Event Type : Women´s Retreat

A Women’s Wellness Retreat in Costa Rica

with Annette Franks and Kathleen Stone

December 5-12, 2026

At Pura Vida Retreat & Spa in Costa Rica
Pura Vida Retreat & Spa is considered “Heaven at the Top of the World”
Tropical Splendor * Delicious Healthy Cuisine * Astonishing Nature
It’s located on a Private Estate atop a Mountain in Costa Rica’s Alajuela Province just 25” Minutes from the San Jose Airport (SJO).

This Vacation Retreat is designed for Proactive Participation in Our Own Health and Wellness, Integrating Principles of Mind-Body-Health with Success.

Surrounded by a natural paradise setting we relax and unplug from our normal busy lives and technology and engage in Meditation, Vitality Enhancement Practices, Qigong Practices, Integrative Mindful Functional Movement and Dance and Art. We explore and embody Healthy Lifestyle Principles and Practices of Functional Medicine.

No Prior experience is necessary for any of the classes.

Join us alone or with someone.

Rates include Room, Three Meals per Day and Retreat Classes.

• $2500 per Person A-Frame, Vista and Kiva Lower Room Double Occupancy
• $3000 per Person A-Frame, Vista and Kiva Lower Room Single Occupancy
• $2700 per Person Kiva Upper and Tri-Level Room Double Occupancy
• $3200 per Person Kiva Upper and Tri-Level Room Single Occupancy

To View Rooms, click Here.

Pura Vida Retreat & Spa also has several Excursions available for an additional cost for Zip Lining, Waterfall Gardens and Wildlife, Hot Springs, The Ark Botanical Gardens, Coffee Plantation Tour and exploring San Jose.

Amazing Holistic Health Body Work Sessions, Yoga Classes and A Heated Saltwater Pool are also available at Pura Vida Retreat & Spa.

To Register Call Annette Franks at 614-785-1066 or Email Annette at AnnetteFranks@live.com

$1500 Minimum Deposit Required to Reserve Your Room.

Payable by Credit Card, Check or Zelle.

$500 of Initial Deposit is Non-Refundable. Retreat Balance Due 11-1-26.

Rooms are Limited.

Itinerary

Check the Master Schedule Posted Onsite for Class Locations and Updates

Saturday December 5, 2026

Arrival & Check – In during Afternoon Relax into Pura Vida Spa

Meet and Greet at 5:30 pm on the Dining Room Balcony

Opening Dinner Together at Pura Vida 6:30 pm – 8 pm

Sunday December 6, 2026

9 am Pura Vida Spa Orientation

10:00 am – 11:30 am Integrative Mind-Body-Health Practices – Qigong and Vitality Enhancement Practices

Afternoon Free Time

Bodywork and Spa Treatments and the Amazing Heated Salt Water Pool are available every afternoon.

5:15 – 6:15 pm Integrative Movement and Dance

Monday December 7, 2026

Join Us from 8:45 am – 2:00 pm for the Excursion* to the Waterfall Gardens or Doka Coffee Plantation Tour* or Morning Free Time at the Spa for Leisure Time at the Pool or for Spa Treatments* (Spa Treatments & All Excursions* are Optional and Cost Extra)

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Integrative Mind-Body-Health Practices – Qigong and Vitality Enhancement Practices

5:15 – 6:15 pm Creative Art Activities

7:30 pm Evening Fire Circle Gathering

Tuesday December 8, 2026

Join Us from 8:45 am – 2:00 pm for the Excursion to the Canopy Tour Zip Lining* or the Green Ark Botanical Gardens* or Morning Free Time at the Spa

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Integrative Mind-Body Health Practices – Qigong and Vitality Enhancement Practices

5:15 – 6:15 pm Integrative Movement and Dance

7:30 pm 12 Step Meeting – Open Discussion (optional)

Wednesday December 9, 2026

Free Time all Day for Full or Half Day Excursions or Spa Treatments or Leisure Time at the Spa.

