Pura Vida Adventures runs week-long, all-inclusive surf and yoga retreats from a beachfront hotel in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. It's best known for its women's camps, including weeks for women over 50, and it also runs coed holiday camps. It suits complete beginners as well as surfers who want coaching.
What it's like
Pura Vida Adventures is a surf and yoga camp company based in Santa Teresa, a surf town on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Founder and owner Tierza Eichner first came to Santa Teresa in 2002, and the company says it was founded in 2003. More than two decades on, it still centers on the same idea: a small group, lots of personal coaching, and a week that feels like joining a community rather than booking a tour.
Guests stay at Hotel Tropico Latino, a beachfront hotel a few steps from the waves. Rooms range from shared garden rooms and bungalows to private bungalows and a two-bedroom beachfront unit, so you can come solo and share, or pay for your own space. The hotel has a pool, a restaurant and bar, oceanfront hammocks and a full-service spa.
The programs
The core program is a 7-day, 6-night all-inclusive retreat. Each day mixes surf coaching with yoga. Surf sessions come with video analysis, feedback and a choice of boards, plus transport to different breaks and occasional day trips to other spots. The company keeps groups small, with no more than three students per instructor in the whitewater and two per instructor for surfers out past the break. Safety gets a whole section of its own on the website.
Yoga is held daily in an outdoor, oceanfront studio, open to all levels, with mats and props provided and the odd restorative evening class. Three meals a day are included, mostly at the hotel's beach restaurant with some meals out in town, and vegetarian, vegan and other diets are catered for. Each guest also gets a one-hour massage at the spa.
The calendar includes:
- Women's surf and yoga retreats, the company's signature weeks, open to beginners and experienced surfers alike.
- Women 50+ retreats, with the same structure for women in their fifties and beyond.
- A mother-daughter retreat.
- Coed camps, including a Thanksgiving week called Surfsgiving and a New Year's camp.
When we checked, dates were posted through April 2027. Extras such as horseback riding, bioluminescence tours, snorkeling, ziplining and waterfall hikes aren't included, but the team can set them up.
Who it suits (and who it doesn't)
It's a great fit for women who've always wanted to try surfing and would rather learn in a supportive group, including solo travelers. Women in their 30s right through their 60s and older come regularly, and the company says about 30% of guests come back. It's less suited to advanced surfers chasing remote waves on their own schedule, or to anyone looking for a quiet, silent retreat.
Getting there
Travel isn't included. Fly into San José (SJO) or Liberia (LIR), then take a roughly 30-minute domestic flight to Cobano and a taxi of about an hour to Santa Teresa, which the team can arrange. Daily door-to-door shuttle buses from San José and Liberia are another option. Leave at least two hours between international and domestic flights. Retreats start with a welcome dinner on the first evening. Book through the official website.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need any surfing experience?
No. The retreats are open to complete beginners as well as experienced surfers, with coaching split by level.
Can I come on my own?
Yes. Solo travelers are welcome, and shared room types make it easy to come alone.
Are flights and airport transfers included?
No. You book your own travel, though the team can schedule a taxi from Cobano airport.
Are there retreats for men?
The coed Surfsgiving, New Year's and selected coed weeks are open to everyone. The other weeks are for women.
