Samasati

What it's like

Samasati sits on a forested hilltop above the southern Caribbean coast, near Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. It was one of the first places we wrote about in 2014, and it's still open in 2026, with live online booking and a current program of retreats.

The retreat combines yoga and meditation with life in the rainforest. Expect birdsong, howler monkeys and views from the pool over the treetops to the sea.

Rooms and facilities

There are two kinds of lodging. The guest house has 5 private rooms with shared bathrooms, a simpler option. The wooden casitas are more private, and include loft bungalows, couples' bungalows and a two-unit family bungalow.

Samasati offers yoga, meditation, forest bathing, sound baths, massage and spa treatments. The restaurant serves meals on all-inclusive or à la carte plans. It also hosts group retreats and can arrange tours.

Where it fits in a trip

Samasati works as a calm base for exploring the southern Caribbean: the beaches around Puerto Viejo, Cocles and Punta Uva, Cahuita National Park, and the Gandoca-Manzanillo refuge. Three nights is a minimum to make the long drive worthwhile. If you'd rather have a private house, compare it with Geckoes Lodge in Cocles. Our Caribbean coast guide has more.

Who it suits (and who it doesn't)

It suits yoga lovers, wellness travelers, retreat groups and couples looking for seclusion. It isn't on the beach, and the hilltop road means you'll rely on shuttles or a 4x4 to come and go, so it's less suited to travelers who want to pop into town several times a day.

Getting there

From San José, it's about 4 to 6 hours by shuttle or taxi. You can also fly from San José to Limón in about 35 minutes and take a shuttle of about 40 minutes. The last stretch is a mountain road that needs a 4x4; Samasati runs a shuttle, or you can leave your car at its base camp.