Del Alma Retreat Costa Rica

We couldn’t have hoped for a nicer vacation. Despite it being rainy season, we still had sunshine to surf the whole week! The yoga was beautiful and just what we needed. Kati and JC are incredibly welcoming and kind. We felt like family, from the home cooked meals to playing on the beach at sunset. I am so glad we booked a week with them, it was absolutely life changing. I’m coming back next year for my anniversary for sure.

Catalina is an incredibly motivating and knowledgeable yoga instructor. I have learned so many new things about yoga and meditation, and truly appreciate the depth of her teaching. I also thoroughly enjoyed the delicious food they prepare. A special thank you to the entire team for their kindness, care, and welcoming nature—it made the experience even more special

The best things about this retreat was the instructors, food, and the remote location. Being in a place without heavy tourism was a must for me for this year’s experience. And to spend so much time getting to know Katy and JC was an added bonus to this wonderful experience. And the food was so amazing. Every dish was special.

Catalina is a very professional yoga and health coach who truly listens and adapts the sessions to make it the best yoga experience I ever had. She and Juan Carlos pay great attention to details, with JC also sharing a lot about nature and wildlife and guiding me on beautiful hikes. The food was absolutely excellent, healthy and delicious at the same time.

Catalina and Juan Carlos made my stay a wonderful experience which I will never forget. Thanks a lot!

I had the absolute best week at the Del Alma retreat. Cati and JC made the entire experience feel so personal and welcoming. One of the things I appreciated most was the individual attention they give you, which makes such a difference, especially when learning to surf or deepening your yoga practice.

JC is incredibly patient and supportive in the water. I’m not the strongest swimmer, but I felt completely at ease thanks to his guidance. To my surprise, I caught a wave on my second pop-up! That moment set the tone for the rest of the week. I can now confidently say that surfing is a lifelong skill I’ll keep building on.

Cati is amazing, full of life with a grounded, encouraging presence. I’ve done yoga on and off for years, but the progress I made with her in just one week blew me away. Thanks to her focused attention, I achieved my first-ever headstand something I never got close to in group classes. It felt like a true breakthrough.

The food? Incredible. Every meal looked like it came out of a 5-star restaurant and tasted even better. Everything was nourishing and beautifully presented. Plus, they’re super accommodating if you follow a specific diet.

Overall, I learned so much about myself, connected with amazing people, and picked up a few new skills. If you’re looking for a retreat that blends hands-on surfing and yoga with space to reflect and reset, I highly recommend Del Alma.

Oh my goodness, a week at Del Alma was the most heavenly way to start 2025. Cati and JC have dreamed, built, and curated a world with the upmost care, creativity, and intention. Their hospitality is unparalleled, allowing the guests to witness how they mindfully live their lives.

Cati’s yoga and hiit classes were a total joy to participate in. She has a keen eye for seeing where folks are at and carefully leading them to the point where growth happens. I have been sporadic in my yoga practice over the years, but am coming home with a renewed joy in daily movement.

The culinary portion of Del Alma was outstanding thanks to the creativity and skill of JC. I work as a professional chef, and I was blown away by what he, Cati, and Maria placed in front of us every meal. I feel like a new door of possibility is open to me with flavors and ingredients. I am now impatiently waiting for their cookbook.

I could write a novel about my time there, but the biggest gift from my week there was seeing what true luxury is. It is far more within reach than what our materialistic modern culture wants us to strive after. True luxury is- unhurried days, bookended by a sunrises and sunsets; nutritious, delicious meals prepared with love and care; strong, nimble, mobile bodies; and clear, unfettered minds. I enjoyed every moment.

What a wonderfully healing week it was - the environment, the food, the hosts, the life experience. Many "ah-ha" moments and learnings and even "miracles). I learned how much more my body could do and I will continue the routine, healthy habits demonstrated and build upon it at home.

