About Me
Hi, my name is Christina Prieto and I am thrilled that of all the pages on the internet, you are here, on my blog, whose “soul” purpose is to share what I’ve seen and learned along the way as a licensed acupuncturist, entrepreneur boss lady, registered yoga teacher, paddleboarder, travel junkie, photographer wannabe, dog & cat personal space invader, and lover of all things spiritual.
Build Your Own Retreat
If you’re a yoga teacher, community leader, or anyone who wants to lead retreats (or groups of any kind) and if Costa Rica is a destination that you’ve been wanting to explore, then you might want to keep reading. After doing my own personal research and bringing multiple groups to Costa Rica on memorable adventures, I’ve created a build-your-own-retreat that’s anything but ordinary. With my passion and your vision, together we can create a personalized retreat that suits your style and successfully execute it! 
I’ve travelled far and wide, and along the way, I stumbled upon a perfect destination to bring groups of people for a transformative and unforgettable experiences —> Uvita in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. A truly “off the beaten path” location travel bloggers will tell you is one of Costa Rica’s best kept secrets and still harnesses the essence of what this country was before the tourist boom. I fell madly in love with this part of the world and I intend to share this gem with anyone who feels a calling to explore it together. 
Step 1: Pick Your Dates
Select 7 days to host your retreat. Dates are reserved on a first-come first-serve basis. Spring in Costa Rica spans roughly March through May and straddles both the dry and rainy seasons in the country. December through February are the driest months, sometimes called “verano” (summer) by the locals, whereas May kicks of the green season. This is the time of year when the dry is ending and rainy season is just beginning. While the rainforest is, well, rainy, it’s not unusual to experience picture-perfect beach days along the coast, plus it’s truly a wonderful time to enjoy Costa Rica when it’s not loaded with tourists. The rain generally occurs in the evenings, so the morning and daytime is free to enjoy the outdoors. Reach out if you want to see what upcoming dates are available.
Step 2: Build Your Itinerary
Together we will sit down over a warm cup of coffee and design your dream retreat. What is your intention? Do you prefer relaxation or active adventures? Will you integrate lecture and education? Is your approach more free time or a jam packed schedule? Will you integrate deep transformative work or keep it lighthearted and fun? Together we will select your daily choice of adventures, activities, meal preferences, etc. Click here for sample itinerary.
Step 3: Promote Your Retreat
Together we will create a beautiful and detailed trip brochure for your to share with your target audience. Your network will see your social media posts, videos, and other promotional materials equipped with paypal link, registration page, and webpage link on my site and yours. As you fill the trip with your circle of adventurers we will continue to support them with a packing list, welcome packet, personal availability for questions and concerns, payment plans if necessary, and welcome gift!
About The Property
Manoas is a privately-owned sanctuary on a beautiful, expansive property located in the heart of the jungle. It’s a hidden gem, perfect for a retreat, where you’ll find yourself surrounded by tropical birds, native flowering plants, and if you’re lucky, the howler monkeys will stop in for a visit. The grounds are gorgeous, just a few minutes drive away from the Pacific Coast remote beaches, and sided by a crystal clear river that is perfect for swimming and exploring.
Being a little higher in elevation and somewhat secluded, Manoas makes for a perfect place to softly land at the end of a day full of adventures! Every room is beatifully and simply furnished with a private bathroom. The property has a pool with covered cabana, beautiful villas, glamping tents, and large community deck wrapped around an ancient wise tree just to name a few. Click here to see photos.
About Uvita
Known for stunning mountain landscapes that stretch down to palm-fringed beaches, Uvita is centrally located on the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It’s more specifically known as Costa Ballena or the Whale’s Coast, for the large number of migratory whales spotted here, as well as the whale tail shape of the coastline during low tide. This quaint little village consists of a small town center, bur mostly outlined with dirt roads, small farms, guesthouses and tiny shops, and a dense jungle among the covered hills above.
With its gentle pace of life, the people who come to this area seek true simplicity and connection with nature. Mostly off the beaten path, Uvita itself is home to breathtaking waterfalls, warm uncrowded wilderness beaches, a pristine marine reserve, and an unparalleled richness of beautiful plant and animal species.
It may seem surreal that this environment is as untainted as it is. It likely won’t stay like this forever though, conditions will one day change – likely sooner than later – and the best kept secret of the Bahia Ballena will be out.
