Costa Rica Yoga Adventure - February 9th to February 16th 2013!
Perfect Christmas Gift for you and your loved ones! Give the GIFT of YOGA!
We will offer this very special Holiday Special of $995 until December 31st! (This can be paid in 2 payments, full payment due by January 9th!)
For all of you Yogis & Yoginis interested in our second Costa Rica Yoga Adventure & Meditation Retreat - here is more detailed information about the trip. This is a great price to be in Paradise during High Season (Summer time) for 7 days! We encourage yogis and yoginis to sign up soon and take advantage of our Holiday Special of $995. Of course husbands, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, friends, partners etc. are very much welcome. We hope we didn't forget anybody now... ☺
Costa Rica Yoga Adventure & Meditation Retreat @ the Goddess Garden
Costa Rica Yoga Adventure
With Petra Büte & Lurie Nassau
2 Yoga Classes a day *
Call us or e-mail us today!
303.748.2817 or e-mail petralikesyoga@gmail.com
720.732.0210 or e-mail lurienassau@yahoo.com
Join us at the @ Goddess Garden in Costa Rica for 7 nights from February 9th to February 16th 2013 with 2 Yoga Classes a day (9:30am & 5:30pm) *
Here is a link to Google Maps and location of The Goddess Garden
There will be plenty of other fun activities such as...hanging out at the pool or beach, getting a massage, zip-lining through the jungle, rainforest tours, horseback riding on the beach, chocolate tour, butterfly garden, and enjoy a vist to the sloth center. It'll be an amazing time!
The retreat is during High Season! Holiday Special of $995 extends until December 31st, however, just limited space available. We will ONLY accept PayPal for payment for this retreat. Under PayPal: lurienassau@yahoo.com ** Plus your own flight to Costa Rica's San Jose airport.
Please make sure in PayPal to select 'Personal' and 'Others' and send it to lurienassau@yahoo.com when you send the amount for the trip, otherwise PayPal will charge us with fees and such. Namaste
If 3 people want to share a room it is $100 less each.
Only one single room available - the charge for this will be more. Please contact us for more information @ 720.732.0210
* 1 field trip included in price - only 1 Yoga class the day of arrival, day of field trip and no class the day of departure.
** The flight to San Jose is approx. $500+ per person from Denver (DIA). Booking the trip early will save you some money during high season.
If you can't make this trip (for whatever reasons) the amount of your deposit and full amount is NON REFUNDABLE - please take out your own insurance for this trip & airfare! We can recommend Allianz Insurance - Thanx!
The Goddess Garden
We will be staying at a beautiful place: The Goddess Garden is located near Cahuita on the Caribbean Coast in the south of Costa Rica between the towns of Puerto Viejo and Limon. Cahuita is the site of a beautiful national park, where you can see howler and white faced monkeys, sloths and toucans playing in the trees. Right off the coast of Cahuita is Costa Rica's largest living coral reef, with some of the most phenomenal snorkeling in the country.
The retreat Center is luxurious and comfortable. You will share a large bright and spacious room with two comfortable queen beds, a beautiful en suite bathroom and a private balcony overlooking the jungle. In the room, there is a desk, shelves and closet for your belongings and a safe for your valuables. Wireless internet is available free of charge in your room.
It is nestled in a lush and exquisite tropical garden, a few steps from a beautiful Caribbean beach. There is an inviting and beautifully designed swimming pool to relax beside, as well as hang out lounges with couches and hammocks. You will practice in what is surely the loveliest and most spacious yoga studio in Costa Rica, with a 360 degree view of the abundant tropical jungle. The environment could not be more beautiful, comfortable or fabulous!
Included in you package are 3 delicious meals prepared each day at the on-site restaurant, offering Caribbean style chicken or fish, vegetarian options and a variety of local and international flavors, freshly squeezed juices, and tantalizing desserts. Guest can also indulge in an assortment of spa services, including a variety of massage, Ayurvedic healing therapies, Reiki, Hot Stone treatments and much more, to help re-align the body, mind and spirit.
There is a direct flight with Frontier Airlines. We will leave at 11:59pm on the 8th of February 2013 and arrive on the 9th of February 2013 at 6:08am with Frontier. The shuttle to the Goddess Garden will leave around 7:30am in the morning of the 9th of February...4 hours in beautiful scenery to get to our destination on the Caribbean ocean side. We will stop at a grocery store before arriving.
