Nature, Ritual and Renewal
July 11-16, 2027 · Costa Rica
A 6-day Continuing Education Retreat for Helping Professionals
For the Helpers, the Healers and the Deep Feelers
You love what you do.
But loving your work doesn't mean you're immune to the weight of it.
You spend your days helping others reconnect with themselves, yet it can be surprisingly difficult to create that same space in your own life. Somewhere between holding space for clients, caring for the people you love, and keeping up with the demands of everyday life, you may have started to feel a little disconnected from yourself.
Nature, Ritual & Renewal is an invitation to pause. To step away from the noise, immerse yourself in the wisdom of the natural world, and remember what it feels like to feel fully alive again.
Maybe You Don’t Need More
We're taught that growth comes from adding more. More knowledge. More training. More tools. More ways to become better at what we do.
But some things can't be learned from a book or a webinar.
Sometimes growth looks like standing quietly in the presence of a horse. Following a trail just to see where it leads. Noticing a bird you've never seen before. Moving at the speed of nature. Sharing a conversation that stays with you long after dinner is over. Letting yourself be surprised, moved, challenged, and changed by an experience you couldn't have planned.
Maybe you don’t need more information. Maybe you need space for curiosity, connection, and discovery.
Picture Yourself Here…
You wake on your first full morning in Costa Rica, step outside your door, and find a double rainbow stretching across the valley. A giant Friesian horse is waiting just outside your room, ready to greet you with the enthusiasm of an oversized puppy.
You sit down to breakfast, where fresh Costa Rican coffee is waiting alongside warm gallo pinto and homemade juice made from local fruit. Around the table, the group is beginning to settle in. You pull a card, set an intention for the day, and somewhere in the trees above you, a pair of toucans arrives.
And you notice something beginning to shift.
Your shoulders drop. You're not checking the time. You're listening to birds you've never heard before and getting to know people who, somehow, already feel familiar.
Over the days ahead, you'll spend time with horses, wander through wild places, learn through your body instead of only your mind, share meals and stories, laugh more than you expected, and experience countless moments of wonder and awe.
This place has a way of getting into your heart. Of inviting you to soften, get curious, and pay attention.
And by the time you leave, it may feel a little like home.
"This retreat helps the helper feel more grounded, connected and confident. As helping professionals we sometimes forget to take care of ourselves and this retreat reminds us to pause, accept care and help, reconnect with nature and each other, and see the unexpected magic and awe that is all around us."
— Hanya B. 2026.
What if we Learned in a Different Way?
Somewhere along the way, we decided that professional growth happens under the fluorescent lights of a hotel conference room. We sit in rows, listen to speaker after speaker, and take notes on information that can start to sound suspiciously like the last five trainings we attended.
What if we did it differently?
What if learning happened outside—with horses, in the jungle, around a table, and through experiences that engage your whole self instead of just your thinking brain?
Nature, Ritual & Renewal is a spacious immersion designed around experiential learning, nervous system support, meaningful reflection, and the kinds of conversations and experiences you won't find at your average therapist conference.
There is time to learn here. But there's also time to wander. To integrate. To be curious. To connect with other helping professionals. To notice what happens when you aren't rushing to the next session.
It's professional growth that makes room for the person behind the professional.
And yes—you'll still come home with your CEs (and that tax write-off.)
The Retreat Experience
Space to Reconnect With Yourself
Step outside the roles and responsibilities that usually fill your days. Through somatic practices, time in nature, and spacious reflection, you’ll have room to listen inward again—to your body, your intuition, your curiosity, and the parts of yourself that are easy to lose touch with when you’re busy caring for everyone else.
Continuing education you'll actually remember
You'll explore somatics, nature-based learning, nervous system awareness, and experiential approaches by participating in them yourself. Some of the deepest learning may happen with a horse, on a trail, in a moment of noticing, or in a conversation that takes the idea somewhere you hadn't considered before. You'll leave with new ways of thinking about your work—and practices you can adapt for the clients you serve.
Where the space holds you
Helpers are accustomed to being the ones who hold the space. Here, you get to experience what it's like when the space holds you. The land invites you to slow down. Your hosts anticipate the details so you don't have to. Nourishing meals appear at the table. The horses meet you exactly where you are, without asking anything from you in return.
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“This retreat was a truly transformative and restorative experience. The combination of nature, somatic practices, equine connection, meaningful conversations, and intentional care created a space where healers could slow down, reconnect with themselves, and receive the same compassion they so often give to others.”
