Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort

Perched high on a hill in the middle of the jungle, The Bodhi Tree makes a grand first impression. This hotel is noticeably larger than others in Nosara, and a tall, steep staircase leads guests from the entrance to the open-air lobby. A stone Abhaya Mudra Buddha centers the room, and it welcomes guests with its outstretched hand. The recessed front desk is covered in bamboo, which emphasizes the lobby’s vaulted bamboo ceilings. From the lobby, another set of stairs leads to the heart of the property, where the restaurant, pool, and juice bar come into view. 

The Bodhi Tree is one of Nosara’s most upscale properties, but travelers should note that this is a yoga resort with a wellness focus. Those who aren’t interested in practicing yoga, imbibing green juice, and eating simple, organic meals should probably choose another hotel as they'll be entirely out of sync with their environment. And while children are welcome, there isn’t much for them to do here, and the atmosphere might be a bit too placid for rambunctious little ones.

The Bodhi Tree is located in Nosara, and for many travelers, this area offers the perfect blend of rustic Costa Rica and modern convenience. Its gravel roads have local coconut vendors next to chic boutiques; Tico “sodas” neighbor vegan smoothie joints; and yoga classes are as widely available as surf lessons. Nosara is known throughout Costa Rica for having some of the best and most consistent wave breaks in the country, which compels surf enthusiasts from around the world to relocate here. The large expat population brings global cuisine and a health-conscious lifestyle to Nosara, evidenced by the town’s numerous trendy restaurants, health cafes, and yoga studios. Travelers come to Nosara to take part in its unique culture; therefore most hotels offer surf lessons, yoga classes, and healthy restaurants. Nosara’s one glaring flaw is the condition of its roads. The gravel side streets around town add to Nosara’s charm, but its punishing potholed “highway” is a nightmare. All of the major roads that lead to Nosara are horrific, and travelers will likely encounter river crossings without bridges. Four wheel drive is necessary -- so is a healthy dose of patience. Part of Nosara’s allure is its hard-to-reach location, but some travelers may not find the trek worthwhile. The closest international airports in Liberia and San Jose are a whopping three and four hours away.  

The touristy part of Nosara centers around Playa Guiones, one of the country’s best surfing beaches. This area of Nosara is often referred to as the G-section. The Bodhi Tree is located on the southern end of the G-section, about a five-minute drive from the beach, shops, bars, and restaurants. Though Nosara is one of the safest destinations in Costa Rica, the hotel employs 24/7 security. There are no street lights in Nosara, so travelers should be careful when walking or driving at night.

There are multiple room types at The Bodhi Tree, from luxe suites to shared rooms with communal bathrooms. But no matter the room type, The Bodhi Tree’s accommodations are clean, beautifully appointed spaces with canopied beds, vaulted wood-beam ceilings, air-conditioning, and some form of outdoor space. Rooms are meant to be quiet retreats where guests can rest and reflect -- so no TVs or ostentatious decor.  

The Bodhi Tree has single, double, and triple rooms with shared bathrooms. These rooms are the hotel’s smallest and most budget-friendly options, and are popular with solo travelers and groups. They're simple spaces with twin beds and an armoire for each occupant. In-room amenities include shared mini-fridges and desks, plus individual shower towels and personal electronic safes. Outside, wooden Adirondack chairs are neatly arranged on a communal patio. The Bodhi Tree’s shared bathrooms are some of the nicest we’ve ever seen, and they're easily as clean and appealing as those found in the private rooms. Shared bathrooms feature beautiful outdoor showers, carved granite vessel sinks, private toilet vestibules, and numbered shelves for individual storage.

The hotel’s private rooms are known as Bungalows, and they come with one king or two queen size beds. The Bungalows are a bit tight on space, especially those with two queen beds. These rooms have beautiful white canopied beds, light wood accent walls, and vaulted ceilings. In-room amenities include fully stocked minibars, electronic safes, free Wi-Fi, and terrycloth robes. Bathrooms have granite vanities with carved granite vessel sinks and eco-friendly biodegradable toiletries. Covered outdoor showers are the bathrooms’ piece-de-resistance, with pebbled stone floors and rainfall shower heads. Bungalows have large outdoor balconies with views of the surrounding greenery. The Bungalows are housed in freestanding cabins, but some feel more private than others. 

