Plant · Harvest · Cook Retreat
A week of nature, food, and tropical simplicity.
Bamboo Cabins · Garden Sessions · Cooking Sessions
Costa Rica — Caribbean Jungle & Beach Town
A hands-on week of nature, food, and tropical living.
Mornings begin in the gardens and food forest with optional planting, harvesting, and simple regenerative skills. Late mornings move into the kitchen for cooking sessions built around the day’s harvest. Afternoons are free for swimming, resting, walking the trails, or taking the shuttle to the beach and town. Evenings center on good food and time around the fire.
You’ll stay in a private bamboo cabin, eat farm-to-table meals, and see how sustainable tropical living works in real life — with every session optional.
Located near Puerto Viejo on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, this retreat gives you direct access to rainforest, beaches, and the tropical gardens and food forest.
7 days · 6 nights · Private cabin · Farm-to-table meals · Garden & cooking sessions · Caribbean rainforest
Arrive Sunday → Retreat Mon–Fri → Depart Saturday
(only 5 work days needed)
Upcoming Retreat Dates:
March 1–7, 2026
March 15–21, 2026
April 12–18, 2026
Only 8 private cabins per week.
More 2026 dates will be released soon.
Join the waitlist for early access to future retreat weeks.
Garden Sessions
Each day begins with an optional morning session in the gardens and food forest:
planting greens, herbs, and tropical staples
harvesting fresh roots, fruits, and greens
wandering the food forest and learning how it grows
tasting plants and seasonal fruits
simple machete use (optional)
You can join fully, partially, or simply watch with a cup of coffee.
You’ll harvest what earlier guests planted, and plant what future guests will harvest — keeping the system alive.
These morning sessions are a core part of our Costa Rica nature retreat experience, connecting guests directly to the land.
Cooking Sessions
From the morning harvest into the kitchen and fire.
Late mornings flow naturally into the wellness kitchen as lunch takes shape. You’re welcome to join in, taste, ask questions, or simply watch and learn as the cooks work with fire and fresh ingredients.
You may experience:
cacao roasting and simple stone-ground chocolate
corn prepared for warm tortillas
root vegetables roasted in embers
fresh coconut milk or oil pressed by hand
herbal teas and tonic blends
sugarcane juice pressed on quiet mornings
tropical spices and wild aromatics
charred plantains, pineapple, citrus, cassava, taro, and sweet potato
This is not a class — it’s daily life in the tropics, shared openly.
Lunch becomes the center of the day: fire, roots, fruit, and the fresh harvest on your plate.
It’s a signature part of our Costa Rica farm-to-table retreat — real tropical cooking using ingredients from the land.
Afternoons Are Yours
Slow time to rest and explore.
After lunch, the day opens up:
hammock time
swim in the natural pond
naps, books, quiet wandering
daily afternoon shuttle to the beach & town (included)
Departs 1:30 PM · Returns 5:30 PM
If you feel like exploring more, we work with trusted local partners for optional experiences such as:
surf lessons
kayak or snorkel outings
jungle and wildlife walks
on-site massages
sound healing
night wildlife hike (after dinner)
Everything is optional and arranged on request—no fixed schedules, no pressure.
Many guests pair the retreat with exploring nearby national parks, beaches, and wildlife areas along the Caribbean coast.
Evenings Around the Fire
Stars. Quiet nights. Fire. Jungle all around.
Each evening gathers naturally around warm food, soft light, and the gentle sounds of the rainforest, tropical music, and interesting conversations.
Just real nature, real people, real food.
Bamboo Cabins
Sleep with the forest.
Each guest stays in a private, hand-built bamboo cabin surrounded by jungle.
queen bed or twin beds
mosquito net and natural linens
lantern-lit interiors (no electricity inside cabins)
device charging station in the main building
daily cleaning service
Simple comfort, crafted by hand, designed for connection, quiet, and stillness.
Shared Solar Bathhouse
Natural building, open-sky, spacious
A short walk from the cabins, the shared bathhouse includes:
4 rainwater showers
5 flush toilets
warm water
open-sky roofline
clean, airy, eco-friendly design
Eco-friendly toiletries provided: shampoo, conditioner, soap.
You’re Inside a Biological Corridor
Your neighbors for the week:
sloths
toucans and great green macaws
howler, spider & capuchin monkeys
anteaters
blue morpho butterflies
poison dart frogs
This isn’t a retreat center near nature — you are living inside it.
Meals — Simple, Real, From the Land
Open Kitchen · Fire-cooked · Seasonal · Mostly plant-based
We serve:
local eggs, cheese, and yogurt
fresh farm fish when available
occasional ocean fish (depending on the boats)
abundant tropical staples and vegetables
grains, roots, fruits, herbs, and spices from the gardens
No red meat or chicken.
This is not a diet or cleanse — just real food from the land.
Daily Rhythm
6:00 AM — Coffee, fruit, baked goods
A light, optional start to the day.
6:30–8:30 AM — Garden Sessions
Cool mornings in the food forest — planting, harvesting, exploring, and learning simple regenerative skills.
8:30–9:30 AM — Farm Breakfast
A slow, generous breakfast after the morning’s garden time.
10:00–12:00 PM — Cooking Sessions
Hands-on cooking with tropical ingredients — fresh, vibrant, and seriously delicious.
1:00–2:00 PM — Lunch
Fresh meals from the morning harvest.
Afternoons Free
Beach, hammock, river, national parks, or wandering in the rainforest. Check our optional experiences menu for more adventures.