Thursday December 10, 2026

9:00 am – 10:30 am Integrative Mind-Body- Health Practices – Qigong and Vitality Enhancement Practices

Afternoon Free-Time

5:15 – 6:15 pm Creative Art Activities

8:00 pm Salsa Dancing and Salsa Lessons with Pura Vida Retreat and Spa

Friday December 11, 2026

9:00 am – 10:30 am Integrative Mind-Body-Health Practices – Qigong and Vitality Enhancement Practices

Afternoon Free-Time

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Closing Ceremony Together and Group Pictures

6:30 pm Closing Dinner Together

7:30 pm Evening Closing Fire Circle Gathering

Saturday December 12, 2026

Check Out by 10:00 am

Breakfast 7:30 am – 9:00 am Lunch 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm Dinner 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

COSTA RICA RETREAT TRAVEL DETAILS

“Women’s Health and Wellness Retreat”

December 5-12, 2026

Pura Vida Retreat & Spa

You will need a Current Passport to travel to Costa Rica.

NOTE: Your Passport MUST BE VALID through at least SIX months after your dates of travel.

It is an easy trip …. Just book your flight into San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO Airport Code). You also need to fill out the Pura Vida Shuttle Form. Please put Annette Franks as the group leader.

A Pura Vida Retreat & Spa driver will be waiting for you outside. Claim your bag(s), proceed through customs, and exit the airport terminal to the outside International Arrivals corridor. The shuttle driver will be waiting for you in the roped off line on the left, in front of the Malinche Restaurant (located on the right) holding a sign reading “Pura Vida Retreat & Spa”. Your name or Annette Franks Group will be displayed. Please do not accept help from anyone who is not properly identified as Pura Vida Staff or holding a sign with your name/group’s name on it.

Your Pura Vida SHUTTLE rides have been PREPAID as part of your retreat package and so all you need to do is tip the driver (if you choose) and make sure we have your Arrival Airline, Flight #, Date and Arrival Time at least three weeks ahead by filling out the Pura Vida SHUTTLE FORM.

The Pura Vida drivers track your flight. However, if your airline or flight # changes please contact the Retreat Center directly as soon as possible.

• WhatsApp Pura Vida Front Desk: +506 8701 4031
• Dialing the Retreat Center from Costa Rica: 2-483-0033
• Dialing the Retreat Center from the US or Canada (678) 661-2140
• Email: frontdesk@puravidaspacr.com (Note the “cr” at the end of spa)
• Pura Vida Retreat & Spa Physical Address:
  Calle Puente Negro
  800 Mts SW of CENCINAI
  Pavas, Carrizal, Alajuela, Alajuela, 20103

They make our transportation easy for us if you fill out the Pura Vida SHUTTLE FORM The Pura Vida shuttle will only pick-up at SJO Airport and only at the pre-arranged times. The Driver takes you directly to Pura Vida Retreat & Spa…a 20-25 Minute trip from the airport.

The Driver will take you and your bags directly to the Pura Vida & Retreat & Spa Check In Center at the Front Desk for your check-in. The Front Desk will ask you for your passport number and credit card information. Your ‘Women’s Health’ Retreat has been pre-paid in full prior to your arrival, however, all your “extras” during your stay will be billed to your room under your individual name.

Almost everything “extra” you choose to do at the Spa (like spa treatments, excursions and drinks at the raw juice and smoothie bar etc) will be added to your room bill and you will settle up at the end of your stay. You rarely need to carry any money around with you at the spa. American Money is accepted almost everywhere in Costa Rica. We recommend bringing extra $5 and $10 and $20 U.S. bills for tipping and for outside purchases. Small bills are easier for merchants.

All the rooms have Safes in them for you to keep your passports and money if you choose.

You don’t need a car…the spa has great excursions you can sign up for and do with Tour Guides directly from the retreat center.

