Blue Osa Yoga Retreat and Spa — Hotel in Puerto Jiménez

I can’t say enough good things about Blue Osa, and everything below is gushing adoration, so if you’re not in the mood for that the TL/DR version: this place is gorgeous, the staff members are all caring and dedicated, the food is incredible. Be open to the experience and you’ll never be the same. I’ve been home for 6 months already and still find myself drifting back and recreating the best parts of my Blue Osa experience. After 8 hours on a variety of commercial flights, 45 long, expertly handled, wobbly minutes on a teeny tiny plane over lush green mountains, and 30 minutes in Jose’s passenger van deeper into the jungle, I had no idea what to expect when we pulled through the front gates of Blue Osa. Who among us hasn’t been burned by a carefully cropped Airbnb? You’ll find none of that here. If anything, the photos don’t quite capture the true essence of this little slice of the Osa Peninsula. There is one main structure where the kitchen and office are located and the only area where the Wi-Fi works. In the middle of the resort is another structure that houses the open-air yoga studio on the second level with a handful of rooms below. A couple other buildings dot the property that contain the spa, other rooms, and volunteer quarters. Lush green punctuated with brilliant reds, pinks, oranges, and purples threaten to overwhelm the senses after seeing nothing but snow and grey skies for the previous 4 months. Bags are offloaded and we’re escorted one by one or two by two, just like in a slasher film, to our rooms, while Henry explains how Blue Osa operates. The rundown seems simple enough. Mealtimes are set at 7:30, 12:30, and 6:30. Use your flashlight to walk around after dark. Shake out shoes and clothing in case a new friend has decided to take up lodgings. Keep an eye on the high and low tides, lest you strand yourself as you walk the pristine, nearly isolated beach. Don’t play with the bells unless you want to disappoint a dozen women once they discover the bar isn’t actually open yet. And morning silence is strictly observed until 7:30 when the Wi-Fi is brought back to life. Wait what?!? As a dedicated workaholic, this unnerved me. However, as so often happens as one matures, the part I was most hesitant about I ended up enjoying, then craving. How often do you get to greet a new day watching the world come to light accompanied only by the waves, your thoughts, and the most perfect ginger (or pineapple or apple or lemon verbena) tea? The kitchen staff at Blue Osa rivals that of any 5-star restaurant. I have food issues. Lots of annoying food allergies and intolerances that honestly don’t make any sort of collective sense. With well over a decade of experience managing a chronic autoimmune condition through diet and lifestyle, I’m very used to my meal looking different than most people’s. Mostly because about half of the ingredients have been omitted. Not here though. If they weren’t sure, they asked. I have never felt more well cared for. Even people who have known me for a long time have never been able to feed me so well. Bayron is a baking master and crafted flatbreads, chewy corn scoops, and the best bread of banana I’ve ever had the pleasure to eat. Ely was always smiling and patient with my constant “que esto es?” The skill shown by Fanier, Elner, and Cory is only rivaled by how much they care. It showed in how much respect was given to the fruits and vegetables they prepared for us. It showed in how the food table was arranged in the mornings. There was no better backdrop to the most amazing yoga retreat and my 40th birthday (see Lauren Rosella Fitness for another gushing lovefest)! If there was any more proof positive of my undying love of Blue Osa, I booked another retreat with Lauren Rosella Fitness for January 2024 as soon as the announcement dropped. I’ve been doing a birthday retreat to various beaches for the better part of a decade, and this is the first time I’ve ever desired to go back to the same place 12 short...

Costa Rica is one of the most magnificent places on the planet. For my fourth trip to this amazing country, I decided to bring a group from my Yoga studio to Blue Osa. To say we had a wonderful experience would be a massive understatement. Blue Osa exceeded my expectations in every way. I have been participating and guiding retreats for decades and have never had a more satisfying experience.

The retreat center itself, including the beautifully decorated rooms, common areas and dining area are clean, comfortable and inviting. Our coordinating flights (arranged by the Blue Osa staff,) as well as transport to and from the airport were smooth and went off without a hitch.

The open air Yoga space, including all the props you could want, Scarlet Macaws paying daily visits to the almond tree right outside and an amazing view of the pacific are spectacular. If you believe in the concept of “energy,” you’ll step into this space and recognize there is something truly magical happening here. Travelers have come here and made peace with themselves. People have had breakthroughs here. Teachers have shared transformational practices with their students here. And you can feel it.

In terms of the food, expect the most wonderful locally sourced delicious meals prepared with love and care as well as daily fresh brewed, low acid coffee, on tap sparkling water and a variety of smoothies and fresh pressed juice. The offerings are mostly plant based and delicious. You can request more protein with meals when you iron out the details of your visit with the hosts. Beer and wine are available with dinner and a few time a week, there are craft cocktails available as well!

Alex, Henry and Yela were the most gracious and accommodating hosts. We enjoyed learning and laughing from all three of them, whether at Blue Osa over a pre-dinner beverage, or out on a hike to a water fall surrounded with the abundant flora and fauna that makes the Osa Peninsula so unique to the world. The kitchen staff, grounds keepers and cleaning staff were all friendly and clearly devoted to their jobs.