The meals were delicious, healthy, and beautifully presented. The challenges were do-able for me (I am n my late, late 70's) and I want to continue the routines back home. Never spent such a meaningful Christmas in such a different way. I love yoga anyway and this was such an enhanced experience with nature and the beautiful black sand and ocean. I enjoyed my villa and wildlife immensely, looked forward to each new beautiful day; fortunate to have wonderful weather. Will carry my learnings with me and improve my life from this experience.

Connection, time to reflect, nature, amazing nourishment of the body and soul and gracious hosts to facilitate my intention to ground myself and experience what is important in life. Thank you Catalina, Juan Carlos. I am grateful for you both and what you do. Nameste!

Everything!! It was an amazing experience!

Catalina, JC and Maria are very warm and welcoming. Since I was the only person booked for the week of my stay, I got upgraded to the main suite at no extra cost and got very personalized surf and yoga instruction. The food was great and the location made it possible for me to experience the jungle as well as the beach. It was my first time ever travelling alone and I felt completely safe the whole time.

The hosts are so gracious and have full hearts ready to share their country and lives with you.

The retreat is a little of peace of heaven!

Starting with the cozy private villas, the excellent, selfmade, healthy food that was cooked three times a day to the always available fresh fruits as coconuts.

JC is an encouraging and passionate surf coach who never fails to support and increase your surf skills and self confidence in a sport completely new to you.

Cati welcomes you with an open heart and mind to make you feel home and guides you with love through the so needed yoga lessons to ease every soar physical and phsychological pain.

After a week in this retreat your batteries are loaded to face the reality again.

I had a wonderful time at Del Alma Yoga and Surf Retreat. Catalina, JC, and Maria were exceptional hosts that made sure you felt welcome. As a female who’s never travelled to another country solo before, I was a little nervous, but, mostly excited. I felt at ease knowing I was being picked up at the airport, and while also being in touch with Catalina before departing and once I arrived.

The accommodations at the retreat were amazing. The villas are beautiful and the food was EXCELLENT! So healthy and delicious, I loved every meal. I took a photo of each meal in hopes to try and recreate at home.

Surfing was such a fun experience, and JC was a great instructor. I had never tried it before, but he was patient and determined to get me up riding a wave. Which I succeeded in doing!

Yoga with Catalina was also relaxing and enjoyable. She is very knowledgeable about all types of yoga and breath work. It was just what I needed, and I learned extra tips and tricks to incorporate into my practice at home. I’m a beginner, so it was nice to have a smaller setting to be able to ask questions and really take as much in as I could.

If you’re looking to book a rejuvenating getaway, book this retreat! I’m so happy I went and I’d love to go back! They did not disappoint

Both Catalina and Juan were very nice, rooms were clean and the food was good.

Amazing vibes! Amazing food!

JC was the best surfing instructor. He was detailed and gave clear directions.

Catalina was very responsive and attentive to all guests’ needs.

Catalina and JC are an amazing team and work really well together.

I attended the Fitness and Yoga Retreat for a week. It was a magical experience! The grounds are beautiful, secluded and walking distance from the beach. The food is SPECTACULAR! Every meal is a healthy, nutrient rich adventure with a 5 star presentation! The workouts are excellent and the yoga is the best I've experienced! JC and Catalina are beautiful souls who do everything they can to personalize your experience. Catalina is an absolute light and a wealth of knowledge about nutrition, physical fitness and spiritual enlightenment. JC is also a kind soul with lots of positive energy. If you want to try surfing, he is an amazing instructor regardless of your experience. He knows everything about the area and can escort you through amazing hikes! I feel better than I have in a long time and have a tools to continue my health journey at home. I wouldn't hesitate to book this if you need a reset. Stepping away from my life for a bit to magical place with beautiful people was life changing for me.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, JC and Catalina!

this retreat is a dream coming true for literally everyone. If you like peace and nature, you will get it. If you love amazingly delicious and beautifully presented food made with passion and incredible flavours - you get them 3 times per day. If you want to learn how to surf, like me, JC is the most patient teacher ever, who in a very efficient way will make you stand on that board. And most importantly- he makes the classes fun and enjoyable. Yoga and workout classes with Catalina were a mix of yoga postures and asanas surrounded by her soothing voice guiding you to stay in them, developing your resistance, strength and patience. Her meditations were also great. In addition, this amazing couple offers additinal activities in case you want to explore a bit the area. I did mountain biking and it was just fantastic! All in all, those few days spend here were probably the most enjoyable and relaxing holidays I ever took. I will definitely come back!

