We are 5-6 kms away from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. In our immediate area we have a local market, a few cafes, a few great eating options including a pizza place and slow food restaurant, as well as a great artistic souvenir shop. If nightlife, noise and bustling activity are more your thing, you can visit Puerto Viejo. Transportation between Playa Chiquita and Puerto Viejo is readily available and inexpensive.

Travelling to the centre can be made to be smooth and easy if you are prepared. We are a 5 hour drive from the San Jose airport but the drive is pretty cool and relaxing. As a passenger you will have a stop along the way for an optional meal. Bring a good book to read or listen to, some snacks, water, and you’ll be set.

If a car ride is not your thing (and yes things happen on the highway here) hop on a national flight from San Jose to Limon using Sansa Air http://flysansa.com/en/home. These national flights are usually under $100. You can then take a shuttle from Limon to here, about an hour drive, for around $22. Taxis are also available but will charge more. If you KNOW that sitting in a car for too long could drive you mad, take the flight.

Tierra de Sueños Retreat & Wellness Center - 50 mts. North of Hotel Shawanda in Playa Chiquita, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Provincia de Limón, Costa Rica 70403

Drive from the airport – Tierra de Suenos Retreat & Wellness Centre is about a 5 hour drive at peak driving times. There are also flights from San Jose to Limon if you are looking to reduce your travel time in a car. Please look up Sansa Airlines. Limon is about a 1 hour drive from Tierra de Suenos and there are regular shuttles.

The shuttle transfer is 4 and a half to 5 hours and includes a stop for an optional meal. Your are responsible for your own transportation but we can help book shuttles and recommend flights. Our group shuttle will cost roughly $40-$50-/pp one-way, depending on group size. Plan about $100- into your budget for this shuttle service.

On retreat arrival day (March 31, 2024) make sure your flights arrive by 12 pm or earlier at SJO airport which will allow you to arrive at Tierra de Suenos by dinner. Retreats start at dinner time on the first day and end after breakfast on the last day.

Check-in time is 2:00 PM and check-out time is 11:00 AM. Our lodge is open between 8am and 8pm so let us know if you need to arrive outside of these hours.

There are 9 rooms available in total.

- 5 Shared capacity Bungalows,

- 2 double-level bungalows,

- and 2 rooms off the yoga pavilion.

At max capacity there could be 18 guests.

There will be a minimum of 6 guests-maximum 18 guests.

No, this is not an all inclusive vacation centre with buffets and bottomless drinks and in fact it is a different approach altogether. The Caribbean of Costa Rica has minimal access to supplies and large vendors but instead has a bounty of fresh delicious fruits, coconuts, fish and vegetables. We use these foods and others to make the most delicious and nourishing meals you could imagine. All homemade, all from scratch, and all fresh to your table. You may notice that the foods are refreshing and cleansing. We offer clean health drinking water, fresh vitalized air, and then top that off with local caribbean delights in food and culture! It’s truly a unique experience.

Because importation is very costly and limited we source locally and buy loads of fresh foods from markets and make everything from scratch. You will notice that conservation, recycling and reusing is a way of life throughout the country, but especially here in this remote area of the caribbean. We will invite you to enjoy quick showers and assist us in washing your plates and cups which allows us to run our small kitchen despite lacking the convenience of a dishwasher.

Weather – The best time to visit Costa Rica is February to April. However, temperatures are great year round. And even in other months you will still get lots of sun mixed with some rain. The fall months of September - November can also be very beautiful here with more quiet waters.

Bungalows – Our bungalows are open air without air conditioning as temperatures stay between 77-89 degrees Fahrenheit or 23-31 degrees Celsius year round. All bungalows have ceiling fans to keep air circulating and the evening air is often cooler. You’ll hear the sounds of nature and the community all around from the neighborhood.

Caribbean Style – Our bungalows are also fitted with zinc roofs meaning that you will hear the sweet sound of the rain on your roof top. For some this is amazing for others a lot to take in. Come prepared with earplugs in case you are in the latter group!

