When National Geographic named Anamaya one of the World’s Best Wellness Experiences for 2026, it confirmed what retreat leaders have known for years: this place transforms people.
For sixteen years, Anamaya has been hosting retreats in Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, one of the world’s five Blue Zones. Yoga retreats. Wellness immersions. Women’s circles. Teacher trainings. Creative and leadership gatherings. Hundreds of retreat leaders have brought their communities here, and many return year after year.
Why? Because when the venue is this dialed in, you’re free to do what you do best: hold space, guide transformation, and lead the retreat you’ve always envisioned.
The Foundation That Makes Transformation Possible
The best retreats aren’t just about what you teach. They’re about the container you create.
And that container depends on logistics that flow effortlessly, beauty that inspires, nourishment that restores, and an energy that makes breakthroughs feel inevitable.
That’s exactly what Anamaya provides.
National Geographic highlighted the resort’s location in one of the world’s five Blue Zones, its blend of traditional wellness and biohacking services, and its extraordinary 1:1.5 staff-to-guest ratio. But what the article was really describing is something retreat leaders feel the moment they arrive: this place is built for transformation.
As one retreat leader put it: “If you are looking for an authentic yoga and wellness facility to host your retreat in Costa Rica, Anamaya is it. Once we stepped foot onto the property we felt right at home. The staff took care of our entire group all week long. No detail was overlooked.”
Why Retreat Leaders Keep Coming Back
Forty percent of Anamaya’s private retreats are hosted by returning leaders. That’s not a marketing statistic. It’s a testament to what happens when retreat leaders find a venue that truly supports their vision.
Here’s what brings them back:
Seamless operations. From your first inquiry through checkout, Anamaya’s experienced team handles the details so you can focus on your participants. Room assignments. Dietary needs. Scheduling. Ground transportation. You’ll have direct support every step of the way.
A backdrop that elevates everything. Two large open-air decks overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Jungle sunrises. Howler monkeys greeting your morning practice. The setting doesn’t just complement your retreat. It amplifies it.
Proven infrastructure. Anamaya has hosted transformational retreats since 2009. The systems work. The food is exceptional. The accommodations are stunning. There are no surprises, only the kind of environment where your participants can fully let go.
Participants who leave transformed. The combination of Anamaya’s energy, your leadership, and Costa Rica’s natural magic creates something unforgettable. Guests don’t just relax here. They evolve.
One retreat leader shared: “I am forever grateful for the relationship we’ve built. The Anamaya team supported me from start to finish with patience, kindness, and flexibility. I deeply value the care and partnership.”
The Blue Zone Advantage
Location matters. And Anamaya’s location in Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula offers something no amount of programming can replicate: the healing power of a Blue Zone.
Blue Zones are regions where people live measurably longer and healthier lives than anywhere else on the planet. The Nicoya Peninsula is one of only five in the world, alongside Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California.
What makes the Nicoya Peninsula unique isn’t just lifestyle. It’s the environment itself.
The natural water sources contain high levels of calcium and magnesium, minerals vital for bone strength and overall health. The fertile volcanic soil produces an abundance of nutrient-dense local foods. The climate invites outdoor living and natural movement. The pace of life encourages presence over productivity.
When your participants arrive at Anamaya, they’re not just attending your retreat. They’re immersing themselves in one of the healthiest environments on Earth.
As National Geographic noted, Anamaya sits “at the convergence of three ecosystems, ocean, rainforest, mountain,” offering “a genuine community where staff know your name and story.”
Your participants will feel that. And it will deepen everything you offer.
What Your Participants Will Experience
When guests arrive at Anamaya, something shifts. You can see it in their shoulders dropping, their breath deepening, their eyes softening. The environment does half the work before you even begin.
Here’s what your participants will experience:
World-class accommodations. Fourteen unique rooms ranging from private suites to shared options, each designed with care and intention. Every room offers views of the jungle, ocean, or gardens.
Nourishing, delicious meals. Fresh, healthy food prepared daily by Anamaya’s kitchen team. The cuisine is 100% gluten-free and dairy-free, with options for vegan, pescatarian, and vegetarian diets. Guests consistently rave about the food.
Holistic wellness offerings. Beyond your programming, participants can access Anamaya’s spa services, biohacking therapies (infrared sauna, cold plunge, red-light therapy, heart-rate-variability optimization), sacred cacao ceremonies, sound healing, and excursions to Montezuma’s waterfalls and beaches.
A team that treats them like family. National Geographic highlighted Anamaya’s extraordinary 1:1.5 staff-to-guest ratio. Your participants will feel seen, cared for, and held from the moment they arrive.
As one guest described it: “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.”
That’s the transformation your participants will carry home.
High Season or Green Season: Two Powerful Options
One question retreat leaders often ask: when is the best time to host?
Both seasons offer distinct advantages.
High Season (November through April) brings dry, sunny days, warm temperatures, and vibrant energy. The skies are clear, the ocean sparkles, and the social atmosphere tends to feel lively and connected. This is peak travel season for Costa Rica, so 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 retreat leaders weave the rain into their programming, using it as a metaphor for 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. And with fewer travelers in the area, your group experiences more space and stillness.
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.”
Green season also offers a lower venue rental rate, making it an excellent option for retreat leaders building their programs.
Two Ways to Host Your Retreat at Anamaya
Anamaya offers two models for retreat leaders:
Private Retreats give you the entire property. Two large open-air decks, all common spaces, all 14 rooms, complete privacy. This option accommodates up to 32 guests (including facilitators) and is ideal for larger groups, immersive experiences, or retreats that require full exclusivity. The venue is closed to the public, including the restaurant, so your group has Anamaya entirely to yourselves.
Independent Retreats give you a dedicated block of rooms and exclusive access to the lower deck while sharing common areas with one other retreat group using the upper deck. This option accommodates up to 16 guests (including facilitators) and is ideal for intimate gatherings or retreat leaders building their programs.
Both options include daily housekeeping, use of yoga accessories (mats, blocks, bolsters, blankets, straps), and access to the infinity pool, infrared sauna, cold plunge, and lounge areas.
Retreats run Saturday to Saturday, giving your participants a full week of transformation with built-in travel days on either end.
Sixteen Years of Hosting Transformational Retreats
Anamaya opened sixteen years ago, founded by three near-strangers with no hospitality experience. The office was in the room that’s now the gift shop. There was one deck and a handful of rooms.
Over the years, Anamaya grew slowly. A few more rooms. A lower deck. An expanded kitchen. More spa spaces. Many shifts and changes shaped by one question: how do we create the best possible environment for transformation?
That commitment is why Anamaya has been recognized by Forbes and National Geographic. It’s why retreat leaders return year after year. And it’s why participants leave saying things like:
“The vacation of a lifetime. I have never felt so centered and at peace.”
“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.”
When your participants experience that level of transformation, they become your best ambassadors. They tell their friends. They come back. They follow you wherever you lead next.
That’s the power of hosting at a venue that truly supports your work.
Let’s Create Something Extraordinary Together
If you’ve been dreaming of hosting a retreat in Costa Rica, or if you’re looking for a venue that matches the caliber of your work, we’d love to talk.
Anamaya’s team will support you from your first inquiry through checkout, helping with logistics, room assignments, scheduling, and anything else you need to create an unforgettable experience for your community.
You bring the vision. We’ll provide the foundation.
Learn more about hosting your retreat at Anamaya here.
Read the full National Geographic article → https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-of-the-world-2026/article/best-wellness-destinations
