Yoga On and Off the Mat: A Costa Rica Experience in Playa Grande, Costa Rica

Christie Pitko

Email address verified

33 reviews

Jul 11 - 18, 2021

Group size: 10 - 16

Yoga On and Off the Mat: A Costa Rica Experience

Playa Grande, Costa Rica

Select

Contact Organizer

Christie Pitko

Email address verified

33 reviews

$2350

Deposit: $500

Jul 11 - 18, 2021

Group size: 10 - 16

This is the yoga retreat you have been dreaming about! Playa Grande, Costa Rica, is a lush, serene, and magical location, which makes it the perfect spot for a retreat. We return once again to the Rip Jack Inn, our favorite hotel and yoga shala just steps from the beach to deepen our meditation and yoga practice.

Enjoy daily all levels classes with experienced yoga teacher, Christie Pitko, E RYT 500. Sessions will be a mix of meditation, vinyasa, and restorative yoga. During our dharma talks, we will discuss the 8 Limbs of Yoga as well as ways to apply the practice of yoga off the mat and into the world.

Delicious meals are served in an open air tree top cafe. Accommodations are simply beautiful, and our hotel has 2 pools to help you recharge and relax during free time. There are hammocks throughout the grounds. Our yoga space is glass enclosed so that you can view the beauty all around you as you deepen your practice. We will be taking excursions as a group in order to connect to one another, as well as this beautiful land. Leave our retreat filled with bliss and adventure.

Day 1

Arrival and Lunch - 12:30pm and on

Opening Ceremony Yoga and Meditation - 4:30pm

Sunset on the Beach- 6:00pm

Dinner - 6:30pm

Day 2

Flow Yoga and Meditation - 8:00am

Breakfast - 9:15am

Free Time

Lunch - 12:00pm

Group Excursion - Optional Taxi Share to Tamarindo -TBA

Dharma Talk + Restorative Yoga - 4:00pm

Sunset-6:00pm

Dinner - 6:30pm

Day 3

Flow Yoga and Meditation - 8:00am

Breakfast - 9:15am

Free Time

Lunch - 12:30pm

Restorative Yoga and Meditation- 4:30pm

Sunset - 6:00pm

Dinner - 6:30pm

Day 4

Flow Yoga and Meditation - 8:00am

Breakfast - 9:15am

Lunch - 12:00pm

Group Excursion TBA

Dinner - 7:00pm

Day 5

Flow Yoga and Meditation - 8:00am

Breakfast - 9:15am

Free Time

Lunch - 1:00pm

Dharma Talk + Meditation - 4:30pm

Sunset on the Beach- 6:00pm

Dinner - 6:30pm

Day 6

Flow Yoga and Meditation - 8:00am

Breakfast - 9:15am

Free Time

Lunch - 1:00pm

Dharma Talk + Restorative Yoga - 4:30pm

Final Sunset on the Beach- 6:00pm

Dinner - 6:30pm

Day 7

Flow Yoga and Meditation - 8:00am

Breakfast - 9:15am

Free Time

Lunch - 1:00pm

Dharma Talk + Restorative Yoga - 4:30pm

Final Sunset on the Beach- 6:00pm

Dinner - 6:30pm

Day 8

Flow Yoga and Meditation - 8:00am

Breakfast - 9:15am

Check out/Departures - 11:00am and on

Travel insurance is now required for entry.

Please review the Covid-19 guidelines for Costa Rica here: https://ripjackinn.com/costa-rica-travel-insurance/

Our retreat is open to all levels, including beginners, as well as advanced practitioners. Please know basic yoga poses, and make sure that you have taken a few yoga classes before attending.
We welcome practitioners ages 18 and up.
Check in to the hotel is Sunday, July 11th at 1:00pm. Please try to arrive to the Liberia airport as close to 12:00pm as you can. If you arrive at a different time, let me know as soon as possible. It is about an hour from Liberia airport to RipJack Inn.
Check out is Sunday, July 18th at 11:00am. Shuttles will arrive at RipJack Inn to take us back to Liberia airport.
Meals start with lunch on the first day, July 11th, and end with breakfast on the last day, July 18th. If you are coming early or staying late, please budget for meals outside of the retreat as well as the additional charges for your room.

