Costa Rica touches both the Caribbean Sea & The Pacific Ocean.  With it's visionary sustainability initiatives and no standing army, the country is a green, peaceful jewel of the region. Taking into account that more than a third of the land enjoys some form of environmental protection, and there’s greater biodiversity here than in the US and Europe combined... it’s a place that earns the superlatives.

The tiny villages of Punta Banco & Pavones are located on the southern Pacific tip of Costa Rica, about 30k north of Panama.  Surrounded by coastal rainforest, patches of farmland, and an Indigenous Reserve, this remote area of Costa Rica is a little piece of paradise. It has a population of about 200 people, and is reached by a small unpaved road.  

This part of Costa Rica is known for it's stunning black-sand beaches.  It's far away from the tourism of much of the rest of Costa Rica, the perfect spot to lay low and relax. You'll surely get to know some locals, who take pride in their community as well as the wildlife in it. 

The wildlife & nature in this area (especially at the retreat center) is spectacular.  Expect to see everything from cheeky monkeys to sloths lounging around, sea-turtles, dolphins, and brilliant butterflies. You can easily adventure on foot to cascading fresh-water pools. Jungle walks, horseback rides, and surf lessons are all part of the daily here. Winding trails ascend and descend through the hilly forest, and horseback riders can even trek along the coastline as well. 
 

Tiskita is owned by some friends of ours, and is located on the secluded southwest coast of Costa Rica. They literally built the yoga shala for us! Their private biological reserve includes 800 acres of pristine primary and secondary rainforest. The family that runs it have been in the area for the last 40 years, and are actively involved in conservation work in the area.  

They have a dozen cabins set against a lush jungle and the Pacific Ocean, as well as a maze of jungle paths, waterfalls, a gorgeous yoga shala, and a pool. It's a 10 minute walk down their path to the ocean below. The ocean is great and offers something for everyone. You can lounge under a palm tree, walk for miles on the coast, check out the tidal pools, or learn to surf. Visit Tiskita.com to see more.

La Comida. We are flying in one of our favorite chefs for this retreat!  The food we source at Tiskita is local & organic, when available. It's fresh + thoughtfully prepared, with traditional ingredients from the region.  The meals are plant-forward, sometimes we'll have chicken or fish. Expect exotic fruits, plantains, eggs (from local chickens!) freshly-caught fish, grains, legumes, fresh juices, smoothies, & homemade jams. Our chef will happily accommodate vegan, gluten-free, or any other dietary restrictions (we'll give them your dietary restrictions in advance so that they're well-prepared before you arrive).  Vino y cerveza are available from Tiskita for purchase.

Los Cuartos. There are nine private cabins, with a total of 15 rooms. Each cabin is fringed by the jungle and has an ocean view.  They all have verandahs with hammocks & lounge chairs. The rooms are clean, spacious, and simple, with ceiling fans. Choose between a single, double, and triple room. Some rooms are not remodeled and are offered at a lower price. The cabins are scattered around the lodge, and were built using precious woods like Mahogany, Purpleheart, and Rosewood, that was collected over the years mostly from trees that fell down in Tiskita. All cabins are only a few minutes walk away from the main lodge, the rainforest, and the beach. Each cabin is surrounded by trees that attract birds, butterflies, monkeys, and other wildlife, making the cabins’ decks often one of the best spots to relax and watch the wildlife go by. Please keep in mind this is not a resort - it's a simple + wild jungle lodge. If you are looking for a resort, air-conditioning, or turn-down service, this is simply NOT the retreat for you. If you appreciate wild beauty, barefoot adventures, curious monkeys, baby turtles, fresh ceviche, cold beer, black sand beaches, then this IS for you!  

Cómo Llegar. After you land at San Jose Airport (Juan Santamaria Int'l Airport), the easiest + most popular way to get to the lodge is to hop on a chartered flight with your new friends, and take the short 45 minute flight to Golfito.  Up to 12 people will share this charter, the one-way price per person is around $180 / person.  In years past, mostly everyone goes with the charter option.  Once you arrive in Golfito, it's a two-hour taxi-ride to Tiskita, which costs $30-$40 / person.  

Actividades. There are a ton of optional activities that you can do on your free time.  (these are not included in the retreat price)  Horseback riding, Tiskita has horses, with local guides, and the usual ride is a few hours going way up into the forest, and along the beach at low-tide. Surfing. Pavones is the third-longest left break in the world and great for anything from beginners to experts. We know some great Costa Rican instructors, they have boards and leashes. Please bring your own rashguard or an old t-shirt to use. Classes are usually around two hours, cost US $45, and are worth it. Evening Jungle Walks. Jungle hike at night with a naturalist guide... it's a whole different experience in the rainforest. Boat/fishing tours. One of the local fishermen takes out small groups for a half-day on his panga fishing boat. Anything you catch we can cook for you for dinner :) If you don't want to fish, you can also just cruise around and look for whales & dolphins. 

Un Poco Más. The property has some beautiful naturally formed mini 'jaccuzzis' only a few minutes walk through the jungle.  There's over 15km of rainforest trails with varying levels of difficulty. The paths criss-cross so there's lots of possibility for jungle walks, and they're all well-marked.  The beach is a short stroll down the hill, with warm water that is nice to swim in.  There are also tidal pools large enough to swim, if you catch the right tide! Tiskita has a large organic fruit orchard with over 100 species of fruits.  Most fruit is devoured by the wildlife and whatever is left, the guests pick for themselves. Tiskita also has a lovely pool! 

What's not included in the price? Your int'l & domestic travel (but we'll help coordinate the Costa Rican private charters), alcohol, extra activities beyond what we've organized (like getting a massage, or taking a surf lesson).