Nirvana Retreat

  • Duration: 7 days
  • Group size: 6 - 15

Wellness Retreat in Nosara, Costa Rica, Norte Nosara Hotel

nirvana-retreat-nosara-esti-yoga
angela

About this trip

Nov 30 – Dec 7, 2023

Join Esti and Angela on an adventure in beautiful Nosara, Costa Rica for a week of yoga, breathwork and fun in the sun! On this retreat you can look forward to deepening your understanding of the foundations of yoga, playing on the beach with primal movement, and learning how to integrate pranayama and meditation into your practice and daily life. To enhance this experience, you will enjoy daily Vinyasa and Kundalini classes accompanied with breathwork techniques to relax your nervous system, meditation and Reiki while you lay on the mat in Shavasana, we will wrap it up with an ice bath and breathwork. Norte is in the heart of downtown so you have the chance to experience local living in this world renowned Blue Zone. It is also within walking distance of white sand beaches, well known for being the best surf beach in Costa Rica! This retreat is designed and welcome to yogis of all experience levels where you can move freely, breathe clearly and create connections with other fellow travelers and yoga enthusiasts! Can’t wait to see you there.

Meet your hosts

Esti and Angela desire to share their love of yoga, asana and breath, this is what inspires them to teach their students to move and breathe with confidence and freedom.

ESTI’S BIO
Esti believes that Life should be enjoyed. She tries to find small moments in my day, in between work, reading, and writing, where she can pause. To stop everything and soak in the beauty that surrounds me and feel the gratitude. Taking the time out of your day, everyday, to do what you love is very important.
Esti started practicing yoga in 2010. and made it part of her lifestyle as she saw an immediate result that benefited her mind,  body and soul. She always felt like yoga was part of her life; as a dancer from a young age she saw lots of similarities between ballet and yoga; both work on proper alignment, stability, flexibility, discipline, inner strength and build strong body awareness.

Esti is a certified yoga instructor that has completed more than 700hr Yoga Teacher Training in New York City and is certified with Yoga Alliance. She is  a certified Breathwork instructor by Lucas Rockwood at Yoga Teachers College, YOGABODY.

Esti is an expert in motivating and challenging her clients to move beyond their self-imposed boundaries and to feel great about themselves. She will pay attention to your posture, alignment, and safety while you move through postures. Along with hands on adjustments to give your body that sweet aid and support while you are in the pose. Her flow is a combination of Vinyasa, Ashtanga and Hata yoga, along with breathing techniques to balance the nervous system and to relax the mind. Her breathing techniques will assist you in getting into a peaceful savasana at the end of the class, so when you roll up your mat you will feel calm, recharged and energized.

Born and raised in Tel Aviv, Israel. She moved to NY in 2007, she left NY in 2020 and is currently living in Costa Rica with her husband, 2 girls and 2 cats.

“Always give more than you receive ” is her motto in life.

ANGELA’S BIO
Angela has been passionate about helping others since she was a young girl. She found her first 200hr Yoga Teacher Training and Rebalancing Massage course in Costa Rica in 2002.
Angela took her second 200hr Yoga Teacher Training in 2008, at Semperviva Yoga in Vancouver, with Gloria Latham. This is where she worked for a number of years, having the opportunity to study with Mark Whitwell, Max Strom, Seane Corn, Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, Bernie Clark, Rodney Yee, Shiva Rae, & Aykanna to name a few.

In 2009 she became a Jikiden Reiki Practitioner, 2011 she traveled around India and studied Ayurvedic Massage, and in 2016 she became a Breathwork facilitator.

It has been a journey of self-discovery, self-awareness, healing, re-wiring, re-programming, learning, un-learning, and shining a light on the parts of herself that were wanting her attention.

Angela brings all her life experiences, wisdom, heart & Soul, & vibrant spirit to all she offers.

Her intention is to hold space for you to come Home to a more aligned way of BEING. So you can truly LIVE your life the way YOU want to live it.

Angela believes we came here to create and co-create lives that we LOVE. To honour the gifts we have been gifted, learn from the challenges we are presented with, and come home to a healthier more aligned way of BEING with ourselves, each other and Mother Earth.

They are excited to explore this experience in this beautiful setting with new and long time friends!

Ice Bath

Ice baths will help soothe your muscles, reduce inflammation, regulate your breathing, boost metabolism & immune system, help your central nervous system, train your vagus nerve, lift your mood, and even increase your energy. An outdoor Ice Bath surrounded by the jungle nature and warm wetaher.

Meals

Retreat pricing includes breakfast and lunch from Norte’s plant based cafe, Naked Foods. Plant-based, organic, local, and always the highest quality. For dinner, enrich your experience and explore the local restaurants. Nosara is known for its diversity, people from around the world have made it home. This richness of culture is reflected in the variety of international cuisines. Just steps from Norte you can find everything from traditional Costa Rican cuisine to fresh seafood, vegan, raw, grilled, or just pizza. Nosara in general has a spectacular array of dining options ranging from exclusive gourmet to secret dives. There’s something for every budget and palate.

