Rooms are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Retreats tend to sell out. Reserve early to secure your spot!

Retreat cost varies by room, $2390-$3590 USD.
View available rooms & pricing here.

Once you are ready to register, go to this page and sign up in 3 simple steps:

1. Pay the $700 deposit
2. Fill out the application form
3. Sign the retreat contract

Yes! When you register, you can pay in full, or you will be enrolled in the following payment plan:

• Due upon registration: $700 non-refundable deposit 
  
• If you register in September: divide the remaining balance by 4 equal payments
  • register in October: divide by 3 equal payments
    
  • register in November: divide by 2 equal payments
    
  • register in December: balance is due in full when you register
• If you are registering for a payment plan, the balance must be fully paid by December 31, 2025.

Remember that the $700 deposit is non-refundable so I strongly recommend that your mandatory travel insurance policy includes “cancel for any reason” coverage to protect your investment.

Cancellation & refund policy:

• Until November 1, 2025: You may cancel or transfer your registration to another person and get a full refund of all monies paid (except non-refundable $700 deposit)
• November 1-December 1, 2025: No refunds, but you may transfer your registration to another person. If I am able to sell your spot, I will refund you.
• After December 1, 2025: no refunds or transfers.

Your $700 non-refundable deposit secures your spot. This deposit is non-refundable, which means it will not be refunded by me, for any reason, including if you change your mind, are unable to attend due to illness, canceled flights, or any other reason. Travel insurance can cover this deposit if you cancel, depending on the plan you choose.

Travel insurance is mandatory for my international retreats. I highly advise everyone to purchase a travel insurance plan that includes “cancel for any reason” coverage. You must buy this type of policy within two weeks of making your deposit for this trip, so do not delay. See the FAQ about travel insurance under the “international travel” section of the FAQ for more info.

About Schedule Changes
International travel and group travel built with accessibility in mind require flexibility and a positive mental attitude. Activities, excursions, and itinerary may change at any time, depending on availability, weather, and what I determine is most appropriate for the group’s wellbeing. I adapt the itinerary to the group, and design the event around the person or people who need the most support, so everyone can be included.

Retreat cost varies by room, $2390-$3590 USD, which includes the non-refundable $700 deposit. View available rooms & pricing here.

💖 1:1 introductory call with Amber before the retreat

💻 Online meet & greet with other attendees before the retreat

🚐 Private, safe transportation to and from the SJO airport to our villa in Uvita

🛌 Your chosen accommodation at our private jungle villa

🥙 Daily plant-based meals (eggs included upon request) – breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert prepared by our private chef

🥥 Unlimited smoothies & fruit elixirs from the bar all week

🧘‍♀️ All yoga classes and workshops

💃 Dance party with live DJ and performances

🏝️ Admission to Marino Ballena National Park & Uvita Beach excursion

💦 Nauyaca Waterfall excursion

🎨 Art workshops: collage, monoprinting with plants, Boruca mask painting

🏨 One hotel night in San Jose

👚 Limited edition t-shirt to commemorate the event (will be mailed to you after the event)

• Travel insurance (mandatory)
• Airfare to SJO
• Pickup or dropoff to airport outside designated times
• Massages and spa services
• Alcohol
• Additional food or drinks not mentioned as included
• Additional excursions
• Souvenirs
• Tips for hotel & villa staff (I suggest setting aside $50-80 for tips)

If you’d like to read the excellent Google and Tripadvisor reviews for this venue, email me. I keep the venue name private for security reasons. Once you register, I will send you complete details on the venue and location.

This venue is known for its creative vegan chef and healthy, locally sourced meals that maintain alignment with the venue’s permaculture practices. All cuisine is organic and much of it is sustainably-grown, seasonal fresh food straight from their own farm. Additional ingredients are sourced from local organic farmers.

Their standards are extremely high, and the food is sure to be incredible. I have vetted this place through friends who booked there repeatedly, and their online reviews are impeccable (email me if you’d like the links, I keep location names private for security reasons).