— Kara C., attended 2026
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There's something powerful about stepping outside your everyday environment and into a space that's intentionally built for rest, connection, and growth. You get to meet incredible people, build real community, and come back to your Self in a way that's hard to access in the day-to-day grind. So if you're needing space to breathe, heal, and reconnect — this is it. Go.”
— Rachel B., attended 2026
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“Melissa, Sally, Eric, and the horses have created an absolutely amazing experience that you will not regret. Every day, I woke up to rainbows outside of my door, had interactions with humans and animals that warmed my heart, and watched beautiful sunsets. The best word I can come up with to describe the retreat is magical.”
— Amy L. attended 2026
Why Costa Rica?
There’s a reason people talk about the magic of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth—a country where rainforest tumbles toward the ocean, volcanoes rise above the clouds, and life seems to be everywhere you look. Toucans flash through the trees. Monkeys call from the canopy. Tropical rain arrives suddenly and dramatically, followed just as quickly by brilliant sun.
There’s a different rhythm here, too. Meals are meant to be enjoyed. Hospitality is warm and generous. The phrase pura vida—literally “pure life”—is used for everything from hello to thank you, but after spending time here, you begin to understand that it’s also a way of moving through the world.
Costa Rica invites curiosity. There is always something new to notice, taste, hear, or explore. And for a retreat centered around nature, nervous systems, wonder, and returning to what matters, it gives us an extraordinary place to do that work.
And tucked into the mountains of Guanacaste, we’ve found a place that holds all of that magic beautifully- Tula Vida Ranch.
Tula Vida Ranch: Your Retreat Home
Tucked into the mountains of Guanacaste, this off-grid ranch feels a world away from everyday life. The property stretches across 85 acres of tropical forest and open land, with natural springs, winding trails, abundant wildlife, and sweeping views of Tenorio, Miravalles, and Rincón de la Vieja volcanoes.
This isn’t a polished resort designed to separate you from the natural landscape. At Tula Vida, you’re invited to live within it.. You’ll wake to the sounds of the jungle, drink your morning coffee as the ranch comes to life, spot toucans and other wildlife from the dining area, and watch spectacular sunsets unfold across the valley.
There are hammocks for reading, trails for wandering, beautiful places to take in the view, and plenty of space to simply be outside without needing to go anywhere or do anything.
After a few days, you’ll move with the rhythms of ranch life.
Tula Vida is sacred land. You don't need to believe anything in particular to feel it. There is something about this place that asks you to pay attention.
By the end of the week, you won't just have stayed at Tula Vida You'll have been in relationship with it.
"The Nature, Ritual, & Renewal retreat was a tender, nourishing, transformative experience. Much of the potent healing power of the experience emerged from unseen forces that move between animals, humans, and the elements of the Costa Rican mountainside. The practical elements - container, programming, learning, etc - were impeccable as well. Seamless harmony between natural and organized elements. I absolutely plan to return."
— Becca B. 2025.
Your Nature, Ritual and Renewal Guides
A Retreat Experience co-created by wild haven and Tula Vida
Melissa Rosinski
Founder and Coach, Wild Haven
This retreat was born from Melissa’s longtime dream of offering nature-based experiences in Costa Rica—a place close to her heart where she once lived and has returned to many times. Her own experiences with somatic and nature-based practices deepened that vision and inspired her to create spaces where helping professionals could experience the restorative power of reconnecting with the natural world.
After visiting Tula Vida and working with Sally and the horses, Melissa knew she had found the place to bring that vision to life. She weaves her background as a therapist with advanced training in Somatic Experiencing, ecotherapy, and reiki, along with her certification as a Morning Altars Teacher, to create retreats that invite helping professionals to reconnect with themselves, rediscover their sense of wonder, and remember what helps them feel fully alive.
Sallly Nilsson
Co-Founder, Tula Vida
A relentless pursuer of authenticity and personal growth, Sally Nilsson's journey from the corporate corridors of London lawyer life to the vibrant rainforests of Costa Rica was guided by a golden thread—her profound connection with horses. During her corporate career, horse riding vacations were Sally’s escape to solace and rejuvenation.
