Frequently Asked Questions

Rythmia is the leading Life Advancement Center located in the pristine heart of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, and is world-renowned for its Rythmia Way Program. An intensive, week-long immersive experience, the Rythmia Way Program is designed to facilitate personal transformation and healing and achieve a miracle in one’s life. Of the over 17,000 people who have completed the program, over 98% report receiving a life-changing miracle.

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While the facility boasts world-class accommodations, beautiful grounds, farm-to-table organic meals, spa services, and premium amenities, what truly distinguishes Rythmia is its meticulously designed Rythmia Way program, where all elements work synergistically to achieve profound results.

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Fusing the ancient teachings of plant medicine from the Columbian lineage with multiple harmoniously supporting modalities, Rythmia creates an optimal immersive environment for healing. A team of highly skilled shamans with training in the Columbian lineage leads each of the four Ayahuasca ceremonies. Rev. Michael Beckwith's "The Answer is You" classes, expertly crafted integration and intention-setting workshops, yoga, meditation, dance, and rhythmic breathwork all support your transformational journey to higher consciousness.

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Our program is effective but demanding. At its core is the healing pathway, structured around three intentions for participants ready to face who they've become, reconnect with their souls, and heal their hearts. One of the program's fundamental principles is that to truly transcend our limitations and realize our full potential, we must receive what we need rather than what we want.

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For those committed to the hard work of true personal change, Rythmia delivers an experience that's both methodical and powerful, fostering authentic change with tangible results to back up its promise to participants: miracles. Until you’ve completed the program, its power can be hard to fully understand. We welcome you to explore our experience page to learn more about what’s included and our reviews and testimonial page to hear past participants share their experiences.

Your all-inclusive stay includes the Rythmia Way Program and all the comforts and amenities for you to fully focus on your personal development alongside a community of like-minded individuals. All guests will receive:

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- 7 Nights of Luxury Resort Accommodations

- 4 Ayahuasca Ceremonies (optional)

- Roundtrip Shuttle Service from Liberia Airport (optional for an extra fee)

- 21 Farm-to-table Organic Meals

- 3 "The Answer is You" Classes designed by Michael Beckwith

- 1 "About Your Miracle" Class by Gerard Powell

- 6 Yoga Classes

- 3 Rhythmic Breathwork Classes

- 1 Meditation Class

- 1 Swedish Massage

- 1 Dance of Liberation™ Movement Ceremony Designed by Parashakti

- 2 Deep Sea Hydro Colonic Cleanses

- 2 Shuttled Beach Trips

- 1 Rythmia Way Program

- 2 Medical Evaluations performed by Staff Physicians

- 24 x 7 On-Site Medical Care

- Gym, saltwater pool, volcanic mud bath, steam room, hot and cold plunge, and more!

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At Rythmia, we have at least two staff members for every guest, each committed to ensuring every aspect of your stay is outstanding.

Gerard (Gerry) Powell is a philanthropic entrepreneur, author, and inspirational speaker. He is the Founder and CEO of Rythmia Life Advancement Center in Costa Rica, the only medically licensed facility in the world to offer Ayahuasca (indigenous plant medicine).

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Gerry is an expert businessman, skilled at starting, growing, and selling companies for profit. His path brought him all the financial abundance he could imagine, including the sale of his last company for $89 million in 2004. Although Gerard was a wealthy man, he was plagued with darkness, addiction, and sadness. Finally, after years of fruitless therapy sessions and rehab, Gerry was brought back to light through the miracle of plant medicine and metaphysics. In gratitude of the plants, he has devoted his life's work to bringing people closer to the wonder of metaphysical plant medicine.

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Gerry is on-site most weeks and delivers the “About Your Miracal” class and shares meals with guests at the Roots Restaurant.

Our founder and CEO, Gerard (Gerry) Powell has built a team of over 200 people, each committed to the safety and satisfaction of our guests, for an overall ratio of two staff members to every guest. 

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Our large and highly skilled plant medicine ceremony team ensures that at each ceremony, a minimum ratio of one healer to every four guests is maintained, so there is always someone available to offer personalized support. The team is led by three masters who work harmoniously together, bringing wisdom to different areas of the ceremony. Our Chief of Ceremony meticulously orchestrates the Rythmia Way program and all the practical and logistical elements of the ceremony, ensuring that our stringent safety protocols are upheld at all times. Our Chief Healer and Teacher ensures understanding and respect for Indigenous practices and knowledge and trains and mentors our team of healers following the Rythmia Way. Our Chief Spiritual Officer holds the essential role of protecting and caring for the wellness of our team.