We will have a custom menu for our week together, but you can get a good idea about the food by viewing these menus:

View the restaurant menu
View the bar menu 

Food allergies and dietary restrictions can be accommodated.

There is no meat allowed on the property.

Every room includes a mini-fridge, and you may purchase snacks and drinks on our stop on the way in. Once you are at the retreat center, you must hire a private taxi in order to leave (expensive!), so please plan accordingly.

Each day’s food includes:

• 3 generously-portioned, plant-based meals
• A delicious vegan dessert
• Unlimited smoothies and elixirs from the bar are available on-demand (made fresh for you from over 40 varieties of fruit that are grown on-site)
• You have the option to add eggs to breakfast, which you can choose when you register
• Free access to ice and water at all times

You’re also welcome to book shared accommodations with a friend. Let me know you’re booking together when you register.

Great! I have a whole section about that right here.

Alcohol Policy
Alcohol is not included in the retreat cost.

There will be alcohol available at the bar if you feel like purchasing a drink to unwind, but I invite you to try something different.

This retreat is a chance to reset: with a fresh, all-plant-based menu, perhaps you let your body take a break from alcohol too. See how you feel after a few days of nourishing food, clear mind, and deep rest.

If you choose to drink, I ask that you please do so responsibly and respectfully. I encourage us all to keep in mind that we are in another culture, being invited to stay on their sacred land. Please keep the energy of being in community with one another at a retreat center (which is a different vibe from drinking on vacation at a beach resort).

Drug Policy
I ask that everyone refrain from consuming drugs while attending this retreat.

Vaping & Smoking
Vaping is allowed anywhere, including rooms. Smoking is only allowed in the parking area or near the pool if it doesn’t bother other guests. Smoking is never allowed inside rooms.

No problem! Email me or book a time on my calendar and I’d love to answer your question.

Yes, many of my guests do come alone. But by the end of their stay they usually have made some great new friends. I’ve heard from folks who retreated with me a decade ago that are still friends with each other today!

I’ll send you a complete packing list before the retreat, but you don’t need any complicated or fancy items. Everywhere we go will be extremely casual.

I’ll be bringing comfortable, casual clothing, sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sun shirt), a couple bathing suits, cover-ups for the beach and pool, loungewear, comfortable walking shoes, water shoes, yoga clothing, and stuff like sunscreen and bug repellant.

You may want things like a personal fan or special snacks, but we’ll get into those details closer to the retreat.

Provided by the retreat center:

• Pool towels (onsite use)
• Beach towels (for excursions)
• Yoga mats
• Shampoo & conditioner
• Hair dryers in each room
• Clean drinking water
• Wi-Fi throughout the property
• First Aid kit
• Concierge for off-site bookings
• Laundry service (additional cost) 

This retreat is for women and gender minorities. It is not a space for cisgender men.

Let me try my best to be clear. Women (and people of other gender identities who grew up socialized as women) share certain lived experiences in our patriarchal culture. We receive implicit and explicit messages about “our place in things” that men don’t. We’ll be untangling the ways that cultural conditioning about womanhood overlaps with our sense of self, especially with regards to body image.

This retreat is a space for women as well as anyone who was raised or socialized as a woman. Trans women are welcome, as well as transmasc and non-binary folks who were socialized as women (regardless of how they identify). It is not a space for cisgender men.

If you have questions about whether you should attend, please contact me and we can discuss!

You’d be amazed at how many women have this question! The other question is, “Will I be the oldest one there?”

Most of my retreat guests are in their early 30s to late 50s. But I’ve had several retreat guests in their 60s and 70s over the 10+ years I’ve been throwing these events. I deeply appreciate inter-generational retreats, it adds layers of perspective and wisdom that benefit the collective.

As one participant said, “I was able to see the wisdom that aging can bring. It was incredibly beautiful to see people, older than I am, loving and caring for their bodies the way that is mindful and intentional. It helped open my eyes to the fact that life, at any age, is what you make of it.”

You are not too old! I hope to see you there.

Please don’t worry. I design my retreats in such a way that we move at the pace of the person who needs the most time and assistance.