A pivotal encounter with a horse named Beauty in Costa Rica sparked a profound shift, a path of personal re-alignment and a deep dive into the practice of horse-led coaching. Today Sally lives in Costa Rica and, in collaboration with Beauty and the horse herd, guides others on the path of authentic self-discovery. Sally invites individuals to bridge the gap between life in the comfort zone and aspirational dreams, utilizing the transformative power of the nervous system and the natural world.
Eric Kolesar
Co-Founder, Tula Vida
Eric Kolesar is co-founder of Tula Vida with Sally Nilsson, guiding people to self-empowerment through experiences with horses, yoga, coaching and adventure. With understanding, compassion and mindfulness as the cornerstones of his beliefs and life work, Eric uses a variety of techniques firmly grounded in neuroscience to balance both mind and body, and to liberate the authentic self to share its gifts with the world.
As well as the transformative power of nature and horses, Eric is an expert in multiple modalities of energy work and movement and weaves these in to create profound, personalized and powerful adventures in personal growth.
A Taste of Costa Rica
Each day, we’ll gather around the table for authentic Costa Rican meals prepared on site, using recipes and traditions passed down through generations. Much of what lands on your plate is grown right on the ranch or sourced from nearby farms and communities, connecting each meal to the place you're here to experience.
Expect tropical fruits, locally made cheeses, homemade desserts, and abundant plates filled with colorful vegetables, rice and beans, fresh herbs, plantains, hearty soups and stews, and traditional Costa Rican dishes prepared with whatever is fresh and in season.
The food is nourishing, delicious, and prepared with a lots of love and care. And the table quickly becomes one of the focal points of the retreat—the place for conversations, stories, and community building.
The Wisdom of the Herd
The rescue horses of Tula Vida are woven into the entire retreat experience. You'll wake to them outside your room, watch the herd move across the ranch, begin recognizing individual personalities and relationships, and gradually become familiar with their rhythms over the course of the week.
You'll also work alongside the horses in expertly facilitated, experiential workshops exploring nervous systems, relationship, presence, and connection. Horses are extraordinarily sensitive to what is happening around them, creating opportunities to notice ourselves and our patterns in ways that can be difficult to access through conversation alone.
There is no riding involved and no horse experience is necessary. This work isn't about learning to work with horses. It's about discovering what becomes possible when we slow down enough to learn with them.
Who This Retreat is For
Nature, Ritual & Renewal is for therapists, counselors, social workers, and other helping professionals who love the work they do, but know that a meaningful career shouldn't require giving all of themselves away.
You spend your days holding space for others. Here, you're ready to turn some of that attention toward your own experience—to notice your body, follow your curiosity, reconnect with the natural world, and remember what helps you feel fully alive.
You're drawn to somatic exploration, ecotherapy, ritual, and experiential learning. You value science and evidence-based practice and leave room for mystery, intuition, awe, and the things we can't always explain.
You crave real connection with other helpers and healers—the conversations over dinner, shared laughter, vulnerability, and the relief of being with people who understand what it means to do this work.
You don't need to reinvent yourself. You want to remember more of yourself—your capacity for wonder, play, creativity, connection, and adventure—and bring more of that back into the life you've already built.
"Melissa led our group with her heart and soul and seems to have a natural gift at facilitating. I’ve been on many retreats but this one really brought me back home to myself, highly recommended."
— Kristen P. 2025
Who This Retreat Isn’t For
Nature, Ritual & Renewal isn't a traditional CE conference—and it's not a luxury resort vacation disguised as one.
This probably isn't your retreat if you're looking for a packed itinerary, polished resort amenities, or classroom-style learning. We'll be outside. We'll get muddy. Tropical weather may change our plans. It’s an immersive experience in a dynamic living ecosystem.
It’s also probably not the right fit if you’re looking for a party vacation. Tula Vida does not serve alcohol, and substance use is not permitted around the horses. You’ll have opportunities to enjoy a drink during the optional beach weekend.
You'll also need some openness to creative ritual, somatic exploration, and time with animals including dogs and horses.
You don't need to be outdoorsy, spiritual, or experienced with any of these practices. You just need to be curious, open, and willing to show up for the experience.