I had an outstanding first solo travel experience at Del Alma Surf and Yoga Retreat! I was nervous to travel alone but this was quickly eased as Catalina was very responsive to all of my questions prior to booking and before my arrival. The property is absolutely gorgeous and serene nestled in the jungle, and my villa was very clean and comfortable where I had some of the best sleep ever. Catalina and JC are phenomenal hosts who provide top-level service. All of the food is delicious, and is freshly prepared with a focus on clean eating. Del Alma’s holistic nutrition led to a great deal of energy, a leaner figure and rid my body of habitual bloating and brain fog issues. I enjoyed the yoga and meditation sessions with Catalina as she is very experienced and knowledgeable. She helped me understand how to perform more challenging postures that I had been working on in my practice, facilitated connection of movement with my breath, and aided me in being more present and mindful. Catalina was also very kind to answer all of my questions related to wellness and fitness. JC is a very patient and skilled surf instructor who boosted my confidence when I was struggling with nerves and negative self-talk, and he was very enthusiastic about my progress. I caught several good waves thanks to his expertise and direction, which was such a memorable experience! Catalina and JC are beautiful souls who are very welcoming, and I was easily able to destress and decompress at the retreat.

Namaste it was Very Positive Week that gave me energy and focus for relearning and integrating important changes at this juncture of my life

From the beginning of my retreat, I was welcomed with open arms, warmth and friendship. Cati and JC are marvelous hosts. Maria, who helped out with cooking, cleaning, laundry was delightful, and extremely helpful.

She was kind enough to kill a scorpion for me!

Cati and Jc are fantastic hosts and make always sure that you feel welcomed and relaxed. The Villas at the retreat are very comfortable, clean and have everything you need to enjoy your stay.

The food is always freshly prepared and absolutely amazing.

I would love to come back!

Das Camp befindet sich mitten im Regenwald. Äffchen, Ghekkos etc kann man vom Zimmer aus sehen. 🩷

Die beiden Gastgeber JC und Catalina sind extrem herzlich und unterrichten mit Leidenschaft Yoga und Surfen. Ich konnte bei beidem tolle Fortschritte machen.

Und sie kochen unglaublich gutes und gesundes Essen. Ich fühlte mich vom ersten Moment an sehr wohl und es fiel mir schwer, das Camp wieder zu verlassen.

Ich hatte eine Woche Wellness (und Workout) für den Körper und die Seele und empfehle dieses Retreat unbedingt weiter! 🪷

I am so grateful I booked this trip. I work in healthcare and this was the reset I needed. The food, yoga and surfing was all amazing. This was a bucket list trip and one of the best vacations I have ever had.

I had an amazing and restorative week at Del Alma Retreat. The accommodations and food were fantastic. Catalina and JC are excellent hosts and coaches for yoga, surf and just focussing on your own wellness. It was a really comfortable environment for me to relax, challenge myself physically and mentally, and also to have fun.

I went into this retreat coming off of a very high stress experience and really found that I had the opportunity to relax and reset - just an excellent experience!

My surf & yoga retreat was one of the best experiences of my life. I was a little nervous traveling solo for a retreat, but that quickly disappeared after meeting Cati, JC, and Maria. They treated me like family/old friends and had a warm, welcoming energy throughout the retreat.

The structure of the retreat was great. The typical structure was surfing in the AM, then breakfast, free time, lunch, free time, then yoga in the evening, then dinner. It provided enough structure and physical activity to make you feel challenged, but paired with plenty of free time to relax and disconnect.