Our return shuttle to San Jose will depart at 10am on the 16th of February 2013. Any flight that day is suggested to be after 6pm. Frontier Airlines earliest return to Denver is on Sunday, 17th @ 7:02am or on Tuesday, February 19th @ 7:02am. Monday, February 18th is President's Day, just FYI and Frontier has no flight back to Denver, but you could book with another airline your trip back.
We will arrange a group discount at Hotel Aeropuerto, which is only 5 minutes from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). Free transportation to/from the San Jose International Airport and free full breakfast buffet is included. Approx. $40 per person double occupancy per night.
Optional tour on Sunday or Monday after Yoga Retreat
There is an optional group tour on Sunday, February 17th to one of the 130 + Volcanos near you to enjoy & a tour to an amazing wildlife reserve, called the Waterfall Gardens (extra charge).
FAQ's about this trip & more
Where is Goddess Garden and what do they have on the resort?
The Goddess Garden is located in the town of Cahuita, a small community in the south Caribbean side of Costa Rica, 25 miles south of Puerto Limon. The resort includes a yoga studio, conference room, two gazebos, 12 newly built double rooms with private baths (two queen size beds each and one shower, toliet and sink), four more guest rooms with on-suite baths (4 to 6 guests and three sinks, two showers and two toliets), kitchen and dining hall, bar and hangout area, swimming pool, whirlpool, hammocks, a spa and beautiful gardens. They are only a few minutes away from the ocean!
What is the nearest airport?
You will fly into San Jose International Airport, Costa Rica (SJO).
How do we get from the airport to the resort?
Included in your retreat rate are airport transfers to and from the resort. The resort is about 4 hours in absolutely beautiful scenery on the shuttle. The shuttle to the Goddess Garden will leave around 7:30am in the morning of the 9th of February 2013. We will stop at a grocery store before arriving and will have lunch when we arrive and a short orientation about the resort. Find the van at the airport near the taxi stand and look for a sign that says Goddess Gardens.
What if I can't arrive or depart by the scheduled time?
If you can't arrive at the scheduled time for departure to the Goddess Garden at 7:30am on February 9th, 2012, you are responsible for coordinating your own transportation to or from the resort. If you are unable to take the group shuttle one way, you are able to use it on the other end of the trip. We are leaving the resort on February 16th at 10am.
There are several possibilities for transportation to the resort if you can't make the shuttle...The drive is 4 hours. The bus drops you off at the bus depot in Cahuita Center. From there you can take a taxi to HOTEL LA DIOSA DOS (8 USD).
- There are private shuttle Buses leaving at 6 am and 3pm for 45 USD
- The public bus runs to Cahuita 6 am, 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, 4 pm and costs 9 USD
- A private taxi to Cahuita has a cost of 160 USD
Departure Tax
There is a departure tax of $28 when you leave Costa Rica that will be collected at the airport before you check in at the ticket counter. We will pay our departure tax right away after arriving in Costa Rica, so we don't have to do this when we leave this beautiful country. The tax needs to be paid in cash (US currency or Costa Rican Colones) or with a credit card.
Do I need a Passport?
Yes, citizens of the U.S. and Canada may enter Costa Rica with a valid passport. Note that Costa Rican law requires a valid passport must be valid 6 more months after the entry date. You must also have a roundtrip/outbound ticket. Citizens of other countries should check with the applicable Costa Rican Consulate in your country about rules governing entrance into Costa Rica. We recommend leaving a copy of your passport at home and bringing a copy of your passport with you, stored in a separate location than your actual passport.
What kind of electricity is there in Costa Rica?
If you bring anything electrical, Costa Rica runs on 110 Volts, 60Hz (same as the U.S. and Canada) and the outlets are the same as in the U.S. If you want to bring 200V equipment, a converter is needed.
What is the weather like?
On the Southern Caribbean side of Costa Rica the weather is normally hot and humid. Due to the constant humidity blown in from the Caribbean Sea, it can always rain a little during anytime of the day. February is considered High Season in Costa Rica. This is the most pleasant and comfortable time to be at the Goddess Garden. Temperatures should be between 75-85F.
What should I pack?
Below are most things we recommend:
- Yoga Mat (these are provided by the resort, but you may prefer to have your own)
- Yogi Toes
- Bug repellent - get the 98% deet one!
- Headlamp or flashlight (the lights at night are on a timer and often off at 10pm)
- Alarm clock (not your cell phone!)
