La Fortuna, Costa Rica Check back soon for 2025 dates!
What's your true purpose in life?
Explore some of life's most meaningful questions in one of the world's most magical places.
Escape to Costa Rica for a transformative retreat that will refresh, relax, revitalize, and inspire you. Immerse yourself in the lush beauty of a sustainable rainforest eco-lodge near the world-famous Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Enjoy farm-to-table dining, exciting outdoor activities, and daily sessions including yoga, meditation, and qigong.
Led by renowned facilitators, including Dr. Ira Bedzow from Emory University, you'll explore purpose and meaning, broaden your horizons, and discover new possibilities. Through group discussions and practical exercises, you’ll gain insights to anchor meaningful change. Experience the magic of Costa Rica and return home with a renewed sense of purpose and harmony. Join us for an unforgettable journey of personal growth and community in one of the most beautiful settings on earth.
Rooms starting at:
$3,900* Deposit: $800
Join changemakers from around the globe for this transformative 21+ program in Costa Rica. At the end of your time, you'll emerged recharged, refreshed, and refocused on your key purpose in life.
For new grads, career-changers, retirees, and professionals...
If you've ever found yourself asking:
What am I really doing with my life? Why am I misaligned or confused about what I truly value?
Where is this career/life path leading me?
I know I am meant to have a bigger impact on the world ... but what is it? Where do I start?
What legacy am I leaving for my friends, family, or community?
Farm-to-table meals
Immerse yourself in the rainforest
Healthy living, Tico style
Retreat, reflect, and restore
Farm-fresh organic foods
Dream accommodations
A day of retreat life
7AM - 8AM: Morning Mindfulness
Yoga, Meditation, Breathwork, or Qigong with an expert instructor. Feel your body and mind connect through purposeful flow.
8AM: Farm-to-Table Breakfast
Start your day with a delicious homemade breakfast, made with local ingredients.
9AM: Morning Workshop
Dive into your deepest inner knowing, gaining skills from your facilitators along the way. Sessions could include; Connection, Ancestors and Legacy, Listening to Nature and Biomimicry, The Art of Relating.
11AM: Relax, Restore, & Nourish
Take some time to allow this morning's lessons to sink in as you rest and reflect. Options include enjoying the sparkling blue pool or taking advantage of an on-site spa session. From 12-1, join the group for another fresh farm-to-table meal of delicious Costa Rican specialities.
12PM: Core Session
This afternoon, take time to enjoy a core lesson with your teachers and guides. You'll be focusing on the inner and outer work necessary to transform your life through discovery of purpose.
3:30PM: Afternoon Cultural Workshop
Step into class and connect to your environment as we learn more about Costa Rica and Tico culture. Sessions can include; Regenerative agriculture practices, Chocolate making, Herbal medicine workshops, and Waterfall excursions
5PM: Revitalize & Enjoy Dinner
Take some time to yourself after our afternoon of adventure and then join the group for a delicious and nourishing family-style dinner.
8PM: Community Connection
Spend your evenings enjoying the company of your peers and truly connecting with those attending the retreat. Activities for evenings include bonfires, biodanza, yin yoga, social time, and even an optional jungle night hike.
Inclusions & Travel Details
Included:
Transfer from Airport (SJO) to and from retreat center Fresh, farm-to-table meals, 3 times daily Standard accommodations (upgrades available) at our La Fortuna retreat location Expert facilitation by our guest speakers and world-renowned faculty On-site yoga pavilion, 50-foot observation tower, solar-heated jacuzzi, swimming pool, and rainforest trail
Not Included:
Round-trip airfare to/from SJO Additional spa services, as requested Additional optional excursions Visas, if needed (US passport holders can stay up to 90 days without a visa) Vaccinations, if needed (routine vaccinations encouraged, but none required)
Meet your Facilitators
Dr. Ira Bedzow
Scholar & Ethicist
Renowned for his interdisciplinary approach that spans the fields of ethics and philosophy, theology, business and organizational leadership, and medicine, Dr. Ira Bedzow has made significant contributions to the discourse on purpose and meaning, particularly through the lens of bioethics, philosophy, and religious thought. His exploration into these themes often focuses on how individuals find purpose and meaning in the face of modern challenges, ethical dilemmas, and the pursuit of wellness. His work, deeply rooted in Jewish ethical teachings, aims to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary moral dilemmas. Dr. Bedzow's contributions to the field are not only academic; he is an author, having penned numerous books (including poetry) and articles that make complex ethical theories accessible to a broader audience.
Alain Laggar
Global Agent of Change
Alain is a distinguished speaker, coach, and facilitator whose mission is to dismantle the pervasive "us-them" mentality prevalent in many cultures, promoting instead a culture of harmonious interpersonal flow. His unique journey from being the youngest officer in the Dutch police force to a global agent of change has imbued him with a profound understanding of the transformative power of compassion. Through extensive travels and work ranging from working with children in Mexican orphanages, prisoners in Colombia, to consulting with corporate CEOs in Brazil, Alain has consistently fostered productive harmony across various settings by emphasizing compassionate connections.
