Costa Rica · Movement + Culinary
The Real Costa Rica Rainforest Retreat
Experience the Costa Rica that still moves at nature’s pace, on a small-group wellness retreat at a family-run rainforest farm near Río Celeste.
Feb 24-28, 2027
4 Nights
10-14
$1,700/pp
Easy to Moderate
Inside the Costa Rica Rainforest Retreat
Some places make it surprisingly easy to relax. For four nights, we’ll stay at a family-run lodge tucked into one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful corners, in rustic, comfortable cabins built from wood harvested on the property.
This Costa Rica rainforest retreat is the Costa Rica most visitors never experience. It’s a working farm: comfortable, simple, and soulful. The people welcoming you live in the nearby village, and much of what you’ll eat comes straight from the farm, from garden vegetables to eggs collected that morning.
Swim in the river, soak in the wood-fired hot tub, walk rainforest trails, or read in a hammock while the birds carry on overhead. One day we’ll hike to a brilliant blue river fed by the same mineral-rich waters that create Río Celeste. If your idea of luxury is crisp sheets, a hot shower, fresh food cooked over a wood fire, a fireplace in the evening, a river nearby, and the sound of birds from sunrise to sunset, you’ll understand what we’re creating here.
Retreat at a Glance
Is this retreat right for you?
How active, how pampered, and how social this trip feels, so you can pick the one that fits.
Activity
Moderate
Comfort
Simple
Your Time
Balanced
Food
The people behind your week.
This week, you’re in good hands with Reiki teacher and herbalist Natalie Cowden and our founder, Lindsay Eldridge, on the ground with you from arrival to goodbye.
Natalie Cowden
Reiki Teacher & Herbalist
Natalie, CHT, is the founder of Wild West Herbals & Energetics and has spent years studying Reiki, herbalism, hypnotherapy, and holistic healing. Known for her warmth, curiosity, and practical teaching style, she creates a welcoming space where students build confidence in their own intuition and leave with tools they’ll keep using.
Lindsay Eldridge
Founder & Host, Away Retreats
Lindsay has spent more than 20 years creating experiences through travel and the outdoors, from guiding sea kayaking trips in the U.S. Virgin Islands to leading expeditions in Ecuador and the Galápagos. A certified Pilates instructor and mom of two, she designs the kind of trips she wanted for herself: adventurous, thoughtful, and full of real connection.
Let us handle it all.
“No worries about how to get there, speaking the language or paying the driver, it was all taken care of. … Lindsay took care of all the details and all we had to do was relax and savor the moment, all the moments!”
– Elizabeth V., Costa Rica 2025
The Day-to-Day of Costa Rica
Everything is optional on all of our experiences. This is your retreat. You choose what you’d like to do each day.
Like the sound of this week?
Take a look at the rooms and hold your spot with a deposit. Questions first? Our team is happy to talk it through.
What’s Included
What your days actually look like.
Here, life revolves around good food, nature, meaningful conversation, and the simple pleasure of letting someone else take care of the details.
The Place
Climate
At about 1,800 feet, days are warm enough for river swims and evenings cool off beautifully. We sleep with the windows open, skip the air conditioning, and gather by the fireplace with tea, a good book, or great conversation.
Rainforest Living
More than 100 species of birds, vibrant flowers, towering trees, and the constant sounds of the forest. There’s an energy here that helps you slow down, breathe a little deeper, and feel like nature is giving you a big hug.
Comfort in Nature
Handcrafted cabins built from wood harvested on the property, with stone rain showers, plenty of hot water, fresh towels daily, and a “Goldilocks” mattress. Rustic, but never roughing it.
The Food
Farm to Plate
Vegetables from the garden, fruit from the orchard, milk from the cows, and meat raised right on the property, all cooked slowly over wood-fired stoves and grills. Expect smoky grilled meats, fresh fish, and homemade gallo pinto.
Open-Air Dining
Family-style meals at handcrafted wooden tables with candlelight, a crackling fire, and the rainforest all around. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other diets are happily accommodated, and there are remarkably few bugs.
Explore the Farm
Wander the gardens and orchards, meet the cows, goats, chickens, and pigs, taste fruit straight from the tree, and if you’re feeling adventurous, try milking a cow.
The Adventures
Hike to Rio Celeste
Private access to a family-owned stretch of one of Costa Rica’s most famous rivers. A 20-minute van ride and a moderate half-mile hike lead to swimming holes in its turquoise-blue water, with plenty of time to bask.
Swimming Hole
Jump from the rocks or wade into clean, fresh river water. Explore the rock beds and grab one of the farm’s field guides to identify the native plants and animals that live here.
