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What are the accommodations?
The elegantly designed villas, built with Costa Rican hardwoods, bamboo and plenty of windows and doors, invite guests to enjoy nature and ocean views in an intimate setting.
Each two-story villa has two air-conditioned bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and plenty of decks and terraces.
Luxurious granite stone tubs surrounded by tropical gardens give a unique, exotic touch to our open-air bathrooms. Decorated with imported, hand- crafted Indonesian furniture and floating around a free-form pool, the villas create a relaxed, romantic atmosphere complimented by their natural surroundings.
All four poolside Villas include: personal pool entrance, 2 air-conditioned bedrooms, fans, screens, garden bathroom with granite stone tub, laptop size security safes, Wi-Fi, and 2 kings beds or 1 king and 2 twins (depending on your preference)
Single Rooms are available at an additional cost of $1000.
What will the food be like?
Imagine sitting under beautiful high bamboo ceilings and gazing out over a serene lagoon pool while enjoying delicious, lovingly prepared food …welcome to Pranamar’s Kavita restaurant.
Each morning we will start the day with fragrant Costa Rica coffee. Pranamar’s restaurant serves outrageously delicious meals with spectacular views and a relaxed atmosphere. The chefs create dishes that nourish the body and enliven the senses. You’ll love Costa Rica’s local tropical fruits like pineapple, papaya, starfruit, and citrus. Pranamar utilizes the freshest ingredients for their menu with a strong emphasis on using organic and local produce…. We also love our healthy smoothies at every meal!
We have something for every palate and are more than happy to accommodate special dietary needs or lifestyle choices. The Kavita restaurant is known all over the area as the BEST restaurant in Santa Teresa.
They create amazing tasting vegetarian food and they compliment each meal with good quality protein like the fish and seafood bought from local fishermen of the Peninsula. (They also offer local organic beef and chicken)
*one lunch and one dinner are on your own
The Yoga practice in Costa Rica
“Our yoga practice will be about being in the body as connected to the environment—opening our cells to the beauty and wonders of Costa Rica”
You will practice, breathe, and sweat in one of Costa Rica’s newest and most inspiring studios. Our spacious yoga shala is open on three sides to allow the sea breeze and ocean song to flow thru. Built with beautiful teak floors, high bamboo ceilings, and antique Javanese doors, this sacred space is unforgettable and fully equipped.
Balance, focus, and core strength are key components of surfing. We will begin most mornings with “Awakening the Senses” yoga to get ourselves ready for the day. We have several sunset yoga sessions planned as well.
Our yoga instructor, Nancy Goodfellow, knows which poses most benefit sore surf muscles and incorporates awareness of the body into each session. She can help you reduce tightness in the hips and shoulders as well as improve strength and flexibility. Nancy teaches Anusara inspired –Vinyasa style yoga classes which are designed to nourish the body, release tension, and allow you to connect with yourself.
The yoga practice on this retreat is designed to be accessible for all levels—both fresh beginners and experienced practitioners will deepen their practice according to individual needs and desires. Variations will be offered, and the instructors work with the principle that each person can find relationship with an “inner voice” that guides our balance of challenge and ease. It’s fun for everyone!!
Surfing at Playa Hermosa-“Beautiful Beach”
It’s Costa Rica, one of the premier surf destinations in the world, so it will be incredible! A short walk down the white sand beach is our gentle surf spot. This picturesque palm-lined beach is Playa Hermosa, ‘beautiful beach’ in Spanish. Our “home break” is perfect for learning with its sandy bottom and rolling waves. The area has some of the most consistent waves in Costa Rica. This does not mean gigantic. In fact, we selected this location for its favorable waves. Having said this, while Colleen has performed some amazing feats, even she cannot control the seas, so we are still subject to the tides and swells.
Our instructors are patient, kind, experienced, and genuinely interested in you and your journey. They are able to accommodate absolute beginners to those who have been surfing for years. They teach safety first with fun and stoke as a close second. A 2 to 1 student-to-instructor ratio will ensure that you receive thoughtful feedback and coaching.