TDS has 7 bungalows on site plus 2 rooms attached to the yoga pavilion.

There are 5 standard bungalows that can hold 2 people each in their own beds -

each bungalow consists of a hand-carved queen-sized bed and an additional single-sized bed.

There is 1 two level bungalow with an upstairs and downstairs that are their own independent units with their own entrance and bathrooms equal to our standard bungalows. The bottom consists of a hand-carved queen-sized bed and an additional single-sized bed. The upstairs consists of two single-sized beds.

There is 1 family-sized bungalow with an upstairs and a downstairs that can hold 4 people. The arrangement of the family bungalow consists of two hand-carved queen-sized beds and two additional single-sized beds and a family size bathroom.

There are also 2 additional rooms attached to the yoga pavilion that can hold 2 people each. Each of these rooms has 2 single-sized beds. These two rooms are on the second floor with steep stairs not suitable for elderly or those with physical limitations such as knee problems. There is a shared bathroom on the first floor of the yoga pavilion. There is also a second shared bathroom with an outdoor shower behind the yoga pavilion.

● Food – We prepare healthy, locally sourced, fresh meals. Our standard menu is vegetarian and includes eggs for breakfast, many beans, legumes and pulses for protein. Some groups opt to add in fish and chicken a few times.

● Food Allergies – If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions please let us know beforehand so we can plan. We are not set up for lethal allergies.

⚫️ Your retreat includes x3 meals a day beginning with first dinner on arrival night and last breakfast on departure day. Last dinner will be out to enjoy local fair and is not included so plan accordingly for one dinner out.

Beaches – Our retreat center is a short 5 minute walk across the street to a beautiful body of turquoise water. Warm like a bathtub but refreshing from the heat. The beach may very well be your favorite place to be when you are not participating in your program.

What beaches are in the area?

The Caribbean side of Costa Rica is host to some of the most beautiful rock free beaches in all of Costa Rica. At our location, you have the choice of a variety of beaches for whatever your heart desires, surfing, jumping the waves, relaxing and floating, and more...

● Playa Negra – entrance of Puerto Viejo. This is where surf training and beginning surfers practice. It’s open and long and black!!

● Cocles – In Cocles just 5 minutes past Puerto Viejo and 1 mile from us right in the middle. This is a dynamic beach with many entrances and places to find.

● Salsa Brava in Cocles – This is the competition wave area for surfers. If you are into surfing you’ll want to go here!

● Playa Chiquita – This is across the street from us (5 minutes walk) and has beautiful private beach areas. Tan, swim or do your morning walk or yoga on the beach. It has lots of coral, nooks and crannies and usually mostly locals.

● Punta Uva – One of Costa Rica's most famous beaches 1 mile away and only 2 minutes drive! It has almost no undertow and you can really relax and swim.

● Manzanillo – 10 minutes drive from us. This is a calm beach and excellent for young families with children. Manzanillo is an old fishing village.

Be sure to plan for both the heat and rain. Sneakers and flip flops. The jungle loves to ruin leather so plastic footwear is better! Long pants for excursions, a light coat or sweater for those cooler evenings. Rain gear, bathing suit, yoga apparel, umbrella, flash light and your own personal hygiene and care products.

You can bring your own personal yoga mat for your practice. It will make you feel comfortable and at home even while being in the jungle. But if you can’t fit it no worries as we do have mats on site.

How do the telephones work?:

Tierra has a local phone that can call anywhere in Costa Rica if needed. Cellular phones generally have okay reception in this area. If there is an emergency back home and a loved one needs to reach you, they can call our local telephone number 506-2750-0378 from 8am to 8pm and we can come and get you for that call. Or they can call our North American number as well 360-799-3033.

Do you have WIFI?:

Tierra has fiber optic WIFI available to all guests. WIFI is available in the main lodge and eating area at all hours of the day. Do keep in mind though that the internet is not as reliable as other developed areas of the world and it is NOT in your bungalow.