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In the classroom, our instructional leaders include our founders (Gerry delivers the “About Your Miracle” class and Dr. Jeff delivers the “Nuheart/AfterGlow After Grow” class) and a team of carefully selected certified experts in their area. For example, “The Answer is You” course was designed especially for Rythmia by Michael Beckwith, NYT bestselling author and Founder and CEO of Agape International Spiritual Center, and each week the class is delivered by an Agape Licensed Spiritual Practioner. The same is true for each of our supporting modality classes, where our breathwork instructors teach Elemental Rhythmic Breathwork and our dance instructors follow Parashakti Sigalit’s Dance of Liberation™, a method of movement therapy and deep process work that draws on shamanic traditions to help individuals achieve emotional, cognitive, physical, and spiritual integration. 

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At our on-site medical facilities, our team is available 24/7. Dr. Jeff McNairy, our Chief Medical Officer, leads our medical team, which is comprised of two doctors and ten nurses who handle all pre-medical and on-site medical screenings and any medical needs during your stay. In addition, the team includes two Emergency Response Technicians, ensuring that one is always present during ceremonies in the rare case of a medical emergency. 

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At Rythmia, every team member is here to ensure your stay is outstanding. Don’t be surprised when members of our team come to know you by name. 

Since 2016, over 17,000 guests have completed the Rythmia Way program, with 98% reporting healing and profound and lasting shifts in their understanding, perspectives, relationships, and overall well-being. At Rythmia, these events are called miracles, which are the main measure for tracking the effectiveness of the program. When we refer to the Rythmia Way program as "time-tested,” we are referring to how we have used the data to understand the importance of each class in supporting guest satisfaction as represented by the miracle rate and to optimize the program for the benefit of future guests.

Ayahuasca is a sacred, plant-based medicine that is indigenous to the Amazonian region. Known for producing hallucinogenic effects, it is prepared by brewing the bark of Banisteriopsis caapi, a type of jungle vine, with Psychotria viridis, which comes from the leaves of a native shrub. The leaves contain the psychoactive substance DMT.

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Ayahuasca has remarkable healing powers. Each person who takes this beautiful plant medicine undergoes a unique transformation in line with their personal goals and needs. Radiating a positive, healing effect, it helps people deal with unresolved issues and limiting beliefs, including those that originate in childhood.

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At Rythmia, we also work with a medicine called Yagé, which is another name for the same or similar brew. Yagé is used particularly in the Colombian Amazon and, like Ayahuasca, offers transformative and healing experiences.

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The names Ayahuasca and Yagé are rooted in different cultural and linguistic contexts, reflecting the regional uses and traditions of the Amazonian people. Despite these different names, the central purpose remains the same: to facilitate profound spiritual journeys and personal growth.

Ayahuasca has a rich history that traces back thousands of years among indigenous tribes in the Amazon rainforest. It is regarded as a gift from the universe, a divine tool that opens the doors to other realms of consciousness and provides profound insights into the mysteries of existence. Ayahuasca, also known as "the vine of the soul" or "the spirit vine," has been used as a sacred medicine for healing, divination, and spiritual communion by indigenous shamans and healers for generations. According to healers, the knowledge of Ayahuasca was bestowed upon humans by the spirits, or the gods, as a means to connect with the divine and gain profound wisdom.

Many people who take Ayahuasca plant medicine report undergoing a unique transformation in line with their personal goals and needs. Radiating a positive, healing effect, Ayahuasca helps people deal with unresolved issues and limiting beliefs, including those that originate in childhood.

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Ayahuasca can improve relationships by opening us up to emotion and love, releasing years of pent-up emotion, and giving us a sense of renewed purpose and direction in life. Furthermore, many report that it brings them inner peace and a sense of well-being. Many people feel that the plant has helped them re-establish a connection with the inner voice of their feelings and create a self that is more assured and aware of how to relax and find their inner place within the world.

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“I only knew I needed a change. I just knew I was stuck in an inwardly negative and outwardly positive, no self-motivation, self-deprecating cycle. The change I received was completely unexpected and profound.” -Rachel P

Many who have experienced ayahuasca describe it as a deeply transformative and awe-inspiring journey that has the potential to bring about unprecedented and unexpected healing on all levels—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Ayahuasca is often credited with helping individuals release emotional traumas, gain clarity and insight into their life purpose, and experience a deep sense of interconnectedness with nature, humanity, and the universe at large. 

