- Selvatica Eco Retreat is strategically situated in the tiny rural village of Guapinol on the stunning rolling hills behind the infamous pristine beach, Playa Bejuco. Free of shopping malls and cinemas, with not even a corner store in sight, Selvatica is the perfect retreat away from society with the convenience of shopping and restaurants in the nearby coastal towns of Parrita and Esterillos. Kick off your heels and pull on your hiking boots, trade your phone for binoculars, and ditch your jeans, make-up, and bra for good – welcome to the jungle!
- Guapinol – where raw jungle meets picturesque cow fields, all with magical views of the sea. A quick 20 minutes down the hill, Playas Bejuco and Esterillos Este boast consistent beach breaks all year long making this a hotspot for surfers at every level. These secluded beaches are ideal for never-ending beach walks and seashell observation or simply just relaxing with a good book under a coconut palm. 45 minutes drive in one direction, one can find themselves souvenir shopping in the bustling beach town of Jaco and to the south, the most popular National Park in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio. Nearby attractions include a myriad of spectacular waterfall tours, cacao farms. Monkey mangrove tours, and opportunities for wildlife spotting along the whole way.
- Please note that the nearest restaurant is 2km from Selvática and the nearest stores/ATM are in Esterillos or Parrita, both a 20 minute drives from the retreat center.
- At Selvática, we are proud to serve a vegetarian and pescatarian menu. We strive to serve local and organic food (depending on availability). Many of our fruits are sourced from our own garden and that of local nearby farms. We always try to support our neighbors, finding use for what they are selling.
- All of our meals are carefully curated with love by our in-house Registered Dietitian (RD) to provide balance and adequate nutrition throughout the day.
- We serve our guests two meals per day plus a fruit platter and fresh fruit juice or smoothie. **Unless otherwise noted in your retreat package.
- Our meals are inspired by a plethora of different cultures. We love to adapt local ingredients to diverse worldly recipes.
- Yes! We are happy to accommodate all of the above to the best of our ability. Please give plenty of notice (>1 month) to your retreat leader and specify whether it is a true allergy or if it is just a preference.
- We can accommodate lactose/dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan diets. We do not accommodate Raw Diets.
- We strive to accommodate our guests, however due to our location, there are not always delicious substitutions (ie. limited gluten free pastas, no vegan cheeses, etc). However, we will do our best! With more notice, we can search for more ingredients.
- Please note that when a diet restriction is ordered, you must abide to that restriction because we have shopped and prepared food based on your restriction. For example, if you request a dairy free meal plan and ice cream is served one day, you cannot decide that you want ice cream. There is no grocery store within 20 minutes of Selvática, and even those have limited choices so we cannot run down the street to buy more. Thanks for your understanding!
- Yes, we have Starlink Wifi throughout the property. It is fast and reliable; however we are in the jungles of CR so in true “Pura Vida” lifestyle, it can go out from time to time, especially during heavy storms. In these limited circumstances, we encourage you to disconnect from your screens and reconnect to nature and the present moment.
- If you are interested in buying a sim card, we recommend Kolbi as they provide the best service in remote areas of CR.
- Yes! We have a water filtration system on the property that feeds filtered water to all of our rooms, the dome, and our kitchen.
- As an Eco Retreat, we do not sell or encourage the use of plastic water bottles. Please bring your refillable water bottle and stay hydrated!
- Yes! We have hot water in the main building. If you are the first hot water shower of the day, it takes a minute to heat up and it will come. That being said, even the “cold water” is lukewarm, so we encourage you to try it out in an effort to reduce water usage.
- We do not have hot water in the dome.
- 1800 m oeste de Mirador y Restaurante Donde Andres, Guapinol, Parrita, Puntarenas.
- Please see our “What to bring” list that we have provided to your retreat leader.
- This is dependent on your country of residence – please check the requirements for your passport prior to travel.
- US and Canadian passport holders do not need a visa upon entry for stays <180 days.
- Duration of your stay
- Where you will stay
- Proof of exit ticket
- Your profession
- Purpose of your stay
- Travel insurance is highly recommended for your stay at Selvática Eco Retreat.
- We recommend “https://www.trawickinternational.com/” for affordable and comprehensive travel insurance quotes.
- You will be required to sign a standard liability waiver upon arrival to Selvática Eco Retreat, as well as on many tours.
- CR is a country famous for eco-tourism and there is no shortage of tourists. That being said, please be mindful of bringing valuable items, especially those that hold emotional value to you. *Selvática is not responsible for any lost or stolen items during your stay or on affiliated tours.
- Upon writing this document in March 2024, the US embassy declares CR as a Level 2 travel advisory-tourists should take extra precautions when traveling.
- As with traveling anywhere in the world (including North America and Europe) it is recommended to be mindful of your surroundings, lock your doors at night and when not in your room, do not flaunt your wealth, etc.
- We recommend adding trip protection to your travel insurance in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
- We are located in a gated community and have security cameras in our communal spaces.
- Yes! As previously mentioned, CR is used to tourists and many tour operators, hotels, restaurants, etc. speak English.
- We recommend downloading Google translate or Spanish Dict to help you communicate with locals. Both apps are free and operate offline.