Choose 2 Main Adventures
- Peaceful Paddleboarding
- High Canopy Zip Lining
- Mountain ATV Adventure
- White Water Rafting
- Whale Watching (seasonal)
- Surf Lessons
- River Gorge Cliff Jumping
- Horseback Riding on the Beach
- Horseback Riding to Waterfalls
- Canyoning & Rapelling
- Wildlife Refuge Visit
Choose 3 Activities
- Local Farmer’s Market Visit
- Coffee Farm Educational Tour and Demo
- Marino Ballena National Park Visit
- Guided Nature River Hike
- Local Fruit Show & Tell…and Taste
- Cacao Ceremony
- Local Flavor Cooking Classes
- Nature Mandala Creation
- Birdwatching
- Massage
- Daily Yoga
- Acupuncture Treatment
Choose the Diet
- Savory and Delicious Wide Variety Cuisine
- High Protein/Low Carb
- Healthy and Light Vegetarian
- Savory and Delicious Vegetarian
- Healthy and Light Vegan
- Detox Cleansing Smoothies and Fresh Salads
Choose 1 Give Back (optional)
- Local School Supplies Donation
- Wildlife Rescue Supplies Donation
- Dog Rescue Supplies Donation & Volunteer
- Beach Clean Up
- Other
Small Group, 7 days
These retreats are small and intimate gatherings and the property is not a “resort,” rather a privately owned lodge of only 11 accommodations. The group will be 10 persons plus the ambassador. The experience is 7 days, 6 nights. Arrival day and departure day are travel days, with 5 days open and free to build your preferred itinerary. Please understand that our itinerary is subject to change based on availability, weather, and safety. Traveling to Costa Rica can have unexpected occurrences in which we might have to adjust and modify as necessary. I will make every effort to accommodate your needs to make sure that your travel experience is unforgettable!
What’s Included
Accommodations for 7 days/6 nights in Costa Rica. Three meals daily except for on arrival and departure day where 1-2 meals will be provided: 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 6 dinners total. Most dietary needs can be accommodated. All ground transportation within Costa Rica will be provided with a professional local driver, English speaking guides and translator when necessary. All entrance fees to parks and all activities outlined in itinerary.
What’s Not Included
Airfare is not included in trip tuition. The retreat launches at SJO airport on day 1 at 12pm and ends the morning of day 7 at SJO airport before 12pm. Pre/post trip lodging will not be provided. The participants may wish to arrive early and stay after the retreat at their own cost and efforts. All gratuities are provided, except for the local excursion guides, chef, and room attendant in which the participants will be encouraged to tip as a group with suggested amounts provided. Trip Insurance is not included and highly recommended in the case of an emergency or unforeseen circumstances. Without insurance any cancellations after payment deadline could cause participants to forfeit their payment. Adult beverages, specialty drinks, beer, smoothies, etc. are generally not included unless the leader chooses to include an upgraded package. Lastly, and and all activities/meals/transportation/etc. during free time or if the participant chooses to go apart from the group is not included.
Accommodations
The property offers a total of 11 rooms. The main villa is a large 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom house overlooking the river. Its equipped with a spacious kitchen, laundry room, lounge/TV area and open air dining and multi-purpose space upstairs. There is also a 1 bedroom & a 2 bedroom villa with kitchen, lounge, TV, laundry, private jacuzzi and sundeck. All villas are close to the pool and have A/C wit’s either king or queen beds for single or double accommodations.
The most unique option is in one of the 4 safari glamping tents. Each tent is complete with a king sized bed, full bathroom, and viewing deck with lounge chairs and shade umbrella. The glamping tents offer an accommodation that is just as comfortable as the villas, but brings you a step closer to the jungle around you. Spaces are designated as the participants sign up, first come, first serve.
Financial & Legal Stuff
I will provide a trip agreement contract for each participant to sign. Copies may be provided in advance. Additionally, a a basic agreement contract will be shared between myself and the group leader outlining the policies, procedures, and anything else we choose to agree to and include together. I will provide PayPal links, and address for trip tuition collection, and pay for and arrange everything overseas for you. There will be a per person price and you may choose to increase the per person tuition for profit, otherwise, read the “perks” section to see how you can go for free.
How does – a free trip sound!?! Email me to find out how 🙂
This is not a cookie cutter retreat. This is a conscious and personalized experience for your guests. I have personally experienced all of the places and together we will hand pick the details offered to your guests. Be assured that you will be supporting the local community, not large corporations or large tourist resorts, bringing mindfulness and love into everything we do is part of the offering.
There are too many special things to outline – like the beautiful garden at the property where the breakfast ingredients often come from, or the hand made coconut oil produced in the beach behind the restaurant where we will have dinner, how well cared for the horses your might ride truly are, and the labor of love that the property owners share daily, and how the environment is protected at all costs….compost, recycle, planting trees, local food, etc.
