A Week-Long Yoga Retreat at Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort in Nosara, Costa Rica

The Coastal Method Retreat: A Journey of Play and Possibility

A yoga retreat is something I never thought I would do, but this year I packed my bags (including far too many yoga sets) and set off for Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort in Nosara, Costa Rica, for a week-long retreat with The Coastal Method. Led by my all time fave yoga instructor at B/SPOKE Studios (where I work part time), Sarah (aka Coastie) planned the most incredible trip for all of us centered around play, possibility, and connection.

From sunrise vinyasa flows to surf sessions, sound healing, and unexpected moments of pure joy, every day in Nosara felt like a gift. Our unspoken theme of the week? The color orange—symbolizing fun, vibrancy, and the fiery strength we all carried within us. And trust me, by the end of the retreat, we all gained 24 new friends and a lifetime of memories and hilarious photo evidence/blackmail. HA.

Traveling to Costa Rica: What You Need to Know

If you’re considering a trip to Costa Rica (which you absolutely should), here are a few of my key travel tips:

• Currency: The Costa Rican colón (CRC) is the official currency, but U.S. dollars are widely accepted. Just expect to get change in colones.
• Language: Spanish is the official language, but most people in Nosara speak some English.
• Transportation: Tuk-tuks are the go-to for quick rides around town, typically costing $5-6. Pro tip: always carry small bills. We almost had to pay an entire ride with a $20 cause the driver didn’t have change.
• Pura Vida Lifestyle: “Pura Vida” isn’t just a phrase—it’s a way of life. Things move slower here, so embrace the chill vibes and let go of any urgency!

Travel Day: Boston to Nosara

The journey to Costa Rica is honestly so simple. We got a direct flight from Boston to Liberia on Delta Airlines that was 5 hours and under $1,000 RT. I lucked out and used a huge e-credit that was about to expire. After landing in Liberia, we hopped on a three-hour shuttle to Nosara. 

Pulling into Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort, I immediately felt the magic. We were greeted with fresh coconuts (honestly, the best welcome gift ever) and guided to our rooms. The resort itself was a tropical dream—winding pathways through the jungle, multiple yoga shalas, an infinity pool, and a juice bar serving the freshest smoothies and coffees. It felt like a hidden sanctuary, tucked between the trees and just a short ride from the beach.

Honest Review: Pros and Cons of Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort

Pros of Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort:

• Incredible Workout Spaces: Each Shala had its own unique energy. From the airy and spacious Oceana Shala overlooking the coast, to the open air Akasha Shala where you could listen to the world around, to the peaceful, tucked-away Shakti Shala for more zen vibes. There is also a spin studio, pilates reformer studio, and a gym overlooking the jungle!
• Fresh, Nourishing Food: As we were a large retreat we had the buffet included each day. However there is a separate restaurant with sit down service and delish meals. Every dish was prepared with local ingredients, offering plenty of options for all dietary needs. They always had items that were nut free, gluten free, meat free, etc. 
• Convenient Location: Close enough to town and Playa Guiones, yet still secluded enough to feel like an escape
• Design & Aesthetic: The overall jungle/tropical vibe of the resort helped us feel like we were in paradise.
• Friendly & Accommodating Staff: From the front desk to the kitchen, everyone was warm and welcoming and loved their jobs.

Cons of Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort:

• Not Directly Beachfront: While the beach was nearby, it wasn’t an on-the-sand kind of resort.
• Property Layout: The size of this property means some rooms are pretty far away from the main area. The Casitas have the best room setups, however you need to climb a lot of stairs on the daily.
• Pricey Extras: Spa services and off-property meals could add up quickly.
• Could use Some Updates: The rooms and property are really nice, there are just some things that could use a bit of updates like communal restrooms and hardware in the casitas. Very minor but just a mention!
• Tree Tops Spa – Compared to the girls that got their spa services down at the Main Spa, the Tree Tops was a little bit of a let down. I was just in a small white room where I could hear construction and people talking outside. The Main Spa had waterfalls in each room and was very beautiful.

Overall, would Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort make it on my list of my top favorite boutique hotels? It’s a close call, but I might pass this time around only because I like a little more intimate vibe in my personal travels.

Day 1: Arrival & First Yoga Session

After settling into my jungle casita, we kicked off the retreat with a grounding yoga and sound healing session. Coastie used sound bowls to initiate energy and relaxation within us. It was the perfect way to settle in from a long travel day and get us excited for the week ahead.