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Our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jeff McNairy, frequently discusses the mounting scientific work showing the promise of plant-based medicine to heal individuals experiencing body dysmorphia, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Since 2016, over 17,000 guests have completed the Rythmia Way Program, with 98% reporting having received a life-changing miracle. As a founder of Rythmia, Dr. Jeff has personally supported and seen the transformation and liberation of co-founder Gerry Powell and hundreds of guests from these serious issues.

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Dr. Jeff regularly shares his insights here.

Yes! Rythmia is the only medically licensed plant-based medicine center in the world.

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Rythmia is licensed by the Costa Rican Ministry of Health. We have a General Medical License to provide all the services we offer. We are also licensed by an additional department within the Ministry of Health called IAFA, which is the Costa Rican drug and alcohol facility management division. We can legally operate within the municipality of Santa Cruz, Guanacaste.

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When you choose Rythmia for your plant-based medicine experience, you can rest assured that our program has been designed with rigorous safety protocols, including extensive training of all staff and a highly qualified on-site medical team that is available 24x7 to support all aspects of your wellness.

We have stringent safety protocols in place to ensure your stay with us is safe and worry-free, including:

• 24-hour medical staff on-site, including a medical doctor, registered nurses, and EMTs 
• World-class healers with extensive experience in the Indigenous Columbian lineage and the Rythmia Way Program
• Rigorous pre-travel and on-site medical screenings
• 24-hour security of our gated community
• Minimum 1:4 staff-to-guest ratio during ceremonies, ensuring personalized care is available if needed 
• Highly specialized integration courses to ensure you are prepared to work with the medicine
• A Staff Code of Conduct, signed by all staff and strictly enforced
• A Guest Code of Conduct, signed by each guest and strictly enforced
• Adherence to strict and extensive safety and incident protocols and participation in regular audits as required to maintain our status as the world’s only medically licensed plant-based medicine center
• An overall 2:1 staff-to-guest ratio ensures a caring member of our team is always available to help with the smaller but equally important matters of comfort and convenience

Ayahuasca ceremonies are open to adults 18 years and older who are in good physical and mental health, seeking personal growth, and committed to approaching the experience with respect and intention and adhering to our preparatory guidelines and guest code of conduct.

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However, individuals with certain medical conditions, pregnant or nursing women, and those taking specific medications and supplements should refrain from participating.

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Certain medical conditions may pose health risks with plant medicine, including epilepsy and seizures, diabetes, heart and cardiovascular conditions, liver and kidney conditions, and mental disorders. In addition, certain medications and supplements are contraindicated, including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MOIs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), antidepressants, central nervous system (CNS) depressants, and others. Do you have questions or concerns? Speak with one of our knowledgeable guest consultants to gain a more comprehensive understanding of these contraindications. You can book a free consultation here. And, rest assured, both as part of the booking process and upon your arrival, our medical team will assess your personal health history to ensure your eligibility. When you choose Rythmia for your plant-based medicine experience, you are choosing a time-tested holistic program and the world’s only medically licensed Ayahuasca center.

Depending on the tradition of the healer, women in their menstrual cycle may not be permitted to be present in the preparation of the brew, drink the brew, or attend the ceremonies. This is an ancient tradition rooted mainly in safety considerations as women having their menstrual cycle are very open energetically and are already experiencing a “purging”. Plant medicine could accentuate the experience of this purge and also greatly affect the collective experience of others in the ceremony. At Rythmia, we offfer an alternative healing ceremoney for menstrating women on such nights.

We have doctors for two reasons. First and foremost, we want each guest to have medical support for general health issues such as falls, cuts, colds, flu, etc. Further, we are a licensed medical facility that requires us to have licensed doctors on staff. All of this is for the sole benefit of our guests.

This depends on your personal preference. Many people choose to come alone or with someone they know, and we have guest rooms to accommodate a variety of needs. During the ceremonies, you are asked to sit apart from family or friends so you can focus wholly on your own personal journey.

Once you complete your reservation, you will receive guidance on how to best prepare for your stay at Rythmia. This includes diet recommendations and guidelines about everything from what to pack to how to begin setting your intentions. If you have any questions, you may call us to speak to a senior guest consultant.

From the minute you step foot at Rythmia, you will be guided every step of the way to ensure you are fully prepared mentally, spiritually, and physically. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by our friendly and knowledgeable staff, who will introduce you to our beautiful grounds and the Rythmia Way Program. Sunday’s afternoon orientation class will provide you with the opportunity to ask questions and meet other guests in your cohort. Our team will share important information about what to expect and how to get your miracle. Every day is carefully planned to ensure you are fully prepared to work with plant medicine, set your intentions, and integrate your learnings so you can achieve long-term transformation.

