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Every Pura Vida Adventures surf retreat date for 2026 and 2027, which retreat suits who, what a day looks like, how to get to Santa Teresa, what to pack and what it costs.

Every Pura Vida Adventures surf retreat date for 2026 and 2027, which retreat suits who, what a day looks like, how to get to Santa Teresa, what to pack and what it costs.

Planning your first trip to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica? This complete travel guide covers how to get there, the best time to visit, surf tips for beginners, things to do, and what first-time visitors should know.

Planning your first trip to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica? This complete travel guide covers how to get there, the best time to visit, surf tips for beginners, things to do, and what first-time visitors should know.

🌊 Mother-Daughter Surf Retreat | July 19–25, 2026 | Santa Teresa, Costa Rica Almost sold out. Save $300 per person — offer ends June 1. Book […]

This Year, Say “Yes”: 5 Promises for Women Who Secretly Want to Surf Most of us have a quiet list we don’t say out loud. “Someday […]

I Want to Surf, But I’m Terrified: A Positive Guide to Women’s Surf Retreats in Costa Rica (40+ & Beginners Welcome) Maybe this sounds familiar: You […]

“We promised each other we’d do something brave at 50.” Ana said it as she watched the dawn melt into soft gold over Santa Teresa, Costa […]

Pura Vida: The Phrase You Hear Everywhere (and Why It Matters) Ask someone in Costa Rica how they’re doing and you might hear a smile: pura […]

A guide to surf & yoga retreats in Costa Rica for women who are ready to say yes to themselves You don’t need anyone’s permission to […]

November in Costa Rica is a kind of quiet magic. The beaches in Santa Teresa feel open and unhurried, the surf lineups are mellow and uncrowded, […]

The ultimate adventure to reconnect with yourself, guided by the ocean, movement, and community. If you’ve been craving something different—maybe a getaway with your best friend, […]

Feeling burnt out? Longing for sunshine, soul nourishment, and space to breathe again? Santa Teresa, Costa Rica is more than a destination—it’s your invitation to reconnect. […]

For 21 years, Pura Vida Adventures has been a space of powerful transformation for women of all ages, backgrounds, and life stages. Our all-inclusive women’s surf […]

Makeover shows, before-and-after pictures, and Bob Ross painting a landscape from start to finish—who doesn’t love these types of transformation stories? It’s uplifting and encouraging to […]

Why a Mother-Daughter Retreat Might Be the Best Trip You'll Ever Take Join us July 19–25, 2026 in Costa Rica for a life-changing surf and yoga […]

Beachside Spa Day An intimate and transformative experience held amidst the serene tide pools of Mal País, where the rhythm of the ocean sets the tone […]

Learning something new—especially a sport like surfing—can feel intimidating. Maybe you’ve never tried anything like this before, you’re managing an old injury, or you feel like […]

If you’ve taken a few surf lessons in your life, but it’s been a while since you’ve been in the ocean, you may be wondering what […]

For over 15 years, Hotel Tropico Latino has been the treasured home for our life-changing surf and yoga retreats, where thousands of guests have found adventure, community, […]

Here at Pura Vida Adventures, we believe that anyone can learn to surf, and it all starts with the fundamentals. Learn to master the big three: the pop up, […]

Whether you’re an avid surfer, a nature lover, or an adventure-seeker, you can find your dream vacation in the unspoiled paradise of Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. […]

If you’ve caught the surfing bug and dream of riding more waves, or just feel ready for an upgrade, it’s time to start thinking about investing […]

If you’re new to surfing and dreaming of catching your first waves, look to the experts for guidance. For almost 20 years, Pura Vida Adventures in […]

Most people come to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica to soak in the tropical sunshine, stroll the pristine beaches, and surf world-class waves – but one of […]

Are you wondering what time of year you should book your surf and yoga retreat? Read our article on the nuances between the green and dry seasons in Santa Teresa to help you decide.

First time traveling to Costa Rica? Here’s a rundown of what to expect when you touch down to make your arrival as smooth as possible.

Approaching your Costa Rica surf and yoga retreat at Pura Vida Adventures? It’s time to get your body fit for this challenging new sport.

