We are situated in the mountains surrounding Perez Zeledon, a small farming community located in the southwestern region of Costa Rica. From San Jose, a car or bus ride will generally take 4-5 hours. If making/arranging your own transportation, please write your retreat coordinator at retreats@satyogainstitute.org to send you a detailed map.

We suggest that you arrive at least one day before the retreat starts to take the bus/taxi to the Ashram Retreat Center early the next morning. Transportation begins in/from the San Jose area early the first morning of the retreat arriving at the Ashram retreat center by midday.

Retreats concludes at 11 am on the last day with guests arriving back into San Jose late in the afternoon. We recommend that you plan to stay in the San Jose area at least one more night before departing from Costa Rica should an unexpected delay arise that make same day departure inconvenient.

After arrival, our guests generally choose to take 20 minute taxi ride to Escazu, a suburb of San Jose where our headquarters and Urban Institute is located. In Escazu you will find all of the services and conveniences for a comfortable stay and easily arrive to our Institute for transport to the Sat Yoga Ashram and Retreat Center on the first day of the retreat. Please visit the following websites to learn more about guest houses in Escazu that we have carefully selected for your comfort.

Casa Laurin's:              http://www.casalaurin.com/

Casa de las Tias:          http://www.hotels.co.cr/casatias.html

Casa Isabella:               http://www.casaisabellacr.com

 

 

Registration is from noon – 2 pm.

We recommend flying into the San Jose Santamaria International Airport (SJO).

Yes, but we ask you to arrive to the retreat center during the approved retreat registration time from noon and 2pm. We are happy to send you a map on detail instructions on how to get there.

Yes, we will be happy to help you with organizing transportation. There are many different options available that include private car bus/taxi or public bus. Once you have booked your retreat, we will send you detailed transportation information. Transportation is not included in the retreat prices, if you would like to take your own transportation please let your retreat coordinator know.

◦ Private Bus – A private bus will depart at 7:30am from Escazu on the first morning of the retreat. More detailed information will be sent to you as we get closer to the retreat. Average cost is $45/one way. During the 4 – 5 hour drive from Escazu to the mountains of Perez Zeledon, you will have an opportunity to enjoy beautiful scenery and stop at a traditional restaurant to try some tipico (typical) Costa Rican cuisine. There is ahalf way break stop to have a snack/lunch, use restrooms and enjoy the scenery.

◦ Taxi - 4x4 taxis are available from San Jose to the Ashram Center for about $200/one way.

◦ Public Bus (a great option for budget travelers!) – The MUSOC public bus from San Jose departs every hour on the half hour from 5:30 am to 5:30pm and arrives in San Isidro de General (Perez Zeledon) within 3 – 3 ½ hours. These buses are very fast, clean and reliable. The one-way fare is $6. From San Isidro you may hire a 4x4 taxi for the last 40 minute mountainous ride (average cost is $40. To arrive on time, please plan to take the 7:30 or 8:30am bus from San Jose. We will be happy to connect you with other retreatants whom might be interested in sharing the taxi ride and cost.

◦ Rental Car – (This is not a recommended option for most people as during the retreat you will not be using your car and the route to our facility can be confusing and difficult. If you do choose to rent a car, you will need a 4X4 car for the often rough and unpaved roads. Please ask your retreat coordinator to send you a detailed map. We recommend that you leave San Jose/Escazu area around 8am to arrive at the retreat during registration time between 12 and 2 pm. Average driving time from San Jose is approx. 4 hours, but please include additional rest stop/food breaks in your calculations to arrive on time.

Atmanology is a spiritual process intended to lead to the transformation and transcendence of the ego, through realization of the Supreme Self. The process is informed not only by the understanding of Advaita and the insights of Zen, but also by contemporary philosophic, psychoanalytic, and archetypal approaches to the inner realms.