Besides Bungalows, The Bodhi Tree has three additional room categories -- Villas, the Gaya Suite, and the Bodhi House. Villas are the hotel’s newest rooms. They’re larger than Bungalows, but they don’t have vaulted ceilings. The villas have grand four-poster beds and huge covered patios with cushioned lounge chairs and hammocks, however they lack outdoor showers and they’re located farther from the resort’s amenities. The Gaya Suite is a large one-bedroom suite with a screened outdoor living room and an open-air bathroom. The Bodhi House is the property’s largest room, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a private outdoor pool and lounge area. 

The Bodhi Tree is Nosara’s premier yoga resort, with the best studios, amenities, and teachers in the area. The hotel’s classes are popular with guests and locals alike, and are taught by the resort’s magnificent international staff. All Bodhi Tree guests receive one free yoga class each day of their stay, but the majority of guests pay for additional classes. Many classes take place in the hotel’s open-air Akasha Shala, which feels like it’s part of the jungle canopy thanks to its clifftop location. Some of the Bodhi Tree’s classes include Vinyasa, Hatha, Kundalini, and aerial yoga, along with mindful meditation and shakti samadi rites. The Bodhi Tree can be booked by international teachers for their own yoga retreats, or individual guests can participate in a wide variety of the hotel’s own retreats. 

Besides yoga, the Bodhi Tree offers additional fitness classes like indoor cycling, Pilates, boxing, qigong, barre, and samba. There’s also a fitness center with modern LifeFitness cardio and weight-lifting equipment. Those looking for a truly Costa Rican inspired workout can check out the on-site Bodhi Del Mar Surf camp -- a collaboration between the hotel and the local Del Mar Surf camp. Guests can book individual surf lessons, or participate in the hotel’s regularly occurring surf and yoga retreats. 

The Bodhi Tree’s wellness focus continues in its spa, a small space with three rooms that offers an array of health-inspired treatments. Beyond relaxing massages and facials, the spa offers treatments like lymphatic drainage, abdominal cupping, and Reiki. It even has physical therapy sessions for those who may be injured. 

A boutique is also on the premises selling activewear, swimsuits, sunscreen, and other items such as natural skincare products or beaded bracelets with charms reading "namaste."

While plenty of guests remain unplugged during their stay, the resort does offer free Wi-Fi 

While The Bodhi Tree isn’t an all-inclusive resort, it does offer all-inclusive meal plans. The hotel’s open air restaurant serves buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and all of its meals are organic and health conscious. The restaurant serves lots of fruit and vegetables, grilled chicken and fish, and whole grains. There are lots of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options. Beef and pork are not available. Travelers who plan to fully embrace The Bodhi Tree’s holistic atmosphere will find the all-inclusive meal plan convenient and nutritious. Those who aren’t as stringent will probably want to dine off-site. Along with the restaurant, the hotel also has its own juice bar with cold pressed juices, smoothies, coffee, and healthy snacks. The open-air space is popular with guests and locals, and it always has a warm community-centric atmosphere. There is an on-site bar, and guests can order alcoholic beverages with their meals, but alcohol certainly isn’t the focus here. Plenty of guests enjoy a drink or two around the pool or with their dinner, but the atmosphere never gets rowdy. Alcoholic drinks and drinks purchased from the juice bar, are not included in the hotel’s all-inclusive rates. 

The Bodhi Tree has a stunning pool in the center of its property. The long narrow pool is surrounded by cushioned lounge chairs, and it's a popular spot for guests to relax throughout the day. Turquoise mosaic tiles give the pool a bright shimmery quality, which if colorfully enhanced by bright orange umbrellas and stunning green foliage. The atmosphere around the pool is serene -- almost spa-like. While children are welcome at The Bodhi Tree, families with little ones may feel out of place here, especially around the pool. This isn’t the kind of place where kids splash around and cause ruckus. In fact, rowdiness -- in the pool and around the property -- is frowned upon.