People of all ages come to Pura Vida Adventures in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica to fulfill the bucket list item of learning to surf — by […]

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you had thrown off society’s expectations as a teenager and chased your childhood dream around the […]

It’s been a year of creativity for Pura Vida Adventures surf instructor Michelle, who just launched her newest collection of women’s clothing from her ocean-inspired fashion […]

Covid-19 Testing Santa Teresa, Costa Rica We’ve got some great news for you — tourism is BACK in Costa Rica, and traveling to and from this […]

If you’re dreaming of a surf vacation with Pura Vida Adventures in 2021 (yes, we are open!), you can now get fit and inspired for this […]

The information below is always evolving and contains the current details as we know. We will be continuing to update this article when we have more […]

Pura Vida Adventures is located in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica at the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula and specifically beachfront at Playa Carmen. Known as a […]

Even though Costa Rica is a tiny country, it’s jam-packed with bucket list travel adventures. At our weeklong surf and yoga retreats at Pura Vida Adventures, […]

These long months at home have got us daydreaming like crazy about the day our tropical beachfront hotel in Costa Rica reopens! Whether you know this […]

If there’s anyone who can take some lemons and turn them into lemonade, it’s a Costa Rican woman and an Italian man who are madly in […]

Life has certainly shown us in recent months that no matter our best laid plans, the world can turn itself upside down in an instant. As […]

At just 26, Tessa from New York City may be the youngest (and bravest!) Pura Vida alum we know who has uprooted her traditional life in […]

Makeover shows, before-and-after pictures, and Bob Ross painting a landscape from start to finish—who doesn’t love these types of transformation stories? It’s uplifting and encouraging to […]

How could we do a blog about the life-changing magic of Costa Rica without talking about Tierza Davis Eichner, our fearless leader and Pura Vida Adventures […]

Costa Rica Is Doing It Right! Pura vida! Costa Rica is officially one of the happiest countries in the world, according to the Happy Planet Index. […]

Oh my!  What’s that?  Yet another top rated ‘How to Surf’ video from your favorite surf camp?  Yes, it’s time to hit you square between the […]

Have you ever heard the fable about the frog being boiled and wondered how that related to your life? Uh….what? No seriously, stick with us. The […]

We’re all looking for a little change from time to time. Some of us are stuck in our same old routines, some of us want to […]

Traditional surf schools: “All you’ve got to do is jump” he yells.  There are thirty of us lying in the baking sand attempting to follow our […]

{{ vc_btn: title=Bali+Retreat+Details&color=danger&size=lg&align=center&link=url%3A%252Fcosta-rica-surf-retreats%252Fbali-surf-camps%252F%7C%7C%7C }} As you might have guessed, WE ARE BEYOND EXCITED TO SURF WITH YOU IN INDONESIA! Our new, all-inclusive surf and yoga camps […]

Are you stuck in duck dive hell?  Well come on in!  That’s it.  Take you shoes off.  Shut the door! (we weren’t born in a barn […]

{{ vc_btn: title=Bali+Retreat+Details+&color=danger&size=lg&align=center&link=url%3A%252Fcosta-rica-surf-retreats%252Fbali-surf-camps%252F%7C%7C%7C }} Psst...We are going to Bali!!! If you haven't already heard, we are hosting a retreat in Bali, Indonesia and we are overly […]

A surf clothing company in the late 80s had this advertising slogan ‘only a surfer knows the feeling’.  I was working in a sports store as […]

Our core mission at Pura Vida Adventures is to give every single client a life-changing experience.  We’re always getting messages from past clients telling us about […]

There’s a lyric in a Queen song where Freddie Mercury sings: One golden glance of what should be, it’s a kind of magic, one shaft of […]

With big smiles and happy hearts, we surfed our way into 2019 at our annual New Year’s coed surf retreat! This time of year is especially […]

A friend once asked me if I would prefer to have a boyfriend who was an amazing pro surfer sponsored by Quiksilver, but terrible in bed; […]

We’ve taken the Christmas tree down, the booze is going down the sink, and those coffee creams are heading to the trash.  It’s time to get […]

Life is full of many ponderous mysteries – such as, who wrote the Bonnie Tyler hit ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’?  What’s the proper technique for […]

Did you know that if you watch our ‘How to Surf’ videos your surfing will improve by at least 74 percent?  Also if you watch them […]

Imagine spending a week surfing world-class waves at your doorstep, then indulging on to-die-for cuisine prepared steps from your room by a world-class chef… we are […]

Surfsgiving Coed Surf Camp and Yoga Retreat Five years ago, Pura Vida Adventures celebrated its 10 year anniversary, complete with a week-long fiesta that just happened […]

Learning to surf at any age is an incredible experience—but celebrating your 60th birthday with a mother-daughter surf trip to Costa Rica is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! […]