By and large, our group was up with the sun (5:30 a.m.) and happily! There were only a few habitual early risers when we arrived, but by weeks end, we were all delighting in the sun rise. When in this part of the world, it’s as if your body and energy allow themselves to be taken in by the natural rhythms of the beauty that surrounds you. It didn’t feel like a struggle to be up that early on Osa…it felt like a gift. Incredible sunrises, paired with the warm presence of community, morning silence, hot coffee and an occasional dolphin jumping out of the water make for a spectacular start to the day.

The pool and spa area were exceptionally beautiful and made our experience at Blue Osa that much more wonderful. The pool is a refreshing change from the beach and there are ample places to lounge in the sun or shade. Almost every participant on our retreat enjoyed spa services with Diego and Jocelyn. As a massage therapist myself, I was very impressed with their skill and offerings, from relaxation to deep tissue massage, facials and body scrubs—all of it was spectacular.

The coast line itself is truly a wonder. For me, there is nothing that equals the Pacific Ocean. The salinity of it is so different than the Atlantic…it’s sweeter, certainly warmer, and deeply healing. When I’m in Costa Rica, I feel at my physical best. My asthma subsides, my skin softens, my mind and heart feel supple and receptive.

As someone who has run retreats both in the U.S.A and abroad, I can say without question that my experience as a retreat leader with Blue Osa was unparalleled in terms of ease, precision and overall enjoyment. They truly have the process streamlined, from beginning to end, making enrollment that much easier for all, including me, as the retreat lead. I have already started preparations to return to Blue Osa in 2027 and I cannot wait. I am so grateful to have found this little corner...

Blue Osa's 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) with Yogi Aaron has been a BEAUTIFUL and ENLIGHTENING journey for me. Most of my days at Blue Osa have been quite MAGICAL. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here, and enjoying every aspect of Blue Osa. I admire all the love and attention to detail that make this place what it is.

I had done very little yoga before coming to Blue Osa for a week-long yoga retreat in December 2021, which inspired me to sign up for the 200-hour YTT in October 2022. Quite frankly, this YTT blew my mind, and really open my eyes to the possibilities of yoga.

Before doing yoga with Yogi Aaron, my impression of yoga was that it's mainly about stretching and working out, which was not the least bit interesting to me. Instead, I love being immersed in meditation and spiritual practices, and the first time I came for Aaron's yoga retreat, I came away feeling empowered, and really feeling the true meaning of yoga—as far as I've learnt and experienced from Aaron—that it's a yogic practice that stabilizes and strengthens the body and mind, to allow one to go deeper into one's spiritual practices.

My current experience of yoga is that it's like a kind of SPELL, and with the correct ingredients, quantity, and quality it can create a PROFOUND effect on the body and mind. Yoga utilizes movements and breathing to open up limitless possibilities and dimension in one's life. For example, by doing certain sequence of yoga one can feel strengthened, empowered, enthusiastic, and inspired to embody a life full of well-being and possibilities.

I enjoyed learning from Aaron on how to practice and teach yoga safely to engender power, strength, stability, well-being, and to be open to higher dimensions in one's life. I love how Aaron shed light on the myth of stretching and how to live a really strong and healthy life through AYAMA (Applied Yoga Anatomy & Muscle Activation).

I have learnt and practiced Pranayama and Kundalini Kriya prior to coming to Blue Osa, but I have gotten a much deeper understanding of the practice through Aaron, because he is so good at explaining the INTRICACIES and MECHANISMS of the practice. Prior to this, I was practicing mostly from faith and personal experience, but Aaron have opened my eyes to the science and practicality of these practices.

Moreover, this place feels very CONDUCIVE to spiritual practices. I feel very compelled to do my pranayama practice after almost every yoga class. I just want to meditate all day sometimes, but then there are classes, assignments, deadlines for the yoga teacher training, so I have to get up from my meditation sessions after an hour or so, to get things done.

Additionally, the beach here is AWE-INSPIRING. I have come to love being on the beach and in the water during my time here. This jungle, beach, and Osa is a piece of PARADISE. And all the staff at Blue Osa feels like family, and they take really good care of us.

Aaron is like a bright guiding light, he has such depth of knowledge and experience of these practices and traditions. I feel like I'm able to make so much more progress under his guidance, during my time here. I have learnt so much more than I imagined, and plan to come back to learn even more.

And another big win for me is my learning to speak with such THUNDER, CONVICTION, and CONFIDENCE in my voice and heart, thanks to my experiences, learning, and the feeling of ease and support I have with Aaron and everyone here. I feel like my communication center is unlocked! I am so grateful for it.

Lastly, I feel like I have gained a fantastic VEHICLE to learn and express myself, my knowledge, experiences, creativity, and enthusiasm through yoga.

I highly recommend this yoga teacher training at Blue Osa with Yogi Aaron to anyone interested in doing one! Regardless of whether you want to teach yoga or not, it’ll be greatly beneficial to your life! The things l've learnt and experienced here...