A “dieta” is a set of dietary and behavioral guidelines often followed in preparation for and after working with plant medicine. This aims to cleanse the body and mind, enhance the effects of the medicine, and help individuals connect more deeply with the spirit of Ayahuasca.

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Guidelines for preparation:

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Foods to avoid:

• Processed foods, refined sugars, and artificial additives
• Red meat and pork. Some practitioners also suggest avoiding all meat and animal products
• Fermented foods and drinks
• Spicy foods
• Foods high in tyramine, such as aged cheeses, smoked fish, and cured meats
• Alcohol and caffeine
• Excessive salt and oil
• Certain fruits, such as pineapples and citrus fruits

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Recommended Foods:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, and oats
• Plant-based proteins like lentils, chickpeas, and tofu
• Hydrating fluids like water and herbal teas

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Behavioral Guidelines:

• Avoid sexual activities. This is to conserve energy and promote internal focus.
• Limit exposure to excessive noise, media, and stressful situations.
• Spend time in nature and engage in mindful practices such as meditation, yoga, or journaling.

During the registration process, you will be required to disclose all medications, drugs, supplements, and psychedelics taken within the past year. In general, one should not be taking any other supplements or medications, including herbal medicines, when taking plant medicine, both for your safety and to not interfere with the efficacy of the plants or their energies.

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All prescription medications, certain supplements, and illegal drugs should be stopped at least 2 to 8 weeks prior to taking plant medicine, depending on the specific type of medication or supplement. Synthetic hormones taken for hypothyroidism are an exception.

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You must be free of the following substances prior to your visit, or you will not be admitted:

• Cocaine and Crack: 30 days
• Methamphetamine, Adderall, Ritalin, etc.: 15 days
• Alcohol: 3 days (if addicted to alcohol: 14 days)
• Suboxone and Methadone: 30 days
• Lamictal and Gabapentin: 30 days
• All antidepressants and antipsychotics: 30 days
• Heroin and prescription opiates: 30 days
• Psilocybin: 30 days
• LSD: 30 days
• HGH/Testosterone is okay

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For a comprehensive list of detailed medication descriptions and cessation periods, please call us to speak to a Rythmia guest consultant. Rest assured, a full medical screening will be completed as part of the booking process and upon arrival to ensure your safety and eligibility.

Once you shed your limiting beliefs, you can see the choice in front of you to live consciously and begin to embody that higher consciousness. You can develop responsibility for your life and say yes to you, and to a healthier, more liberated, and conscious life.

For long-term results, it is important to continue to integrate all you’ve learned during your Rythmia stay. To support you continuously, our post-program app will help you sustain and build on your learning once you return home. You will gain access to professionally recorded yoga, meditation, breathwork, and metaphysics classes taught by world-class experts. In addition, you will receive access to a private Facebook group for your cohort, so you can keep in touch with the friends you’re sure to make at Rythmia!

The Rythmia Way Program includes a variety of daily integration workshops and activities designed to prepare you to work with plant medicine and integrate all of your learnings. Group discussions, breathwork, yoga, guided meditation, and specialized classes all work together to ensure you are gaining practical tools for long-term change and self-empowerment. Our classes are designed by world-class experts, such the best-selling author and founder of the Agape International Spiritual Center Rev. Michael Beckwith, who designed “The Answer You” course exclusively for Rythmia.

You can learn more about all of our upcoming guest speaker events here.

"The Answer is You" program was designed by Rev. Michael Beckwith and is based on his book. Rev. He has hand-selected trusted practitioners from the Agape International Spiritual Center to conduct the courses each week. He is typically on site and speaks a couple of times a year. You can find his upcoming dates here. (https://www.rythmia.com/rp-mbb.html)

Our rythmic breathwork classes focus on therapeutic breathing techniques for healing and transformation. By consciously working on your breath, you can enter expanded states of awareness to release trauma and cleanse the spirit. Highly trained breathwork facilitators and world-renowned senior trainers will guide you on insightful journeys that open you up to life-changing events and shifts in consciousness that help secure the attainment of your miracle. It is also a skill that you take home and can access at any time to sustain and continue on your journey. All you need is your breath to participate.

Our beloved Yoga classes are offered 6 days per week, Saturday to Thursday.

Every day, blocks of free time are built into your schedule so that you may enjoy on-site amenities, schedule a healing massage and hydrocolonic cleanses (included in your stay), journal, have a swim in the saltwater pool, indulge in a volcanic mud bath, visit the cold plunge and steam room, sip on fresh coconut water, visit the nearby beach and more. The saltwater pool and gym are available to guests 24x7.

