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~ UPDATE ~

Join our yoga retreat,
Awakening: A Kripalu Yoga Retreat,
February 2009 held at the exquisite
Pura Vida Spa, a private
12-acre mountainside yoga sanctuary located only 20-minutes from the international airport! Truly, a wonderful place!

~ Other upcoming Kripalu Yoga Retreats
with Sudhakar Ken McRae & Kathleen Knipp~

June 12-19, 2008: Celebrate the Senses: Yoga in Tuscany
at Ebbio Villa in Tuscany, Italy

June 20-26, 2008: Yoga in the Swiss Alps: Walking, Wildflowers & Waterfalls
in Murren, Swizerland

October 5-12, 2008: Andalusia, Spain

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Sueno Azul Resort, Costa Rica

The beauty and energy of the rainforest alone is worth the trip.

Located in the heart of a lush 1200-acre rainforest, the resort is situated at the convergence of the Puerto Viejo and San Rafael rivers bordering the Braulio Carrilo National Park. Only 1.5 hours from San Jose via a modern highway through the park, Sueno Azul - Spanish for "daydream" - offers Costa Rican hospitality in an idyllic and magical landscape.

The open air restaurant serving vegetarian and local fare overlooks the pool, the rivers and a large pond which attracts a variety of wildlife. At dusk, flocks of egrets perch in a nearby tree. In the morning you may watch the staff fish for the noon-time meal. photos

Programs at This Location

Cost and registration information

Climate

February is during the dry season in Costa Rica, so there's lots of sunshine. Lower in elevation than San Jose, Sueno Azul is located in the northeast near the town of Las Horquetas. It is in the rainforest and has cool evenings, refreshing mornings, afternoons in the low 80's and occasional short downpours that "just feel good". current weather

The Practice Space

The very large yoga room newly built in 2002, is set away from the accommodation and dining areas providing privacy and a sense of sacred space. The studio is equipped with sticky mats, cushions, blocks, straps and blankets. It features a rich colored wood floor with plenty of light from ceiling-high windows . Views are over one of the many large ponds, always active with hummingbirds, kingfishers, and herons. Lots of fresh air and a breeze from the pond make it a wonderful place for practice.

Accommodation

The double rooms are clean, large and airy, decorated in a Costa Rican rustic style. Each room has a ceiling fan and a private bath with hot and cold water and a large ceramic tiled shower. Most rooms have two queen-size beds. The rooms open out onto a private patio with rocking chairs and views of the mountains, rivers, and the large natural pond.

Visit the Sueno Azul Photo Album

Included

Each week-long program includes one full day and two half-day eco-adventure tours.

A full day white-water rafting trip on the Rio Sarapiqui, is an excellent way to experience the awesome and exotic beauty of the Costa Rican rainforest. This eight mile trip takes about two and a half hours. English speaking guides provide rowing instruction and safety guidelines so all can have a safe ride on this class II-III (easy to moderate) river.

An alternative full day beach trip to the Caribbean Sea is available for those who wish to swim in the calm pools along the coral reef or splash in the waves along the open sand. You can wander through the shops in the small town and enjoy lunch by the beach.

The Aerial Tram half-day adventure is spectacular! Open-sided six-person gondolas, including a personal guide, silently sail through various levels of the rainforest canopy. It's just breath-taking! Worth a second visit.

Howler monkeys, toucans, caymans, and poison dart frogs are all visible on the relaxing half-day Sarapiqui River boat tour. Wildlife abounds at the river's edge and this tour definitely delivers up-close encounters with the Costa Rican jungle creatures. Each open-sided launch holds about 20 people and a guide to interpret the subtleties of this delicate and extraordinary ecosystem.

Ground transportation to and from Sueno Azul is provided twice daily on arrival and departure days.

Not included

You may enjoy a horseback trip to a series of cascading waterfalls on the Sueno Azul property. After cooling off under the plunging water and splashing in the natural ponds, enjoy a picnic lunch packed along by one of the guides.

Sueno Azul's personal guide is available for walks through the rainforest. You will learn about the plants and animals and perhaps get a glimpse of the more elusive wildlife.

Sueno Azul has a brand new spa facility offering a range of health and wellness services including massage, cranio-sacral therapy, reflexology and Watsu. Services vary based on availability. Appointments may be scheduled upon arrival. You may also book individual yoga sessions.

Airfare to San Jose is not included. Great deals can be found if you book early in the season.