Costa Rica 2016: Week 2: March 5th-March 12th

Nurture Your Mind, Body and Spirit with John & Jan!

Costa Rica Restorative Adventure
Week Two – Finding Your Food Map: The Journey Continues: March 5th-March 12th, 2016

(This post and registration is for WEEK 2 of the 2016 Costa Rica Trip. To Register for WEEK 1, please click HERE.)

Join Jan Buhrman and John Bagnulo for the 3rd Annual unique and inspired Restorative Adventure in the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. Last year and the year before that were sold out! In 2016, there are TWO distinct weeks to choose from. Join us for BOTH weeks and receive a $400 discount!

Finding the Flow in Costa Rica
Diet and lifestyle can make all the difference. This is a seven day trip. During each week, five days will offer 2 hour health lectures on Finding Your Food Map by John in the mornings. The late afternoons will offer a 2-3 hour cooking classes by Jan. There will be plenty of time to explore, swim, relax and take on some new adventures. Learn to surf, zip line and fish. Come to the Osa Pennisula where you will experience delicious food and a unique adventure all centering on energy and vitality!

Location
Described by National Geographic as “the most biologically intense place on earth,” the Osa Peninsula is part rainforest, part beach, and entirely wild. Just 8 degrees above the Equator, and incredibly remote, the Osa is rich with birds, reptiles, monkeys, flora, fauna, and trees galore. We will be spending 7 nights at the award-winning Iguana Lodge which is surrounded by a wildlife refuge that spans hundreds of acres. Home to over 40 native plant species, The Iguana Lodge is lushly landscaped and attracts Toucans, Scarlet Macaws, and funky frogs to its property.

Accommodations – Activities – Adventures
Nestled in the jungle on a deserted 6-mile private beach, the Iguana Lodge hosts the only swimmable beach in Puerto Jimenez. The ocean temperature is an inviting 84 degrees, and the water so clear that Jacques Cousteau declared it to be one of the most pristine waters in the world. Free kayaks and boogie boards allow for plenty of time on the water, and a nearby reef is a great destination for hardcore swimmers or casual kayakers.

There are hammocks for quiet time with a book, and a palapa where you might sit, sipping a fresh mango smoothie, a cocktail daquiri, or fresh-squeezed lemonade. Small waves make this a perfect location for beginning surfers, lessons are available as are dolphin-spotting boat rides, fishing trips, and kayaking excursions through a mangrove-lined river. Guided jungle hikes, early morning birding with the staff naturalist, waterfall rappelling, and zip-lining are just some of the other adventures. All are led by qualified and trustworthy guides.

The Iguana Lodge also boasts a lap pool, a jacuzzi for evening soaks, candle-lit dinners under a thatched roof, spa services, attentive and friendly Tico staff, and only 19 rooms so the atmosphere feels intimate and homey. There are 3 lodging options, some have decks, some have outdoor showers, and some are more exposed to jungle life than others. All come with fans, Egyptian cotton sheets, and plush bathrobes. There is no AC, TV, or telephones, but there is spotty WiFi.

Jungle Living
You will wake early here – the Howler Monkeys start their monkey business (sorry) around 4:30am, and the birds join in around 5am, so expect to be up early. The sun sets early, around 6pm so expect to head to bed around 8 or 9.

We will begin each morning with a yoga class offered on the ocean-facing, outdoor yoga deck. Dinner will be at sunset and candlelight. All levels of fitness are welcome, and individual goals and needs are addressed. Lots of personal attention is provided.

Finally, it is important to us that Iguana Lodge respects and connects to the local Tico community. In addition to employing locals, Toby and Lauren (owners) have provided thousands of dollars in scholarship money to help high school seniors attend university, they have created the first public library which is on site, and they also have established a turtle conservation program. Please visit their website for pictures, stories, and further details.

Nurture Your Mind, Body and Spirit

Take this opportunity to invigorate your mind, body, and spirit. We will be offering five each of nutritional lectures and cooking workshops. John and Jan will be leading the lectures and workshops. In addition, yoga classes each day for all levels will be provided in the cost of the retreat.

Room Options:

Casita Room (5 Units) w/ Private Bath, this includes the third floor room of the beach house:
Single: $3,466
Double: $2,431
3 per room: $2,314
4 per room: $2,236

Casita Room (6 Units) w/ Shared bath (two units to one bath): that rent as two unit sets, this includes the second floor rooms of the beach house:
Single: $3,155
Double: $2,276
3 per room: $2,177

Club Rooms (8 units) w/ Private Bath:
Single: $2,482
Double: $2,065

Prices: Per Person/Per Week Include:
7 nights accommodations
3 meals per day
5 lectures – 2 hours each
5 cooking classes
Daily guided walks of the surrounding area observing nature, wildlife and daily activity of wildlife including sloths, resident monkeys and machos
One all day adventure
tax and transportation to and from Puerto Jimenez airport

Arrangements can be made for any other additional tours you would like to take in the afternoons during your free time. Additional tours are a separate cost. Everything can be arranged, including transportation.

Typical Daily Schedule
Yoga 7:00- 8:15
Breakfast 8:15- 9:15
Lecture 9:30 -11:30
11:30- 5:00 Free time (Lunch is included in the price)
5:00 Cooking class
7:00 Dinner

Please Note: Transportation, adventures, and tips are not included.

A $500 deposit per person will reserve your spot. If you would like to register for BOTH weeks, you will receive a $400 discount — PLEASE note when you send your deposit that you are registering for both weeks.

You are Registering for WEEK 2 of the Costa Rica Trip. To Register for WEEK 1, please click HERE. If you are joining us for BOTH weeks, please note when you send deposit that you are registering for both weeks ($400 discount will be applied to total). Do not worry if you are unable to make it to your desired week and desired health focus. There is plenty of One on One time with both Jan and John, where you will be able to ask any questions you might have about Gut health and Finding Your Food Map.

PLEASE READ: Cancellation Policy 2015

Wonderful feedback about our past Costa Rica Experiences:

“The lectures were great, entertaining, interactive engaging and the setting beautiful. The cooking demo’s really illustrated the ease of doing it yourself, and corrective actions as you go along. Delicious, presentations beautiful! WOW, Emily, knows bodies. Although a “basic” class, getting back to basics was what I needed and I am sure we all got a lot out of un-layering the “basics”. The activities, hikes and boat trip offered great variation and well coordinated. The garden – how appropriate, seeing the dolphins, and mangrove birds (the rosette billed birds were incredible!) The Long Trek, Sid did a great job as our guide and kept us going. Gave attention when needed (Highly poisonous spider alerts, etc.) Can’t believe I made it, and shows me I can do more outside of my comfort zone. Property walking with Sid, the Birds – EVERYTHING was amazing! How I ate so much and lost 10 pounds is beyond me!”
~Bernadette

“My husband and I had one of the best trips of our lives this winter during a retreat in Costa Rica with chef Jan Buhrman and nutritionist John Bagnulo. What stands out as highlights are the community of like-minded people we got to know, the incredible local food prepared and coordinated by Jan, the immersion into nature, and the inspiration we came away with to take our health and nutrition to the next level. Jan organized a relaxing, informative, experiential retreat in one of the most beautiful settings we’ve ever been to. We loved it so much that we’re signing up for two weeks next year!” ~Michelle Maclean, Halifax, Nova Scotia

“We thank you, thank you, thank you! I’m printing out your delicious recipes as I write this. What a wonderful week of brilliant teachings. Now that you two have helped me to be smarter – and I look forward to more – we would be happy to be involved in future events.” ~Maggie and Peter Farra

Header Photo Credit: KansasPhoto