REVIEWS

Spoil Yourself at Samasati Nature Retreat
Dawn O'Brien, Tico Times, March 24, 2000

"One with Nature: Secluded beaches on Costa Rica's southern Caribbean Coast help guests relax after a hard day of yoga and meditation at Samasati Retreat, where all rooms have views of the surrounding jungle and coastline."

"On most mornings at Samasati Nature Retreat guests awake to the gutteral cries of howler monkeys in the not-so-distant distance. The secluded retreat perches atop a verdant jungle plateau with a clear view of the Caribbean Sea. The splendor of the place is not only its location; the word "no" isn't in the staff's vocabulary, which makes guests feel like spoiled kids given anything they want. A massage? No problem. A trip to the black beach with a packed lunch? They'll arrange it.

"At a secluded beach near Puerto Viejo, the natural landscape will please any guests, but is of specific interest to cowboy surfers, who shimmy down four-to-six-foot waves. Beaches that are more suitable for swimming are in the nearby town of Cajuita.

"At the retreat, one way to start the day is with "dynamic meditation" -- an ultra-physical and cathartic exercise to get ride of baggage that may be weighing you down. Then try a yoga class late in the day. The lodge boasts a staff that is well-versed in holistic health. If relaxation exercises aren't your style, the lodge has self-guided trails lined with wild red and yellow hibiscus, heliconia, orchids and banana trees. Or, if you prefer, just chill-out in a hammock all day.

"As you head to the dining area for an organic vegetarian meal, the sweet fragrance of the purple-flowered vanilla bushes surrounding the dining room whets your appetite. The dining room also has a view of the sea. Each dish on the buffet is inventively decorated with flowers, adding to the overall appeal of the food. Even die-hard meat eaters can be seen scraping the last helping from the buffet's bounty.

Between meals, the lodge offers several tours of natural and cultural interest. A trip to Cahuita National Park lets visitors snorkel through delicate reefs while swimming in tandem with tropical fish of electric colors that duck behind coral or waving green grasses.

Follow the trip with lunch on the beach, then walk the forest traill where white-faced capuchin and howler monkeys cavort next to relaxing sloths, while butterflies play tag through ancient mangroves.Take a short hike to a nearby waterfall where gigantic blue morpho butterflies flit through tree branches. Ahead, three-tiers of cascading water splashs into a shallow rocky pool. Swim under the falls and feel the pound of water massage your head and shoulders.

Learn about the Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve where Bribri show you their rain forest pharmacy; plants that heal machete cuts, itching mosquito bites, respiratory problems and more serious maladies.In the past 11 years, the tribe's focus has been to raise and release of 10,000 iguanas that were near extinction due to excessive hunting.

"All guests have a favorite tour, but to ride a horse full-throttle through the surf as the water sprays across your face can make you feel 16 again. The most important thing to bring to this rustic retreat is an open mind and willingness to explore."

Great Escapes: Soul Soothers
Diane Goldner, Fitness Magazine, June 2001

"What could be more soothing than a sojourn in a tropical rain forest? At Samasati, an eco-resort in the jungle of Costa Rica, you'll wake up to the chatter of howler monkeys and parrots. Start your day with dynamic meditation, a Samasati relaxation ritual, or head to the meditation house to -- what else -- meditate. Then spend the day hiking to a nearby waterfall where you can be "baptized" (and massaged) by the cascading water.

"The nearby Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve, a tropical paradise that doubles as a rain forest pharmacy. Take a walking tour and learn how hundreds of plants are used locally for medicinal purposes, such as healing itchy mosquito bites."

Beaches/Wild Tropics
From Hawaii to the Caribbean, we've rounded up the magnificent seven
By Stephanie Gregory, Outside Travel, 2000/2001

Punta Uva, Costa Rica
"Picture this: Six miles from the 250-acre Samasati Biological Reserve, Punta Uva's five-mile stretch of white sand is lined with coconut palms, backed by mountains, and fronted by a coral reef that extends two miles from shore.

"Beyond the Beach Towel: Kayak along the mangrove-tangled shores of the Punta Uva River; search for howler monkeys, sloths and iguanas hiding out in the nature preserve, or snorkel the rainbow colored reef.

