SOMATIC SELF-LOVE RETREAT: A Week of Rest, Renewal & Reconnection — in Costa Rica with Karena from Hello Inner Light

-Welcome travelers to your adventure to explore the waters and shores of Costa Rica! After touching down at the airport in Liberia, let the fun begin as you journey with your group to Puerto Carrillo, a serene beach town famed for its untouched coastline and laid-back vibe.

-Then, check into your humble abode for the next few days at Nammbu Beachfront Bungalows, where Costa Rican hospitality will greet you. Afterwards, take some free time to soak in the night with the Pacific Ocean as your backdrop. You might choose to roam the palm-lined shores, dip your toes in the surf, or simply relax.

-Enjoy dinner with your group and toast to the amazing adventures ahead!

-On our first evening together, we’ll gather in sacred circle to gently arrive, connect with our hearts, and set soulful intentions for the days ahead. This is a space to slow down, exhale, and begin the tender process of coming home to yourself - with presence, support, and care.

-Kick off your first full day in Costa Rica with a delicious breakfast at the hotel, followed by an ocean safari in the Pacific Ocean! Go in search of dolphins or, depending on the season, humpback whales. The Pacific’s sparkling expanse will become your playground, and local certified guides will be there to point out and spot some Central American spinner dolphins and Common bottlenose dolphins. Then, start your underwater exploration of the area, just offshore from Samara and Carrillo beaches.

-Afterwards, return to your hotel for some free time before dinner. Once you enjoy dinner, you have the option to take part in a creative integration and journaling session, to channel your inner thoughts.

-Wake up at your own pace, enjoy breakfast, and sit down for a soothing somatic meditation session.

-We'll gather for a workshop to practice self-attunement and self-acceptance as a path to inner connection. We’ll explore how self-love becomes real - not through lofty ideals, but through moment-by-moment attunement and acceptance of our inner world. You’ll learn somatic practices that help you build a felt sense of love within your own body - so self-love becomes something you can actually experience, not just talk about.

We'll explore:
● The difference between “doing” self-love and embodying it
● How to attune to your body and emotions with presence and care
● Simple, powerful practices to anchor self-acceptance in your nervous system

-You have a free day on the schedule! Book an optional adventure or simply relax on the shoreline.

-Savor the flavors of dinner and then have the option of taking a creative integration and journaling session to channel your inner creativity.

-After enjoying a nourishing breakfast, enjoy some free time before gathering for a workshop to help further your healing journey.

-If you've ever felt like self-love just isn’t accessible - there’s a reason. In the workshop, we’ll explore the subconscious roots of our lack of self-love. You'll gently meet the parts of you that carry old pain or self-protection, and learn body-based tools to bring compassion, healing, and integration.

You'll learn:
● Why self-love can feel so hard (and why that’s not your fault)
● How to identify wounded parts and protective strategies that block love
● Somatic emotional processing tools to lovingly transform internal resistance


-When the sun goes down, let nature take center stage with an excursion to Corozalito Beach, renowned for its turtle nesting phenomenon. This beach is the nesting home for three of the seven species of sea turtles in the world. Watch the beautiful process of life come alive before your eyes as the turtles lay their eggs, watch them hatch, and then head off on their own into the sea. Your guide will point out some of the best spots for turtle hatching activity, and will explain some of the conservation efforts underway that protect the balance of their ecosystem.

-Once your turtle extravaganza has come to a close, return to the hotel for dinner and then slip into a much-needed sleep

-After a nourishing breakfast, today is all about Isla Chora. Hop in a dinghy and jet off to the island where you’ll have a chance to snorkel, swim, and simply bask on the sand. Sit back and enjoy some fresh fruit as you soak in the island vibes.

-After lunch, head inland to the Werner Sauter Biological Reserve — one of the region’s last remaining dry forests. Hike shaded trails beneath towering trees, spotting monkeys, iguanas, and vibrant birdlife along the way. The reserve is a living classroom for Costa Rica’s biodiversity, offering endless inspiration for creators and nature enthusiasts.

-Head back to the hotel for dinner before sitting down for a creative integration session. While engaging in creative reflection, take the chance to quiet your mind after the exhilarating adventures of the day.

-It’s your last full day here in paradise. How will you spend it? With a free day on the schedule, you can craft it however you please.

-We'll sit down for a workshop on embracing your own imperfections and practicing self-compassion. In this nourishing session, we’ll practice radical self-acceptance — the kind that includes your messiness, your complexity, and your humanity. You’ll be guided through gentle mind-body exercises designed to help you soften toward all parts of yourself, especially the ones you’ve struggled to accept.

We'll explore:
● What it means to hold space for your full emotional landscape
● How to stop rejecting your imperfections and start honoring them
● Body-based practices for self-compassion and integration

-Enjoy one last dinner with your group, sharing stories from your adventures and gratitude for this experience.

-With the sound of the surf still echoing in your ears, it’s time to say goodbye to Costa Rica’s wild Pacific coast.

-Before we head home, we'll gather one last time in circle to reflect, integrate, and honor the beautiful journey we’ve shared. This closing ceremony is a space for gratitude, witnessing, and gentle closure. You’ll have the opportunity to share what’s shifted, what you’re carrying forward, and how you’ll continue nurturing your self-love beyond this retreat.

-We’ll seal our time together with intention, compassion, and community — so you leave not only feeling nourished, but deeply supported in carrying this healing home with you.

-After checkout, a group transfer will take you to Liberia airport. Leave with salt in your hair, sand in your shoes, and a camera roll full of ocean adventures, wildlife wonders, and boat-ride bliss — ready to inspire your next story. Have a safe flight!