You sign up for the Excursions and Spa Treatments AFTER you arrive at Pura Vida.

The Excursions are fun, easy ways to experience pieces of Costa Rica…. Pura VidaCli does the work and planning…….we enjoy the experiences. All Excursions and Spa Treatments will be billed to your room number, under your individual name.

The front desk at Pura Vida onsite will also help you reserve a car and driver if you want to go touring on your own during your afternoon free times.

Click here for Pura Vida’s FAQ’s.

Unless you’re choosing to stay longer or come in a day early, Plan to Fly into San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) Airport on Saturday December 5, 2026, by lunch or early afternoon if possible and then Fly out of San Jose on Saturday December 12, 2026. The “Women’s Health and Wellness Retreat” starts with a gathering BEFORE Dinner on Saturday Evening at 5:30 pm on the DINING ROOM BALCONY. The Retreat ends on Friday Evening after Dinner.

Most Participants fly into San Jose in time for lunch or early afternoon on Saturday and fly out of San Jose on Saturday Afternoon on the Departure Day. Many people find it more relaxing to get to Pura Vida Retreat & Spa in the early afternoon to relax and then stay for breakfast together without rushing in the morning to get an early flight out of San Jose. Pura Vida Spa Staff are wonderful about picking us up on time and getting us to the airport at least 2 ½ hours before our scheduled flight out. Remember your shuttle transportation both to and from the SJO Airport have been pre-paid and are part of your Retreat Package. No refunds are given if you choose to use another form of transportation to and from the airport.

If you wish to come in a day or two early or stay a day or two later and stay at Pura Vida & Retreat Spa, they will give you a 10% DISCOUNT OFF THEIR REGULAR NIGHTLY ROOM RATES if you tell them you are with our ‘Women’s Health’ Retreat. You make ALL ADDITIONAL NIGHTLY STAYS directly through Pura Vida Retreat & Spa’s Reservation office in the US. Call R & R Resorts at 888-767-7375 or 678-248-6412.

You need to book and pay for the Women’s Health and Wellness Retreat directly through Annette.

You can call Annette Franks directly at 614-785-1066 to Reserve and Book the December 5-12, 2026 Retreat Week and Pay by Check or Zelle or Credit Card. Extra days before or after the Retreat Week are always booked by you directly with Pura Vida’s Reservation office in the US (R & R Resorts) at 888-767-7375 or 678-248-6412

Please remember you need a Passport to fly in and out of San Jose, Costa Rica and your passport must be valid at least six months after your dates of travel.

Please do make your Airport Shuttle arrangements at least three weeks ahead of time and we will have Pura Vida Driver pick you up from the Airport in San Jose. Here is the form again for our convenience. Your Shuttle through Pura Vida Retreat & Spa has been pre-paid as part of your overall Retreat Reservation. Again, no refunds are given if you choose to use another form of transportation to and from the SJO airport.

To Register Call Annette Franks at 614-785-1066

• $1500 Minimum Deposit Required to Reserve Your Room. Rooms are Limited.
  $500 of Initial Deposit is Non-Refundable. Retreat Balance Due 11-1-26.

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PERSONAL TRAVEL NEEDS

In December, the temperature in Costa Rica is usually sunny and in the 80’s during the day and in the 60’s at night. It’s sunny, warm weather ideal for outdoor activities and wildlife viewing. We’re atop a mountain so bugs are usually fewer, and humidity is lower.

Here’s a Suggested list of Personal Needs for Costa Rica Retreat Week:

Dress comfortably and casually all week. No special clothes are needed for the Qigong and movement practices with the exception your clothes need to provide you with ease of motion for the movements. You can wear regular casual clothes all week if you choose.

Pura Vida Retreat & Spa has a very affordable laundry service we can use. Just drop your bag of laundry off any morning on your way to breakfast to the front desk and they will deliver it to your room in the afternoon (usually for less than $8 for a bag of clothes). You can pack light if you want.