No one is ever made to feel “too slow.”

As the person responsible for holding the container of the retreat group, I set the pace for activities and I intentionally lead “from the back of the pack” according to how the group is doing.

Even the most athletic people have bad days, get too hot in the sun, or get their period. So I am always evaluating the group in front of me and making sure that no one is left behind, whether we are doing yoga, walking to dinner, or on an excursion.

View accessibility and activity level info

The yoga that I practice is not designed to be a strenuous workout. These are easy movements and big deep breaths that meet your body where you are today. Lots of options and modifications will be offered for any practice I lead.

We will workshop and troubleshoot poses or transitions that don’t work for our bodies, and you’ll leave with new tools to personalize your practice.

Participation in any group activity carries a risk of getting sick, especially when people travel to the event. Getting sick at an event, or worse, passing an illness around an event is a huge bummer, but it does happen.

In our post-pandemic world (in which Covid is still very much alive and well) it’s important to have a plan, as all of us have different risk profiles and practices around staying well.

Obviously we want to avoid any illness, but I treat Covid differently because it is an extremely contagious virus, and also extremely common to pass around at events. I also have many guests with compromised immune systems, and with our remote location, accessing medical care will not be simple, so I want to do my best to keep our community safe.

Retreat Agreements
To care for the group and yourself, I’m asking everyone attending this retreat to agree to the following:

• All retreat participants must test negative for Covid before they leave their home airport for the trip.
• Please wear a mask in the airport and on the plane. It’s extremely common for someone to get sick while traveling to an event, then pass the illness around at the event. Please mask during your travels to protect your investment in this trip and the health of your fellow community members and retreat staff that you’ll be living with for the week (and their families).
• If you feel ill at the retreat, please let me know right away. We can make sure you get meals in your room or whatever support you need.
• I will have Covid tests available at the retreat center. If you feel ill, I will ask you to test for Covid.
• If you test positive for Covid during the retreat, you will need to isolate. This is a huge disappointment to happen at a retreat, when you’ve anticipated the event so much, so please wear a mask on the plane and in the airport for your best chance at arriving and staying healthy!
• I ask that if you test negative for Covid but are still feeling ill, especially if you run a fever, that you isolate and rest until you feel well. If you need to be near the group for any reason, I will have masks available.

If you want to see the entire retreat agreement contract before you register, please email me.

Travel Insurance & Illness
You should promtply purchase the mandatory travel insurance so that you can get “cancel for any reason” insurance which may cover your investment in the case you get sick before or during the retreat.

You may also elect to purchase a travel insurance plan that covers medical care or medical transport in Costa Rica. I recommend it, as travel insurance is quite affordable compared to what you are spending on this trip.

No problem! Email me or book a time on my calendar and I’d love to answer your question.

Travel insurance is now mandatory for my international retreats. I highly advise everyone to purchase a travel insurance plan that includes “cancel for any reason” coverage. You usually must buy this type of policy within 1-2 weeks of making your deposit for this trip, so do not delay.

While the coverage provided by travel insurance varies based on the policy you purchase, as a general rule, this type of insurance may provide coverage for a variety of losses which you may incur relating to a booking, including losses relating to trip cancellation, illness, injury, theft, lost or damaged property, etc.

Be aware that, except for the limited refund rights in the cancellation policy, you are 100% responsible for any losses, penalties, fees, or other financial consequences arising out of any booking or trip, or the cancellation or interruption of any booking or trip (including, by way of example, costs related to airline tickets and fees, passport fees, visa fees, medical expenses, etc.).

Check out this guide to travel insurance by WHOA Travel*, it does a good job of outlining the different things to look for in a plan. They also have links to some plans that have cancel for any reason insurance.

You may be able to purchase a plan like Allianz (I have used them many times, but never had to file a claim yet). Getting a quote through their website is easy, or you can call and talk to someone about what you want in a plan. Look at the terms closely for each plan and make sure you are comfortable with the reasons you are allowed to use the insurance.