Night Walk
Join local naturalist guides on a private reserve 25 minutes away to look for frogs, sleeping birds, sloths, and other nocturnal wildlife. About two hours on mostly flat gravel trails, suitable for all fitness levels.
The Slow Moments
Movement Sessions
Optional meditation and movement before breakfast each morning, on a wooden platform beside the creek where the sound of flowing water sets the tone for the day.
Wood-fired Hot Tub
For years there was no electricity at the lodge, so the owner found another way. Heated by firewood and set right beside the river, it’s become one of the experiences guests remember most.
Explore the Lake
Fish or paddle a boat on a privately owned lake, one of the best spots on the property for birdwatching and a different side of the rainforest.
Make It Yours
Reiki Level I & II Certification
Earn your Usui Reiki Level I or Level II certification in the rainforest with Natalie Cowden, CHT, founder of Wild West Herbals & Energetics. Her approach is warm and practical, so you leave with tools you’ll keep using long after the retreat.
Level I is a 3 to 4 hour beginner workshop covering Reiki’s history and principles, traditional hand positions, and practicing on yourself and others, ending with your attunement and certification. Level II, the following day, introduces the traditional symbols and distance Reiki so you can practice as a Reiki practitioner.
Add it at checkout under Add-Ons: Level I from $222/pp, or Levels I & II from $350/pp. You’ll find more about Natalie’s approach in the FAQ below.
What to Do With Your Free Time
You’ll have plenty of open time on this retreat. Here are a few things we love nearby. None of it is required. Let us know what you’re interested in during your retreat, and we’ll help you plan it.
Save your spot, or just say hello.
Pick your room and hold it with a deposit, or book a quick call first. We’re happy to talk through the details, the group, and whether this trip is the right fit.
Choose your room.
Handcrafted cabins and lodge rooms built from wood harvested on the property. All prices are per person for the full retreat, and a $425 deposit holds your spot.
February 24-28, 2027 | 4 Nights
Lodge Rooms
MAIN LODGE
Cozy Lodge Room
Enjoy your own room and a shared bathroom right in the middle of the action at the main lodge. Four rooms share a living area, so it’s perfect if you’d like your own space for sleeping and communal areas for relaxing.
Per person
$1,700
GARDEN LODGE
Rustic Room
Enjoy your own queen bed and a private en-suite bathroom. There are three of these rooms, set away from the main lodge and river area, sharing a porch with a fireplace.
Per person
$2,200
Riverside Cabin
CABIN #1
Shared Riverside Cabin: Twin Bed
A riverside cabin with a fireplace for three guests of the same gender, with one king, one queen, and two twin beds and an en-suite bathroom. This booking is for one twin bed.
Per person
$2,400
CABIN #1
Shared Riverside Cabin: Queen Bed
A riverside cabin with a fireplace for three guests of the same gender, with one king, one queen, and two twin beds and an en-suite bathroom. This booking is for one queen bed.
Per person
$2,550
CABIN #1
Shared Riverside Cabin: King Bed
A riverside cabin with a fireplace for three guests of the same gender, with one king, one queen, and two twin beds and an en-suite bathroom. This booking is for one king bed.
Per person
$2,700
Cabin Above the River
CABIN #5
Shared Room: Double Bed
This large cabin sits higher than any other, with views of the sunset, cabins, and horses. This booking is for a double bed in a large room with two double beds. The porches and bathroom are shared by three guests of the same gender, and the cabin is up a long set of stairs.
Per person
$2,400
CABIN #5
Private Room: Queen Bed
This booking is for a queen bed in a private room of the large two-room cabin above the river, with views of the sunset, cabins, and horses. The porches and bathroom are shared by three guests of the same gender, and the cabin is up a long set of stairs.
Per person
$2,700
Local Community
Every trip gives back!
One of the things we love most about this venue is the people behind it. The owners have built more than a beautiful lodge; they’ve created a thriving community.
Many of the women who work here are from the nearby village. Through stable, meaningful employment, they’ve been able to buy homes, support their families, and build lasting careers. The owners have also helped build a nearby school and support projects that benefit the families who call this area home.
As part of this experience, Away Retreats donates a portion of every registration directly back to the local community, so our visit has a positive impact long after we leave.
We are here for Every Question
“The people you meet on these trips will become your friends for life.”
– Chris S., Bali 2025
Let’s explore the world together
We love talking about travel. Send us a note, and someone from our team will be in touch, usually within a day.
Find your kind of retreat
Six ways to travel with us, all with small groups, a menu of choices, and every detail handled.