Listed below are some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about travel for our Yoga Teacher Trainings and Yoga Retreats.

REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER COSTA RICA

Citizens of the USA, Canada, and most western European nations are allowed 90 days stay with out a visa.  Passports should be valid for 6 months beyond the date of entry into Costa Rica.  For other countries and the most up to date information, visit the Embassy of Costa Rica website (www.costarica-embassy.org).  All visitors must hold an onward or return ticket. In other words, before you arrive it is best to have a printed copy of your return flight that is scheduled within 90 days from your arrival.  If you cannot provide this, you may be required to purchase a flight out of the country.  In most cases a visa is not required for stays up to 90 days.  It is required that you leave the country before this 90 days is over.  Then you can re-enter the country after 72 hours.

Do I need vaccinations or any other medical precautions to travel to Costa Rica?

No, not for Costa Rica.  Further information can be found at MD Travel Health (www.mdtravelhealth.com that provides complete health recommendations for every country updated daily. You can also visit the government travel health websites for the USA and UK at www.cdc.gov/travel for the USA or www.doh.gov.uk/traveladvice, respectively for further assistance.

What do guests need to bring when traveling to Costa Rica?

It is recommended to travel light and remember that Costa Rica is a tropical area.  Items that we recommend to bring during your trip are: flashlight (essential), yoga clothes, water bottle, sandals/water shoes/comfortable walking shoes (Chaco, Teva, or Keen type sandals work best), short-sleeve shirts (cotton or light synthetic), light fleece/sweatshirt (it does get cold in San Jose at night), pants (cotton or light synthetic), shorts, socks (1-2 pairs as San Jose can be cold at night), undergarments, swimsuits, light raincoat or small umbrella, hat/bandana, notebook/pen, insect repellant, sunscreen, binoculars, back/daypack, camera, toiletries (biodegradable please).  Teacher Trainees bring a journal and if possible an ipod or mp3 player and associated chargers/batteries if you would like to use music during your class.  We promote natural clothing items (cotton), but synthetic clothing does dry better in the humid environments.

Do I need to bring cash?

You will need cash in U.S. dollars.  We recommend bringing small denominations ($20 or less) so that they are easier to cash.  Your change will usually be made in Costa Rican Colones. There are banks in the local towns with ATM machines.  You may also be able to get cash advances on Visa credit cards at the local banks. You must remember to bring your passport/ID along with you in order to make any bank transactions.  You do not need to exchange dollars to colones, as dollars are accepted everywhere.  To check the current exchange rate try this Universal Currency Converter. This should be pretty accurate for an exchange that you would get at a bank.  However, the exchange rate that you will get while shopping and using U.S. Dollars can range from 500 to 580 colones per $1 U.S.  We recommend having some small bills and coins in colones (5,000 or 1,000 colones bills and 500 or 100 colones coins) to make it easier to cash and shop.  Some of the local shops do not have a lot of money on hand for making change.

Do I need travel insurance?

Peak Beings recommends international travel insurance for participants in all trainings and retreats, however we do not require it to participate.  We recommend checking with your health insurance provider to see what your coverage is for international travel is and specifically for the country you are visiting.  Depending on your health insurance providers policy, travel insurance 'may' be an extra safety for your insurance coverage.  If you are in doubt, we recommend you obtain travel insurance.  Peak Beings, the lodges in which you are staying and/or the transportation companies do not accept any responsibility for any injuries during your travel.  One company you could check with for travel insurance is Aon.

ARRIVAL IN COSTA RICA

Where do you recommend staying in San Jose?

The San Jose International Airport is located about 25-30 minutes from downtown San Jose in the suburb of Alajuela, depending on traffic.  If you are coming for a Yoga Teacher Training and are not going directly from the airport to the lodge for the training, there are several hotels listed below that are reasonably close to the airport where you can arrange your accommodations.  If you are coming for a Yoga Retreat, your hotel stay is included as noted on Arrival Day and Departure Day, but if you are interested in arriving earlier or leaving later, you can also check the list of hotels listed below.  Taxis are available at the airport to take you to your hotel.  When exiting customs/immigration there will be a crowd of people and taxi drivers.  We recommend going to the taxi service window where they will arrange a taxi for you to your destination.  Be sure to confirm the price for your ride.  Most drivers will accept U.S. Dollars (increments less than $20).