You can also go to reddit and do some searching about travel insurance plans and “cancel for any reason” insurance, and see what the masses recommend (that’s what I do to research these type of things). Getting quotes from different travel insurance company websites is a simple process and quotes are free. If you need help picking a plan, email me.

*WHOA Travel is an amazing women-owned travel company that creates incredible adventures around the world. Going on one of their trips is a bucket list item for me! They also have a plus-size travel division.

• Transfers will be arranged from San Jose airport (SJO) only.
• Arrival flights: by 3pm local time, February 2, 2026
• Departure flights: after 2pm local time, February 9, 2026

Upon arrival, you will meet a prearranged hotel shuttle. Please plan to arrive by 3pm if possible, so you can have plenty of time to get to the hotel, relax, and join for a group dinner at 7pm. If you plan to join us for the dinner, please arrive no later than 5pm. 

We leave for the villa promptly at 8am on February 3. The airport is 4 hours away from the villa. 

Our departure shuttle back to the airport will be leaving the villa at 8am on February 9. I recommend an afternoon flight, departing after 2pm.

If you arrive or depart outside the stated hours above, you will be responsible for your own transportation, which is extremely expensive. A private taxi from the airport to our venue is $270 USD one way.

Hey, I get it. Traveling internationally (especially solo) can be intimidating when you don’t know what to expect. Here’s some more information about how the experience will go.

Know that as the person responsible for the container of this retreat, I designed this experience with your safety in mind. I don’t want you to be confused about any step of the process, so please ask me if you have questions. I want your retreat experience to be smooth and stress-free.

I have a WhatsApp group that activates about a month before the retreat. We use this to meet one another, stay in touch about questions and updates, and especially for arrival and departure day. I also send updates throughout the week like a daily schedule with packing lists of what to bring to each activity.

I’ll email you ahead of the retreat with general info about international travel. Please check your passport expiration date now! Generally, your passport cannot expire within 6 months of your trip date.

Nervous about speaking Spanish? Most airport employees and retreat center staff speak English. I speak intermediate(ish)-level Spanish and frequently travel solo, I usually can translate or help communicate, if needs arise. And usually there are a few participants who speak Spanish as well!

Here’s a little more about what to expect:

You’ll fly into SJO, get your bags and go through customs.

As soon as you have your bag, you’ll message me on WhatsApp and I’ll dispatch the hotel shuttle to get you. They should pick you up within 20 minutes.

Our driver will be in a pre-arranged location and you’ll get on the shuttle with your bags. You may be with a few other retreat participants or alone depending what time your flight arrives.

You’ll meet me at the hotel (an American chain most of my guests will be familiar with) and we’ll get you checked in. We’ll meet for a group dinner nearby that evening.

The shuttle to the retreat center will pick us up for an 8am departure the next day. It’s a large bus that holds 30 people, so we will all ride together. It’s a 4 hour drive to the villa. We’ll stop halfway for snacks and you can use the ATM if you need. 

Once we are at the villa, we don’t really leave, unless it’s on an excursion. It’s quite remote (literally in the jungle) and is only accessible with a 4×4 truck. We will be quite safe there, and will take their group transport and 4×4 trucks to the different excursions.

That being said, once we’re at the retreat center, we don’t really leave. If you wish to leave the retreat center other than the planned excursions and transfers, it will be at your own expense, and taxis are extremely expensive in this region.

On the return day, we’ll all board the shuttle at our villa and ride to the airport together. Follow the signage and go through security as with any American airport. Most airport staff speak English. When you land in your home country, you’ll go through customs again.

As long as you stay with the group, I think your trip to Costa Rica should be perfectly safe and without incident. Let me know if you have any specific concerns or questions about the process of international travel, and we can talk more!

Yes, Costa Rica is generally safe for travelers who take basic precautions, just as you would in any city around the world.

Costa Rica is a popular tourist destination with millions of visitors each year who enjoy its beautiful beaches, rich culture, and vibrant cities safely. Like any place, there are areas with higher crime rates, but we will be traveling to a remote jungle property in an area with very little crime. It’s always important to stay aware of your surroundings, avoid displaying valuables, and take extra precaution if walking alone.