The Dead Sea Cleanse is the most progressive treatment in the world for cleansing the internal organs and digestive system of parasites and toxins. It’s of paramount importance to have a clean vessel and heal the physical body in which your spiritual self can reside. It also helps to promote a more gentle purging experience during the plant medicine ceremonies. Your appointment will take place in a clinical setting with comfortable, private rooms. Our colon cleanse specialist will answer any questions you may have and provide you with instructions to ensure your comfort. People often say they feel much lighter and better following a hydrocolonic cleanse.

Costa Rica is known to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Langosta Beach is nearby and shuttled excursions are included in your stay.

Pricing starts at $4,900 per person and varies based on time of year and room selection, where choice ranges from solo, private executive rooms to shared rooms. We invite you to call us or schedule a time to speak to a member of our team. We’re here to answer all your questions.

In order to book your Rythmia stay, you must call us or schedule a free consultation to speak with one of our Senior Guest Consultants. You will be required to complete a phone and written medical screening. A deposit is required to reserve your space. We offer a flexible payment policy.

Payment OptionsWe require non-refundable payment in order to reserve your space. The two options for payment are:

1. Pay for your trip in full at the time of booking. A shuttle benefit is provided.
2. Pay a $500 deposit to hold your space, and then the remaining balance within the next 14 days.

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Refund and Cancellation Policy

• All reservations canceled before your arrival date are non-refundable and will receive a credit toward future stays.
• Reservations that have been rescheduled or transferred three times or more will incur a $200 surcharge.
• If the initial $500 deposit is not used or converted to a permanent appointment within one year of its making, it will be forfeited and non-refundable.

Check-in time is 3:00 PM, and check-out time is 11:00 AM. Any guest arriving at the resort after 5:00 PM may be required to delay their intake assessment until the morning of the following day. The intake assessment requires a minimum of 2 hours to complete. To prevent any interruption in your day-one program schedule, please try to arrive by 3:00 PM.

You may book either a 7-night or 14-night stay.

Rythmia is located in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Downtown Tamarindo is a 10-minute cab ride. Our resort address is: Del Cruce de Hernandez Hacia Playa Avellanas 1km Oeste, Hacienda Pinilla, Rythmia Life Advancement Center (antiguo Hotel La Posada) Tamarindo, Santa Cruz Guanacaste, Costa Rica 50306

Costa Rica is home to one of only five blue zones on the planet. Blue zones are locations where people live the longest, enjoy life the most, and are healthiest. It's for these reasons that Guanacaste, Costa Rica was the perfect location for Rythmia.

If you have reserved our shuttle service:

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Once you pick up your luggage and clear customs, you will exit the airport to the right for the shuttle area and look for a representative holding a white sign with the brown Rythmia logo.

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Driving Directions from Liberia International Airport:

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Follow Route 21 to Route 155

Distance: 62.6 km

Approximate Travel Time: 1 hr 2 min

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Our resort address is: Del Cruce de Hernandez Hacia Playa Avellanas 1km Oeste, Hacienda Pinilla, Rythmia Life Advancement Center (antiguo Hotel La Posada) Tamarindo, Santa Cruz Guanacaste, Costa Rica 50306

Driving Directions from San Jose, Costa Rica:

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Take Transversal 24 and Av 2/Rafael Francisco Osejo to Calle 42/Hungra Libre | 7 min (1.6 km). Drive from Autopista Jos Mara Castro Madriz, Route 1, Route 18 and Route 21 to Guanacaste | 3 h 19 min (222 km). Take Route 152 to the resort.

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Distance: 256.6 km

Approximate Travel Time: 4 hr 20 min

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If you’re going to drive to the center we recommend you download the WAZE app prior to arriving in Costa Rica.

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Our resort address is: Del Cruce de Hernandez Hacia Playa Avellanas 1km Oeste, Hacienda Pinilla, Rythmia Life Advancement Center (antiguo Hotel La Posada) Tamarindo, Santa Cruz Guanacaste, Costa Rica 50306

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NOTE: If possible, we recommend flying into Liberia Airport.

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Liberia Airport (LIR), also known as Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) located in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is considerably closer to Rythmia and a shuttle service is availaable.

The driest and brightest season to visit Costa Rica is between December and April. That said, there really are only good times to visit Cost Rica. You'll likely only experience short windows of warm rain in a day if traveling in May to August or in November and a few hours at a time at most in September and October. Don't be surprised if, like many, you find the warm rain of Costa Rica surprisingly pleasurable. Average temperatures are consistent across the year, with highs between 74°F and 79°F and lows between 59°F and 63°F.