What’s Included
5 nights at Tula Vida Ranch, a private 85-acre, off-grid retreat
All meals and non-alcoholic beverages during your stay, featuring fresh, locally inspired Costa Rican food
NBCC continuing education credits through experiential, somatic, and nature-based workshops
Deep experiential work with Tula Vida’s rescue horses, exploring nervous system awareness, connection, and embodied learning
Guided cloud forest outing through a magical ecosystem and along a hidden volcanic trail
Nature-based and somatic experiences woven throughout the week, with plenty of opportunities for creativity and reflection
Sound healing + plant essences ceremony
Community service experience with the local Tierras Morenas community
Group transportation to and from Liberia International Airport (LIR) at designated retreat arrival and departure times
Transportation for all included retreat activities
Plenty of spacious, unscheduled time to rest, wander, connect with the horses, and explore the ranch
A thoughtfully curated small-group experience with a community of therapists, helpers, and healers
The 2027 Nature, Ritual and Renewal Retreat: Find Yourself in nature
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NBCC Continuing Education Hours
You’re never had a CE training quite like this. Earn NBCC-approved continuing education hours through nature-based and equine-assisted workshops.
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Guided Cloud Forest Outing
Explore a magical volcanic cloud forest ecosystem along a hidden trail most visitors to Costa Rica will never get to experience.
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Giving Back to the Community
Take part in a local service project that gives us an opportunity to connect, contribute, and practice reciprocity with the land and the local Tierras Morenas community.
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Expertly Facilitated Horse Experiences
Connect with Tula Vida’s gentle, intuitive horses through daily facilitated sessions designed to foster presence, reflection, and connection.
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Extras to Enhance Your Experience
Enjoy thoughtfully planned extras throughout the week, including a welcome gift, sound healing, guided nature experiences, and more.
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Optional Beach Weekend Add-On
Extend your time in Costa Rica with two nights on the coast—a chance to integrate, play, relax, explore before returning to ”real life.” Scroll down to learn more and save your spot.
Choose your room
Selecting a room type below will take you to the secure checkout.
Private Room $4499
A private Villa or Lodge room with full or king size bed and a private bathroom.
shared room $3999
A spacious shared Villa or Lodge room with 2 full or single beds and 1 bathroom.
Cancellation policy: Your $750 deposit is nonrefundable as it helps us prepare this experience for you. If you need to cancel, you’ll receive a full refund (minus deposit) before March 13, 2026 or a 50% refund before April 12, 2026. On April 12 and after, all payments are nonrefundable.
‘Melissa has a gentle, attentive presence as she seamlessly adapts to the needs of the moment. Whether adjusting plans in response to the weather or intuitively sensing the group's energy, she leads with both professionalism and heart. Her ability to go with the flow while holding space for each member creates a nurturing and transformative retreat experience.”
— Kristin A. 2025
Sample Retreat Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
Meet your fellow retreat travelers at the airport and journey together to Tula Vida in shared transportation. Arrive just in time to savor your first delicious Costa Rican dinner while watching the sun melt into the horizon. After settling in, we’ll gather for an opening fire circle beneath the stars—setting intentions and beginning our journey in community.
Day 2: orienting
Wake on your first morning to misty volcanic views and the soothing sounds of the jungle. Today you’ll meeting the land and the beings who call Tula Vida home and partner with your horse. Experience the wisdom of the herd through an exploration of herd dynamics. Close the day with mindful movement on the yoga deck.
Day 3: Connection
Begin the day by tapping into nature and creativity during an earth altar workshop with Melissa. In the afternoon, explore connection and herd dynamics with Sally and the soulful Tula Vida horses. As evening falls, settle into a plant essences and sound healing ceremony—sipping cacao or herbal tea as a famous Tula Vida sunset colors the sky.
Day 4: Giving back
Begin the day with Qi Gong with the horses, moving mindfully and connecting with their grounded presence. Next, head to the local village of Tierras Morenas for a meaningful service project, offering gratitude and giving back to the land and people who have welcomed us. In the afternoon, nurture yourself with a visit to the luxurious Tabacón Hot Springs, soaking in thermal waters to restore body, mind, and spirit
Day 5: Integration
Spend the day connecting with the land and exploring ways to bring nature into your everyday life and practice. Build a community altar with Melissa, Sally, and the horses, integrating the week’s experiences. Close with a fire ceremony, where we will gather as a community to share our gratitude, reflections and support each for other’s transformations beyond the retreat.
Day 6: Departure
Enjoy one last incredible breakfast at Tula Vida before we say “til next time.” Then we’ll take shared transportation back to Liberia Airport for your flight home, or onward to Tamarindo to begin the optional Beach Weekend, where you can relax, explore, and soak in the beauty of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need more info? We’ve got you covered!