When we go on excursions, we’ll leave bags inside our locked transport or keep them on you at all times, so plan accordingly. I absolutely love the Booe waterproof crossbody bag for keeping my stuff with me at the beach or waterfall. And that’s not an affiliate link, I just genuinely like the product.

We’ll have a group orientation about safety particulars at our dinner in San Jose, but if you follow common-sense guidelines, you’ll be well-prepared to enjoy a safe and memorable trip to Costa Rica.

Situated in the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica, the Osa Peninsula boasts a tropical climate, characterized by balmy temperatures and elevated humidity. To avoid the heat and the rainy season, we are visiting in February, when the weather is quite nice.

With average temperatures ranging from 75°F to 85°F (24°C to 29°C), the weather remains fairly consistent year-round. We are retreating in February, which is the dry season. Expect little to no rain, and beautiful blue skies.

The weather is dry and breezy, in February, with more comfortable temperatures. Please note that some rooms do not have AC. During the daytime, the non-AC rooms do get hot, but at night, they are quite cool. As you are usually not in your room during the day, this generally doesn’t pose a problem.

The sunrise consistently occurs around 5:15 am, while sunsets are approximately at 5:45 pm all year round. This pattern is due to our proximity, only about 1,000 kilometers from the equator.

Additionally, the lunar cycle significantly influences various natural phenomena on the Osa Peninsula, including tides and animal behaviors. The impact of the full moon on the peninsula is unmistakable.

Not really! Many of the people working in hospitality in Costa Rica speak English, but in any case, be creative! Smiles, gestures, por favor and gracias can get you far.

Most airport employees and retreat center staff speak English. I speak intermediate(ish)-level Spanish and frequently travel solo, I usually can translate or help communicate, if needs arise. And usually there are a few participants who speak Spanish as well!

I recommend learning a little bit of Spanish for travelers, it will make you more confident and make life easier for you if you end up spending time outside. the group. Plus, your world opens up when you interact with locals in their own language. Learning a little Spanish shows respect to the people whose home we are enjoying.

On a personal note: After my trip to Mexico in April 2024, I started learning and practicing Spanish using a combination of podcasts, online classes and videos, watching Netflix and listening to music, and travel. It’s been a goal of mine for years, but getting back into retreats made me take it seriously. It feels proper and respectful that I should learn Spanish if I am going to organize retreats in places like Mexico and Costa Rica.

I’m honestly amazed at how much spoken and written Spanish I understand now, after just about a year of practice, and I am getting better at communicating too. It’s opened up my world and is extremely rewarding. I’m having a lot of fun learning, pero necesito practicar mucho mas.

U.S. citizens will need a passport to visit Costa Rica, but no visa is required at this time for stays under 180 days. Passports will require at least one blank page for an entry stamp. You should check that your passport’s expiration date is not expiring within 6 months of your trip.

If you need a passport or to update your passport, I urge you to act immediately, especially if you are in the US. Wait times are long.

View US State Department info on Costa Rica.

Citizens of all other countries should check travel requirements well in advance of their retreat.

There is WiFi available at our villa. Check with your cell phone provider about cell service in Costa Rica. You can purchase an add-on to your plan or an e-sim depending on your phone.

I communicate through WhatsApp so please contact your cell provider well in advance of getting to Costa Rica to ensure uninterrupted service and the ability to communicate when you arrive.

This retreat is all-inclusive of accommodations, meals, and excursions, but you may want to have some local currency (Costa Rican Colón) on hand for things like souvenirs or booking a massage.

You also are invited to tip any of our villa’s staff or tour guides. Gratuities are not included in the retreat price, and are always appreciated but not required. You can tip in local currency, but generally, tips in USD will be accepted. I recommend setting aside $50-80 USD to tip our retreat staff.

I recommend avoiding the currency exchange at the airport (the rate is worse than what you’ll get at any other ATM). Our shuttle driver can stop at an ATM on the way from the airport to the villa. You can also use an ATM at the airport.