Waterfalls, horses, a wild ride above the jungle, SUP along the coast… Our favorite local tours and adventures are just another reason to fall in love […]

Farewell Kook Bitches Retreat ~ July 30 – August 5 Eight years ago Helen Bowditch quit her job in journalism at the BBC, packed her bag […]

At our surf and yoga retreats in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica we teach all different types of students – from varied backgrounds, athletic abilities, ages, and […]

CrossFit is cool, team sports are terrific, and solo activities like hiking sure can bring some zen…but nothing is as amazing as surfing to create unbelievably […]

Beginner surfers often ask us what is the #1 piece of advice we can give them as they continue to improve on their surfing journey. They […]

Happy New Year! It’s the time to make big plans, set exciting goals, leave behind bad habits, embrace new life purpose and… fail miserably? ::screeching record sound:: […]

Season’s greetings, surfers! Whether you’ve been naughty or nice (or a little bit of both), everyone deserves that giddy feeling of getting or giving juuuuuuuust the […]

We cannot lie. There’s no point beating around the bush. Learning to surf properly is hard, but it’s definitely worth the effort. We can attest to […]

Santa Teresa, Costa Rica is a premier surf destination renowned for its year-round waves, wild and unspoiled beaches, and thriving local surf community. This surfer’s paradise […]

Costa Rica Surf Camp You can’t choose your family, so the saying goes, but you can choose to surround yourself with rad women on a Pura […]

This month is Alumni Appreciation Month.  To that end, we are sharing the stories we hear from our “repeat offenders.”  These are stories of friendship, community […]

Your Next Surf & Yoga Retreat In Costa Rica Here in Santa Teresa we are lucky to introduce our students to some of the best surf […]

Often, some of the sweetest moments at surf camp can be found during the quiet hours of the week when we’re not catching killer waves, chilling […]

Let’s face it: when people come to surf retreats they know what to expect. If you sign up for a Pura Vida week of “barefoot luxury” […]

If Black Friday didn’t inspire your Surfer Girl’s Christmas list, join the club. At Pura Vida Adventures, we opted to #justsurf instead of battling the malls […]

Last week we hosted our third annual Surfsgiving surf retreat and the consensus with the Pura Vida Adventures family was it was one for the record […]

Celebrating Thanksgiving in Costa Rica—an emerging culinary travel destination—puts a new perspective on the foodie movement and sustainable culture. Because similar to the Pilgrims (who landed […]

The fundamental focus of Pura Vida Adventures surf and yoga retreats was created around the concept of family. And our growing family of surfers—blood or otherwise—is what makes […]

It takes a special kind of person to be part of the Pura Vida Adventures surfing lineup, and both Andy and Michelle fit that bill. An […]

Wanna be a spiritual gangster? Okay, maybe not. But when you come to a Pura Vida Adventures surf and yoga retreat, it might be nice to […]

At Pura Vida Adventures, we’re all about letting our freak flag fly. And we own it! The fact that we can embrace each other for being […]

Surf and Yoga Retreat for Mothers and Daughters: A Note from Tierza Join Us July 19 – 25, 2026 | Santa Teresa, Costa Rica If you’ve […]

Do you ever feel like you need a barefoot luxury vacation, pronto? Maybe your everyday world is toxic. Now, I don’t mean toxic in the poisonous […]

As a women, no one gets you more than Pura Vida Adventure’s founder, Tierza Eichner. You see, even though she’s the owner of a totally rad […]

Hi Tierza, You are a goddess for dreaming up and manifesting this surf camp–it has been such a wonderful experience! Tell me, is it normal that […]

Does that picture above of the trusty surfboard and jeep make you excited? Does it make you start frothing at the mouth and feel all warm […]

Oh man! You know what this picture says? `GET READY TO HAVE THE BEST ADVENTURE VACATION OF YOUR LIFE! This surf camp week was a delightful […]

Let’s be honest: Winter can be rough. The days get shorter, the nights get colder, you find yourself going to AND from work in darkness, and you’ve […]

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: We love it when new students come to camp and we get to introduce them to the […]

It's December 31st, and you know what that means: 2016 IS SO CLOSE, YOU GUYS! I don’t know about you, but I always get excited at […]

Even though I’ve been teaching surfing for over 13 years, sometimes I still feel like an uncoordinated baby deer, falling all over her legs for the […]

If you’re looking for an objective view of the PVA experience, or just want more nitty-gritty details in order to decide if PVA is the right […]

It’s official: The surf season has begun in Malpais/Santa Teresa, Costa Rica! Surfer babes, surfer boys, surf beginners–everyone’s welcome in the water here, and we could […]