Up-to-date passport

Optional colones (Costa Rican currency, which you can order ahead of time from your bank. We do not recommend exchanging at the airport.)

Water bottle

Bathing suit and flip flops

Comfortable shoes if you decide to hike

Casual clothing outside of your yoga clothes (no need to bring anything fancy)

Requirements for Tourists Entering Costa Rica

Costa Rica travel insurance is one of the new requirements for entry. Here is a summary of what Costa Rica is requiring from tourists entering the country as of September 1st, 2020.

The tourist must be from an approved country or US state. The approved countries include the European Union, the United Kingdom, Schengen Zone, Canada, South America, Asia and Oceania. As of September 1st US residents from New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, Virginia, Maryland and DC. As of September 15th US residents from Pennsylvania, Colorado and Massachusetts. US citizens must have a valid driver’s license or state issued ID. You are allowed to have a layover in a non approved state. US citizens from any state who can prove they were in an approved country for at least two weeks prior to arriving in Costa Rica will also be allowed entry.
Tourists must show proof of a negative PCR test for the coronavirus. The sample for the test must have been taken no more than 72 hours before the flight to Costa Rica.
Everyone entering Costa Rica must complete the online “Health Pass” epidemiological form: https://salud.go.cr
A travel insurance policy covering the tourist for COVID-19 during their time in Costa Rica (see below).

The tourist must have certification from the policy issuer (in English or Spanish) confirming the following:

Validity of the policy during the visit to Costa Rica.
Guarantee that it covers medical expenses in cases of COVID-19 in Costa Rica, for at least $50,000 (Fifty Thousand United States dollars).
That it includes a minimum coverage of $2,000 for expenses of extended lodging due to the pandemic.

If you do not have such policy you may purchase one from an approved company for between $10 – $12 per day. To find out more specific information please visit the INS website or you can also visit the Sagicor website to review the best option for you.

Click here to learn about the safety protocols at RipJack Inn.

Accommodations
Lovely single or shared rooms in our boutique hotel, RipJack Inn.
Delicious meals
Freshly prepared breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day (let us know about special requests such as vegetarian or vegan ahead of time.) Meals are shared in an open air cafe amongst the trees.
Daily yoga
All levels alignment-based vinyasa and restorative.
Daily meditation
All levels guided meditations.
Group excursions
Connect to each other on land and sea. Sunset snorkel and sail with lunch included. Afternoon trip to Tamarindo as another excursion. Additional excursion TBA.
Dharma talks
There is much more to yoga than just the poses. Learn some philosophy, as well as ways to take yoga off the mat.
Airport transfer
Transportation to and from the Liberia airport .
Yoga gear
Mat and all props included.
Flight
Airport is Liberia, which is about an hour from Rip Jack Inn.
Additional activities
Massage and other excursions not included in the package.

Single Standard

Available until Jun 28, 2021|only 2 left

Standard rooms are located under the restaurant so they are our most budget friendly rooms due to some noise from the cafe (which closes pretty early, around 9:30-10:00pm-ish). Each room has a small outdoor patio and a hammock hanging out front. The hotel rooms have one queen and one single bed.

Amenities: air conditioning, ceiling fans, hot water, private baths, coffee maker, in-room safe, daily housekeeping and toiletries.

$2350

Deposit: $500

Book Now

Shared Standard

Available until Jun 28, 2021|4 left

Price is per person. Standard rooms are located under the restaurant so they are our most budget friendly rooms due to some noise from the cafe (which closes pretty early, around 9:30-10:00pm-ish). Each room has a small outdoor patio and a hammock hanging out front. The hotel rooms have one queen and one single bed.

