Blue Osa is a small, solar-powered yoga retreat on the beach at Playa Tamales, about 11 km south of Puerto Jiménez on the Golfo Dulce side of the Osa Peninsula. It’s built around yoga: an open-air studio above the sand, a steady calendar of group retreats and teacher trainings, mostly plant-based meals from its own garden, and the rainforest of the Osa right behind the rooms. Come here if yoga is the reason for the trip and wild Osa is the setting, not the other way round.
At a glance
| Location | Playa Tamales, about 11 km south of Puerto Jiménez, Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas |
|---|---|
| Style | All-inclusive yoga retreat with 13 rooms, a spa and an open-air yoga deck |
| Setting | About 5 acres between the rainforest and a calm Golfo Dulce beach |
| Best for | Yoga retreats, teacher trainings and solo wellness stays |
| Getting there | Domestic flight to Puerto Jiménez, then the retreat’s shuttle |
| CST status | Not listed in the CST directory (checked 2026-10-21) |
Where it is
The property sits on Playa Tamales, a quiet stretch of the gulf shore between Puerto Jiménez and Cabo Matapalo. According to Blue Osa’s travel page, most guests take the short domestic flight from San José to Puerto Jiménez, where a Blue Osa shuttle meets them for the drive south. Driving from San José takes most of a day, so the flight is the usual choice for a week-long retreat.
The Golfo Dulce is much gentler than the open Pacific. The lodge’s FAQ describes its beach, about 30 seconds from the rooms, as free of rip tides and undercurrents, which makes it one of the easier swimming beaches on the peninsula. There are no lifeguards. Corcovado National Park, the reason many people come to the Osa at all, lies further along the coast past Matapalo and Carate.
The rooms
Blue Osa has 13 rooms spread over about 5 acres of garden and forest, each with its own name rather than a number. The accommodations page runs from Freedom, a top-floor penthouse with views over the beach, to Moksha, a two-story open-air bungalow, with garden rooms near the beach and jungle cabinas further back. Most rooms rely on ceiling fans and sea breezes. 4 of the jungle-side rooms have air conditioning, so ask for one of those if you sleep badly in the heat.
The whole resort can take about 36 guests, which is why many weeks are booked by a single group. If you’re coming alone, you’ll usually be sharing the dining room, the pool and the yoga deck with a retreat group, and joining its classes.
Yoga first
The heart of the place is the open-air yoga studio on the second floor of its own building, with a view over the Pacific and the beach about 50 m away. Daily classes run for all guests. Visiting teachers bring their own groups for week-long retreats, and the resort runs its own 200-hour and 300-hour yoga teacher trainings, often as intensive 2-week immersions.
The retreats calendar shows how busy it is: in late 2026 and early 2027 there are retreats almost every week, from surf-and-yoga programs and Iyengar intensives to a burnout recovery week and a Christmas and New Year program. Solo travelers can book a personal retreat on the open weeks.
Blue Osa was founded by Yogi Aaron, a yoga teacher with more than 30 years of practice, and co-founder Adam Dolle. Their idea was a place built specifically for yoga immersions rather than a beach hotel that happens to offer classes, and the layout reflects that.
Food and the spa
Meals are included. The kitchen serves mostly vegan and vegetarian food, family style, with eggs at most breakfasts and chicken about 3 times a week. Fruit, vegetables and herbs come from the on-site organic garden, and the rest is bought from nearby farms. Gluten-free and other needs can be catered for in general terms, but the FAQ is honest that it doesn’t cook individual menus and isn’t a nut-free or dairy-free kitchen, so travelers with serious allergies should talk to the team first.
The eco-spa offers massage, fruit facials and body scrubs, Watsu in water, and acupuncture. There’s a chemical-free lap pool between the spa and the beach.
Living off the grid
Blue Osa calls itself a low-impact beachfront eco-hotel. It runs mainly on solar power through its own micro-grid, which is why hairdryers aren’t allowed. According to the lodge, the whole resort uses less energy than an average American household of four. It recycles, conserves water and grows a share of its own food. These are the lodge’s own claims, and Blue Osa doesn’t appear in the CST sustainability directory.
Wi-Fi works in the lounge and dining area only, and it’s switched off before 7:30 a.m. and during dinner. Rooms have no phones. For many guests that’s the point.
Wildlife and things to do
The Osa is one of the richest corners of Costa Rica for wildlife, and the forest around the property is part of it. Guests regularly report monkeys, scarlet macaws and toucans, though sightings are never guaranteed. Insects come with the territory: the FAQ asks guests to double-bag snacks, since ants find food quickly.
Beyond yoga, the adventure menu includes surf lessons, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, waterfall hikes with rappelling, wildlife tours, whale watching in the gulf, sportfishing and a canopy tour. Cabo Matapalo, at the tip of the peninsula, is a short drive south and is known for its forest walks and surf breaks.
Who it suits
Blue Osa is a strong choice for yoga students, retreat groups, teachers in training, and solo travelers who want a structured, healthy week in a beautiful and remote spot. It’s also a good fit for anyone who likes the idea of solar power, garden food and limited Wi-Fi.
It isn’t set up for families: children are welcome only during some teacher trainings and group retreats with the leader’s permission. Travelers who want a big Corcovado wildlife program, or who’d rather eat meat at every meal, would be happier at a nature lodge like Lapa Ríos near Matapalo or Bosque del Cabo on the cliffs above the Pacific. For more options, see the Osa Peninsula eco lodges and the guide to yoga retreats in Costa Rica.
Earlier listings called it Blue Osa Yoga Sanctuary and Spa.
Frequently asked questions
Can I stay at Blue Osa if I'm not part of a retreat group?
Yes. The retreat sells personal retreat stays on weeks that aren't booked by a private group, and solo guests take part in the daily yoga classes. Some weeks are reserved for private groups, so check the calendar first.
Is the beach at Playa Tamales safe for swimming?
It's on the Golfo Dulce, which is far calmer than the open Pacific. The lodge says there are no rip tides or undercurrents in front of the property, but there are no lifeguards, so swim with normal care.
Do the rooms have air conditioning?
Most rooms are cooled by fans and the breeze. 4 of the jungle-side rooms have air conditioning. The resort runs mainly on solar power, which is why hairdryers aren't allowed.
How long should I stay?
The resort recommends at least 5 nights if you're flying in, because the trip to the southern Osa takes time. Most retreats run 7 nights, and teacher trainings run about 2 weeks.