“The Jungle Bar”, Norte’s private bar, is open daily for cocktails or an array of superfood smoothies and bowls. With excellent service and comfortable decor it is another amazing space for groups to unwind and connect. Open daily from 8am to 11pm

Accommodation

Your group will have private access to Norte’s super chic amenities. They offer stylish accommodations, deluxe waterfall pool, private bar and open-air movement shala.

Wake with nature outside your door, inspire and respire with the rhythm of the day , and be serenaded by the symphony of the jungle. Follow gentle paths to your bungalow, explore the beach, or just chill by the pool. Norte’s amenities blend with the natural land-scape, our grounds are designed to encourage rest and relaxation.

Norte’s accommodations are modern thatched-roof bungalows scattered amongst the property. Each features a private entrance and secluded outdoor seating area. The interiors are comfortable and aligned with the tropical elements. Norte’s beds are comfortable and dressed with high-quality linens and pillows for a restful night’s sleep. All rooms are furnished with hot water, air conditioning, biodegradable bath products, small refrigerator, Wifi, and locking safe for valuables.

Tours in the Area (not included)

STANDUP PADDLE OR KAYAK
Kayak or Standup paddle board at the boca/river mouth meander through mangrove tunnels, enjoy the sounds of the jungle while you explore the two largest rivers in Nosara. Where the Rio Nosara and the Rio Montana converge you will find a tremendous amount of natural beauty. For nature lovers and those who like to kayak this is quite simply the best tour in Nosara. Kayak alongside herons, cormorants, and maybe even a few crocodiles.
HORSEBACK RIDING
Horseback riding this tour may take you through jungle trails and along the beaches from the river to the hills with breathtaking views of the ocean, beaches and mangroves, of Nosara and Ostional. You will ride for two to three hours and learn about local plants, animals and a large variety of birds. The horses are friendly, reliable and trained by an expert, giving beginners and advanced riders a fun experience.
OSTIONAL TURTLE TOUR
Ostional turtle viewing. The beach of Ostional is the remote location for the rarely-seen biological wonder. In the rainy season, hundreds – and sometimes hundreds of thousand sea turtles come to one specific mile of beach at Ostional to dig their eggs into the black, volcanic sand. From August through December arribadas occur regularly, sometimes even twice a month, and the numbers of nesting females are in the range of hundreds of thousands as opposed to tens of thousands for the dry season months. Usually the arribadas occur during the darkest nights: a few days before the new moon, when the majority of turtles arrive between 8 pm and 4 am. The largest “arribada” thus far recorded in Ostional, took place in November 1995 when a calculated 500 000 females came ashore.
CANOPY ZIPLINE TOUR
Zipline also known as the Canopy Tour. Enjoy the longest zipline in the world, located within a pristine 2500-acre forest reserve. Fly across majestic mountain ridges and soar high above valleys, ravines and rivers. With breathtaking views of waterfalls and the Pacific Ocean. Suitable for anyone looking to experience the ultimate adventure.
CULTURAL IMMERSION
Cultural immersion, or environmental impact tour, spend a day with a local rancher. Learn the Costa Rican process of cheese making, coffee, tortillas, and see what the local cowboys do on a daily basis.

Additional Yoga (not included)

Norte offers a wide variety of classes throughout the week: $20 for regular classes, $25 for aerial and then around $30 for workshops depending on what is offered that week.  All classes are paid in cash right before the class. Norte has an offer to buy 10 class passes for $200.  Check out what they have to offer here! (link to our schedule)

FAQ

Cancelation Policy: Initial deposit is non-refundable.

Initial deposit is non-refundable. Cancellations within 30 days of departure will not be eligible for any refunds (due to resort policy).  We highly recommend that you get Travelers Insurance, for a small fee usually less than $200 you will have your trip covered just in case you need to cancel for any reason.  Get a quote here: https://product.wetravel.com/travel-insurance

Flight Info

We suggest flying into Liberia International Airport, we recommend Southwest because you get two free carry ons. Please plan to land sometime before 2pm to give ample time for checking in before our initial session.  Upon your flight booking, please send us your flight numbers so we are aware of when you will be arriving and departing!
There is also a regional flight from Liberia Airport to Nosara which only takes 15 minutes.
The airport in San Jose (SJO) is about a 5 hour drive again, you can rent a car or we can arrange a shuttle for you. There are also local flights from San Jose to Nosara on Sansa Air (flysansa.com) or charter flights with Carmon Air (carmonair.com) 30 minutes away. When you fly right into Nosara it takes a short ride (approximately 15 minutes) to Norte, in North Guiones.

Shuttle info
From Liberia choose to drive or Norte can arrange a private or group shuttle.
(approximately a 2.5-3 hour drive)
Check In & Check Out Times

Check-in is at 3pm. Check-out is at 10am. You may store your luggage at the front desk.