Amenities: air conditioning, ceiling fans, hot water, private baths, coffee maker, in-room safe, daily housekeeping and toiletries.

$1995

Deposit: $500

Book Now

Deluxe Single

Available until Jun 28, 2021|only 3 left

Deluxe rooms are in a free standing building away from the restaurant with a queen bed. All rooms include a private patio.

Amenities: Flat screen TV, mini fridge, outdoor patio, air conditioning, ceiling fans, coffee maker, in-room safe, daily housekeeping and toiletries.

$2650

Deposit: $500

Book Now

Deluxe Shared

Available until Jun 28, 2021|4 left

Price is per person. Deluxe rooms are in a free standing building away from the restaurant. They can have queen with a double or a king bed. All rooms include a private patio.

Amenities: Flat screen TV, mini fridge, outdoor patio, air conditioning, ceiling fans, coffee maker, in-room safe, daily housekeeping and toiletries.

$2195

Deposit: $500

Book Now

Accommodations were comfortable, the grounds of Land of Medicine Buddha are beautiful. The food was delicious. The yoga was not challenging and not thoughtful. It felt as though Christie was doing the retreat more as a business rather than a passion, which is fine, but I was looking for more instruction on poses and yoga philosophy.

By Rebecca Abundis for Yoga and Meditation Retreat Santa Cruz Mountains on Feb 19, 2020

I’m so happy that you enjoyed the grounds and the meals. I’m sorry that you felt the yoga was not challenging or thoughtful. I do plan out all of my classes in advance, so there is much thought and effort put into each session. Since this was an all levels retreat, we started from the beginning and moved into deeper poses safely. We eventually worked on arm balances and inversions, which is pretty challenging for most. Hosting yoga retreats and providing a supportive community within them is my deepest passion. It wasn’t in the retreat description or on our itinerary that we’d dive into philosophy. Thank you for the suggestion, though. I may add philosophy discussions into future retreats. I was very open on the first day, encouraging guests to come to me with any concerns or issues during the course of the retreat. I wish you had come directly to speak with me about what you were feeling. I would have been honored to create a more enjoyable retreat for you.

By Christie Pitko on Feb 20, 2020

We had a wonderful time. Food was delicious, surrounding area was perfect for a most enjoyable hike and accommodations were modest but comfortable. I truly enjoyed our yoga sessions, Christie was patient, easy to follow (as I do not practice yoga often) and her choice of yoga styles were perfect. I will definitely sign up for next years retreat! Thank you to all that involved in putting this retreat together! Maryann Walsh

By Maryann Walsh for Yoga and Meditation Retreat Santa Cruz Mountains on Feb 18, 2020

I had a great time, wonderful group of people, delicious food and comfortable accomodation. Thank you for the fantastic expreience. The planning was awesome with lot of free time for strolling and other activities.

By Swati Gopal for Yoga and Meditation Retreat Santa Cruz Mountains on Feb 11, 2020

This was an incredible yoga/meditation retreat. Land of Medicine Buddha is an incredible location and Christie is a special teacher who shares her love of yoga and meditation in a way that is accessible and profound. This is my second retreat with Christie and I will definitely be looking into some of her future retreats.

By Kathleen Kelly for Yoga and Meditation Retreat Santa Cruz Mountains on Feb 11, 2020

I had a wonderful, relaxing, centering time at this retreat. The venue, Land of the Medicine Buddha, is a gem of serenity nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Christie is an absolutely amazingly fabulous retreat host. You can tell that yoga and creating fantastic retreat experiences are her passions. Everyone was welcoming, the food was fantastic, and the yoga classes were all excellent. I truly appreciate Christie's focus on inclusivity for people at all different levels of yoga, as well as her focus on being structurally grounded in the yoga poses, ensuring a safe, injury-free practice. While I was at this retreat, I signed up for Christie's next retreat here in February and I'm so looking forward to it.