Monteverde, Costa Rica

Imagine waking up in the rainforest near Monteverde, Costa Rica to the sounds of tropical birds and monkeys, as gentle rays of sunlight filter through the trees. Does this yoga retreat sound like a dream? We think so! Doors to the Wild Self: Costa Rica Cloud Forest Retreat will be a week of living up close and personal with nature, disconnecting from work and technology, and allowing the verdant life and flowing waters of Costa Rica to nurture your mind, body, and spirit.

Join us at the amazing eco-retreat Finca Camino Nuevo near Monteverde, Costa Rica, February 18-24, for this magical week in the cloud forest! Finca Camino Nuevo offers comfy and modern rooms, indoor and outdoor communal spaces, a pool and jaccuzzi, malocca ceremonial space, forest trails, a tree net you can climb into, and more! Watch different types of monkeys, birds, and enjoy a view out to the Gulf of Nicoya from your patio. Finca Camino Nuevo is a special place designed with love, only available for yoga retreats and ceremonies, so our stay is a special privilege.

Chef Zach will be serving up delicious, plant-based, locally-sourced meals to nourish us throughout the retreat. Local coffee and a selection of teas will be available every morning.

Private or double rooms are available. All rooms a queen bed, a single bed, a private bathroom with solar hot water shower, locally made biodegradable soap, and an amazing view down through the valley of San Luis and out to the Gulf of Nicoya.

Past yoga retreat guests have experienced deep healing on this retreat thanks to Costa Rica’s magical natural vibes, our deep dive into learning about the chakras, plus the communal group energy and support. Come ready to be open, let go of what’s no longer serving you, and fill yourself up with rich prana!

 

Morning Vipasana group meditation

Daily or twice daily yoga and meditation of various styles (Vinyasa, Yin, Yoga Nidra, Pranayama, Restorative) guided by Carrie and Zach. A chance to deepen your practice and grow! Classes will be themed around philosophical concepts in yoga and catered to the group’s needs and interests. All levels are welcome!

Yoga philosophy, breathwork, Ayurveda, and meditation workshops

Single or shared accommodation in one of Finca Camino Nuevo’s guest rooms. All rooms have one queen bed and one single bed, private bathrooms with solar hot water showers, locally made biodegradable soap, and an amazing view down through the valley of San Luis and out to the Gulf of Nicoya.

Monteverde Forest Reserve private walking tour with guide

All delicious, locally-sourced, plant-based meals and desserts catered by Chef Zach or our local chef. Coffee and tea in the morning.

Use of pool, jaccuzzi, tree net, ceremony space, and trails at Finca Camino Nuevo

Cacao ceremony and ecstatic dance

Temescal traditional sweat lodge with an expert facilitator

Transportation to/from all activities

A chance to be disconnected from technology and your day-to-day tasks. Although Wifi is available, we encourage you to be immersed in the moment!

Not included:

Transportation to and from Costa Rica and Finca Camino Nuevo. We are happy to help you plan and arrange your travel and coordinate shuttles for groups arriving together.

Travel insurance which is recommended to protect your investment

Gratuities for Finca Camino Nuevo staff (suggested $60 per person)

 

Tree climbing adventure and eco-tour with expert guides from Climbing Giants

Ziplining adventure course in the cloud forest canopy

Yogic Photographic Session with Mason Neufeld  – all proceeds are donated to local reforestation projects!