• We highly recommend comfortable walking/hiking shoes and comfortable walking/hiking sandals for the entire week.
• Sunglasses ~ Suntan Lotion ~ Sun Block ~ Bug Spray ~ Flashlight
• Bring Bathing Attire to Savor the Heated Saltwater Pool and the Outdoor Hot Tub.
• Short Sleeve Shirts for the Day…Tees and Tank Tops
• Shorts and Capri Pants for the Daytime
• Shorts or Jeans or Long Pants for the Nights
• A Sweatshirt or Fleece or Light Jacket for the Nights
• Warm Pajamas for the Nights atop a Mountain
• Yoga/Workout Clothes or just Comfortable Casual Clothes for the Daily Movement Exercises.
• Your Special Shampoo and Toiletries if you prefer your own brand.
• Pura Vida Retreat & Spa does provide a blower dryer if you ask.
• Pura Vida Retreat & Spa does provide Shampoo, Crème Rinse and Soap.
• Visit the Accomodations Page to view the Rooms, the Spa Offerings and Excursions.

RETREAT CANCELLATION POLICY

If for any reason you need to cancel before the Final Balance Due date of November 1, 2026, you may transfer your Initial Deposit paid (minus the $500 Non-Refundable Fee) to Annette Franks’ next scheduled Women’s Health Retreat at Pura Vida Retreat & Spa which usually runs the same time the following year, OR you may also request a refund for your Initial Deposit paid minus the $500 Non-Refundable Fee.

If you cancel any time ON or AFTER November 1, 2026, you can transfer your Money Paid minus the $500 Non-Refundable Fee to our next scheduled Women’s Health Retreat at Pura Vida Retreat & Spa. There are no refunds after November 1, 2026, only deposit transfers to our 2027 retreat if arranged before 12 PM on December 1, 2026. There are no refunds or money transfers after 12 PM on December 1, 2026. In the event of an unforeseen state of emergency and Pura Vida Retreat & Spa cannot operate and/or our retreat is cancelled for some unforeseen reason, 100% of our deposits will transfer to our next scheduled Women’s Health Retreat at Pura Vida Retreat & Spa which is usually close to the same time the following year.

JOIN US IN 2026!

To Register Call Annette Franks at 614-785-1066

$1500 Minimum Deposit Required to Reserve Your Room. Rooms are Limited.
$500 of Initial Deposit is Non-Refundable. Retreat Balance Due 11-1-26.

This is our cherished and beloved alumni week —a gathering of women who’ve walked this path with me for years. This is a heart-led week filled with long-time alumni, familiar faces, and the deeply rooted community many of you already know and love. This week is designated for returning guests, friends of alumni, and those who feel most at home in our established sisterhood. 🌸

The benefits that you’ll receive throughout our week together include:

• Practicing accessible and enlivening morning yoga classes so that you can intentionally re-connect with your breath and and your body every day
• Enjoying deeply restful and nourishing restorative movement sessions in the evening so that you can indulge your nervous system in deep rest
• Experience community and connection from an open and intimate community of women
• Engage with adventure on optional eco-adventure tours so that you can revive your spirit and empower your soul
• Indulge yourself in downtime by lounging at the pool, receiving bodywork, or taking time to simply rest
• Feeling emotionally refreshed and physically rejuvenated so that you can re-prioritize yourself and reclaim your health
• Experiencing deep and profound nourishment so that you can be ready in your life to gracefully navigate any challenges in life that come your way

A glance at our schedule for the weekend. . .

