolphin among the many varieties of fish and other marine life that make their homes in and around the reefs of Playa Negra. Of course, if the waves are too much, there is always the calm, cool and refreshing water of our swimming pool, just steps from your room at Peace Retreat.
BEACHCOMBING AND TIDEPOOLING
The tide differential here on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica can range as much as 3 meters, covering parts of the sandy beach at high tides, but exposing live reef beds on low ones. Many species of reef dwellers can be seen during this time, including tiny fish, crabs and other crustaceans, offering limitless exploration of the near shore ocean habitat. You can walk for miles in either direction (paying some attention to the tides) to explore the many different beaches in the area. The sunsets, especially in the wet season (May—Jan), are often spectacular. Watch for surface breaches from migrating Humpback whales between the months of December and March. Prehistoric Green, Hawksbill, Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles nest between March and October, with hatchings occuring most frequently from July to October. This 100 million year old evolutionary ritual is an incredible thing to witness. Don’t miss it.
BICYCLING
Peace Retreat has a small fleet of beach bicycles for your riding enjoyment. If you tire of the beautiful beaches here, there are plenty of back roads and single track trails to explore. Contact Kevin or Serena about mountain bike rentals and jungle tours.
HIKING
Peace Retreat maintains a jungle path from its location .5km from town, and just 1km from the nearest beach. Explore the dark paths and rugged landscape of the dry tropical forest of the Nicoya Peninsula. Look for exotic wildlife such as howler monkeys, sloths, iguanas, lizards, snakes, toucans, and other colorful birds. Waterfalls, while not as abundant here as in other provinces, are beautiful and refreshing hiking destinations. Contact Kevin or Serena for information about guided hikes and walking tours.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Other activities in the area include, but are not limited to: driving tours, jeep tours, boat tours, surf tours, stand-up paddleboarding, horseback riding, zip lining, fishing, and of course eating and drinking. Peace Retreat offers delicious healthy meals made from scratch each day, including fresh local fish, eggs, fruits and vegetables. Our weekly menu is a creative array of mostly vegetarian meals with vegan and dairy/gluten-free. Our juice bar offers fruit smoothies, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as daily homemade desserts. There are plenty of great dining options in Los Pargos/Playa Negra and the surrounding area. You won’t have to go far to experience local favorites, including our towns namesake dish, Los Pargos (whole fried local snapper)!
Note: Peace Retreat also offers specialized multi-day retreats which can accommodate a wide array of self-care needs and extra-curricular activities. Click on the link above or go directly to the Peace Retreat website for more information. Watch the video below to get an idea of what’s available beyond the classroom.
Group Activities on the Beach at Playa Negra
Getting Here
The magic of Peace Retreat is surprisingly easy to get to. We are only an hour from Liberia International Airport and a little more than four hours from San Jose Airport. We arrange group airport shuttle transfer on the first and last day of your training; however, the fee is not included in your tuition. Once you register, you'll be given all the information you need to get to Peace Retreat. For contact information click here.
—from Liberia International Airport (LIR), Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
—from San Jose International Airport (SJO), Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
*IMPORTANT: Click here for the latest on COVID-19 Costa Rica Travel Entry Requirements
If you would like to host your own retreat or other special event at Peace Retreat, get in touch with us. Click on the button below for contact info.