- A pen on the flight to fill out the forms to and from your destination
- An extra table operated Fan to keep cool at night if you have hot flashes
- Earplugs (the howler monkeys are quite loud early in the morning!)
- Flip flops or sandals
- Tennis shoes (for hiking, horseback riding or running, etc.)
- Sunscreen (45 proof or higher recommended)
- Sunglasses
- Water bottle & Washcloth
- Bring your own Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body-soap, wipes)
- Your own Medication
- Small backpack for day trips
- Bathing suit(s) and cover ups
- Comfortable light weight clothes (like shorts and tank tops to hang out in)
- For some excursions or for the evening you may need long pants, long sleeves or close toed shoes
- Journal/notebook and pen
- Yogi Toes or towel for your mat and a few hand towels for practicing
- Handy wipes or hand sanitizer
- Camera, Computer, Phone, Pads and chargers (wireless Internet is intermittenly available)
- Yoga/Workout clothes
- Dry bag (because of the humidity your bathing suits may not be dry before departing)
- Umbrella or light rain jacket (for afternoon showers)
- A good book, magazines, word puzzle, card games (or two or three)
- Blow dryer (if you can't live without it, they are not provided in all rooms)
- Snacks: you are welcome to have snacks, however, the resort recommends not having food in the rooms because the ants usually find it! We were able to have some pre-packaged crackers and bars in our room without a problem, but they were tightly packed. Also for immigration please do not bring nuts, seeds or fruit into the country.
- $500 in cash - when you pay with credit card or get money from ATM, they charge 13% in fees, just FYI...Also note, cash in USD in small bills (no Colones required) – 100 USD bills are not accepted in most places.
Should I bring US cash or convert money to Costa Rica Colones?
We recommend bringing $500 US cash, however, the largest threat to tourists is theft, so please store your money in different areas on yourself or in your luggage. If you are taking part in the group transportation, this is not as much of a concern. You can use your Visa or Mastercard at the resort, at most external places and for all excursions; however at the resort they charge a 13 percent service fee. To avoid this, we recommend bringing enough cash for your departure tax ($28), your tip ($40), any excursions, spa treatments, alcoholic beverages and your airport transfers if you are not taking the group shuttle. For going into town to get smaller items or souveniors we recommend taking out some money from an ATM at the beginning of the week so you have colones (500 colones = about $1 USD).
Will the meals be vegetarian?
No, meals will not be entirely vegetarian. Chicken or fish/seafood will also be available at all dinners. If you are a selective eater, please note, the meals are buffett style so whatever is served is what will be available for that meal. All three meals per day are included in your retreat package.
What time do we eat?
Meal times are flexible and they will adjust for special wishes. They serve wine, beer and cocktails for an extra cost if desired. Breakfast is from 8 – 9 am, Lunch is from 1 - 2 pm, Dinner is from 7 - 8 pm
Is it okay to sign up by myself?
Absolutely! You can reserve your own room, or we can assign you a roommate if you would like to share a room as long as we have other guests (females will share with females and males with males) also requesting a roommate. You will be able to enjoy as much private time or social time as you like!
Is it okay to sign up with my spouse/partner/friend?
Definitely! This retreat is a great opportunity to reconnect with a spouse/partner/friend away from your busy schedules. You also get a built-in roommate this way! If there are more than two of you, you can have up to four guests per room in the traditional rooms if you are willing to share a bed (each room has two queen beds) or up to six in the dorm style rooms (three sets of twin bunk beds).
What type of yoga classes will be offered?
A variety of classes will be offered throughout the week. Vinyasa classes, Hatha Yoga classes, 3 Minute Egg workshop, Meditation, Restorative Yoga and Breathing practices. We will offer a yoga class at 9:30am in the morning for an hour + and another yoga class at 5:30pm for an hour + in the evening.
I am new to yoga. Will the classes be too challenging for me?
The best thing about yoga is it can be modified for all levels. You can come and never have taken a yoga class before! This is a great opportunity to begin and learn. The classes will be challenging in a good way. Petra & Lurie are both trained to teach beginners. If you are an experienced yogi, both can offer you advanced modifications and assist you with more challenging postures.
How much yoga will we practice? Do I have to attend every class?
We will have two classes each day for 60 + minutes. You can attend any of the classes you wish, but you can also skip any classes you want. Maybe you need a break or even decide to take a full day off to explore Costa Rica.