Alnoor Ladha
Social Activist, Writer, and Strategist
Alnoor Ladha is a dynamic social activist, writer, and strategist known for his profound commitment to addressing the systemic issues of inequality, sustainability, and social justice on a global scale. As a co-founder of The Rules, a collective dedicated to changing the power dynamics and narratives that underpin global poverty and inequality, Ladha's work is at the forefront of innovative social change. With a background in strategy and philosophy, his approach combines deep theoretical knowledge with practical activism, aiming to catalyze movements that challenge the status quo and promote a more equitable, ecologically sustainable world.
Accommodations & Upgrades
Our home for the week is a stunning sustainable rainforest eco-lodge on the edge of the world-famous Children’s Eternal Rainforest, just outside La Fortuna, Costa Rica. This eco-lodge is a sanctuary for sustainable living, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern comforts. Enjoy organic farm-to-table dining, unwind in well-appointed rooms, relax by the pool, observe the vibrant birdlife, or indulge in a spa treatment. Every aspect of the lodge embodies a deep commitment to sustainability and harmony with nature.
Check out your shared accommodation options below. Note that single occupancy is possible for an additional fee - speak with Carpe Diem staff for pricing details.
Shared: Family Bungalows
$3,900/traveler. The AC Family Bungalows are located near the ozonated swimming pool and solar-heated Jacuzzi. All family bungalows have 1 queen bed, 4 single beds, a private bathroom with hot water, and include indoor and outdoor sitting areas overlooking fruit trees and gardens. Sleeps 5 total guests.
Shared: Casa de Barro
$4,000/traveler. Casa de Barro is an adobe “earth-bag” house made from the deep red clay found on the farm set in a lovely private setting. The spacious circular structure was handmade, and the building materials make it feel like this house is a natural extension of the land. This room offers a King bed, and an additional single-bed can be provided if needed. It has a private bathroom with a hot-water on-demand shower. Sleeps 2 total guests.
Shared: Casa Luna
$3,950/traveler. The rooms feature one queen-sized bed and one single bed. When you step outside of your room you will enjoy the second floor wrap-around porch with hammocks and stunning views of the surrounding hills and mountains. Downstairs you will find a large open-air lounge area, with comfortable couches and chairs. Sleeps 2 total guests.
Shared: Casita Deluxe
$4,250/traveler. The Casita Deluxe, built from fallen timber, features a King-sized bed, closet, hot-water, private bathroom, and outdoor sitting area with a balcony overlooking the forest. You will enjoy the peaceful sounds of the rainforest when you wake up every morning. Enjoy the trills of tropical birds and the enchanting voice of the howler monkeys. Sleeps 2 total guests.
Dome Suite (SOLD OUT)
$4,500/traveler. From its luxurious black bamboo king-size bed to its blonde bamboo coffee cabinet, every detail of the Dome was handmade by master artisans to give a unique experience of the rainforest. At night, the lights from the Dome radiate through little glass cutaways in the walls, adding yet more magic to the rainforest.
The retreat of a lifetime starts with YOU
Traveler Expectations
21 years old minimum, although we're expecting a diverse range from 21-70+.
To ensure a good learning environment and space for personal growth, we request all participants to be aware of and follow the retreat etiquette and expectations:
1)Respect for Self, Space, and Community:Show respect and consideration for fellow participants, instructors, staff members, and the retreat space. Be mindful of noise levels, personal space, and cultural differences.
2)Engagement:Active engagement ensures a productive and positive retreat experience and all participants are encouraged to engage in discussions, workshops, and practices.
3)Care: Create a supportive and inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels valued and accepted.
A note from your friends at Carpe Diem
This program was made for YOU
At Carpe Diem Education, we have been deeply moved by the profound stories of impact that our alumni and their families share about their experiences. The sense of clarity and reward we hear is heartening: students returning from their education abroad programs with a newfound sense of self, clarity of purpose, and a toolkit of skills to navigate their journey ahead.
Over the years we’ve also heard an increasing call for similar experiences for adults and alumni who desire to go inward, travel purposefully, and find their hidden potential.
To answer that call, we are thrilled to announce our inaugural program designed specifically for adults - "Pivoting with Purpose."
“Grounding, meditative, exploratory, and world-opening is how I’d describe my experience. Their approach to fostering engagement creates a beautiful nexus of how you can learn more intentionally, how to better live, and ultimately, how to love to live.” - Noah Jaffe
Take the first step: Learn more about Pivoting with Purpose
Rooms starting at:
$3,900* Deposit: $800
Join changemakers from around the globe for this transformative 21+ program in Costa Rica. At the end of your time, you'll emerged recharged, refreshed, and refocused on your key purpose in life.