The villas at the retreat were gorgeous and very comfortable. I stayed in the Monos Villa and really enjoyed waking up to the sound of monkeys and birds every morning.

All of the meals during the retreat were fantastic as well. As someone who doesn't eat a lot of seafood, I was a little nervous for the pescatarian diet. There was no need to be nervous at all! The food served was absolutely delicious and is better than most restaurants! They design the meals perfectly to be filling, nutritious, and delicious. I'm begging them to write a cookbook so I can make their recipes at home!

This retreat was truly a magical experience to disconnect with the stressors of life and reconnect with myself. I already can't wait to plan my return visit!

10000% recommend. The owners of Del Alma (Catalina and JC), are incredibly thoughtful and authentic in building this retreat for their guests. The retreat is bespoke and focuses on quality experiences (over quantity). Beautiful and comfortable accommodations. All the food is made from scratch, each meal was a gastronomic experience that stands up to Michelin recommended restaurants. The yoga and surf were both excellent. JC is a great surf instructor and Catalina delivered the best yoga experience I’ve had that was complimentary to the morning surf sessions.

This retreat is on a caliber of its own. As a product manager for FAANG, customer experience is everything and boy have these guys nailed it. Come here to reset, leave feeling refreshed, with an emphasis on your well being. I look forward to returning to Del Alma with my friends and family.

This was the perfect escape to detox and get ready for the summer. We were fed excellent, organic food to help detox our bodies, we worked out 2 x a day. During our free time we choose to relax, decompress from everyday life by napping and reading. Catalina also set us up on horseback tour and ATV tour which were fantastic. We had Thai Massages, which were included, to top off all the work that we put into the week. This place is a must. A no worries week with the backdrop of beautiful Costa Rica.

Everything from the first second I arrived ! Catalina made me feel welcome like I was a friend. The place is absolutely gorgeous, clean and comfortable. The food is a feast for the eyes and your stomac, it is way above delicious! The yoga classes and meditations were just perfect, Catalina is a guiding light and a great teacher with years of experience, surfing lessons were fantastic, JC my teacher an accomplished surfer, was patient and invested and made sure I had fun and I was safe, I had a blast in the water every morning. Del Alma is a little paradise owned and operated by these wonderful, truly passionate and beautiful human beings ! This won’t be my last visit 🥰 Thank you Cati&JC ! ❤️

Catalina is an incredible host. Makes you feel like one of the family. The Accommodations are so beautiful. You can tell they are thoughtful about so much, Including accommodating my back injury and making sure I'm doing the right things. The food is incredible - SO fresh. Your body will notice a high difference. The training sessions are fantastic and tailored to your goals. Yoga in the evenings is just beautiful. I came to this retreat last minute...never been to CR and felt like a shell of myself. I left feeling like ME again. Beyond grateful to have found this retreat by chance - I have so much gratitude for Catalina. She truly is a one of a kind beautiful soul. The intangibles you get being around her and at this retreat is something I can't type in a review. Truly special. Catalina is the light. She truly is <3

I loved the fact that it is very small and personalized. I felt at home and all the staff became my family for the week. I got great advice from the coach and she gave me the push i needed to get back on track.

I took a surf and joga retreat. I can highly recommend it! I loved everything from the food to the instructors approach . Thank you for the opportunity :)

I had a wonderful experience at this retreat! Both Catalina and JC were very welcoming and friendly and their guidance in surfing and yoga instruction were excellent. The accommodations were clean and lovely and the food was amazing!

My friend booked our retreat; I agreed to accompany her without even knowing what I was getting into. I only knew that I could use some life-affirming experience to finish out 2021. Little did I know that I would return feeling like a million! I loved the yoga (as expected), and the surfing experience was one of the biggest surprises -- both challenging and fun! Playa Marbella is a beautiful beach with a unique personality. We learned to read waves and make friends with the ocean, so that even though I only stood up on the board for a second or two, I discovered the unique experience of catching and riding a wave. Our instructor, JC, was patient and ever-enthusiastic about our progress.

