Costa Rica

Pura Vida Retreat & Spa
Calle Puente Negro
800 Mts SW of CENCINAI
Pavas, Carrizal, Provincia de Alajuela, Alajuela
20103, Costa Rica

Pura Vida Retreat & Spa is a mountain retreat center. The closest beach is 2 hours away on the Pacific coast. 

Citizens of the U.S. and Canada may enter Costa Rica with a valid passport. Please note that Costa Rican law requires your passport be valid through the length of your trip and have at least 1 empty page. A ticket for a return flight is also required to enter Costa Rica. Check with your airline or travel agent for more information. Citizens of other countries should check with the applicable Costa Rican Consulate in your country about rules governing entrance into Costa Rica. It is recommended that you carry a photocopy of your passport with the entry stamp in case you are stopped by officials.

Coming from North America, no shots or vaccinations are needed for visits to Costa Rica. You should consult a medical professional about your specific circumstances.

Free Wifi is available throughout the property (about 10 mbps)

Most cell phones work in Costa Rica, but we highly recommend that you contact your service provider before traveling for assistance in selecting the appropriate package for you. Or, better yet, download WhatsApp or Signal to communicate with your friends and family while in Costa Rica. They must also download the program. A phone is available for use in our guest lounge at the reception area. Free calls to the US or Canada.

Massage tables are provided onsite for the workshop. A packing list will be shared by Pura Vida when you provide your flight or arrival details.

Pura Vida’s climate is spring-like year-round with warm days (70s-80s F) and mild nights (60s F). Thus, the facility does not have Air Conditioning or Heating Units. The sun rises at 5:30 am and sets around 6:00 pm all year long.

Suites have ceiling fans. Floor fans are available in all rooms. The ambient temperature at Pura Vida is about ideal. The year-round temperature is 70 to 80 degrees during the day with mild nights. Thus, our facility does not have Air Conditioning or Heating Units.

Meals and beverages included with your workshop retreat:
Our restaurant is casual buffet. We serve 3 meals per day and our staff take great pride in serving delicious meals. The menu includes a variety of vegetarian fare as well as chicken and fish. There is filtered water, coffee and tea available at every meal.
We also can accommodate vegan and high-protein diets. Filtered water stations are available throughout the property.  Bring a refillable water bottle.  

Additional food and beverage options:
For an additional cost we offer an a la carte menu between lunch and dinner with offerings like hummus and pita or guacamole and chips. We serve juices, smoothies, soft drinks, specialty coffee and teas, beer and wine which can be purchased at the bar. All are prepared and served in the main dining area.

Yes, the water at Pura Vida is safe to drink from every faucet on the property. We filter our water on the premises with both a 1-micron filter and a UV filter. Countrywide, water quality standards in Costa Rica are generally quite high and visitors normally do not have any problems. Alkaline water is available in the restaurant at no additional cost.

Being one of the most bio-diverse countries on the planet, insect life is abundant in Costa Rica. Luckily, the elevation at Pura Vida keeps our retreat center remarkably mosquito-free. However, if you happen to have the innate ability to attract them, please pack your biodegradable bug spray.

Yes, we offer a laundry service to our guests. The charge is $8 per load to wash, dry and fold.

Everyone in office, the yoga teachers and the massage therapists all speak English.

Generally, Costa Rica is quite safe. Like any place, normal precautions and care should be taken depending upon where you are visiting. Violent crime is rare in Costa Rica while theft of personal property (from automobiles and hotel rooms) is more common. Big cities, beach areas, and any place with a concentration of tourists require more caution. 

Pura Vida Spa is a private, gated, 8-acre mountainside estate in Costa Rica’s Alajuela province, with security onsite 24 hours a day. We regularly welcome many single travelers. If it gives you greater peace of mind, a safe deposit box is also available for each guest in every room. The surrounding neighborhood and coffee fields are also safe for a walk or jog with a companion.  We do not recommend venturing out for a walk or a jog after sunset.

The nearest town is Alajuela. The easiest way to get to town is by taxi or Uber. We can usually have a taxi for you in 15 minutes or less. Uber timing can vary, but is usually available within 10 minutes. There is also a public bus route that picks up near Pura Vida and goes to downtown Alajuela once per hour.

You can book a taxi, Uber or local bus to get to downtown Alajuela.

• The taxi costs are approx $50-$75
• Uber costs approx $25-40
• The public bus route picks up near Pura Vida and goes to downtown Alajuela once per hour. The cost is less than $1.50 per person, but only colones (Costa Rican currency) are accepted.

The front desk can usually have a car for guests in 15 minutes or less. Car services in Costa Rica charge by the trip and not per person. Generally, a car service can accommodate up to four people. A trip to downtown Alajuela is about $25 each way (taxi) and $6-7$ (Uber), to the airport is $35 each way (taxi) and $10 (Uber), to downtown San José is around $85 each way (taxi) and $45 (Uber), and to Jacó (the nearest beach) is about $200 each way (taxi) and $110 (Uber).

If you’d prefer to rent a car, Pura Vida staff will gladly help you with your reservation upon arrival. But it is recommended that you reserve a car before your arrival to ensure availability. You’ll need a valid driver’s license, passport, and credit card. Alamo car rental is supposedly the most hassle free. Payless car rental charges the least surprise fees.