Women’s Quest is different than other surf retreats. Our first day will begin with “ground school” which is where we will teach you the basics of surfing, how to pop up and how to balance on the board. We have also created a very special “paddle school”, to help you with paddling skills. We will teach techniques to paddle more efficiently and powerfully, how to turtle roll, how to spin around quickly (for catching waves) and how to find your sweet spot on the board.
Our instructors have the essential talents to help you achieve your goals:
• Many years experience in surf instruction.
• Genuine enthusiasm and patience.
• Local knowledge of the area.
• Passion for the ocean and surfing.
• Surf lifesaving, CPR, and first aid certifications.
What weather can I expect?
Think tropical paradise! Sundresses, shorts, tank tops, flip flops! The warmest layers you’ll need are for your plane ride over.
What is the average age on this retreat?
We have a wide range of women who attend our retreats, from 15-70 years young. Each retreat will vary. Please contact us if you have questions about the ages on a specific retreat. We have had women as young as 13 learn to surf with us and as old as 67.
What if I am coming alone?
The majority of the women who attend our retreats come by themselves. Costa Rica is a safe and easy country to travel as a single female. English is widely spoken and we are here to answer any questions about travel that you may have. Although you may come alone, you will leave the retreat with new, lifelong friends!
Do I have to participate in everything on the schedule?
You do not need to participate in everything; you can pace yourself so that it is the perfect amount of activity for you. We fully support you in doing as much or as little as is right for you in the moment. The schedule gives you a sense of the flow of each day. It is subject to change, depending upon the needs of the group, weather, ocean swell size, tides, etc. We will go over the schedule each day at breakfast.
Am I in good enough shape to do this retreat?
Most Likely! We adapt to all levels of fitness. Since we break into really small surfing groups (one instructor for two people, and many times one on one) we can accommodate just about any skill and fitness level. Groups are formed according to each woman’s level of fitness, experience, and desire to challenge herself. We do suggest that you start a training or workout program before you come so that you can get the most out of the retreat. Your training does not need to be a hard-core program…just get out, play and be active several days a week.
Activities that will accelerate your learning are push-ups (hands underneath the shoulders, not wide), swimming, upper body exercises, and yoga for balance. Any physical exercise is beneficial. People of all shapes, sizes, skills and backgrounds surf. …and everyone who does, shares a common bond with the ocean and a permanent smile on their faces.
Cancellation, Payment and Covid Policy
Payment policy:
For all 2021 and 2022 retreats, a 3% fee will be added to full and balance due payments made using Paypal or Venmo. Retreat deposits will not have the additional charge applied.
Cancellation policy: If you cancel your retreat.
• If you must cancel, $1000 deposit for international retreats are NOT REFUNDABLE*
• Full refund, less deposit, will be given with at least 91 days notice for international retreats prior to departure.*
• Within 90 days of your retreat, sorry but absolutely no refund will be given
*No exceptions will be granted to the above policy.*
We reserve the right to cancel retreats with inadequate participant interest. Women’s Quest IS NOT to be held responsible for any personal expenses, such as airline tickets due to changes in itineraries or tour cancellations.
Covid-19 Policy – Cancellations by Women’s Quest
As a small company Women’s Quest is unfortunately not able to provide refunds of payments for retreats cancelled by Women’s Quest due to the COVID pandemic. This is primarily due to our financial commitments with the various retreat venues. As a result, in the event Women’s Quest cancels a retreat due to Covid-19 the Women’s Quest policy for such cancellations is to apply all payments to the following year’s retreat or to any other Women’s Quest retreat of your choosing through the end of 2022. Because of the unforeseen and unprecedented circumstances of the outbreak, this policy supersedes earlier policies.
Any cancellations by individuals due to Covid-19 or other reasons are subject to the Cancellation Policy above. This is why we urge everyone to purchase travel insurance when signing up.
