A good vacation is usually about finding balance. Time with friends or family, but also some solitude. Energetic outings as well as self-care. Great food plus enough activity to feel you earned it. Plugging into the local culture; unplugging from digital stimuli. Nature and nurture. 

This Costa Rica retreat was built with all of that in mind. The week brims with adventure—playing in the surf on Jaco Beach, a full day sailing on a catamaran, a naturalist leading you through the cathedral hush of a rainforest preserve where sloths move like living meditations through the canopy.

We have easy, interest-free payment options. 

Woven through it all is genuine restoration: body treatments, daily yoga, breathwork and meditation, contrast therapy, farm-to-table meals that taste like someone grew them just for you—and, yes, enough hammocks to spend a perfectly unscheduled afternoon watching the light shift over the Pacific. No justification required.

The heart of the week, for those who want it, is learning to surf or stand-up paddleboard—meeting the ocean on its own terms in a way that stretches you physically, mentally, and maybe spiritually. (And for those who prefer to keep their relationship with the ocean purely aesthetic, there is no shortage of other ways to spend those hours, including the deeply underrated art of doing absolutely nothing.)

Our host, Surf Synergy (rated best destination spa in the world by Travel + Leisure readers in 2025), operates from a conviction that everyone can surf—and that doing so can change your life. They have the proof: women in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond who showed up uncertain and left exhilarated. 

Come ready to be surprised by what you’re capable of—and to exhale in a way you may have forgotten was possible.

Please note that this is a sample itinerary. Accommodations and activities may change but we will always replace them with something of equal or better value.

1. Nature at its most generous. Costa Rica didn’t become synonymous with lush, living beauty by accident. Sunlight pours through jungle canopy fed by a free-flowing freshwater spring; sea breezes carry the salt of the Pacific; and six beaches await within easy reach.

2. The chance to learn something new. World-class coaches offer one-on-one instruction in surfing and paddleboarding—taking you farther than you thought you’d go. The learning curve is real. So is the thrill.

3. A holistic focus on health. Wellness isn’t an add-on here—it’s the architecture of the week. From sunrise yoga to deep massage to the invigorating ritual of sauna and cold plunge (contrast therapy), every day is designed to help you feel more like yourself, only better. Whether you arrive chasing adventure, restoration, or both, you’ll leave stronger, lighter, and more connected.

4. Fresh, organic food. Drawn from local organic producers and the resort’s own permaculture gardens, every meal is as beautiful as it is nourishing—colorful, seasonal, and made to fuel both body and spirit. As Travel + Leisure put it: this isn’t your standard all-inclusive food.  

5. All-inclusive means no worries. One price, zero nickel-and-diming. Three beautifully prepared meals a day, gorgeous accommodations, surfing, SUP, yoga, a body treatment, nature excursions, breathwork and meditation, bikes to roam town, airport transfers—it’s all taken care of so you never have to think about anything except what you want to do next.

Show Jeannie Ralston an ocean, and she will want to play in it. She’s never lost that desire to bob in the surf or slide down waves on a boogie board. She loves the idea of a whole week devoted to beach fun, wellness and relaxation.

NextTribe used to hold our beach retreats in Troncones, Mexico, but Costa Rica has been calling for a while. Its famous natural beauty—jungles, beaches, mountains—will elevate the week’s experience and our chance for real adventure sweetens everything. Plus, direct flights from the U.S. to San Jose make it easy and accessible. 

A private transfer from San José delivers you from the airport in about 90 minutes to your home for the week—  a sprawling multi-story wood, concrete, and glass structure—that opens onto pool terraces and sweeping Pacific views. There are also comfy bungalows. Rooms are airy and light-filled, and tonight you’ll gather with fellow travelers over a welcome dinner.

Today, you’ll see the glorious breadth of experiences available to you. Surfing or SUP coaching for a couple of hours in the morning. Jaco Beach is as forgiving as it is beautiful: sandy bottom, water a silky 82 degrees year-round, no riptides. The ideal spot to begin a new water sport. Then there’s yoga, and a session with an expert to explain the benefits of contrast therapy—the sauna and cold plunge. 

Back in the water, followed by breathwork and yoga. Grab a hotel bike and wander into town at your own pace—or invest a few hours with Jaco Impact,a grassroots collective working at the intersection of environmental stewardship and community wellbeing.

In addition to beach time and yoga, we’ll have a meditation class and a pool training session—a buoyant, full-body method that uses water’s resistance and support to build strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness without pounding your joints. It’s challenging, playful, and surprisingly addictive.

Choose from horseback riding on the beach, a day-long excursion on a catamaran where you can swim and snorkel in coves, or a hike to one of Costa Rica’s famous jungle waterfalls. Afterward, we’ll check out the artisan market in Jaco. Dinner will be off-campus, at a local restaurant known for its Costa Rican specialties.

A slower morning to savor what you’ve learned. More surfing or paddleboarding if you’re hungry for it, or use the complimentary bikes to explore the town or simply drift poolside with a book and let the sun do the rest. Yoga, of course.

Today you’ll have the option of more surfing or paddleboarding OR taking an excursion to Manuel Antonio National Park with a naturalist. The park is one of Costa Rica’s crown jewels—rainforest, pristine beaches, and coral reefs in one breathtaking sweep, and a haven for an array of wildlife, including sloths, iguanas, the enchanting squirrel monkeys—a species rarely seen elsewhere—along with white-faced monkeys and countless vibrant crabs that add a splash of color to the landscape. 

Sigh. It’s back to the airport for all of us, but we leave filled with memories, new skills, and the Pura Vida spirit. 

After booking the trip, you will recieve a travel guide with more detailed logistics and informaton.

It's tempting to book flights right away to get the best deal. We advise you wait until the trip has filled and is confirmed to book your flights. If you want to do it sooner, make sure you have good cancellation terms or trip protection insurance.

Arrival: Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)
Sat. February 6, 2027 by 3 PM

Depart: Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)
Sat. February 13, 2027 after 12 noon

Please make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of the trip.

If you have any questions, you can contact our travel manager, Marcy, at travel@nexttribe.com

Inclusions

• 7 Nights Lodging

• 7 Dinners

• 7 Lunches

• 7 Breakfasts

• Round trip airport transfers (Not included if you arrive early or extend your trip)

• Ground Transportation

• All activities in the itinerary, as well as:

  • Land training

  • Personal 1-on1 surf or SUP coaching

  • Daily Video Analysis

  • 5 Yoga Classes

  • Functional FITNESS Classes

  • 1 Cryotherapy session (Ice Bath)

  • 1 Breathwork Training Session

  • 1 One-hour recovery massage

  • Complimentary bikes

  • 1 Local excursion included

  • Daily Photography & Videography

Exclusions

• Roundtrip Airfare

• Passport & Visa Fees

• Alcohol not mentioned in itinerary

• Travel Insurance (required for international trips. Scroll down for details)

• Gratuities to local guides, drivers, maids and hotel staff

• Hear From our Community

• What to Expect When You Travel with NextTribe

For more information, please contact our travel manager at travel@nexttribe.com