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Your retreat fee covers everything you need for a fully immersive, restorative experience:
Airport transfers to and from Liberia Airport
Accommodations for 6 days / 5 nights on the ranch
All meals, prepared with fresh, local ingredients
Continuing education workshops (CEs) for healing professionals
Facilitated horse experiences to connect and reflect
All classes and activities, including mindful movement, qi gong, and more
Day trip to Tabacón hot springs, including entrance fees
Sound healing experience
Exclusive use of the ranch, including hiking trails and quiet spaces
Everything is designed to help you relax, reconnect, and deepen your experience in nature.
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While your retreat fee covers most of your experience, the following items are not included:
Flights to and from Costa Rica
Travel insurance (required for your protection)
Alcoholic beverages – Tula Vida does not serve alcohol, though you’ll have the option to purchase drinks at Tabacón Hot Springs and during the optional Beach Weekend add-on
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No prior horse experience is required. During the retreat, we do not ride the horses—all activities are focused on gentle, facilitated interactions, presence work, and connection with the horses on the ground. Everyone, regardless of experience, can safely participate and benefit from these experiences.
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Yes! A valid passport is required to enter Costa Rica. It must be valid for the duration of your stay—and ideally for at least six months beyond your entry date.
U.S. citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
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Please book your round-trip flight to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Liberia, Costa Rica.
Important: Your flight should arrive before 2 PM on July 11, 2026.
All major U.S. airlines—Southwest, American, United, and Delta—fly into Liberia.
Your return flight will depart from LIR, whether you leave on July 16 or stay for the optional Beach Weekend.
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The Beach Adventure Weekend is an optional two-day extension after the retreat, designed to give you extra time to relax and explore Costa Rica’s beautiful coastline. We’ll travel to Tamarindo, where you’ll enjoy:
A sunset sailing excursion on the Pacific Ocean
Access to the Langosta Beach Club
Plenty of time to swim, shop, and soak up the sun
This add-on is a great way to connect further with fellow attendees, experience the vibrant energy of Costa Rica’s beaches, and take some time to integrate your retreat experience before returning home.
See more info and register for this optional add-on here: https://wildhaven.thrivecart.com/beach-weekend-add-on/
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Hosting a retreat like this requires significant early investments—securing the venue, accommodations, staff, and resources well before the event begins. The $750 nonrefundable deposit ensures your spot is reserved and allows us to make these commitments on your behalf.
Our refund policy is designed to be as fair as possible while honoring these advance costs:
Before March 13, 2026 (120+ days prior): Full refund, minus your deposit.
Before April 11, 2026 (90–119 days prior): 50% refund, minus your deposit.
After April 11, 2026: All payments are nonrefundable because we’ve already committed resources to make this experience happen for you.
We require travel insurance to protect your investment in case of unexpected changes.
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No! Continuing education credits are offered for mental health therapists, but the retreat is open to all helpers and healers!
Some examples include: coaches, people working in community services, body workers, medical professionals, teachers, activists, caretakers, medical and health service managers, yoga/pilates teachers, death workers, etc.
Not ready to go home?
Add a weekend at the beach!
Not quite ready to go home? Extend your time in Costa Rica with two nights in Tamarindo designed for integration, play, relaxation, and connection.
After our week at Tula Vida, we’ll trade the mountains for the Pacific coast and settle into a private house at a charming boutique hotel. Spend your days enjoying the laid-back rhythm of beach life, relaxing by the pool, wandering into town, or soaking up the sun with your new retreat friends.
We’ll have access to a private beach club and head out together for an unforgettable private sunset sail along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast—with plenty of time to swim, relax, take in the views, and toast to the week we’ve shared..
The beach weekend gives you a chance to experience another side of Costa Rica while letting everything from the retreat begin to settle. There’s nowhere you need to rush off to and nothing left to accomplish—just time to play, connect, rest, and enjoy a couple more days together before heading home.
Add the beach weekend at full price during checkout, or click the button below if you’d prefer a payment plan.
Reserve Your Spot Today!
Join us for the 2027 Nature, Ritual & Renewal Retreat in Costa Rica. Heal, restore, and earn CEs with somatic practices, equine healing sessions, and earth-based rituals. This is a small group experience and spaces are very limited—reserve your transformative retreat today!
6- and 9-month payment plans available at checkout.