Is there Internet access? Can I use my cell phone?
The resort offers free wifi in the rooms, the studios and the hangout areas. Costa Rica's country code is + 506. Most cell phones will not work unless you have an international cell plan. If they do work, they will have fees associated with making and taking calls/text messages, so please check with your carrier.
What contact information can I give my family in case of an emergency?
You may have them contact the Goddess Garden in Costa Rica by calling 1-800-854-7761. Note, there will be longer distance rates to call to Costa Rica from your cell phone or your home phone and to call to the U.S. from your cell phone. Also give them the Goddess Garden site: The Goddess Garden "thegoddessgarden.com" in case they need to email our resort hosts, Jacqueline and Marcelo. They are a wonderful married couple who will take great care of us during our trip!
What time zone is Costa Rica?
There is one hour time difference from Colorado to Costa Rica in February. Costa Rica is obversing Standart time. If it's 10am in Colorado it will be 11am in Costa Rica.
How old do you have to be to attend this retreat?
We ask that all of our guests are at least 16 years old. If a guardian wishes to bring a guest who is under 16 years of age, please contact us to discuss this as an option.
Can I rent bikes?
Yes, traveling by bike is recommended and you can rent a bike in Cahuita for $6 a day or for $40 a week. To get to Chauita is only 4km (2.5 Miles). One can walk along the beach most of the way. The 'tree of life' is only a 10 minute walk along the street from the retreat.
How much is a glass of wine?
The Goddess Garden has a bar. A bottle of wine is $12. A beer is $2 and a glass of wine is $4.
How long is the swimming pool open?
The swimming pool at the Goddess Garden is open until 9pm.
Pricing for the Tours
The tours have 2012 pricing and might change in 2013...just FYI
- Ziplining through the jungle $65
- Choclate Tour $35
- Sloth Center Tour $30
- Choclate Tour $35
- Sea & River Kayaking $57
- Tree of Live $12
- Horseback Riding $85
- Amazing Massage $75
- Here is the website with current pricing ... Eco Tours
Your Teachers
Petra Büte, MBA, E-RYT 500 has been on her yoga journey for over 12 years. She is a certified Hot Yoga and Power/Vinyasa Yoga teacher and teaches since 2005. She is originally from Germany and has an MBA in International Business. Petra leads Restorative Yoga workshops, taught yoga in corporate fitness settings (Avaya & Lockheed Martin) and is the founder and director of Heavenly Yoga, a senior yoga teacher (E-RYT 500) and teaches at yoga studios and community centers throughout the Denver Metro area. She had the honor of studying with many amazing and knowledgeable teachers such as Baron Baptiste, Shiva Rea, Desiree Rumbaugh, Ana Forrest, David Swenson, John Friend, Seane Corn, Judith Lasater and Peter Clifford, to just name a few. Combining her study of yoga with an interest in learning more about about the Union of Body and Mind, Petra has developed her own Yoga style with personal attention, in-depth knowledge of alignment and yoga philosophy and a fun, fresh sense of movement and ALWAYS laughter in her classes. Petra was involved from the beginning with the teacher training at the Evergreen Center for Yoga, CO and came back in December 2011 from practicing yoga and meditation in Thailand for a months. She lead her first Yoga Retreat to Costa Rica in June 2012 and has done various little workshops and mini-yoga retreats in Colorado. She is going back to Thailand in December 2012 to engross herself in more intense Yoga training. Teaching Wheelchair Yoga at Bear Creek Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Morrison, CO for residents is one of Petra's favorite classes. Her oldest yoga student is 103. She understands the challenges and humbleness when it comes to yoga and is very knowledgeable about Yoga Therapy, Mediation and Yoga breathing techniques. Petra is looking forward to another retreat with Lurie in February 2013 and hope you will join her to create a strong healthy body and rejuvenate your spirit.