Three years ago, Pura Vida Adventures celebrated its 10th year, complete with a week-long fiesta that just happened to coincide with Thanksgiving. We surfed till our […]

We recently came across an article at UpliftConnect.com that talked with surfers young and old about the transformative, other-worldly power of riding the ocean’s waves. The […]

The other day a friend told me that when she was younger she would look at her mom’s fashion magazines and wish that she looked like […]

Can you imagine learning to Surf at the age of 70? Does it seem like an impossible goal? If you had told Pura Vida Adventures alumni […]

Hey PVA friends! We’re deep in summer surf season and our camps have been super fun! We decided to do a round-up from the best shots […]

For anyone who followed theWomen’s World Cup, you undoubtedly watched super athletic women display incredible strength and perseverance. I don’t know about you, but sometimes this […]

Beginner surfers often ask me what is the #1 piece of advice I can give them as they continue to improve on their surfing journey. They […]

Practice makes perfect, but sometimes an objective eye can help you figure out what’s holding back your surfing. Below our awesome instructor Helen (and self-proclaimed “Surf […]

Remember when you were a kid and you felt like you could do anything, be anyone you wanted to be? You were fearless and filled with […]

Our instructors had offered a hilarious analogy for choosing a wave to surf earlier in the week during our surf lessons. It was like choosing a […]

I will note that my usual type A determination served a purpose in Costa Rica. Something I have learned over the years is the value of […]

The most powerful things in our lives are the stories we tell about ourselves. Not the cocktail hour entertainment we trot out for guests, but the […]

For the past 8 years, I’ve spent every New Year’s Eve (minus one: curse you re-scheduled Delta flight!) in the soft-sanded, glittering-waved town of Malpais, Costa […]

Pre-Departure: Why surf camp? That’s a question I’ve been getting a lot whenever I tell people where I’m spending the week. I answer based on how […]

I believe that everything is meant to be. When Loa came into my life, I didn’t want a dog and I actually didn’t really like her. […]

Ever paddle out to find you’re the only girl in the lineup? Sick of thumbing through surf rags with pages of male athletes getting in on […]

I just watched the Facebook post Always #LikeAGirl. The video moved me so much and gave me chills that I felt compelled to write my feelings […]

Horses are an important part of Costa Rican culture and history, which is not surprising in a country with such a great agricultural tradition. You will […]

An ancient Chinese general once said, “Know thy enemy.” In surfing, this translates to “know thy lineup” The lineup is out beyond the whitewater. It’s where you go when your […]

You will want to quit your job. Yes–the work is soul destroying, the boss is an idiot and your colleagues morons…but who wants to pursue things […]

The sport of surfing includes a lot of downtime. Sometimes the waves are too big, too small, or nonexistent. Surf trips can also involve a lot […]

I’m supposed to be on the surf trip of a lifetime right now. I’ve been planning it for ages.  It’s an off-the-beaten-track point break in Central America.  […]

There are lots of bikini brands on the market that advertise their “surf bikinis.”  Some of these so-called “surf bikinis” do work (remain in place even […]

With last fall’s launch of the new Bridget Jones novel, I thought it would be fun to imagine what it would be like if Bridget came to […]

1. THEY DON’T DIET Have you ever met an amazing athlete who also buys into fad dieting?  Yeah, I thought not.  Surfers aren’t interested in the […]

As you can tell from our previous post on Ali Kaukas, we are not only blessed with an abundance of sun, surf, and fun in Santa […]

As a kid on summer swim team, I never wanted to be in the final relay. Those were the last events of the night, after the […]

Watching YouTube clips of Carissa Moore, 2013 ASP Women’s Word Surf Champion, I admired the power, grace, and precision she has on her surfboard. I thought […]

If I had the choice, which fortunately I do, I’d choose to sponge my energy and inspiration off of Ali Kaukas. You see—this woman epitomizes the […]

Gone are the days when I’d roll out of bed, grab my board, head to the beach, and jump straight into the surf… If you’re over […]

by Helen Bowditch For a guilt-free dessert that oozes decadence yet exemplifies healthy eating, whip up some avocado chocolate mousse. It’s kinda like Hugh Hefner got together […]

Hanging somewhere between a deep slumber and an awakened state, you hear the faint sound of a harp. And–is it chanting? Yes, chanting. At first, you […]

pura vida- n. pure life; full of life; real living vibe – n. the atmosphere of a place as communicated to and felt by others. by […]