Silent Retreat at Pachamama Eco Village

This silent meditation retreat is a seven-day immersion in silence, meditation and yoga at PachaMama Eco Village & Retreat Center in Nicoya, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. It is led by Tyohar and the Pachamama facilitation team, and it suits both first-time silent retreat participants and experienced practitioners. For the week, the entire Pachamama community enters silence together, so the quiet extends well beyond the meditation hall.

What to Expect

The retreat is a guided week of silence, meditation, yoga, mindful movement, time in nature, self-inquiry and rest. It is less an escape from life than a chance to slow down, listen inwardly and meet your experience with more clarity. Silence is held until the closing circle. There are no phones, no journalling and no music.

Each day follows a steady rhythm:

- 06:00 Dynamic meditation, or 06:30 silent yoga
- 07:30 Breakfast
- 08:30 Satsang with Tyohar
- 10:30 Breathwork session, or 11:15 Vipassana meditation
- 12:30 Lunch
- 16:00 Movement meditation, either free dance or kundalini meditation
- 17:15 Dinner
- 19:00 Satsang with Tyohar, followed by a listening meditation

Satsang happens twice a day and combines live sessions with selected recordings of previous talks. Past titles include "A broken heart is an opportunity," "Special vs Unique" and "What is depression."

The week closes with a traditional sweatlodge by the river, where participants get their word back and the silence is released.

Some people find the week deeply restful. Others meet emotional insight and challenge. The structure and the presence of experienced facilitators are there to support both.

About Tyohar

Tyohar guides the retreat and gives the Satsang sessions at its heart. He is joined by the Pachamama facilitation team, who have years of experience holding silent retreats.

The Setting

PachaMama is an eco-village and transformational community set in Costa Rican jungle, with rivers and wildlife throughout the village. Time outdoors is part of the practice, with room for walking, reflection and simply watching the forest.

Accommodation is booked separately from the retreat registration. Two options are described:

- AC Room: a private 20 square meter room for two adults, with a queen-size bed, air conditioning, WiFi, a balcony sitting area, a small refrigerator and a private bathroom with hot shower. It is about five minutes on foot from the village center.
- Cabina: an open-plan house of about 40 square meters for two adults and one child, with a queen-size bed, sofa bed, kitchenette, air conditioning, WiFi, a private bathroom with hot shower and an outside balcony. It is about two minutes on foot from the village center.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served buffet-style, with vegetarian and dietary-friendly options.

Before You Go

No previous meditation or silent retreat experience is needed, and many people come alone. Participants are asked to make a sincere commitment to the process, including keeping silence through the week until the closing circle.

The registration covers the seven-day program, twice-daily Satsang, daily meditation and silent sitting, daily yoga and mindful movement, and the closing sweatlodge. Accommodation, Costa Rican VAT, and international and local travel are not included.

Plan to arrive at least a day before the retreat starts, so you can settle in before the opening session. The retreat ends on the final day after the closing activities and lunch, so it helps to book onward travel for the next day or later in the afternoon.

Pack comfortable clothes for meditation and movement, walking sandals or shoes, a refillable water bottle, a flashlight or headlamp, a light layer for cool evenings and your own towel. Please bring biodegradable personal care products.