Beyond The Bubble Bath
A holistic wellness retreat in Nicaragua for true self-care
By Tyson Harris
Reading time: 4 minutes
In today’s world of non-stop notifications and mounting pressures, self-care has been commodified into scented candles and spa days. While those things have their place, true self-care runs deeper. It begins with nervous system recovery — a return to calm, safety and presence in the body.
At Costa Dulce, a holistic wellness retreat on Nicaragua’s pristine Pacific coast, we witness this transformation daily. Guests arrive feeling burnt out and overstimulated. They leave with a phrase we hear again and again: “Calm, grounded, and fully reset.”
That transformation starts with nature. Nestled between tropical jungle and sea, Costa Dulce offers space to breathe. The crashing waves, warm sunsets and howler monkeys at dawn create a rhythm that reminds the body it’s safe to relax. As one guest shared: “I pinched myself every morning waking up to the most amazing view — with the sounds of the waves, monkeys and morning showers. It was so magical and healing.”
And while rest is essential, so is movement — especially the kind that reconnects you to joy. Costa Dulce is not just a wellness centre; it’s also a surf and yoga retreat where guests learn to move with purpose and presence. Many arrive having never touched a surfboard and leave riding waves with confidence. Surfing here isn’t about adrenaline, it’s about flow, breath and learning to meet challenges with grace.
Paired with daily yoga, it becomes part of a deeply healing, active lifestyle that supports both mental and physical vitality. But self-care here goes beyond scenery. It’s built into daily rituals designed to restore balance: morning yoga, nourishing meals and immersive experiences that regulate the nervous system.
Guests rotate between heat and cold in our oceanside sauna and plunge pool, an ancient formula for resilience that modern science now backs. Others experience emotional release and rebirth in a temazcal, our Mesoamerican sweat lodge ceremony.
“Take a yoga class with Noa, then plunge into cold water while watching the jungle canopy — it’s not just relaxing,” one guest said, “it changes how you feel in your own skin.”
Another shared: “If you’re feeling stressed, book an acupuncture session with Nicole. You will come out of it transformed.”
Our meals are prepared with intention and love — colourful, local and gut-friendly. We accommodate all dietary needs, from coeliac to vegetarian, without sacrificing taste. The kitchen staff are often mentioned in guest reviews for their creativity and kindness.
As a wellness centre rooted in community, Costa Dulce’s most healing aspect may be connection. Guests dine communally, hike together, share laughter in salsa classes and cry together in ceremonies. Strangers become friends. One guest wrote: “It felt less like you are staying at a retreat centre and more like you are being welcomed into a community.”
Self-care isn’t meant to be a solitary act. It's a return — to the body, to the land and to each other. At Costa Dulce, we don’t offer a quick fix. We offer a reset — through nature, nourishment and connection, at a place where wellness and joy are woven into every day.
As one guest put it best: “I left in a totally different state than I arrived. What more could you ask for from a holiday?”
Tyson Harris, visionary and founder, established Costa Dulce 20 years ago
Learn more at www.costadulcebeach.com
Om Magazine
First published in November 2009, OM Yoga magazine has become the most popular yoga title in the UK. Available from all major supermarkets, independents and newsstands across the UK. Also available on all digital platforms.