Visas, immunizations, & travel insurance

Costa Rica does not require Visas for US or Canadian travelers who are planning to stay for less than 90-days, so no need to worry about the Visa process. We do, however, suggest you purchase travel insurance to cover your trip in case you have to make a last minute cancellation. We recommend visiting a travel clinic for up-to-date information on immunizations and medicine while you are abroad. If you are not from the US or Canada, we suggest looking into the Visa policy specific to your country.   

Activities and Excursions

The Front Desk is glad to assist you in organizing Surf-Lessons, Horseback-Riding, Turtle Nesting Tour, Canopy Adventures, River Boat Tour (Bird watching), River Kayaking, or Stand-Up-Paddle-Surf. Payments can be made in cash or with a credit card at the reception desk. 

Medical Services in Nosara

From a general health perspective, Costa Rica has high health standards in the entire country and is considered one of the safest destinations in the developing world. If you have a healthcare provider in the country of your origin, you may want to inquire before your travels about their coverage policy, when traveling to Costa Rica. English speaking doctors have offices 5 minutes from Norte, along with dentists. A hospital is located within a 45 minutes drive in Nicoya, or for serious conditions, an airlift is available to a hospital with excellent and Western standard medical care in the capital of San Jose within 45 minutes.Typically, from US, Canada or EU there are no shots require, for others, please check Costa Rica’s requirements for your country.   

Passport

Be sure your passport isn’t due to expire for at least 6 months AFTER your travel date. If you need to renew your passport, do so sooner rather than later.

Money

Any extra spending while being at Norte (i.e. for activities organized through our reception desk, like surf lessons, horseback riding, canopy tours, or Wellness services) and any consumption at our Café-Library can be charged on your credit card. Therefore we recommend not bringing too much extra cash from home (a maximum of US $500 should be sufficient). The US Dollar is widely accepted in Costa Rica, so exchanging US Dollars to Costa Rica Colones is not necessary. Smaller denominations of $20 or less are easiest to cash. The exchange rate is approximately 600 Colones per US Dollar. There is an ATM machine, which is a 2-minute walk from Norte, and a Bank 5 minutes drive from Norte. The ATM and Bank only accept VISA Cards and disperse Costa Rica Colones. 

Time Zone

Costa Rica is on Central Standard Time, six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time and one hour behind EST in the States. It does not use daylight saving time – which means that when there is daylight saving time in the US, then Costa Rica is on MST (2 hours behind EST).

What’s included

  • 7 Nights Accommodation at Norte Nosara Yoga & Surf Hotel
  • 2 Classes a Day: Vinyasa Flow, Modern Kundalini, Breathwork, Reiki, and Guided Meditation
  • Delicious Organic Plant-Based Superfoods Breakfast and Lunch.
  • Yoga mats, Blocks, Straps, Blankets
  • Ice Bath
  • Ecstatic Dance
  • Tide Pools
  • Coffee Coconut Oil Scrub
  • Bonfire
  • Group Circle & Discussion to Support The Healing Work
  • Guided Journaling Practices
  • Breathwork Workshop
  • Welcome Drink
  • Gift Bag
  • Free Unlimited Wifi Access
  • Beach Access
  • Airfare
  • Transportation to & from the resort
  • Spa Treatments
  • Alcoholic and additional Bar Beverages
  • Optional Excursions
  • Gratuities
  • Custom & Immigration Taxes & Fees
  • Travel Insurance

Available Packages

***Option to pay via CC or PayPal***

Shared Bungalow

The bungalows are modern thatched-roof bungalows scattered amongst the property. Each features a private entrance and secluded outdoor seating area. The interiors are comfortable and aligned with the tropical elements with either two twin beds or a King size bed depending on who you would like to share with.

Their beds are comfortable and dressed with high-quality linens and pillows for a restful night’s sleep.  All rooms are furnished with hot water, air conditioning, biodegradable bath products, small refrigerator, Wifi, and locking safe for valuables.

$2,800* Shared Bungalow

*Not including 13% IVA tax

Private Bungalow

The bungalows are modern thatched-roof bungalows scattered amongst the property. Each features a private entrance and secluded outdoor seating area. The interiors are comfortable and aligned with the tropical elements with a king size bed for those who are seeking time for solitude.  

Their beds are comfortable and dressed with high-quality linens and pillows for a restful night’s sleep.  All rooms are furnished with hot water, air conditioning, biodegradable bath products, small refrigerator, Wifi, and locking safe for valuables.

$3,100* Private Bungalow

*Not including 13% IVA tax

Flights are not included.

A non-refundable deposit is required to hold your space. No refunds within 30 days of retreat dates. Full refunds only if borders close.

Please note: Space is limited and registration will close automatically after capacity is reached.

**Mention the retreat name & dates on your PayPal payment.

Norte is the perfect place for your yoga retreats in Costa Rica, contact us today for more information.