Another treasured aspect was the extraordinary food! Catalina and Donia Jesse are wizards in the kitchen. Each guest was presented with a plate of beautiful entrees, truly made from the heart, that matched our health and happiness requirements for the week. Each dining experience was a gastronomical treat! The two other guests, along with my friend and I, would gather at the main table for meals; but we also retreated to our own casitas occasionally to just chill and have meals on our own. The choice was always ours, given the day's activities and what we felt.

Our casita was delightful and private, overlooking the jungle where we saw birds and monkeys. Stocked with tea, fresh coconut water, snacks, and some lovely gifts upon arriving, we settled in easily.

Wishing I was there now...

Nestled in a pristine tropical forest in the Guanacaste region, surrounded by abundant wildlife and relaxing (and priceless) peace & quiet we thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of our stay at Del Alma. Our hosts Catalina and her husband JC are experts in their fields and went out of their way to ensure that our every need was anticipated and met. In the morning we took surf lessons with JC and our safety was his number one priority. He made sure we caught the perfect waves and we were able to get up on our boards and ride them by the second day, I highly recommend the surfing lessons. In the evenings we did yoga with Catalina and she tailored our practice to help us gain strength for our surf lessons.

Each meal was lovingly homemade from scratch by the amazing chef Dona Jessie. She prepared fresh caught fish, lobster, octopus and locally sourced vegetables with delectable sauces and sides and we happily devoured every bite. From breakfast to lunch than dinner it was all delicious and our special dietary needs were accommodated.

Our room was comfortable and stocked with lots of delicious treats like fresh fruit and we had a fantastic view of the forest from our private balcony.

We also enjoyed horseback riding up in the mountains, yoga and HITT classes on the gorgeous black sand beach Marabella and watching the Howler Monkeys while relaxing in the pool.

I came to the retreat for a detox and weight loss experience.

Fortunately for me I was only one there as it is rainy season, so i felt very honnored and lucky.

Catalina, was great and I felt that everything that happened was thought out carefully and genuinely for my needs. As an example I have very tight hip flexors , so sessions focused on this to great effect

The week was an amazing journey of self discovery, through great and healthy food, exercise, yoga, self reflection, swimming

it took a day or so to trust the process but very quickly i enjoyed all aspects and looked forward to each part

The food is amazing, great internet, healthy exercise and peaceful yoga. This is a professionally run place with a deep care for my health.

The cuisine and health program is customizable. pura vida is everywhere. The cuisine was adapted to my health considerations in a delicious and delightful way.

The hosts were more than incredible and very accommodating, they always made sure to go above and beyond to make sure i was having a great time and happy. The food, was Michelin star quality, every meal was amazing and always somehow literally better than meal before. The whole experience from location, yoga, surfing, food, hosts and just everything was terrifically perfect and a much needed get away for the body, mind and soul. Thanks alot for this amazing trip!

This experience far exceeded our expectations! My partner and I traveled together to participate in this amazing retreat and were blown away. It was equally as relaxing and it was energizing and active. We feel a lot more confident in our surf skills with training from Trey and Indy and went from beginner to intermediate level in three days. We had so much fun and felt very comfortable and safe the entire time. They were so motivating and genuinely kind!

Catalina and JC are phenomenal chefs and hosts. They both radiate positivity! You just feel better being around them and it helps that they are so generous with their time and level of care put into each meal. The food was absolutely incredible. It was hard to believe that it was healthy at times because each dish was so well prepared! The best way for us to be sure that everything was truly organic was the way we felt: clean, light, energized, and level headed. Everyday we felt better and better, despite how hard we worked our bodies during the activities.

Cecilia is pure magic! Her energy is so connected to the earth and she has a beautiful way of spreading this to those around her that makes you feel centered. She tailored each yoga session carefully to accommodate all levels of those participating and ended each session with thought provoking messages during shavasana. We each had two Thai massage sessions with Ceci which were out of this world and left you feeling as if you were floating!