National Geographic recently named Anamaya Resort one of the World’s Best Wellness Experiences for 2026, alongside seaweed bathing in Ireland and a trek through Africa’s first designated wilderness quiet park.
For anyone who has experienced Anamaya, this recognition feels like the world finally catching up to what guests have known for years: this place changes people.
But what exactly makes a yoga or wellness retreat in Costa Rica stand out on a global stage? And why would one of the most trusted names in travel and exploration choose Anamaya?
The answer lies in a combination of location, intention, and something harder to quantify: the feeling you get when you arrive.
A Yoga Retreat in One of the World’s Five Blue Zones
Anamaya sits on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, one of only five Blue Zones in the world. Blue Zones are regions where people live measurably longer and healthier lives than anywhere else on the planet. The others are in Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California.
What makes Blue Zones special isn’t just genetics. Researchers estimate that lifestyle accounts for about 75% of longevity, with only 25% coming from genes. Across all Blue Zones, common factors include natural movement, plant-forward diets, strong social connections, a sense of purpose, and daily rituals that reduce stress.
But the Nicoya Peninsula has something else working in its favor: the land and water themselves.
The Nicoya Peninsula’s natural water sources contain high levels of calcium and magnesium, minerals that are vital in preventing osteoporosis and maintaining excellent health as people age. Studies have shown that this mineral-rich water helps maintain bone strength and reduce the risk of fractures in old age. The fertile volcanic soil also makes it easy to grow an abundance of nutrient-dense local foods.
The traditional Nicoyan diet is built around the “three sisters”: corn, beans, and squash. Black beans and rice form a complete protein, while local fruits like papaya, plantain, and pejibaye provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It’s simple, nutrient-dense food that has nourished generations.
At Anamaya, you’re not just visiting a Blue Zone. You’re living the principles that make it one.
Your days begin and end with yoga sessions in an open-air shala, ocean on one side, rainforest on the other. Meals are made with local ingredients, 100% gluten-free and dairy-free, designed to nourish rather than just feed. The pace of life slows. The jungle sounds replace notifications. Your nervous system begins to remember what calm feels like.
As National Geographic noted, Anamaya is “perched on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, one of the world’s five blue zones (regions where people live longer and healthier than in other places), overlooking the Pacific Ocean.”
Where Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science
One of the reasons National Geographic highlighted Anamaya for 2026 is its unique blend of traditional wellness practices and high-tech health analyses. The article called it “a jungle-meets-sea retreat in the heart of a blue zone” that “blends traditional wellness with high-tech health analyses.”
This is where Anamaya stands apart from other wellness and yoga retreats in Costa Rica.
On one hand, you’ll find sound healing sessions, sacred cacao ceremonies, and breathwork practices rooted in ancient traditions. The yoga draws on a variety of lineages, adapted to meet you wherever you are in your practice. You don’t need to be flexible. You don’t need experience. You just need to show up.
On the other hand, Anamaya offers biohacking services for those curious about the science of optimization. Heavy-metal testing. Red-light and oxygen therapies. An infrared sauna. Cold plunges. Heart-rate-variability analysis and optimization.
This isn’t about choosing between spirituality and science. It’s about honoring both. Your body responds to data and to ritual. Anamaya gives you access to both.
The Staff-to-Guest Ratio That Changes Everything
National Geographic specifically called out Anamaya’s “extraordinary 1:1.5 staff-to-guest ratio,” noting that it “allows staff to create an intimate experience so that guests’ needs are a priority.”
This isn’t a detail we take lightly. It’s the foundation of everything.
When you arrive at Anamaya, the staff learns your name. By the second day, they remember how you take your morning tea. By the end of the week, they know your story.
Guests often say that Anamaya feels like family. In well over 1,000 reviews, the most common thread isn’t the views (though they’re breathtaking) or the yoga (though it’s exceptional). It’s the feeling of being seen. Of being cared for. Of finally being able to exhale.
As one guest put it: “There’s still no place that welcomes you as part of the family as the Anamaya team does. I feel like my best self here.”
This level of care doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because of a team that has been with Anamaya since the early days, people who pour love into every meal, every freshly prepared room, every small detail you might not even notice.
Three Ecosystems, One Transformational Location
The National Geographic writer described discovering “a deeper reverence for what makes this retreat special” throughout their weeklong stay: “Resting at the convergence of three ecosystems, ocean, rainforest, mountain, it offers a genuine community where staff know your name and story.”