Daily Schedule (Sample Only)

• 6:30-8:00 am – Awakening Hatha Yoga
• 8:00-9:30 am – Nourishing Breakfast
• 10:00 am-noon – Transformative Program Workshop or Eco-Adventure
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm – Lunch & Reflect
• 1:30-4:30 pm – Personal Time: Dive into the pool, siesta, explore, or opt for a healing massage
• 4:30-6:00 pm – Evening Restorative Practice /Workshop
• 6:30-7:30 pm – Heartwarming Dinner
• 7:30- 9:00 and onwards – Hot tub, journaling, reflection, or a glass of wine.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Your Holistic Wellness Journey Includes:

• Roundtrip Transportation from SJO (San Jose International Airport).
• 8 Blissful Days & 7 Tranquil Nights at the award-winning Pura Vida Retreat & Spa
• Soulful Opening and Closing women’s circle and ceremony
• 3 Delicious Daily Farm-to-Table Meals (vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options crafted)
• Daily Energizing Morning Hatha Yoga Sessions
• Daily Seep, Reflective Evening, Yoga And Movement Workshops focusing on the subtle body
• Rejuvenating Dips in the Salt Water Pool and Hot Tub
• Precious Moments to nourish, heal, and rest

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

• Airfare
• Travel insurance
• Massages & Bodywork
• Eco-Adventure Tours

ACCOMMODATIONS

Pura Vida Retreat and Spa is located in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. 🇨🇷

This retreat has a variety of rooms to choose from depending on your budget. With budget-friendly ‘glamping’ tentalows to Luxury eco-suites, this wellness retreat can truly suit any budget. You can create a curated experience by choosing the accommodation style that will truly fill your cup. Accommodation requests are filled on a first-come first served basis. Due to the limited number of rooms, early registration is strongly recommended to ensure your rooming selection.

Rates start at $2721 US per person in a shared Tentatlow. In an effort to create a more inclusive and diverse community, a limited number of Scholarship, Work-Trade, Apprenticeship, and Alumni Discounts are available for each retreat week.

Please email us directly at info@wanderlustwomen.org for more details.

 

SAVE MY SPOT →

Join us for a wildly nourishing women’s gathering in the lush heart of Costa Rica, where we honor the sacred feminine through vibrant meals, gentle embodiment practices, truth-telling, ritual, deep rest, and joyful rejuvenation.
Each day offers a spacious, grounded container for reconnection—through meditation, yoga nidra, breathwork, free-form dance, reflective journaling, sharing circles and eco-adventures in nature’s embrace.

We weave together silence and laughter, depth and play with the living intelligence that flows within and around us. Together, we explore the sacred feminine: her light and shadow, sensuality and stillness, vulnerability and strength—all held in a supportive circle of community, beauty, and authentic presence.

No prior experience is required. Come exactly as you are.

Note on Dance: Movement here is offered as intuitive, free-form expression guided by music, gentle prompts, and inner listening rather than structured technique or instruction. You are invited to move as your body calls, rest when needed, or simply witness and receive.

What do we mean by the Sacred Feminine?

The Sacred Feminine is not an idea or an archetype, but a living intelligence—one that speaks through the body, breath, sensation, and relationship. It is a way of knowing that arises when we slow down, listen deeply, and trust what is already present rather than striving to improve or perform.

This wisdom is inherently relational. It reveals itself in honest presence with ourselves, in attentive listening with others, and in the courage to speak from lived truth. In circle, in dyads, and in shared silence, we practice meeting one another without fixing or hierarchy, allowing authenticity and trust to unfold naturally.

The Sacred Feminine also holds both light and shadow. It is not limited to gentleness or nurture alone, but includes fierceness, discernment, grief, desire, anger, tenderness, and joy. Nothing is excluded or rushed toward resolution. Within a grounded and supportive container, these expressions are welcomed as movements of wholeness rather than problems to be solved.