Hostel Casa del Parque: www.hostelcasadelparque.com
Located in San Jose's historic district in front of the National Park.

Hostel Bekuo: www.hostelbekou.com
Located in San Pedro, a small suburb close to downtown San Jose.

Arilapa Hotel: www.arilapa.com
A reasonably priced B&B, located 10 minutes from the San Jose International airport.

Hotel 1492: www.hotel1492.com
This historic hotel is located in a quiet residential neighborhood close to downtown San Jose.

Hotel Don Carlos: www.doncarloshotel.com
This Four Star Hotel is located in the oldest historical section of San José.

Hampton Inn: www.hamptoninncostarica.com
Located 5 minutes from the airport and offers shuttle service to and from the airport free of charge. Please contact us to reserve your seat on the shuttle.

Where do you recommend staying in Puerto Viejo?

There are many options for staying in Puerto Viejo if you are arriving early for one of the Yoga Teacher Trainings.  If you are arriving via a public shuttle, they should drop you off right at your hotel/hostel.  If you are arriving via the public bus, there are many accommodations available within a 5-10 minute walk.  There are also many taxis if you have alot of bags.  A taxi to most of the hotels/hostels should only be less than $5.  Most drivers will accept U.S. Dollars (increments less than $10).  Below are just a couple of options for cabinas and hostels in Puerto Viejo.

Jacaranda Hotel:  www.cabinasjacaranda.net

Sunrise Backpackers Hostel:  www.sunrisepuertoviejo.com

How do I arrive at and depart from Samasati Nature Retreat for the Caribbean Coast Yoga Teacher Trainings?

Teacher Training students attending the Caribbean Coast YTT will arrange their own transportation to and from Samasati Nature Lodge.  There are many possibilities to arrive at Samasati, including private taxis, shuttles, and buses from San Jose International airport or your hotel.  Samasati is located in Hone Creek, a very small town located approximately 1 hour after Limon and about 15 minutes before Puerto Viejo, a larger beach town.  Below is a list of options for arriving at Samasati.  The staff at Samasati will assist you with your departure during your training, but the options below can also be used to return to San Jose.  We recommend allowing 5 hours for travel from San Jose to Samasati.  If you would like to contact Samasati directly they can also help you with transportation (Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).  We will send out a contact list of attendees 2 weeks prior to the training in case you would like to arrange shared accommodations or transportation in San Jose.

Interbus Online: www.interbusonline.com Very affordable semi-private shuttles ~$40. Traveling from San Jose there are designated locations for pickup. Online select ‘Shuttle’ from San Jose to South Caribbean Beaches (Puerto Viejo). Samasati is actually located in Hone Creek, approximately 1 hour after the city of Limon and about 15 minutes before Puerto Viejo. There is a sign on the right side of the road for Samasati and then Samasati is about 5 minutes off the main road. Travel time is about 4-5 hours.

Public Bus:  Public bus is the most affordable way to travel throughout Costa Rica. We only recommend this option if you have traveled fairly extensively or speak Spanish. We recommend you write everything down so you can show taxi drivers, etc. You can get from San Jose to Puerto Viejo for about ¢5,000.00 colones or $10.00 (U.S.). Anywhere Costa Rica, Green Stone Adventures and TheBusSchedule.com have a lot of information on transportation options and if you click on the 'transportation' link you can download the public bus schedule. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information on these websites.  It is best to contact them directly for your trip. On the schedule you would look under Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - San José.  The address of the bus stop in San Jose is: Calle Central, Ave 13. – Terminal Caribeños and the bus company name is Transporte MEPE (Tel. 2257-8129 / 2735-5189). The buses leave throughout the day (6:00, 10:00, 14:00 and 16:00, according to the most recent schedule), but we recommend taking as early a bus as you can so that you have plenty of time to arrive to Samasati while there is still daylight (~6:00 pm).  Travel time is about 4-5 hours.