Day 2: Yoga, Creativity, & Waterfall Adventures

• Morning: 8am Yoga Sculpt in Akasha Shala (hello, sweat!)
• Midday: Bracelet-making workshop, where we set our intentions for the week and picked one word to represent how we wanted to show up the rest of the trip. mine was “positivity” 
• Afternoon: We took a trip to Belen Waterfall with Nosara Experience tour guides which was about an hour long bus ride. One thing about me is I will always jump off a cliff when the chance is there. I’d say about half our group jumped while others cheered on & our guides treated us to some fresh watermelon, pineapple, and coconuts! 

Day 3: Celebrating My 30th Birthday in Paradise

• Morning: What better way to start the day than a spin class led by a fellow B/SPOKE instructor, Kelsi who brought the beats (who knew I’d be cycling in the jungle?)
• Midday: A powerful/emotional workshop that left us all feeling the feels…in a good way!
• Afternoon: Surprise poolside birthday party where my best friend from home had the resort send me a cake that all of us shared! We grabbed some smoothies at the juice bar and soaked up the sun.
• Evening: Sunset yoga flow around 5pm where we got to watch the most beautiful sunset overlooking the ocean. After dinner, we had a “bonfire” where we wrote down and burned what no longer served us. It was a nice symbolic release to step into our next chapter.

Day 4: Surfing & Exploring Nosara

• Morning: Breakfast before heading to Playa Guiones for a surf lesson with Agua Tibia, an amazing surf shop/school down the street from Bodhi. I had been looking forward to this since the moment I booked the trip as it would be my first time surfing (and definitely not my last!)
• Afternoon: Tuk-tuk ride into town for smoothies and boutique shopping. Some of my favorite shops were Organico, Love Nosara, Olo Alaia Surf Shop, Alberka, and Rolling Waves Coffee.
• Evening: A restorative yoga and sound healing session in the calm Shakti Shala to unwind after an adventurous day.

Day 5: HIIT + Flow, Universal Signs & Spa Time

• Morning: A fiery HIIT + Flow session. After a poor night sleep, there’s nothing like a good workout to change your mood!
• Midday: A workshop on recognizing signs from the universe—one of my favorite sessions of the retreat.
• Afternoon: Deep tissue massage at the spa, because self-care is essential! IMO, if you are looking for a massage service definitely book at the main spa instead of the tree tops. It wasn’t as nice of a vibe!
• Evening: A dreamy sunset walk along the beach, followed by drinks and apps at La Luna. This gorgeous restaurant sits right on the ocean and has the best views in Nosara for a bite to eat!

Day 6: Wildlife, Vision Boarding & Catamaran Cruise

• Morning: A yoga sculpt session at 8 a.m. at Oceana. On the way up to the shala, I spotted a whole family of monkeys playing in the trees!! It was such a magical moment, and I got some incredible photos and videos!
• Midmorning: A fun and light vision boarding workshop where we focused on our future goals. It was such a refreshing break from the intensity of the week too.
• Afternoon: Lunch before heading out for a catamaran cruise with Sky and Sand Nosara. The boat had a top deck with bean bags for lounging and a bar serving delicious drinks and snacks. We even saw a whole pod of dolphins! We got to jump off the boat, swim, and just float around in the ocean, soaking in the sunset.
• Evening: Dinner back at Bodhi to end the day on a relaxing note.

Day 7: Yoga, Reflection, & Our Closing Celebration

• Morning: Slow flow yoga in Oceana, embracing everything we’d learned throughout the week and getting to write a letter to our future selves that Sarah will mail to us 6 months from now. I honestly don’t even know what I said on there so it’ll be a nice surprise to come.
• Midday: Free time to soak up the final hours in paradise—some of us lounged by the pool with a smoothie, but I went out for a final surf trip with a couple other girls to test what we learned from the pros! It was honestly such a blast getting out on the water under the sun.
• Evening: A powerful closing ceremony and reflection session, followed by a final celebratory dinner where we all wore orange! The owner of Bodhi Tree stopped by our table to let us know he loved our fits since they matched the resort aesthetic too!

Day 8: Heading Home

• Early Morning: We all got a bite to eat at the buffet before our 3 hour trip back to the airport began! Most of us were on the flight back home to Boston anyways, so we all got to say our goodbyes on the plane/once we landed. We’ll obviously get many more chances to hang out since we live nearby too!

I can’t wait to see where Coastie plans her next retreat and get on that sign up list. I highly recommend if you’ve ever thought about a yoga trip to just unwind and relax, book it!! There are so many benefits both mentally and physically, and she makes it affordable and enjoyable for everyone. Pura Vida, Nosara. Until next time!