Frequently Asked Questions:
Retreats

  • The days are thoughtfully designed to give you just enough structure while offering plenty of free time and flexibility.

    You’ll have movement classes on the beach in the morning and mindfulness classes late in the afternoon, with about six hours of free time each day.

    Whatever you’re looking to do during free time, we’ll make it happen. If you just want to chill, you can hang at the pool, beach, take a nap, or visit the spa. If you’re looking for adventure, we can coordinate excursions like ATVs through the jungle, surf lessons, snorkeling, horseback riding, and more.

    Breakfast, brunch, and dinner are prepared at the villa by our private chefs.

  • Two words - delicious and healthy.

    Every morning, you'll have a light breakfast before the movement class.

    After the movement class, you'll have a chef-prepared brunch at our villa.

    In the evenings, you'll have a chef-prepared dinner at our villa.

    Our private chefs can accommodate almost any dietary requirement.

    Throughout the day, you'll have access to amazing fruit and healthy snacks.

    There are also countless restaurants we'll recommend you check out if you'd like more to eat during the days.

  • Your accommodations, food, and movement/mindfulness classes are all included. More specifically:

    Six night/Seven day stay in luxurious accommodations

    Daily light breakfast, chef-prepared brunch, chef-prepared dinner

    Unlimited healthy snacks

    One movement class each day

    One mindfulness class each day

    Coordination of any additional activities you’d like to do, including ATV tours, surfing, spa/massage, snorkeling, and more

    All tips for instructors and local partners

  • Our villa is less than a five-minute walk from two different beach entrances.

  • Definitely not. We have people with all different levels of experience in movement. By the end of the week, you’ll feel better connected to your body - no matter your experience level.

  • Most of our guests don’t have a regular mindfulness practice. The only thing that’s important is an open mind to trying new things.

    For those who do have experience, it’s an opportunity to deepen your practice with world-class instructors in the wellness paradise of Nosara.

  • Absolutely not. This is your trip and it’s important for you to get from it what you need. If at any point you don’t want to join a class or activity, that’s totally ok.

  • If you’re looking for more adventure, we’ll happily make it happen. Here’s what else is available:

    Surf lessons

    Snorkeling

    ATV tours

    Massage/spa

    Horseback riding

    Ziplining

  • Of course! Our private chefs can meet almost any dietary restriction. And as you explore Nosara, you'll find incredible restaurants that offer vegan, gluten-free, and many other options.

  • Accessibility is incredibly important to us. If you have any type of limitation, reach out to us at hello@sandandsaltescapes.com and we’ll chat about what’s possible to accommodate.

  • Definitely not! Over half of our guests are solo travelers.

  • Yes! Each room has both A/C and hot water.

  • We do not offer any plant medicine on the retreat.

  • The group size is generally 8 guests. We cap it at 10 to ensure a personal experience for each guest.

  • Yes. Sometimes, there’s nothing better than a drink to wind down after a long day. Alcohol is allowed, just not included.

  • Yes! Our villas has two washers and two dryers that can be used any time of day.

The Retreat

  • Nosara is a wellness paradise located on the Nicoya Peninsula. The Nicoya Peninsula is one of only five "blue zones" in the world - where people live longer and healthier than anywhere else.

    Within Nosara, we stay in Playa Guiones. Playa Guiones is nestled where the jungle meets the ocean, giving us incredible access to stunning jungle and uncommercialized beach.

    The town strikes the perfect balance of being developed - with plenty of incredible restaurants and wellness studios - while maintaining its jungle charm. It’s unique among anywhere in the world, attracting people who are passionate about wellness from all over the world.

  • The area where we stay in Nosara - Playa Guiones - is entirely walkable. It takes about 30 minutes to walk from one side of the town to the other.

    If you'd prefer to take transportation, small 2-3 person tuk tuks are readily available for just a few dollars.

  • Nosara has incredible wildlife you probably don't see back home... Howler monkeys, iguanas, dolphins, stunning birds. There's no shortage of beautiful animals in the jungle.

  • Absolutely not. English is commonly spoken in Costa Rica and in Nosara.

  • Credit Cards

    Most restaurants and stores in Nosara accept credit cards. Visa and Mastercard are much more widely accepted than AmEx. Just be sure to let your bank know you’re traveling to avoid any issues.

    Cash

    ATMs are available in Nosara, where you can take out USD or Costa Rican Colones (CRC). Almost all places in Costa Rica accept USD, so you can pay in USD but may receive your change in CRC.

  • Yes! You’ll hae a strong and reliable wifi signal at our villa. Many restaurants and cafes in Nosara also have free wifi.

  • There’s a market in the middle of town where you can buy almost any toiletry you need.

Nosara

  • Just click “Book Now” in the menu at the top of the page! There, you can schedule an Intro Call. It’s a zero-pressure call where we'll get to know each other, answer your questions, and reserve your spot if you’re ready.

    If you have any questions, give us a shout at hello@sandandsaltescapes.com

  • If you cancel 90 days prior to the first day of the retreat, we'll provide a full refund.

    If you cancel 90-61 days before the first day of the retreat, we'll provide a 50% refund of any amount paid, less $500 for administrative costs.

    Cancellations within the 60 days prior to the first day of the retreat are not entitled to a refund. If we find an additional guest to replace your cancelled reservation, we'll refund you the full amount paid, less $500 for administrative costs.

  • A return flight ticket is needed when entering Costa Rica. The immigration officer will ask for it upon your arrival. Visitors to Costa Rica must have a valid passport.

    US and Canadian travelers do not need a visa.

    If you're coming from outside the US, you may need to provide proof of vaccination. You can check what's required here.

  • Once you reserve your spot, we’ll send a Welcome Guide with all this information and more. Until then, here's an awesome starting place for your packing list:

    Passport (we recommend making a paper copy and keeping it separate from your passport)

    Cash for any additional activities you'd like to do

    Workout clothes

    Clothes for mindfulness classes (e.g., yoga, breathwork)

    Clothes for hanging at the villa

    Clothes to sleep in (rooms are air conditioned)

    Swimwear

    Sunscreen (we recommend reef-safe brands like Raw Elements)

    Toiletries

    Medications

    Socks and underwear

    Sandals or flip flops

    Gym shoes you’re ok getting dirty (the streets aren’t paved)

    Refillable water bottle

    Sunglasses

    Beach towel

    Any reading material

    Headphones

    Chargers

  • We’re here to help you plan every step of your travel. We’ll share more after you book, but as you’re looking at what options are best for you, here are the two routes we recommend:

    Recommended Route 1

    Fly into Liberia, Costa Rica. From there, you can fly SANSA Airlines to Nosara or we can coordinate your 2.5-hour private car ride to Nosara.

    Recommended Route 2

    Fly into San Jose, Costa Rica. From there, you can fly Green Airways or SANSA Airlines to Nosara or we can coordinate your 5-hour private car ride to Nosara.

Planning and Travel

  • Yes. Your health insurance likely won’t cover you in Costa Rica, so we require guests to have travelers insurance. It will cost around $20 per person for a week. Here’s where we get it when we travel (we have no affiliation, it’s just an easy process): Insubuy

  • Although the water is safe to drink in Costa Rica, we still recommend drinking filtered or purified water. We have purified water at our villa and every restaurant serves bottled water. We prefer to err on the side of “better safe than sorry” on this one.

  • Yes, there is a pharmacy, apothecary and two urgent cares within walking distance of where we stay.

Health and Safety

Book Your Escape

We take the time to meet with each guest prior to booking, answering your questions and ensuring what we offer is aligned to what you’re looking for.