Private Taxi:  It is possible to arrange a private taxi through the taxi service window upon arrival at San Jose International Airport (SJO), through a hotel or through other companies that can be found online.  This cost will be approximately $150-$200 and the schedule is more flexible.  Travel time is about 4 hours or less, depending on the driver, weather and traffic.

Flights:  There are no scheduled flights from San Jose to Limon (1 hour by van to Samasati).  Private Charter group flights are available through Nature Air from San Jose to Limon and this would have to be arranged directly through them.  We mention this option mainly to clarify that there are no schedule flights.  It is not a very cost effective way to get to Samasati, but if you can arrange a group of teacher trainees for this it may be cost effective and efficient.  Also remember to travel light if you are taking these smaller planes as cargo is limited.

How do I Arrive at Samasati and Depart from Luna Lodge for the Coast to Coast Yoga Teacher Trainings?

Teacher Training students attending the Coast to Coast YTT will arrange their own transportation to arrive at Samasati Nature Lodge at the beginning of the training and to depart from Luna Lodge at the end of the training.  There are many possibilities to arrive at Samasati which are listed in the previous question above.  If you would like to contact Samasati directly they can also help you with transportation.  For departure from Luna Lodge at the end of the training there are several different options as Luna Lodge is a little more remote.  The staff at Luna Lodge can also assist you with your departure during your training so you can wait to arrange this when you are there.  Below is a list of options for departing from Luna Lodge to San Jose.  If you would like to contact Luna Lodge directly they can also help you with transportation (Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).  For ground transportation it is best to have Luna Lodge arrange a 4X4 taxi from the lodge to Puerto Jimenez which is approximately $20 U.S. per person (2 hours).  You may be required to spend one night in Puerto Jimenez depending on when you arrive there and when the transportation you arrange leaves for San Jose.  You may also arrange a group of fellow training students to travel together in a private shuttle which Luna Lodge can arrange for you.  We will send out a contact list of training attendees 2 weeks prior to the training in case you would like to arrange shared accommodations or transportation in San Jose.

Public Bus:  Public bus is the most affordable way to travel throughout Costa Rica. We only recommend this option if you have traveled fairly extensively or speak Spanish. We recommend you write everything down so you can show taxi drivers, etc. You can get from Puerto Jimenez to San Jose for about ¢7,000.00 colones or $15.00 U.S. The trip is about 8 hours long.  Anywhere Costa Rica, Green Stone Adventures and TheBusSchedule.com have a lot of information on transportation options and if you click on the 'transportation' link you can download the public bus schedule. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information on these websites.  It is best to contact them directly for your trip. The name of the public bus company is Transporte Blanco (011-506-2-257-4121).  We recommend taking as early a bus as you can so that you have plenty of time to arrive in San Jose before sundown (~6:00 pm).

Private Taxi:  It is possible to arrange a private taxi from Puerto Jimenez to San Jose and get a group of fellow teacher trainees to go in one taxi.  This can also be arranged when you are at Luna Lodge.  Private taxi would cost approximately $225-$250, but can be split between 4-5 passengers.

Flights:  You can also fly from Puerto Jimenez to San Jose on Sansa Regional or Nature Air for about $125, approximately 1 hour flight time.  There is also a local airstrip in Carate that Luna Lodge can arrange group charter flights for approximately $175 per person.  We request that you contact Luna Lodge directly for this option (Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Also remember to travel light if you are taking these smaller planes as cargo is limited.

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE?

