El Sabanero

What it is now

When we first wrote about El Sabanero in 2015, it called itself an eco lodge. In 2026 it presents itself as a wellness and yoga retreat, still on the edge of Tamarindo in Guanacaste. Its official site was taking bookings for the 2026 green season when we checked it in October 2026, with stays, yoga, spa days and day passes to the pool. You'll still find it listed in its eco lodge days on Costa Rica Eco Lodges and in Costa Rica Journeys' El Sabanero write-up.

The idea is simple: a calm place to sleep and practice yoga a short drive from one of Costa Rica's busiest beach towns. Tamarindo itself is lively, with surf schools, restaurants and nightlife, so a base just outside it can be a good trade.

The stay

Rooms are bungalows. The retreat describes each one as air-conditioned, with a queen-size bed and a terrace looking out over the greenery, plus access to the infinity pool.

The programs are where El Sabanero puts its energy. It offers yoga and wellness retreats, detox programs and spa days, and it also runs leadership and team-building programs for companies. If you want a retreat package, the retreat says you need to book it directly with them, because packages can't be combined with hotel stays booked through third-party sites.

You don't have to commit to a full retreat. Day passes for the pool, yoga sessions and spa days are offered too, which makes it useful even if you're staying elsewhere around Tamarindo.

Where it fits in a trip

Tamarindo is one of the easiest beach towns to reach from Liberia airport, which makes this corner of Guanacaste a common first or last stop. Two or three nights here works well at the end of a busy route through Arenal and Monteverde, before flying home from Liberia. It also pairs with a few days of diving or sailing farther north around Playa Flamingo, or with the turtle-nesting beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula to the south.

See our Guanacaste guide for beaches, drive times and the best season on this coast, and our 10-day itinerary for a route that ends here.

Who it suits (and who it doesn't)

It suits people who want yoga and quiet in the same trip as beach time, couples looking for a slower few days, and small groups planning a retreat.

It isn't a beachfront hotel. You'll need a short drive or taxi to reach the sand, and Tamarindo's nightlife is close enough to visit but far enough that you won't hear it. Travelers who want a big resort with kids' clubs will be happier elsewhere on this coast.

Getting there

Liberia's Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) is the closest international airport to Tamarindo. From there most visitors rent a car or book a shuttle. Tamarindo also has a small domestic airstrip. Ask El Sabanero for directions when you book, since it sits just outside town.