Danyasa

What it's like

Danyasa sits at the foot of rainforested hills on the bank of the Barú River in Dominical, a surf town on the south Pacific coast. It was one of the first retreats we covered back in 2014, and it's still going strong: in 2026 its site was taking nightly bookings and listing retreats into December.

It's adults-only and describes itself as both a boutique hotel and a yoga retreat center. You can stay a few nights and drop in to classes, join a week-long retreat or come for a yoga teacher training. Costa Rica Yoga Retreats has its own Danyasa profile if you're comparing it with other yoga centers.

Rooms and facilities

There are 12 rooms, some of them built from upcycled shipping containers. The center has a bamboo yoga studio, a pool and a farm-to-table kitchen. It uses eco-friendly soaps and cleaning products, and the beach is a short walk away.

What to do

Dominical is known for its powerful beach break, best for intermediate and advanced surfers, though lessons are available. Danyasa offers surf and adventure tours, and the wider area has waterfalls, whale watching from Uvita and Marino Ballena National Park just to the south.

Where it fits in a trip

Dominical is south of Manuel Antonio on the Costanera Sur coastal highway, which makes it a natural stop on the way to Uvita, Ojochal or the Osa Peninsula. Two or three nights here adds a relaxed surf town to a route that might otherwise be all national parks. See our Osa Peninsula guide and our surfing guide.

Who it suits (and who it doesn't)

It suits yoga lovers, surfers, solo travelers and retreat groups. It doesn't take children, and if you want a quiet beach for swimming, Dominical's surf can be rough. Check conditions and swim only where it's safe.

Getting there

Dominical is on the Costanera Sur highway on the south Pacific coast. Most travelers drive or take a shuttle from San José or Manuel Antonio. Danyasa can help with transfers when you book.