“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” – Oscar Wilde
I spent months deciding if I was brave enough to do my first solo female trip.
Obviously, as most first-time solo travelers do, I spent hours looking online for the perfect place to go. I love adventure, embracing new cultures, nature, good food, luxury accommodations, and of course, yoga. The World was my oyster!
After taking into account various factors such as flight times, dangers and crime rates for solo female travellers, and costs, I became very fond of the idea of a yoga retreats. What a perfect way to do my first solo trip!
Travelling alone no longer seemed daunting and frightening. I would already be with a group of people, and wouldn’t necessarily be alone unless I wanted to be. Not to mention they have yoga retreats EVERYWHERE! Score!
But something about Costa Rica called to me. Maybe it’s because it’s one of the safest counties for female travelers, maybe its because its the happiest country on earth.. WHO KNOWS.
Then the moment came when I stumbled upon Anamaya, and I felt as if I found something I had known of in a life long ago. I probably spent a month coming back to their website every other day, looking at the same pages over and over again. I don’t know what it was, but I do believe in fate, and I do believe my search led to me to Anamaya for a reason.
ABOUT ANAMAYA
Anamaya Resort is located in Montezuma, in the southern Nicoya Peninsula – just 25 minutes from the world famous Santa Teresa. The resort is nestled on a cliff’s edge, surrounded by lush landscapes, wildlife, exotic flowers and birds, rainforests, Montezuma Falls, and one of the world’s most beautiful tropical beach towns.
Anamaya is truly a boutique retreat center offering a mix of week long yoga retreats and month long yoga teacher trainings. Anamaya brings skilled yoga instructors from around the World to train their students and provide the full spectrum of the mind, body and soul experience.
The core of the program here is their week long yoga retreat. They begin and end every Saturday, giving the guests a seven night stay. There are many options for accommodations, with prices ranging from $895 to $2000 including food, lodging, and basic activities. The price depends on whether you would like “dorm style” room or a luxurious single room. All of the cabinas are different, and each is amazing in its own way.
Did I mention that Montezuma is one of five areas in the world where people are known to live the longest and are the healthiest?
Note: Anamaya is a co-ed retreat, and some people even come here on their honeymoon. You don’t need to practice yoga to come here. There are plenty of other activities to choose from. So all are welcome!
PACKAGES
Anamaya offers a variety of package add-ons for those looking for more than just a yoga experience during their visit. The packages they offer are:
- Pure Yoga
- Yoga and Rejuvenation (includes spa treatments)
- Yoga and Surf (includes 5 surf lessons with rentals)
- Yoga and Adventure (includes waterfall hike, zip lining, beach bonfire)
- Yoga and Scuba Diving Certification (their newest package yet!)
THE YOGA
I’ve got to hand it to them – Anamaya really knows how to pick their instructors. For my week long retreat, I had two amazing instructors, Vidya and Tai. They were the most incredible souls I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. They weren’t just there to teach you yoga, they were there to make sure you connected with yourself on such a deeper level that you leave a better version of yourself and more sure of what and where you are in life.
Now onto the yoga spaces. Anamaya has two yoga decks, both of which have sweeping ocean views. Their main yoga deck is located right in the main house by the pool, and their second yoga deck is further down the cliff by some of the other private cabinas.
Every day we would practice our morning Vinyasa session on the main deck, and in the evenings we’d practice restorative/yin in the second yoga deck while watching the sunset.
During every practice I had butterflies flying around me, sounds of birds singing, thunder and ocean waves crashing, and every other jungle noise you can think of putting me in a lucid state. I didn’t leave one yoga session not thinking that I had just woken up from some magical dream. Could this be real life?! Yes, it’s that good.
THE FOOD
Here’s the low-down on the food – it’s freaking delicious! But seriously, the food was out of this World fresh. My stomach had never been so happy (read: regular) before.
The following meals are covered in your stay, and it was MORE than enough food for everyone there:
7am – Pre yoga tropical fruits, coffee, coconut creamer, organic granola
930am – Post yoga breakfast with a variety of eggs, vegetables, protein, coffee, fruits, breads.
12pm – Lunch (either fish, chicken, or vegetarian)
4pm – Afternoon snack (fruit juice/shake plus snack)
715 – Dinner and dessert
THE ACCOMMODATIONS
I can’t speak for all the rooms, but I did stay in the Master Bedroom, which is considered a “dorm style” room, with 2 other females. We had our own private patio and bathroom. The rooms are ALL air conditioned and beautiful! The Master Bedroom is located upstairs of the main house where the kitchen, dining area, pool, and main yoga deck are. It was very convenient being right upstairs, and I rarely felt bothered by noise downstairs. I do recommend staying in a dorm style room with other guests if you are easily frightened at night when alone. I am glad I did!
MY EXPERIENCE
From the moment I contacted Anamaya, they were quick to respond to all of my questions, and reassured me about all my nervousness and concerns regarding solo travel. Months later, I flew into San Jose Airport, hopped on one crazy propeller plane ride, rode in a taxi on bumpy dirt roads, and alas, arrived in Montezuma.
From the moment I stepped foot onto Anamaya’s property, I could literally feel the magic of the place infiltrating my soul. Something in my heart told me I was home.
I knew the moment I met the other gals that everyone there was a like-minded individual. After our opening circle on the first night, where many laughs and tears were shed among all, I knew that somehow, as fate would have it, these women all had come here from all over the World that same week looking for the exact things in life at that exact moment I was – A life changing, love yourself, find yourself, mind-body-soul experience.
Saying goodbye to these incredible souls was one of the hardest things I had done.
With these incredible women by my side, I found myself.
Most importantly, I learned how to love my true self again.
I came back home to my friends and family, a better me – a more refreshed, cup-half-full, happy me.
And simply put, that is what Anamaya will do for you.
I could honestly go on for days raving about how Anamaya changed my life. But the only way you’ll really know how and why is to book that plane ticket, confirm your retreat, and go experience the magic for yourself.
xoxo,
Suzy
Krave The World