Covid Waiver and Release
Additional Waiver, Release and Responsibilities
This waiver, release and acknowledgement of responsibilities is unfortunately necessary during this unique time of the Covid 19 pandemic. By signing up for and or attending any Women’s Quest retreat you agree to be bound by the terms of this document. We understand these times are challenging, however, these provisions are necessary to protect all attendees and staff members of Women’s Quest.
Testing For and Symptoms of Covid 19. If more than 2 weeks have passed since your final Covid 19 vaccination you do not need to have a negative Covid 19 test to attend the retreat, however, please bring your vaccination card or a photo of it with you. If you have not been fully vaccinated (no vaccinations or less than 2 weeks have passed since your final vaccination) you must provide a negative test for Covid 19 within 3 days of the first day of the retreat. Also, irrespective of your vaccination status, you agree you will not attend the retreat if you have any symptoms of Covid 19 immediately prior to the beginning of the trip. These symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea (these, along with symptoms outline in the following link and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control shall be collectively referred to as the “Symptoms”.) More information on symptoms of Covid 19 can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html
Symptoms During the Retreat. In the event you develop any Symptoms during the retreat you must immediately leave the retreat and follow protocols outlined by the Centers for Disease Control. We understand this may result in you incurring significant expenses associated with separate accommodation and travel, however, you understand these expenses are not the responsibility of Women’s Quest and must be incurred by you. You agree to be fully honest with Women’s Quest staff in regard to any Symptoms you may develop and agree to comply with a request by Women’s Quest staff to depart as determined by Women’s Quest staff in their sole discretion. As provided below, this is why we strongly urge everyone to get travel insurance covering these and other expenses prior to departure.
Procedures During the Retreat. During the retreat Women’s Quest may, but need not, endeavor to practice social distancing and wearing of masks when traveling in close proximity. You agree to comply with all requests of Women’s Quest staff during the retreat related to these procedures. Any such procedures implemented by Women’s Quest are not a guaranty you will not be exposed to Covid 19 and you understand you are responsible for taking any precautions you deem necessary and providing your own personal protective equipment during the retreat. You also agree to comply with any reasonable requests by other attendees to respect their social distancing and other protective measures (“Participant Requests”.) Notwithstanding the foregoing, you are responsible to comply with all laws and regulations of the locality visited relating to protections against Covid 19.
Waiver of Coronavirus Related Illness; Indemnification. You understand that irrespective of protective measures that Women’s Quest or you may or may not take, you may be exposed to Covid 19 by another retreat attendee, a Women’s Quest staff member and or an individual to whom you may be exposed during, or traveling to or from the retreat. You agree to waive and release Women’s Quest, its officers, directors, staff, employees, contractors, and partners from any claims, liabilities or damages you may incur in the event you contract Covid 19 at any time during travel to, attending or after attending the retreat. You further agree to indemnify and hold harmless Women’s Quest, its officers, directors, staff, employees, contractors, and partners from any loss, liability or damages as a result of your failure to receive a negative test for Covid 19 one week or sooner prior to the retreat, attending the retreat with any Symptoms, not respecting Participant Requests and not immediately departing the retreat if you develop any Symptoms.
Cancellation. In the unfortunate event you need to cancel your trip, cannot attend due to contracting Covid 19 or developing Symptoms prior to the retreat, or must leave the retreat due to contracting Covid 19 or developing Symptoms, Women’s Quest cannot provide any refund of any amounts you paid.
Travel Insurance. As provided in this document you could incur significant personal expense in the event you contract Covid 19 or develop any Symptoms during the retreat. As such, you are strongly urged to obtain travel insurance that provides adequate protections against these risks.
Additional Waiver. This waiver is incorporated into and made a part of other waivers you agreed to in connection with signing up for the retreat. In the event of a conflict between these terms and the terms of any other waiver, these waiver shall govern.