Lurie Nassau, Lurie Nassau, PhD, E-RYT, has been teaching yoga for 7 years and meditation for 35 years. She is certified in Level I hatha yoga, Level II vinyasa, and in mat and reformer pilates with Balanced Body. She has a MA in human relations and a PhD in human communication. Lurie has led several workshops using the Three Minute Egg and will use these egg shaped props in the Costa Rica retreat. She teaches corporate fitness (yoga and yogalates) for Coors/Miller at their Wellness Center in Golden, CO. She has led meditation, hatha yoga, and hot vinyasa classes at the Evergreen Center for Yoga in Evergreen, CO, and taught in their teacher training program for several years. Lurie has been able to maintain a yoga practice after recovering from bilateral hip replacement surgeries. Her personal injuries have helped her to understand and work with those who have joint issues and anyone just beginning a yoga practice. In January 2013, Lurie will complete her 500 hr Yoga Alliance certification and also be certified as a yoga therapist. She is a member of IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapists). Her current practice of yoga therapy is working with individuals, assessing their specific yoga needs, and prescribing yogic techniques for home practice. Lurie is also doing research on yoga for hip replacement patients as part of her yoga therapy training. She has started a weekly therapeutic stretch yoga class for the general population at a fitness center. This will be Lurie's third visit to the Goddess Garden and her second retreat to lead there with Petra. She is looking forward to having you join her and Petra for the February retreat in the magical garden of the goddesses and gods. It will be an amazing spiritual experience as well as a fun jungle and ocean beach adventure.
Testimonials
What people said about this trip:
"This was a great trip, with lots of different styles of yoga and meditation paired with great side trips (like ziplining!), time by the ocean and amazing sounds of wildlife in the jungle." Connie Y.
"I have traveled to many places. This yoga retreat was the trip of a lifetime. The setting was absolutely breathtaking – monkeys howling, beautiful jungle plants and flowers, gorgeous surroundings. And, more incredible, was the yoga – I just felt wonderful every day! Petra and Lurie were fantastic! Costa Rica was wonderful." Jody F.
"Unforgettable is an understatement in regards to my Costa Rica Yoga Retreat taken the summer of 2012. My travels, accommodations, wonderful foods, yoga and mediation classes each day were more than I had imaged. The relaxed schedule allowed me to do some of my own activities, walks on the beach, guided tours, and enjoy the feel of Costa Rica living. This was by far the best trip I've taken in my life to this point! Thank you Lurie & Petra for the experience." Kimmy B.
"My friend invited me to go with her on a Costa Rica Yoga Retreat with Petra and Lurie in June 2012. We had a fabulous time and came back feeling very relaxed and balanced. One of my favorite memories is listening to the exotic sounds of the rain forest while we were doing yoga in an open air studio. The retreat center is first-class and it has a beautiful swimming pool surrounded by the most unusual plants I have ever seen. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to get away and enjoy Pura Vida for awhile." Patty W.
"Our yoga retreat at The Goddess Garden was amazing! Our hostess Jackie was very accommodating and has provided the perfect environment and delicious food to enhance and complete any Yogi/Yogini's dream of a Namaste experience. Thanks to Petra and Lurie for planning and developing a well rounded and interesting combination of yoga classes for all of us to experiment with. They also researched and sought out some very cool day excursions for everyone to heighten the whole trip!" Michele H.
"I am pleased to write about my experience on the Costa Rica yoga retreat with Petra and Lurie. It's not an exaggeration to say "it was life changing". I decided to go on my own and ended up sharing a room with someone I had never met. I'm 64 and she was 30, the age of my youngest daughter. That was my first delightful surprise. By the end of the week everyone on the trip was bonded. Yet I also spent a lot of time on my own. It was wonderful to be fed three lovely meals a day in a wonderful open air dining area where we could look out at beautiful exautic flowers and listen to frogs, howling monkeys, and a variety of song birds. The yoga and meditating we did helped me clear my head and begin to ponder how I want to live the rest of my life. I spent time near the pool or on the beach journaling and relaxing. Soon I found my self softening my heart, opening my heart and loving myself and others with more passion. I laughed a lot, shared myself and felt very connected to the lush Costa Rica environment. I feel like my creative juices were released and since I have returned to my life here in Denver I have lived with more intention and all that I choose to do has more meaning. I look forward to another yoga retreat in the coming years; possibly with my daughters of a few good friends, or who knows, maybe I'll talk my husband into joining me.If you've read about the February trip and felt a little tug to participate. Don't wait. Sign up and go. Take a friend, or go on your own. But go. You'll be happy you did. Namaste ~ " Barbara M.
"The Costa Rica yoga retreat I took with Petra and Lurie was fantastic. On top of getting two different styles yoga we got great food. The owner of the Goddess Garden does all the juices straight from the rain forest. The tours were very reasonably priced!" Regina M.
"The yoga retreat in Costa Rica was a deeply nurturing trip for body, mind and soul. Wonderful teachers and a lush, beautiful place!" Kelly R.