Connection While
on Vacation
7-Day Queer & Lesbian Retreat in Costa Rica
November 9 - 15, 2024
Fenix Hotel & Retreat Center in Samara, Costa Rica
EXCLUSIVE INVITATION
7 Days of Oceanfront Relaxation in
Samara,
Costa Rica
$2500 per person
SOLD OUT
November Retreat is SOLD OUT
(SOLD OUT)
CLICK THE AUDIO ICON TO TURN ON SOUND!
What is the Connection
While on Vacation Retreat?
This event is exclusively for lesbian and queer women and non-binary folks. Adriana Smith, powerhouse facilitator and Queer extraordinaire, is your host at this week-long event of relaxation, connection, and fun times with other queer and lesbian women.
Join Adriana for a retreat experience that blends insightful facilitation with playful exploration and leave with a renewed sense of self and connection with other queer folks.
Enjoy optional events scheduled each day, from yoga to bonfires to kayaking. The event fee covers included daily activities and entertainment, in a boutique beachfront hotel room (each unit is 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom with full kitchen). Solo travelers and couples are welcome.
About our Event Host: Adriana Smith
Adriana loves a good dance party and has the same enthusiasm for a logic puzzle in a hammock. A firm believer in the transformative power of creativity and embodiment, Adriana crafts experiences that encourage both self and group development in a way that is both engaging and deeply meaningful.
Adriana is passionate about self-exploration and connection through the power of creativity. As an International Development Consultant that lives & travels throughout Latin America and the U.S., Adriana brings a multicultural perspective to her work sharing her zest for life with diverse communities.
Ocean Front Experience
Ocean Front
Fenix Hotel
Our guests at the Fenix Hotel enjoy stepping out of their rooms onto the white sand beach.
The property includes a small pool, hammocks and beach beds for everyone, and a quiet unpopulated beach front.
It is a WOW.
We are a 15-minute ocean stroll to the city center with 20+ restaurants. Close enough but far enough to get away from it all.
Your Room
Whether you are coming with a partner or solo, our guests enjoy an apartment-style hotel room with a main living area and full kitchen. The regular event fee includes a shared room with two XL twins.
You may also upgrade to a private room with a King bed for $500.
All bedrooms have A/C.
A Sampling of our Events & Activities
Margarita Party
Enjoy live music and pineapple margaritas as you watch the sunset with new friends. This is a magical night you won't want to miss. INCLUDED.
Yoga on the Beach
Enjoy yoga overlooking the beach, led by our amazing staff of yoga teachers. INCLUDED.
Massage on Site
Our massage therapist can give you a private massage in your room or on the beach while you listen to the waves. OPTIONAL.
~ $70/person
Sunset Cruise
Enjoy unlimited drinks as we chase the sunset on this magical excursion. You might see whales! OPTIONAL.
~ $55/person.
Kayak to an Island
Free activity with event purchase! Enjoy a kayak rental and tour exclusive to our group to an uninhabited island. Soak in the natural habitat, then head back for the sunset.
INCLUDED.
Your Daily Retreat Itinerary
Saturday
Arrive in Liberia Airport. You can rent a car at the airport (everyone speaks English) or you can coordinate a shuttle through us.
If you come in a shuttle, our favorite driver Alex will give you a mini tour of Costa Rica sights. You might see monkeys, stop at a local fruit stand, and can stop to get lunch. The drive is about an hour and 45 minutes through well-paved green mountain roads.
You will probably arrive in the late afternoon/early evening, just in time to join us on the beach for a fish fry. Change into your beach attire, take off your shoes, and join us in the yoga shala for a fish fry and meet and greet.
Go to sleep with the sounds of the waves in your apartment on the beach.
Sunday
Wake up to fresh coffee overlooking the beach. Maybe take a walk down the beach and start exploring Samara Bay.
Your first circle group starts around 9-10am lead by the amazing Adriana. You will learn authentic relating activities, getting to know each other and yourself in a deep and fun way. There will be laughter and maybe tears.
Lunchtime: we will take everyone into town (or you can walk 15 minutes) and go grocery shopping for the week. Select from fresh fruits, veggies you have never seen before, and the local beer Imperial.
Evening: Join us for a huge bonfire activity on the beach, where we will lead you through an exercise in letting go and embracing a new start. Optional: or just have some beers and dance around the fire. :)
Monday
Our very gentle and kind yoga instructor Ashley will lead you through a meditation, followed by a gentle morning yoga routine overlooking the ocean waves.
After morning circle, join us in kayaking to an uninhabited island. This is a relaxing, unstrenous paddle with a partner to a close by island. You might see turtles, pelicans, sting rays and definitely crabs.
