We’ve been taking groups to Nosara since November 2017, and packing is one of the first things people ask us about once they book. The good news is that a week of yoga in Costa Rica needs less than you’d think. The better news is that the biggest, most awkward thing in most yoga suitcases can stay home.
Here’s what we tell our own guests, straight from the questions we answer every season.
Leave the yoga mat at home
Really. Casas Kismet provides mats and props for every class, and all of your towels too. You’ll find three waiting for you, one for the shower and one for the pool and one for the beach. If you love your own mat and can’t imagine practicing without it, bring it, but it’s optional.
If you want to practice at home before you go and you don’t own a lot of props, that’s fine too. In Erin’s Neck & Shoulder Tension Release class she points out that things you already have, like a towel or a belt, can stand in for traditional yoga props. A couple of books work too. The same trick works in a hotel room on the way down.
Clothes for warm days and cooler evenings
Bring your yoga clothes, plus light clothing for days that usually run from 75 to 85 degrees. Then add a light layer for the cooler evenings and a rain jacket. Costa Rica is green for a reason.
You don’t need a fresh outfit for every class. Laundry is available at Casas Kismet for a small fee, so you can pack lighter and wash halfway through the week.
For your feet and the beach
Pack a swimsuit and sandals, and bring real walking shoes too. The beach is an 8 to 10 minute walk down a sloped path, downhill on the way there and uphill on the way back, so flip-flops alone will make you sad. (There’s a daily beach shuttle if you’d rather ride.)
The small things people forget
These are the ones we see people wish they’d brought:
- Bug spray, especially for mornings and sunsets.
- A headlamp, because paths get dark in the jungle.
- A good water bottle that you’ll actually carry.
- Something for motion sickness if you get carsick. The last 30 minutes of the drive from Liberia are on curvy dirt roads.
Plugs are easy. Costa Rica uses the same plugs as the US, so no adapters needed if you’re coming from home.
Your passport and some cash
Check your passport now, not the week before. It needs at least 90 days left before it expires.
Then bring some US dollars. Massages and adventure tours are paid in cash, and so are local taxis and staff tips. The nearest ATM isn’t within walking distance of Casas Kismet. US dollars and colones are both accepted, so there’s no need to exchange money before you fly. For a rough budget, tours usually run $60 to $130 and in-room massages are about $100 to $150.
Tipping is always optional. Guests usually leave $75 to $100 in cash for the Casas Kismet staff at checkout, and about $5 each for a shuttle driver or a tour guide or a massage therapist.
Travel insurance, while you’re thinking about it
It isn’t required, but we recommend it. Guests have been glad to have it when a flight was delayed or plans changed. Buy it soon after you book, because it’s usually cheaper then, and “cancel for any reason” coverage is often only offered in the first week or two.
What you don’t need to bring
No journal, because we give you one. No yoga towel, because they’re waiting in your room. And no worries about planning adventures ahead of time, because we help everyone book activities and massages on the first morning.
Pack a little practice too
The best thing you can bring to a retreat is a body that’s already moving. You don’t need to be advanced (every class is all levels), but a few weeks of regular practice beforehand makes the first morning feel like a reunion instead of a shock. A few classes to try:
- Heart Centered Thanksgiving Flow (55m 52s). Filmed at Casas Kismet during our November 2023 retreat, so you can see the space.
- 30 Minute Deep Stretch Jungle Yoga Class (33m 27s). A handful of Erin’s favorite deep stretches, held long with a focus on the breath.
- Wrist Free Beach Yoga Class (26m 48s). Filmed on Tamarindo beach. No planks or down dogs or chaturangas, which is nice if a week of twice-daily practice makes your wrists feel crunchy.
- Neck & Shoulder Tension Release (22m 11s). Short, and perfect after a day of carrying luggage.
- Flow To Go Yoga Class (23m 46s). For the busy weeks before you leave, when you’re short on time.
If you want a daily habit to build on before you fly, our free yoga challenges send you one class a day.
Our retreats run every spring and every November in Nosara. The full packing list and the rest of the questions people ask us live on our retreats page, and we keep it up to date. See you in Costa Rica.
Practice it with me
Get new classes from Erin
Free classes, retreat dates and the occasional note. Unsubscribe any time.