Costa Rica's weather is very tropical located 9 degrees north of the equator.  Hours of daylight do not change much throughout the year.  Sunrise is typically at about 6:00 am and sunset is typically at about 6:00 pm.  They do not operate on Daylight Savings Time, so it is important to check the local time when you arrive.  Costa Rica has two seasons, the dry season and the green (wet) season.  This is all relative throughout the year, but typically the dry season is from November to April and the green season is from May to October.  The temperature averages between 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit (20-30 degrees Celsius) even when it is green season.  The dry season is typically very warm and sunny with clear blue skies and temperatures can reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius).  The real rainy or wet months are in September and October.  The other months of the green season (May to August) are when the beautiful nature of Costa Rica comes alive.  The month of May can be quite wet, but in June to August rain is very moderate and you may expect a brief afternoon shower or night time rain.  The rain showers from June to August are typically short and provide a cooling and nourishing change to the beautiful warm weather.  The night time rain is great to sleep to.  San Jose can be somewhat cooler than the coastal areas so long pants and a sweater may be needed during the evening as it is at a higher elevation.

FOOD AND LODGING

What are the accommodations at the Lodges?

Accommodations and amenities vary at each lodge.  It is best to visit each lodge's website individually to check on what is provided for you.  Sheets and towels are provided.

Is there internet/phone access at the Lodges??

Internet and phone services vary by location.  At Samasati (Caribbean Coast), the lodge is located at the top of a large hill.  There is an office down at the bottom of the hill and entrance to Samasati.  There is wireless and a phone available here.  There are rides going up and down all day, but it depends when you want to go down and if you have luck and they are going when you want to.  Otherwise it is a nice 20-30 minute hike up/down so you can go whenever you want during the breaks.  At the top of the hill where the lodge is, there is a mini notepad computer at the lodge that has limited internet.  There is only one of these, so people share that internet if they want to use it.  This internet works for limited use and is better on sunny days.  :)

At Montana Azul (Central Valley) and Luna Lodge (on the Pacific Coast), there is internet right at the lodge.  Because these areas are more remote, internet is wireless and limited so they don't allow a lot of people to log onto it with laptops or phones.  They will allow people to check email here and there on their computers if they really need to. 

All of the locations have phones, so that is always an option.  The cost for international calls varies by the country you are calling?  If you are familiar with Skype someone could call you from their computer for about $0.10 per minute or if the internet connection is sufficient and available you can use Skype to call out.  If using the phone to call "From" Costa Rica internationally there are calling cards you could buy in one of the towns and that price might be $0.10 to $0.20 per minute depending on the card.  You can also use the phones at the lodge to call out, but they usually charge atleast $0.25 per minute or more.

What about food and beverages?

Three meals a day are included in the daily cost of accommodation.  We offer vegetarian and vegan options as well as other dietary needs.  Any special dietary requirements must be confirmed with your booking through each lodge, as they must order your food in advance.

Sample Menu

Breakfast:  Fresh seasonal tropical fruit, Granola and yogurt, Eggs, toast, omelets and pancakes.

Lunch:  Black bean veggie burgers with homemade buns, sandwiches, salads, lemon cheesecake.

Dinner:    Plantain chips with guacamole, Sesame, ginger baked fish, Indian rice, steamed vegetables, salads, chocolate or poppy seed cake.

Tea, Coffee and fresh drinking water are available free of charge all day in the Bar. 
Soft drinks, wine, beer, cocktails, and fresh fruit smoothies are all available at the bar for an additional cost.

Is the water safe to drink?

Yes, Costa Rica's water is mostly potable from the tap, but we recommend buying bottled water in more rural areas or there is fresh drinking water available at the lodges for free.  There is also bottled water for sale at most of the lodges.

Is there laundry available?

Laundry is available at each of the lodges with about a one day turnaround time.  Typical cost is $8 to $10 per load depending on the location.

ACTIVITIES AT THE LODGES

What tours and activities are available to the guests?

Activities vary at each location and lodge.  It is best to visit each lodge's website individually to check on what is available for you.

What about other wellness activities?

Most lodges have spa centers with a range of treatments from massages to various beauty treatments.

YOGA

What are the yoga facilities?

Yoga ranchos and platforms vary by location, but most of them have natural hardwood floors and some are screened in and some are open.

What equipment is available?

There are several mats, blocks, straps and blankets.  It is recommended that you bring your own mat as there are a limited number that are available.