*Currently, we only have private villas available. If you are looking to book a shared villa with 2 guests, please reach out directly to Sara at [email protected]*
From the moment you arrive in Costa Rica, the pace softens. For those who choose, an optional night at a boutique hotel near San José allows you to land gently, rest, and begin the experience feeling grounded. The journey continues the following morning by private charter flight to Quepos, offering sweeping aerial views of jungle, coastline, and winding rivers before a scenic transfer into the Diamante Valley and the secluded sanctuary of Vajra Jahra.
Once settled into the rhythm of the land, the retreat opens with a welcoming circle led by featured facilitator Gretchen Fox Palmer. Her R³ practice. Recharge, Reset & Refocus, offers a gentle framework for the week ahead, beginning with a thoughtful self-assessment that invites you to reflect on the many dimensions of a well-lived life. From there, the experience unfolds as both an outer journey through Costa Rica’s extraordinary landscape and an inner journey toward clarity, balance, and renewed direction.
The first days are designed to help you arrive fully. Mornings open with mindful movement and quiet moments in nature, followed by rainforest walks and a grounding blue clay ritual connected to the land itself. Alongside these experiences, Gretchen will guide intention-setting practices to help you reconnect with what matters most and bring focus to the direction you want your life to move toward. Spacious afternoons invite deep relaxation, whether that’s swimming beneath jungle skies, resting in a hammock, or enjoying optional spa treatments.
Midweek brings a sense of wonder and exploration. One day is spent on the Pacific during a whale-watching excursion in Uvita, heading into the protected waters of Bahía Ballena to witness the seasonal migration of humpback whales who travel thousands of miles to Costa Rica’s warm seas. Time on the water offers moments to spot dolphins and marine life while taking in the sweeping coastline and the iconic whale tail formation. Another day slows the rhythm again with a late brunch by the pool and a creative vision-boarding session, where the intentions you’ve explored throughout the week begin to take tangible form. The afternoon continues with a hands-on Costa Rican cooking class, transforming fresh local ingredients into a shared culinary experience.
As the retreat unfolds, you’ll visit a regenerative farm and explore the idea of regenerative living—not only in the way we grow food and care for the land, but also in how we sustain our own energy and rhythms. Evenings invite connection and celebration, including a relaxed wine-tasting dinner and long conversations under the stars.
The final full day carries a sense of magic and completion: a journey to a secret waterfall, time to explore a local artisan market, and a sunset gathering on the beach. That evening, the group comes together around a bonfire for a closing ceremony guided by Gretchen—an intimate moment to honor what you are ready to carry forward and release what no longer serves you.
The retreat includes six nights at Vajra Jahra, nourishing meals crafted from locally sourced Costa Rican ingredients, private charter flights and ground transportation, curated excursions, and on-site facilitation throughout. Optional add-ons such as in-room massages, a pre-retreat hotel night, or extended travel planning allow you to tailor the experience to your own rhythm.
Nestled in the heart of Costa Rica’s Diamante Valley, Vajra Jahra Villas & Retreat Center is a sanctuary where nature and luxury intertwine to create a transformative experience. The vision for Vajra Jahra was born from the breathtaking views of the Diamante Waterfall—a powerful symbol of nature’s elegance and strength. Here, the simplicity of life is celebrated as a form of ultimate luxury, offering a retreat into the wild that invites you to rejuvenate your body, withdraw from the noise of the world, and reconnect with your innermost self.
As you step onto the grounds of Vajra Jahra, the first thing that strikes you is the sense of peace that permeates the air. The villas, designed to blend seamlessly into their surroundings, offer a serene escape where every detail has been thoughtfully crafted to enhance your stay. Imagine sitting on your terrace with a cup of freshly brewed Costa Rican coffee, feeling the morning sun’s gentle warmth on your skin, and listening to the symphony of exotic birds and distant waterfalls.
At Vajra Jahra, the experience is more than just a retreat—it’s a journey back to the essentials of life. Days begin with the soft glow of dawn filtering through the rainforest, waking you gently from your slumber. The air is fresh, filled with the earthy scent of the jungle and the promise of adventure. As you move through your day, the distractions of the outside world fade away, replaced by the natural rhythms of the forest and the soothing sounds of nature.
Meals at Vajra Jahra are a celebration of local flavors, prepared with care using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Breakfasts are vibrant and energizing, lunches are light and refreshing, and dinners are hearty and comforting; each dish a reflection of Costa Rica’s rich culinary heritage. Imagine sharing a meal with fellow retreat-goers, enjoying a dish bursting with the flavors of tropical fruits and vegetables, while the sun sets behind the mountains, casting a golden glow over the valley.
Just beyond the tranquil confines of Vajra Jahra lies a world waiting to be explored. The beaches of Dominical and Uvita, only a short drive away, offer pristine sands and azure waters where you can immerse yourself in the vibrant marine life. Further afield, the Manuel Antonio National Park beckons with its dense jungles and iconic wildlife: toucans, monkeys, sloths, and more, all waiting to be discovered in their natural habitat.