This convergence isn’t just beautiful. It’s therapeutic.
You wake to howler monkeys. You practice yoga with the Pacific stretching endlessly before you. You hike to Montezuma’s iconic waterfalls. You watch the sun set from the infinity pool while toucans fly overhead.
Nature isn’t a backdrop at Anamaya. It’s an active participant in your healing.
Research consistently shows that time in nature reduces cortisol, lowers blood pressure, and improves mood. Forest bathing, a practice that originated in Japan, has been shown to boost immune function and reduce anxiety. At Anamaya, you don’t have to schedule time in nature. You’re immersed in it from the moment you arrive.
High Season vs. Green Season: Two Different (and Equally Powerful) Experiences
One question we often hear: when is the best time to visit?
The honest answer? There’s no wrong time. But there are two distinct experiences.
High Season (November through April) brings dry, sunny days and warm temperatures. The skies are clear, the ocean sparkles, and the energy at Anamaya tends to feel vibrant and social. This is peak travel season for Costa Rica, and retreats during this time often fill quickly.
Green Season (May through October) offers something different: a quieter, lusher, more intimate experience.
Rain typically falls in the late afternoon or evening, often in dramatic tropical bursts that clear within an hour. Many guests find these rains become part of their practice, themes of releasing what no longer serves, cleansing, and renewal.
The jungle transforms during green season. Vibrant colors. Waterfalls roaring to life. The air feels fresher. It’s Costa Rica at its most breathtaking.
With fewer travelers in the area, you’ll experience Anamaya and the surrounding beaches with more space and stillness. It’s ideal for deeper inner work.
As one guest shared: “It was so special to be there during a more quiet season to enjoy the sounds of the jungle and to lay in the hammock during the occasional rainstorm. It offered such a retreat from the overstimulation of life back at home.”
A Bold Beginning: The Anamaya Origin Story
In 2009, three near-strangers with no hospitality experience took a leap together. The office was in the room that’s now the gift shop. There was one yoga deck and a handful of rooms. The current office space and reception area was once a car park.
The name “Anamaya” was chosen intentionally. It means “free from disease” in Sanskrit, a reflection of the belief that true wellness is about more than the absence of illness. It’s about wholeness. Connection. Remembering who you are.
Over the years, Anamaya grew slowly. A few more rooms. A lower deck. An expanded kitchen. More spa spaces. Many shifts and changes that brought it to where it is today.
But the intention never changed: to create a place where people could come home to themselves.
That intention is why, sixteen years later, National Geographic is calling Anamaya one of the world’s best wellness experiences.
What Guests Say About the Anamaya Experience
Beyond the National Geographic recognition, what speaks loudest is what guests say after they leave:
“The vacation of a lifetime. I have never felt so centered and at peace.”
“Anamaya is sacred medicine. Over a week, it works its magic through healthy food, yoga, breathwork, and artful attention to detail. I close my eyes, picture myself on the yoga deck overlooking the Pacific, and peace returns. Anamaya’s spirit stays with you.”
“I traveled solo and felt 100% safe and cared for. The views were incredible, the food delicious, the people amazing, and the energy unforgettable. This place changed my outlook on life and helped me find myself again.”
“Going to the retreat at Anamaya was the best gift I’ve ever given myself. The place, the people, the care, and freedom changed who I am and how I choose to live.”
The transformation isn’t magic. It’s biology finally working the way it’s meant to when you give it rest, nourishment, movement, and connection.
How to Experience Anamaya
Anamaya’s customizable wellness retreats run Saturday to Saturday and include accommodations and three meals daily. Rooms range from $895 to $2,195, depending on the room type and season (rats are subject to change). Yoga classes, spa treatments, and biohacking services are priced separately, giving you the flexibility to design a week that fits your needs and budget.
The retreat is located above the beaches of Montezuma on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. You can reach Anamaya by flying into Liberia International Airport, or San Jose International Airport, and then via a 25-minute domestic flight to Cobano Airport followed by a short drive.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to finally take that trip, to give yourself permission to pause and remember who you are, maybe this is it.
View our upcoming retreats and find a week that calls to you HERE.
Read the full National Geographic article → https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-of-the-world-2026/article/best-wellness-destinations