Massage or craniosacral therapy session

Personal Ayurvedic health counseling session

Reiki energy healing

Watsu water therapy

Sunday, February 18

  • Early arrivals and settling in

  • 2:00 pm

    2pm Plant-based lunch

  • Afternoon arrivals and settling in

  • 5:30 pm

    5:30pm Welcome ceremony, yoga and meditation

  • 7:00 pm

    7pm Plant-based dinner

Monday, February 19

  • 6:30 am

    Morning meditation

  • 7:00 am

    Coffee & tea available

  • 7:30 am

    Morning yoga and meditation

  • 9:00 am

    Plant-based breakfast

  • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

    Monteverde Preserve cloud forest tour

  • 2:00 pm

    Lunch

  • Free time to relax or explore

  • 5:30 pm

    Evening yin yoga and meditation

  • 7:00 pm

    Dinner and jacuzzi or campfire time

Tuesday, February 20

  • 5:30 am - 7:00 am

    Tree net sunrise meditation and yoga practice

  • 7:00 am - 11:00 am

    Silent morning

  • 7:00 am

    Coffee and tea available

  • 9:00 am

    Breakfast

  • Free time to relax or explore on your own

  • 2:00 pm

    Lunch

  • 5:30 pm

    Evening yin yoga and meditation

  • 7:00 pm

    Dinner

Wednesday, February 21

  • 6:30 am

    Morning meditation

  • 7:00 am

    Coffee & tea available

  • 7:30 am

    Morning yoga and meditation

  • 9:00 am

    Breakfast

  • Optional ziplining excursion

  • 2:00 pm

    Lunch

  • Free time to relax at pool or waterfalls

  • 5:30 pm

    Early dinner

  • 7:00 pm

    Temescal sweat lodge ceremony

Thursday, February 22

  • 6:30 am

    Morning meditation

  • 7:00 am

    Coffee & tea available

  • 7:30 am

    Morning yoga and meditation

  • 9:00 am

    Breakfast

  • Optional tree climbing eco tour

  • 2:00 pm

    Lunch

  • 5:30 pm

    Cacao Ceremony and ecstatic dance

  • 7:00 pm

    Dinner and jacuzzi or campfire time

Friday, February 23

  • 6:30 am

    Morning meditation

  • 7:00 am

    Coffee and tea available

  • 7:30 am

    Morning yoga and meditation

  • 9:00 am

    Breakfast

  • 10:00 am

    Free time to relax or explore on your own

  • 2:00 pm

    Lunch

  • 3:30 pm

    Optional inversion and arm balance workshop

  • 7:00 pm

    Dinner

Saturday, February 24

  • 6:30 am

    Morning meditation

  • 7:00 am

    Coffee & tea available

  • 7:30 am

    Final yoga and closing ceremony

  • 9:00 am

    Breakfast

  • 10:00 am

    Departures

Single room: $2200

Double room for 2 guests attending together. (1 queen bed, 1 single bed): $3500

Queen Bed with 1 same-gender roommate: $1800

Single Bed with 1 same-gender roommate: $1700

A 33% required to secure your spot. Your remaining balance will be due in 2 installments, the first on or before September 1, 2023, and the final payment plus payment for any extras due on or before January 1, 2024.

These are the early bird prices which will go up $100 per person on October 1, 2023, so book before then for the best rate! Your attendance helps subsidize our reduced-price recovery scholarships, which have already been awarded for this retreat.

This morning I started my yoga practice before the sun has risen. Moving from dark to light. This reminded me of the photoshoot that I did with @masonneufeldphotography during the @biggerlifeadventures retreat in Costa Rica at March. The site was a half a mile walk to the Ocean.
It was a lot of firsts for me….first time out of the country using a passport…but I knew that I would be held safely in the care of Zach and Carrie. It was some of my first connection to a lot of other people from around the world during the pandemic. Some of the friendships that I made there, I am proud to say are still continuing. It is amazing the magical bond that took place on that retreat, because the friendships I made there are the people I go to when I am having a difficult time. From the darkness of the unknown….to love and light….
-Teri, 2022

The retreat in Costa Rica has the highest of recommendations I could ever give!!

The entire week offered so much challenge, connection, adventure, restoration, rejuvenation, joy, laughs, insight, knowledge, awareness, jungle sounds, delicious meals, consistent practice, relaxation, and (insert at least 101 more wonderful adjectives here)!

On every level, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, I grew and became a better version of myself! A group that started as friendly strangers completely transformed into an intimate and comfortable family by the end of the week! There was true magic, power and energy flow like I’ve never been apart of, and, if I may be so bold to say, EVERYONE was completely filled and changed in their own beautiful way! No one was even close to being ready to leave and didn’t want the jungle retreat to end!