Sample Daily Schedule (subject to change)

• 7:00-8:00 am Breathing, Sitting + Movement
• 8:00-9:30 am Breakfast
• 10:00 am-noon Morning Session
• 12:30-1:30 pm Lunch
• 1:30-4:30 pm Personal Time: saltwater pool, siesta, explore, spa treatments
• 4:30-6:00 pm Afternoon session
• 6:30-7:30 pm Dinner
• 7:30-8:30 Evening session or…
• Wednesday All-day eco-adventure

What’s Included

• Round-trip transportation from SJO (San Jose International Airport)
• 6 Days & 5 nights at the stunning Pura Vida Retreat & Spa
• 14 Delicious, healthy, omnivorous meals (vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options)
• Opening and Closing circle
• 3-4 group sessions per day
• Enjoying the saltwater pool, hot tub, and exquisite setting

What’s not included

• Airfare
• Travel insurance
• Massage and spa treatments
• Full day Eco-Adventure tour

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More info and register →

This is February week is our signature transformational immersion, intentionally created for high-achieving, purpose-driven women who are ready to invest in themselves, reclaim their energy, and step into a more aligned version of their lives. If you’re craving growth, clarity, and a powerful new beginning, this is the week carefully curated with you in mind.🌸

The benefits that you’ll receive throughout our week together include:

• Practicing accessible and enlivening morning yoga classes so that you can intentionally re-connect with your breath and and your body every day
• Enjoying deeply restful and nourishing restorative movement sessions in the evening so that you can indulge your nervous system in deep rest
• Experience community and connection from an open and intimate community of women
• Engage with adventure on optional eco-adventure tours so that you can revive your spirit and empower your soul
• Indulge yourself in downtime by lounging at the pool, receiving bodywork, or taking time to simply rest
• Feeling emotionally refreshed and physically rejuvenated so that you can re-prioritize yourself and reclaim your health
• Experiencing deep and profound nourishment so that you can be ready in your life to gracefully navigate any challenges in life that come your way

A glance at our schedule for the week. . .

Daily Schedule (Sample Only)

• 6:30-8:00 am – Awakening Hatha Yoga
• 8:00-9:30 am – Nourishing Breakfast
• 10:00 am-noon – Transformative Program Workshop or Eco-Adventure
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm – Lunch & Reflect
• 1:30-4:30 pm – Personal Time: Dive into the pool, siesta, explore, or opt for a healing massage
• 4:30-6:00 pm – Evening Restorative Practice /Workshop
• 6:30-7:30 pm – Heartwarming Dinner
• 7:30- 9:00 and onwards – Hot tub, journaling, reflection, or a glass of wine.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Your Holistic Wellness Journey Includes:

• Roundtrip Transportation from SJO (San Jose International Airport).
• 8 Blissful Days & 7 Tranquil Nights at the award-winning Pura Vida Retreat & Spa
• Soulful Opening and Closing women’s circle and ceremony
• 3 Delicious Daily Farm-to-Table Meals (vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options crafted)
• Daily Energizing Morning Hatha Yoga Sessions
• Daily Seep, Reflective Evening, Yoga And Movement Workshops focusing on the subtle body
• Rejuvenating Dips in the Salt Water Pool and Hot Tub
• Precious Moments to nourish, heal, and rest

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

• Airfare
• Travel insurance
• Massages & Bodywork
• Eco-Adventure Tours

ACCOMMODATIONS

Pura Vida Retreat and Spa is located in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. 🇨🇷

This retreat has a variety of rooms to choose from depending on your budget. With budget-friendly ‘glamping’ tentalows to Luxury eco-suites, this wellness retreat can truly suit any budget. You can create a curated experience by choosing the accommodation style that will truly fill your cup. Accommodation requests are filled on a first-come first served basis. Due to the limited number of rooms, early registration is strongly recommended to ensure your rooming selection.

Rates start at $2721 US per person in a shared Tentatlow. In an effort to create a more inclusive and diverse community, a limited number of Scholarship, Work-Trade, Apprenticeship, and Alumni Discounts are available for each retreat week.

Please email us directly at info@wanderlustwomen.org for more details.

 

SAVE MY SPOT →