Costa Rica · Veterinary CE
Costa Rica Veterinary CE Retreat
Earn 12 hours of veterinary surgery CE with board-certified surgeon Dr. Garrett Levin, with your mornings free at a family-run rainforest farm near Río Celeste.
Mar 12-16, 2027
4 Nights
16-20
$1,700/pp
Easy to Moderate
Inside the Costa Rica Veterinary CE Retreat
This Costa Rica veterinary CE retreat gives you 12 hours of continuing education, held in the afternoons, so your mornings are free to explore, unwind, and experience Costa Rica. We know how demanding veterinary medicine can be, and we designed this week to balance professional development with the chance to truly step away and recharge.
For four nights, we’ll stay at a family-run lodge tucked into one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful corners. It’s a working farm: comfortable, simple, and soulful. The cabins are built from wood harvested on the property, 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. Sometimes stepping away is exactly what allows you to come back more fully.
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
Group focused
Food
The people behind your week.
This week, you’re in good hands with board-certified surgeon Dr. Garrett Levin, veterinarian Dr. Ronit Berdugo, and our founder, Lindsay Eldridge, on the ground with you from arrival to goodbye.
Dr. Garrett M. Levin
Veterinary Surgeon & CE Presenter
Dr. Levin, DVM, DACVS, is a board-certified veterinary surgeon and Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. After his surgical residency at The Animal Medical Center in New York, he served as Chief of Surgery in Massachusetts and Vermont, and he now owns Ascend Veterinary Surgery, practicing in Vermont and New York.
Dr. Ronit Berdugo
Veterinary Medicine Education Coordinator
Dr. Berdugo, DVM, CVA, is a small animal veterinarian with the Humane Society in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, after 20 years running a house and boat call practice in the Florida Keys. She is certified in Chinese acupuncture, trained in animal rehabilitation, and loves to ski, hike, and travel.
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.
“I attended an AWAY retreat in Costa Rica and had a fabulous time. As an older single woman traveling alone, I never felt out of place or not part of the group. Lindsay is very skilled at thinking of everything and accommodating everyone! Highly recommend.”
– Lynn M., 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, and continuing education hours take place in the afternoons.
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
Veterinary CE: 12 Hours with Dr. Garrett Levin
Earn 12 continuing education credits in veterinary medicine with board-certified surgeon Dr. Garrett Levin. Sessions run on the afternoons of days 2, 3, and 4 on the spacious back deck of the Away host cabin, surrounded by rainforest.
Topics cover orthopedic surgery (including cranial cruciate ligament disease, patellar luxation, and arthroscopy), soft tissue surgery (including surgical oncology, abdominal surgery, and wound management), and surgical practice and team efficiency.
Add it at checkout under Add-Ons, from $550/pp. The price goes up $150 on December 15. The full topic list is 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 25% deposit holds your spot.
March 12-16, 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
$2,000
Riverside Cabin
CABIN #1
Family Riverside Cabin
A riverside family cabin with a fireplace, one king bed, one queen bed, two single beds, and an en-suite bathroom. Book at least two adults, then add children separately.
Per adult
$2,400
Cabin Above the River
CABIN #2
Family Cabin Above the River
A family cabin above the river with a fireplace, one king bed, one single bed, and a private en-suite bathroom. Book at least two adults, then add children separately.
Per adult
$2,200
CABIN #2
Cabin Above the River for 1
Have this cabin above the river all to yourself, with a fireplace, a king bed, a single bed, a private en-suite bathroom, and a porch overlooking the river.
Per person
$3,000
Riverfront Cabin with Hot Tub
CABIN #3
Family Riverfront Cabin
A riverfront family cabin with its own porch, hot tub, and fireplace, one king bed, one single bed, and an en-suite bathroom. Book at least two adults, then add children separately.
Per adult
$3,000
CABIN #3
Riverfront Cabin for 1
Have the riverfront cabin to yourself, with a private porch, hot tub, and fireplace, one king and one single bed, and an en-suite bathroom.
Per person
$4,500
Honeymoon Cabin
CABIN #4
Honeymoon Cabin for 2
Known as the honeymoon cabin, this private, rustic cabin above the river has its own king bed, hot tub, and fireplace. Book with a friend. Price is per person.
Per person
$2,450
CABIN #4
Honeymoon Cabin for 1
Have the honeymoon cabin all to yourself: a private, rustic cabin above the river with a king bed, hot tub, and fireplace.
Per person
$3,500
Cabin with Wraparound Porch
CABIN #5
Family Cabin with Wraparound Porch
This large two-room cabin sits higher than any other, with views of the sunset, cabins, and horses. It’s up a long set of stairs. Book at least two adults, then add children separately.
Per adult
$2,700
Bringing the Kids
ADD A CHILD
Child, Ages 4 and Under
Kids aged 4 and under can be added to your bed or cabin at this rate. Price is per child.
Per child
$100
ADD A CHILD
Child, Ages 4 to 12
Kids aged 4 to 12 can be added to your bed or cabin at this rate. Price is per child.
Per child
$800
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
“My retreat in Costa Rica with Away Retreats was unforgettable! It was so nice to have everything planned and thought through so I could simply enjoy my time! We were able to create connections over just a few days and so many of us will continue to stay in touch and support one another.”
– Lexi S., Costa Rica 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
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