Of course, for anyone who knows Mr Zach (the baddest chef east of the Mississippi) and Sensei Carrie (the baddest yoga instructor I’ve ever known), they are such a beautiful and inspiring duo who offer their whole selves to the retreat and to everyone’s experience! They truly care about everyone and it shows in their personalized approach in how they communicate, educate, serve and enlighten their audience! They make the yoga practice (beyond just the physical movements) a beautiful journey that is so worth becoming intimate with! In a non-pressure, come-as-you-are way, you are treated with all the love and respect!

I continue to reflect back on that week and know it will be one of my life’s highlights! Lifelong connection to the Sanctuary and to the people who I met, made a super great experience into a mesmerizing and awestruck one!

Why you haven’t booked this retreat is beyond me! Do your heart, mind, body and spirit a solid by signing up for this impossible-to-regret experience!
– Jamo, 2022

What Carrie and Zach have created is amazing. I would recommend these retreats to anyone, everyone is healing from something. Carrie and Zach have such a gift and it has been a pleasure to go on two of their retreats and experience moving my body in the different shapes of yoga, learning about yoga, ayerveda, cooking, reiki, and so much more adventures. If you are on the fence, this is your sign to book the retreat
-Kiersten, 2022

My experience at The Sanctuary at Two Rivers in Costa Rica last month was life changing. Immersed in this jungle experience the time felt magical. Accommodations were perfect. The meditation & yoga sessions run by Carrie & Zach were innovative, professional & fun.  Carrie has a beautiful soul of energy & kindness. She is a dedicated and learned instructor. Zach was equally reverent & thoughtful with the meditations he inspired.
Thanks for sharing this experience with me!
-Carol, 2022

My experience with Bigger Life Adventures far exceeded my expectations in every way! I knew it was a recovery/sober retreat and as it has been said, we are all recovering from something. For me it was the stress and isolation of the pandemic plus I wanted to do something special to celebrate my 70th year. Carrie and Zach’s retreat in Costa Rica delivered a week of magical adventure every day. The yoga and meditation, the fantastic food, the healing rituals, the community, the physically challenging adventures and fabulously relaxing down time all submerged in the beautiful Costa Rican jungle. Perfect! Carrie’s depth as a yogi and Zach’s passion for an adventurous life combine to make a wonderful safe place of self discovery for everyone. I absolutely recommend Bigger Life Adventures. 🙏
-Betty, 2022

 

 

 

For travel, you’ll fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose (SJO). From here we will coordinate shared shuttles to take you up to Monteverde (3 hour trip, approximately $60 per person). We recommend giving yourself extra days in Costa Rica if you are able, as arriving a few days early will make your journey more incredible and less stressful. Please check in with me before booking plane or shuttle tickets to confirm your plan will successfully get you there in the right timing! You will want to land in San Jose by 10am on February 18 at the latest!

I’m also happy to recommend destinations and give transport advice based on my Costa Rica experience so feel free to reach out for that!

Travel booking option:

Since I get a lot of requests for assistance anyway, I decided to offer a new flight booking service for all my retreat guests and friends!

You provide me with your desired travel dates and airports and I will find you the cheapest, best flights possible and book them for you, no extra charge. 

I’m a pretty good “travel hacker” thanks to years of experience. We can do this together via Zoom to confirm everything or I’ll make sure to triple check everything with you before booking!

This benefits YOU if online flight searching stresses you out or you just don’t find it fun.

Full disclosure, it benefits Zach and I because I book most of our travel using our credit card points. We have a lot of travel planned this year so we need as many points as possible. You’ll reimburse me and I’ll get the frequent flyer miles to fund my own travel habit, haha.

Could be a win win for all of us?

Let me know if you would like my help with this. I know booking a long journey with multiple connections can be a little bit annoying. But there are also ways to make it more enjoyable — 1 day layover in Tokyo, anyone? For the best prices, you’ll want to book these flights at least 4-6 months before we leave. Reach out when you’re ready if you want my help.

-Carrie

Since all retreat deposits and payments are used to secure venues, activities, and supplies, and since canceled spots require extra time and energy to re-fill, all deposits and payments are non refundable. In emergency situations, you may or may not be offered a credit for a future retreat or event, based on the decision of our team. Cancellations due to fear of travel are not transferable or refundable. Cancellations less than 1 month before your retreat are not refundable or transferable. We recommend travel insurance to protect your investment in the event you must cancel.