7:00 PM — Dinner
Great food, soft tropical music, fire, and quiet evenings in the jungle.
*Gardening and Cooking sessions are optional. Join anytime.
What’s Included
Everything you need for a simple, immersive week:
7 days / 6 nights in a private bamboo cabin
all farm-to-table meals, drinks & desserts
morning garden sessions (optional)
cooking sessions (optional)
natural swimming pond access
jungle wellness spaces & footpaths
daily shuttle to beaches & town (afternoon round-trip)
linens, towels & daily cabin cleaning
eco-friendly toiletries
high-speed WiFi in the main building
Optional experiences are available at an extra cost.
Your Hosts
For over 15 years, we’ve been off-grid in the Costa Rican rainforest, raising our family close to nature, and guiding students from around the world in permaculture design and sustainable living.
We created this retreat for you to experience the freedom and abundance of tropical life. A calm space to learn simple skills, enjoy vibrant cooking, and reconnect with the land.
Ian M. Macaulay
Permaculture Designer and Educator · Ecological Consultant · Visual Artist
Tropical land systems · food forests · natural building · simple, practical skills
Ana Gaspar A.
Human Rights Lawyer · Ecological Consultant · Wellness Kitchen Creator
Food sovereignty · tropical nutrition · herbal traditions · warm, nourishing meals
Featured in:
The New York Times · NBC · VICE · Telemundo · Heraldo · La Nación · Whetstone · Lessons from the Jungle Documentary
Who This Retreat Is For
People who want:
real nature, privacy, and quiet days in the Costa Rica rainforest
hands in the soil — optional gardening, harvesting, and cooking sessions
simple living with comfort — off-grid bamboo cabins between jungle & beach
to experience how sustainable tropical living actually works
a meaningful connection to land — immersion in a living ecosystem
fire-cooked meals, tropical flavors, and real farm-to-table food
Adults only · 18+
Solo Traveler
$2,150
Private cabin
All meals · All experiences included
Couple / Friends Sharing
$3,650 total
Private cabin (queen bed or two singles — your choice)
All meals · All experiences included
Only 8 private cabins · Each reservation = one cabin
Important Details
Deposit
A $700 deposit reserves your cabin.
The deposit is non-refundable and may be transferred once to another retreat date within 12 months, provided the transfer is completed at least 60 days before your original retreat start date.
Balance Payment
A balance invoice is sent after booking.
Payment is due 30 days before arrival.
If unpaid, the cabin is released and the deposit remains as credit for a future retreat date.
Best Months to Visit
For sunshine, beach days, fire cooking, and starry nights:
February · March · April · September · October · November
Dietary Needs
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and celiac meals are accommodated.
Please indicate your dietary needs on the booking form.
Diets not listed on the booking form cannot be guaranteed.
Electricity & WiFi
Cabins are lantern-lit (off-grid).
Charging station + high-speed WiFi available in the main building.
Getting Here Is Easy
We’re located 15 minutes from Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica — inside a quiet rainforest corridor, close to beaches, town, and national parks.
Most guests fly into San José International Airport (SJO) and use one of these two simple options:
1. Caribe Shuttle or Interbus— Direct to Puerto Viejo (~$60)
• One daily departure from SJO
• Air-conditioned, reliable, and safe
• Drops you in Puerto Viejo
• A short taxi ride brings you to the retreat (taxis always available)
2. Private Driver — Door to Door (~$350–$400)
• Faster and more comfortable
• Picks you up directly at the airport
• Brings you straight to the retreat
Once you reserve your cabin, you’ll receive a detailed arrival guide with:
✓ shuttle link
✓ recommended flight times
✓ meeting point
✓ what to expect on arrival
Traveling here is simple — and we help every step of the way.
Before You Arrive →
Directions, packing list, and what to expect.
FAQ
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A hands-on nature retreat focused on gardens, cooking, and simple tropical living. Each day includes optional morning garden sessions, cooking sessions built around the day’s harvest, and open afternoons for rest or exploration.
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No. Everything is beginner-friendly and fully optional. Join as much or as little as you like.
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On the Caribbean coast, 15 minutes from Puerto Viejo, in a quiet rainforest corridor near beaches, national parks, and wildlife.
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Private bamboo cabin, all meals, garden sessions, cooking sessions, natural swimming pond access, afternoon shuttle to the beach and town, daily cabin cleaning, linens, eco-friendly toiletries, and WiFi in the main building.
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Private, hand-built bamboo cabins with natural linens, mosquito net, lantern lighting, and jungle surroundings. Simple, comfortable, and designed for quiet nights. Charging stations are in the main building.
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Mornings: garden time and breakfast.
Midday: cooking sessions and lunch.
Afternoons: free time for the beach, pond, trails, or rest.
Evenings: dinner and time around the fire. -
No. All sessions are optional. The retreat is flexible and low-pressure.
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Fly into San José International Airport (SJO). Most guests take the Caribe Shuttle or interbus (one early morning and one early afternoon daily departure) or arrange a private driver to the retreat. A full arrival guide is sent after booking.
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Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and celiac meals are available. List your dietary needs on the booking form.
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February, March, April, September, October, and November are the best for sunshine, beach days, and clear nights.
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Only 8 private cabins are available, typically accommodating a total of 12 people, keeping the experience quiet and personal.
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Yes. Ages 18+.
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Light clothing, sandals, closed shoes for garden sessions, swimsuit, sunscreen, rain jacket, and a small flashlight or headlamp. Towels, linens, and toiletries are provided.