ANGUS STEPHENS is co founder and head chef of Chirriposa Retreats. A world traveller, he has worked for many years as head chef in yoga and surf retreats worldwide. After leaving more conventional posts in London, Edinburgh and around Europe, Angus worked for 2 years in the Fiji Islands at Namotu Island Resort. He moved to Costa Rica in 2004 and worked for years at the acclaimed ‘Tierra de Milagros’ Retreat (listed in Yoga Journal’s top 100 retreats in the world).
Out of season, Angus travels around Europe and the United States offering his culinary services as a Private Chef, cooking for the likes of hotelier Andre Balaz, former supermodel, actress and entrepreneur Kathy Ireland and art writer and historian Olivier Berggruen.
Angus, originally from the UK, has a University BA Degree in ‘European Languages and Business’. He worked for 10 years as a ‘Tour Director’ guiding large groups of American and Canadian students around major European cities.
His interests range from sports such as rugby, football, skiing and surfing to music, including playing guitar, gastronomy and he is a great nature enthusiast.
(Read interview with Angus Stephens on Kitchen Surfing blog "...a chef unlike any other..."
TANIA CAPPELLUTI is co founder and manager of Chirriposa Retreats. From Berlin, Germany, Tania spent the best part of the last decade running ‘Playkula’, a vibrant artist booking and management agency, representing DJs and Producers worldwide .
Tania has been heavily involved for many years in the music scene, working as an International Senior Product Manager for Sony Music Entertainment, Artist Coordinator for the ‘MTV Europe Awards’, Program Director for Berlin’s ‘Loveparade’, Tour Manager for the successful ‘Tabaluga Musical’ and Music Consultant for brands like O2, Hugo Boss and Strenesse.
Tania’s values of fun and positivity (Play) with a sense of community and mutual artistry (Kula) form the foundations of what PLAYKULA became and what CHIRRIPOSA aspires to be today.
Tania also has strong ties to the yoga and surf community. First arriving in Costa Rica in 2001, she quickly found her way down to the Osa Peninsula and at the gates of a “funky little hippie hangout” (Lonely Planet) known as ‘Tierra De Milagros,’, where she assisted in the kitchen and managed the housekeeping for several years. Tania practiced yoga and surfing and was immediately hooked to both.
(Read an interview with Tania Cappelluti on yogaservice.de)
Allow us to take care of all the fine details of your trip, from the domestic travel arrangements to all your accommodations and meals. You will be accompanied throughout your adventure by your hosts and your own private chef.
"The Chirriposa yoga retreat was life changing. I re-connected with my adventurous soul and remembered who I was again. The divine food healed my body, the yoga and meditation my soul. Angus and Tania made us feel at home and organized everything for us, so all we had to do was wake up and show up. I would do it again in a heart beat."
Kathleen Saso, Canada