"Privacy Quotient: Nothing but you and a few howler monkeys, crashing through the trees.

"Shore Bet: Samasati Nature Retreat, in the reserve, has nine bungalows that occupy a jungly hilltop with Caribbean views. In addtion to yoga and meditation workshops, the resort offers sea kayaking, horseback riding, surfing and scuba diving."

Secluded Paradise
J.C. Gabler for Yogi Times, June 2003

"After a chaotic road trip from San Jose to Cahuita, on the east coast of Costa Rica, we finally reached Samasati Retreat Center, situated on 250 acres of dense, lush forest. At the entrance, a staff volunteer picked us up for the rocky 10-minute drive up the only road acceding to the center itself. (We don't recommend a heavy meal prior to this wild ride") We opened the windows to smell and feel the green scenery of vibrant jungle and the cooler temperature, finally!

"Upon arrival we were shown the rustic bungalows scattered across the beautiful natural landscape. The habitat is simple but clean and very comfortable. At a convenient walk, yet distant enough to ensure privacy, stands the meditation hall, fully equipped to accommodate up to 50 people (35 for asanas). The view from the restaurant is breathtaking, as the ocean seems to lay there for your personal enjoyment. It is hard to move away from the patio, but the eco-resort of Samasati also offers amazing nature trails in the middle of the tropical rainforest. We enjoyed watching the wildlife on the nature trails, shivered at the waking of the howler monkeys (imagine King Kong yawning and you have the sound of it!), and relaxed on the exotic beach of Cahuita near the National Park. An unforettable resource of inspiration and tranquility."

Jungle Gem
Steve Hendrix, American Way Magazine

Just who's doing the meditating here? You, or that howler monkey contemplating you so thoughtfully through the window of your cabana?

Thats just one of the deep thoughts to ponder if you do your deep thinking at the Samasati Retreat Center, a new meditation compound and eco-resort carved from the jungle of Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. Tucked within 250 acres of tropical rainforest, on a hillside overlooking the cobalt sea, Samasati's greatest distraction is its very beauty -- and its comforts. The compound has ten handcrafted cabanas, a guest house, five full-size private houses, an open-air bar/restaurant that serves four-star vegetarian and an exquisite hardwood meditation house, all surrounded by monkeys and toucans that seem determined to seize your attention.

Many of Samasati's guests come as much to relax and watch the animals as they do for the meditation sessions, yoga classes, and massages that are offered. But whether you come to focus your gaze inward or outward, this jungle hideaway gives you a lot to think about, and think deeply.

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Yoga escapes: A Yoga Journal Guide to the Best Places to Relax, Reflect and Renew.
by Jeanne Ricci

"Samasati is an eco-resort and retreat center located on 250 acres of tropical rain forest with views of the Caribbean Sea. Guests stay in Caribbean-style bungalows complete with large porches and hammocks. Hatha, Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Vinyasa yoga classes are offered throughout the day, and a guided meditation is held just before dinner, When not participating in a class, guests can receive a massage, surf, swim, trek, kayak, scuba dive, horseback ride, or bird watch. (The surrounding property has one of the most rich and varied populations of birds in the country.) A vegetarian buffet is served three times a day, and tropical cocktails, beer, and wine are available at the bar.

"Guest Yoga Teachers? Yes. Including Debi DiPeso-Anna, Stephanie Langbein, Joe Palese, Elizabeth Saguna Pedersen, Shiva Rea, Carrie Schneider, David Walker."

"When I go to Costa Rica, I want to get off the beaten path. That's why I like Samasati, which is a getaway on the Caribbean side. The asana room is an octagon that is screened in on all sides. I was there with Jai Uttal, and we had some really magical moments in that room because you can hear the sounds of the jungle while you're practicing. And the main dining hall overlooks the ocean. The grounds are so green and lush that when you leave you feel naked without having the jungle surrounding you. The beauty of Samasati is that you have access to both the lush rain forest and the ocean."

Shiva Rea, Yoga Instructor, Venice, California