Welcome to Hometepe Holistic Sanctuary and Retreat Center, a conscious, plant-bases, health and wellness retreat center located on Ometepe Island, Nicaragua!
Ometepe is Central America’s largest oceanic island and the second-largest freshwater in Latin America. This incredible island is home to two volcanos! No wonder it was nominated to be among the 7 Natural Wonders of the World! Discover all that this spectacular island has to offer including hiking volcanoes, chasing waterfalls, and visiting cacao farms!
** Please put your flight information on the logistics sheet **
CLICK HERE FOR PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS AND TRAVEL IN NICARAGUA FROM COSTA RICA & NICARAGUA
If you require a taxi service from both sides of the border, please contact
hometepeholisticsanctuary@gmail.com
If flying to Liberia, Costa Rica (most affordable) students must purchase 5 days of insurance and also fill out a health pass prior to arrival. A taxi from the Liberia airport takes about an hour and costs around $70 USD.
At the Penas Blancas border students will have to show their negative PCR test and pay a $10 USD (aprox) entry fee to enter the country.
Once you cross the border taxis are available to the Port of San Jorge for the Island of Ometepe. The taxi is about a 25 minute ride and costs $20-$25 USD.
Upon arrival at the port, you will pay a $1 USD fee to enter the port and then the 1 hour ferry costs 50 cordobas or about $1.50 USD.
Upon arrival in the Port of Moyogalpa, a tuk tuk or taxi can be arranged to Hometepe Holistic Sanctuary and Retreat Center (Finca Samaria) for 150 cordobas or about $4 USD.
To arrange tuk tuk please contact Hometepe Holistic Sanctuary and Retreat Center at hometepeholisticsanctuary@gmail.com
A taxi is available at the Managua airport for service to the San Jorge port (2.5 hours) for $70 USD aprox.
** Please put your dietary restrictions on the logistics sheet.
Please let us know of any allergies or dietary restrictions. All meals are healthy and prepared by our lovely cook who knows how to make your taste buds smile. 3 Daily vegetarian, healthy meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
At Hometepe Holistic Sanctuary and Retreat Center, purified water is available. When traveling outside of your home country it is a good idea to take the extra steps to protect your immune system. If you have never traveled outside of your country, this may make you more susceptible to getting tummy sickness because your body will be exposed to unfamiliar bacteria! Even though our retreat centers have filtered water, we recommend bringing a water filter or water purification tablets. Here are the products we recommend:
The currency in Nicaraguan is Córdoba. US Dollars are widely accepted but you will not get the best exchange rates. We also suggest not to use the money exchange in the airport as the rates are high.
The closest ATMs are 4.5 km away in the port town of Moyogalpa.
**Put your arrival time on the logistics sheet.
Check into Hometepe Holistic Sanctuary and Retreat Center on the first day of training only. Please note that Wanderlust Utopia cannot accommodate early/late accomodations. If you need to book additional nights outside of the training dates, please reach out to Wanderlust Utopia and they will be happy to offer you suggestions!
They can be reached at hometepeholisticsanctuary@gmail.com
Here are the 2 required texts you can purchase at your local bookstore or online. Please note that the Manual is INCLUDED in the tuition, and will be there when you arrive.
Purchase one of the following Yoga Sutras books. The choice is yours!
If your course is not a 200hr YTT we’ll send you the recommended books in your logistics email!
The Manual is included in the price of tuition and we will have it for you at the start of the course.
Optionally, a neti pot and a tongue scraper are suggested to be used throughout the course, you can purchase these on your own at any health food store. Please also bring any creative tools that enable you to express your gifts such as musical instruments, painting/drawing materials, etc.
Click here and check out our alumni’s online shop. Use the code SYIFAM20 for 20% off!
You will need a valid passport for entry into Nicaragua. US, Canada and EU citizens do not need to get a visa ahead of time.
As of March 2021, you will need Travel insurance to enter. You can find that here; https://tiendasagicor.com/en/products/seguro-para-turistas-individual
Laundry is available onsite at an extra charge.
High speed wifi is available in the common area but we suggest to disconnect from the internet as much as possible, phones will only be allowed for photos during meal times etc.
We will make arrangements to make up any missed days during the program. Typically, it is not a problem and you can get everything completed during the course.
At the end of the course, you will receive your 200hr Yoga Teacher Certification. This course is approved by Yoga Alliance. As a graduate of this program you will qualify to register as a teacher with the Yoga Alliance organization if you choose to.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us by phone or email. We are looking forward to having you here to embark on this life-changing journey to shed away layers and become your truest self.
We encourage you to begin the practice now, by reflecting on your intentions for yourself and what brought you on this journey. Together we will create a safe and sacred space within our group that will help to reveal the wisdom within and the nature of the Self. This path will ask for self -reflection, growth, and discipline. Your journey will be greatly guided by what you chose to bring to the experience. Open yourself to what is there, leave all expectations behind and enter the clear, crisp perspective and sacred landscape of Costa Rica with an open heart.