- The owners of Selvática are bilingual in both Spanish and English (and one in Dutch!) so no worries about communicating with us at the Eco Retreat.
- Yes! We provide concierge services as a part of our retreat package. Please ask your retreat leader for tour prices and our tour booklet to see our offerings. Note that the prices of our tours are based on a minimum of 6 persons.
For personal retreats, we can assist you in setting up private transportation. However, if you plan to adventure often during your stay, we do recommend looking into car rental as taxi services can add up quickly.
- Yes, we can arrange private tours/transportation, however the prices will be significantly higher as the transportation/tour guide cost will be split amongst less people
- We are happy to arrange private transportation to/from the airport. The cost is $200 for a shuttle for up to 4 people (+$10 additional per person over 4) and $190 for a private car.
- Uber/taxis are available from SJO airport (not from Selvática to SJO) and you are more than welcome
to arrange your own transportation, however we will not be responsible for any issues corresponding with this. - The local bus: you can catch a local bus from Parrita bus station and Esterillos bus stop to the south (Manuel Antonio, Uvita, etc) or to the North (Jaco, San Jose, etc). To get to the bus stop, you can take a private car for ~$50 down the hill or from the restaurant 2km away you can take another bus down the hill to a bus stop and then catch the local bus north or south.
- The cost of living in CR is more similar to that of the US/Canada/Europe than other Central American Countries. For instance, to eat at a local restaurant will cost you about $8-10 per meal for typical CR food. Restaurants serving more diverse foods such as Italian, American, etc will cost you ~$15-20+ per meal. for tour prices and our tour booklet to see our offerings. Note that the prices of our tours are based on a minimum of 6 persons. Tours are confirmed based on receipt of payment and will not be refunded for any reason.
- CR is a country that thrives based on eco-tourism. At most restaurants, a 10% service charge will be included in your bill (+13% tax IVA). Additional tipping is not mandatory and will always be appreciated.
- Massages, tour guides, drivers do not receive this 10% service charge and often set their own prices, so any additional tips are not expected but are always appreciated.
- That depends on you and your retreat! Some retreats include tours and excursions while some may not. If you know that you want multiple massages, extra tours/transportation, we recommend you bring more cash.
- We also accept local bank transfers (CR banks) for tour/transport/massage payments when booked through Selvática (guest is responsible for any additional fees/conversion rates).
- CR uses the CR colones (CRC). As of March 2024, the exchange rate is 500 CRC = $1.
- USD are widely accepted though the exchange rate may vary per tour operator/restaurant and is often in favor of the seller.
- One of the most amazing things about CR is the many different microclimates. Selvática is located in a tropical climate, about 200m above sea level and temperatures average between 85°-95°F (29°-35°C). Countries.
- There are two seasons in our area: Green and Dry. Rainy/Green season is from May – November with a small summer “Veranito” in July. May-August usually consists of rainy nights, small spurts of heavy tropical rains in increments of </= two hours at a time with the rest of the day often boasting sun. September and October are often the rainiest months with tropical storms and sometimes rain throughout the whole day.
- Rainy season can be slightly cooler, maybe requiring a jacket and light pants. Also called Green season, visitors can expect lush gardens, green everywhere, and incredible waterfall visits. Raincoats recommended!
- Dry season visitors can expect full days of sun. As many waterfalls and rivers stem from the mountains, there will still be water but less than can be expected during green season.
- ** Visiting CR is an opportunity for you to experience another way of life; connected to nature, living in harmony with Mother Earth and all living Beings. We want to share this way of living with you and want to provide you with as many comforts as possible to make your stay incredible. That being said, you may find yourself outside of your comfort zone at times and while we believe this is a wonderful opportunity for growth and new understanding, it may not suit everyone. With an open mind and compassionate
mindset, we are sure that you will adore our space that we have put so much love into creating.
- First off, expect to be warm, especially if you are visiting in high/dry season. If you don’t like the warmth, CR is probably not for you.
- Selvática is proud to offer you a pool with the average water temperatures warm during the day and cooler at dawn and dusk. We also have an ice bath that will keep you cool and focused throughout your day.
- Selvática is a green retreat center and is equipped with industrial-powered ceiling fans in each room. With the bathroom door open, the rooms have a nice breeze from cross ventilation. We find that with a cool shower before bed and following these guidelines, that you will be comfortable throughout the night.
- Your room has an AC unit, however as a green retreat center, we encourage mindful usage of the AC. Please do not leave AC running when you are not in the room in an effort to save electricity and reduce your carbon footprint
- Yes! We are located in the jungle and do not use chemical pesticides or sprays on our property. Expect to see critters, bugs, and many different animals of all kinds during your stay.
- Most of our building is open air with butterflies, birds, frogs, and bugs freely moving in and out.
- Our rooms are closed and screened so these friends are few and far between. We are happy to help you remove any critter friends from your room should they make their way in, and we encourage guests to think twice before killing Mother Nature’s friends.
- Yes, there are mosquitos. The most intense time for mosquitos is the hour surrounding sunset. We recommend bringing bug spray with you.
- The fans significantly help deter the mosquitos. We also have mosquito coils and citronella plants planted around the building to help deter mosquitos.