For dinner, we will walk to one of the cutest ocean front restaurants you have ever seen to enjoy dinner and drinks while we watch the sun go down.
Tuesday
Wake up this morning to partner yoga--a very connecting and sometimes hilarious feat as we use each other for balance. People who have never done yoga before often LOVE partner yoga!
After morning circle, get a boogie board lesson and grab a board to play in the waves. We are in a bay, so the waves are gentle and good for beginners.
In the evening, we have an optional Dolphin and Whale watching tour scheduled. Chase the whales and the sunset in this boat tour with drinks included.
Wednesday
This morning's activity is all about taking care of our natural resources, when we walk the beach and do a beach trash pickup, followed by a communal breakfast in the Casa.
You can book an optional massage on the beach today, and listen to the waves and feel the ocean breeze while you get a massage.
It's BBQ night with the whole group tonight as we all make and bring a dish to our communal dinner in the yoga shala.
Thursday
You will learn how to build and decorate a giant sand castle on the beach, and enjoy the entire community joining in to add shells and decorations as they walk by.
After dinner we will celebrate our entire week together with a private Margarita party and live music provided by the lovely Zoe. Adriana likes to take over the DJ role as we move the party to the pool. Depending on the crowd, we listen to Tracy Chapman or Def Punk. Wildness may or may not ensue.
Friday
The event officially ends Friday morning as you head back to the airport. However, many of our guests elect to stay longer, and tour Costa Rica together, or just stay a few more days relaxing in the hammocks. You can expect that you will make travel friends for life.
Travel FAQ's
Q: Do I need to bring adapters? Hair dryer?
Nope, regular plugs work fine. You won't need a hairdryer--your hair will dry in minutes with ocean breeze.
Q: What airport do I fly into? Do I need a passport?
Liberia, Costa Rica. Yes, you will need a passport.
Q: Is the area safe? For LGBTQI+ travelers?
Costa Rica is known for being very safe for all travelers. As an experienced Latin American traveler, I have never felt more safe in a country down here than in Costa Rica! Tourism is an incredibly important part of the life here, and tourists are treated well. Yes, you can walk the beach at night with a buddy, and you can walk to the town and to the beach during the day solo and feel safe.
Q: Will there be people who aren't part of our group there?
Nope. All lesbian and queer women and non-binary folks.
Q: How much is airfare to Liberia Airport from the US?
$700- $1000 is normal, and we recommend checking the discount airlines directly. Southwest and Alaska have round trip flights regularly for $500.
Q: What is the age group? Are kids allowed?
All adults 30+ are welcome. No kids or babies will be at the event.
Q: How far are we from town?
About a 15-minute beach walk from Samara city center.
Q: Can I get a private room?
Yep, private rooms are available until they sell out. Just select the $500 upgrade when you check out.
Q: How do you define "queer & lesbian women"?
Queer: An identity label that is non-specific towards a person’s sexual orientation; this could be lesbian, bisexual, asexual, sapiosexual, polysexual, and so on.
Women: Cis and trans women.
Non-binary people: An umbrella term for a person who identifies with or expresses a gender identity that is neither entirely male nor female: this includes androgynous, gender non-conforming, gender fluid, agender and genderqueer.
Q: How big is Samara?
Samara is a quaint, travel-friendly beachfront town with 20+ restaurants and shops, banks, etc. It is not a party town.
Q: Can I do additional tours / excursions?
If you have dream to helicopter, zipline, or surf, we have tours for that and more. We'll have a list to choose from when you get here.
Q: Can I come early / stay after?
As long as the hotel has availability for those dates, absolutely. Contact us to book the hotel as a regular hotel guest outside of the event week. (This site is the only place to book a spot for this event.)
Q: What is the cancellation policy?
Payment in full is due to book your spot. All payments are 70% refundable up to 90 days before the event. Payments are not refundable 90 days before the event.
Q: Should I rent a car?
You can rent a car at Liberia Airport. We can also coordinate a private or shared airport shuttle for you (about $150).
Q: Can I come for just a few days of the event?
The rate is for the entire Lesbian & Queer Week. You will pay the same whether you stay for all or a portion of the event.
Q: Will there be mostly singles or couples there?
We usually have about half singles and half couples. The group dynamic tends to be cohesive, so even if you are coming solo, you will be part of the cohesive group.
Q: Do I need to upgrade to a private room if I am coming with a partner or friend?
There is no need to upgrade to a private room if you are coming with a partner. Just let us know if you would like two twins or a king bed in your shared room. Both partners will pay regular attendance price.
Copyright 2024 - Retreat Works