But perhaps the true magic of Vajra Jahra is its ability to create a space where time slows down, where each moment is savored, and where the beauty of the world is not just seen, but felt. It’s a place where you can breathe deeply, think clearly, and connect with the earth in a way that’s both grounding and uplifting. Whether you’re hosting a retreat or simply seeking a personal escape, Vajra Jahra invites you to step away from the chaos of everyday life and into a world where nature nurtures, and simplicity is the ultimate luxury.
Arrive to Vajra Jahra and settle into the rhythm of the land.
Arrival at Vajra Jahra via private transportation with welcome drinks and time to unwind
Free time to swim, nap, explore, or simply be
Opening R³ Circle: The 360° Life Assessment
A gentle guided reflection to establish your current baseline across the many areas that shape a fulfilling life.
Welcome dinner featuring farm-fresh Costa Rican cuisine
Latin dancing lesson to open the week with movement, laughter, and connection.
A day focused on embodiment and reconnecting to your natural rhythm.
Morning mindful movement practice
R³ Session: Intention Setting
A reflective practice to clarify the future you want to create and the feeling state you want your life to hold.
Guided hike and blue clay ritual, connecting with the land and each other
Evening at leisure: pool, hammocks, or quiet time together.
A day on the Pacific with the migrating giants of the sea.
Whale watching boat tour in Uvita
Exploring the Whale Tail of Bahía Ballena
Swimming, ocean time, and spaciousness
Moments throughout the day invite reflection on the intentions you’re carrying forward.
Return to Vajra Jahra for a relaxed evening.
A day that invites softness, creativity, and imagination.
Slow morning and brunch by the pool
R³ Vision Board Brunch
A playful creative session where you translate your intentions into visual form—leaving with a physical reminder of the life you’re calling in.
Free afternoon for rest, massages, or nature time
Hands-on cooking class preparing a farm-fresh Costa Rican meal together
Shared dinner featuring what you’ve created.
Connection through land, food, and self-awareness.
R³ Session: Regenerative vs. Depleting Living
An insightful practice that helps you see where your energy is being spent, restored, or drained in daily life.
Visit to a regenerative farm, where the wisdom of the land mirrors this principle of sustainable living.
Afternoon rest and integration
Evening wine tasting dinner designed for lingering, storytelling, and ease.
A full-spectrum Costa Rica day.
Journey to a secret waterfall
Visit to a local artisan market
Beach sunset gathering
R³ Integration Ceremony & Bonfire
A closing ritual to release what no longer serves you and commit to the changes you’re ready to embody.
Morning coffee, breakfast, and unhurried goodbyes.
Departures or onward travel.
Costa Rican Bliss is designed to nourish you on every level.
Adventure. Stillness. Connection. Clarity.
You’ll leave not only refreshed by the beauty of Costa Rica, but also recharged, reset, and refocused on the life you want to live.
Uvita, on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast, is one of the most remarkable places in the world to witness whales in their natural habitat. Just offshore lies the protected waters of Bahía Ballena, part of Marino Ballena National Park, where warm tropical seas create a welcoming refuge for migrating whales. During the season, the ocean comes alive with the presence of magnificent Humpback Whale mothers and calves, offering a rare opportunity to observe these gentle giants up close while surrounded by the lush rainforest coastline of Costa Rica.
What makes Uvita especially unique is that it hosts one of the longest whale-watching seasons in the world. Two different populations of humpback whales migrate here each year; one traveling from the cold feeding waters of the Antarctica, and another from the North Pacific Ocean near Alaska and California. They journey thousands of miles to the warm, calm waters of Costa Rica to mate, give birth, and nurture their young. Witnessing a breach, a tail slap, or the graceful arch of a whale diving beneath the surface can be a deeply moving experience, one that reminds us of the vast rhythms of life unfolding across the planet’s oceans.
Adding to the magic of the experience is the extraordinary natural formation that gives the bay its name. At low tide, a sandbar and reef formation emerges in the unmistakable shape of a giant whale’s tail visible from above and walkable from shore. This iconic “whale tail” stretches out into the ocean, as if nature itself were honoring the creatures that travel so far to gather in these waters. It has become a powerful symbol of the region and a beautiful reminder of the connection between land, sea, and the migrating whales that call Bahía Ballena home during their remarkable journey.
During the retreat, our whale-watching excursion will invite you to slow down and immerse yourself in the rhythms of the ocean. As the boat glides across the turquoise water, you may spot dolphins playing in the waves, sea turtles surfacing for air, and—if we are lucky—the breathtaking moment when a humpback whale rises from the depths. It is an experience of awe, presence, and connection with the natural world that perfectly complements the spirit of renewal and wonder at the heart of our time together in Uvita.
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