Step into the wild embrace of Costa Rica at Imiloa, a jungle sanctuary devoted to regeneration, presence, and deep reconnection. Nestled within lush rainforest and flowing rivers, Imiloa is more than a retreat center—it is a living ecosystem designed to support personal transformation, ecological harmony, and embodied wisdom.
Hosted by Kiki Keating and Leigh Ann Root, this immersive week invites you into a rhythm of restoration and exploration. Each morning begins with grounding yoga, followed by a rich menu of experiences you can intuitively choose from: rainforest hikes to sound healing journeys, guided meditation, breathwork, and mountain walks that awaken the senses. Evenings gather us around the fire for reflection, warmth, and connection beneath the stars.
Throughout the week, you’ll also explore ancestral and earth-based practices, including a blue clay experience, a heart-opening cacao ceremony, breathwork and moments of calm. Every element of the retreat is designed to harmonize body, mind, and spirit while honoring the land that holds us. Including our joyous beach party and lunch along with a day spent at the beach soaking up the sun and digging our feet in the sand.
Our intention is simple yet profound: to help you bring home the person you are when you feel most alive. More present. More open. More you. Imiloa offers not just rest, but remembrance—a return to your natural state of balance, joy, and belonging.
VIEW FULL TRIP ITINERARY HERE
Kiki Keating
Kiki Keating treats travel as an art form. Each journey is composed with precision, intuition, and a taste for the unexpected. She has a passion for taking small groups on life-changing adventures and works tirelessly to ensure that every detail of each trip is meticulously planned and executed.
Kiki curates intimate, life-shifting journeys with a sharp eye for detail and a refusal to follow the expected. Each itinerary is a collaboration with world-class guides and insiders, blending culture, music, art, and exceptional food with access that feels both rare and effortless.
Her journey as a travel leader began in 2000 while she was leading international trips for the dean in her role as Communications Director at the business school at Dartmouth. Over the last decade, KikiNetwork Travel has been dedicated to transformative travel. While her trips touch iconic landmarks, the real focus lies deeper: meaningful encounters, cultural fluency, and connections that linger long after the journey ends.
Leigh Ann Root
Leigh Ann Root, the founder of Sunapee Yoga Company, has been teaching yoga since 2009, having received her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training through Marianne Wells' Yoga Alliance School in Costa Rica. Leigh Ann has been instructing group fitness classes since 1998 (owning her own health club for over 17 years). She brings this experience and appreciation of the human body to each class, sharing her passion for yoga with a practical and fun approach. Leigh Ann earned a Bachelor's degree in Communications in 1990. She is currently enrolled in a holistic nutrition program and will soon add Lifestyle Coaching to her offerings. Leigh Ann loves traveling and is excited to offer retreats that incorporate yoga, mindfulness, and a love of life.
The visionary behind wanderlust and global connections is my guest on Speaking of Travel!
Watch Kiki’s presentation with The Covey Club: How to Travel Alone as a Woman Today: Tips to Keep You Safe & Happy
I’ve seen (and been to) a LOT of retreat centers over the years – and I can see why this one’s been called the “Five Star Barefoot Experience” for transformation!
Nestled within the majestic rainforests of Costa Rica, atop the magical Savegre Mountains with views overlooking the Pacific, the Imiloa Institute isn’t just a stunning beautiful location – it’s a venue that specifically caters to transformational retreat leaders.
Yep, this is a full service location that truly understands your needs as a retreat leader – and gets that the energy and atmosphere are the backdrop to hearts opening, lives changing, and deep spiritual connections.
They consider having amazing nourishing food, beautiful rooms, stunning views, and excellent service the minimum starting point for a perfect venue.
Luxury airport pickups, meals on time, workshop space ready? No sweat.
They want you as the facilitator to leave your retreat just as relaxed as your clients – ahhhh! Can you imagine? And they actually promise their leaders “peace of mind.”
That’s why they dedicate a planning professional to your retreat months before you arrive and they continue to support you through your entire retreat. That’s way beyond your typical “front desk staff” kind of service!
In case you can’t tell, YES, I’m seriously considering leading a retreat here next year. (Wanna come?)
And after talking with Jake Sasseville, who is the Co-Founder and President, I was even MORE impressed with the concept behind the place. You can catch my interview with him here.
So let me paint a picture for you before I go into all the extra little details that go into creating the perfect “WOW” retreat experience for your participants. After all, it’s all about making your peeps feel like they’re in “heaven on earth.”
Imagine a verdant 20-acre campus of impeccable buildings, each with their own unique flair that you have all to yourself.
All to yourself because when you book Imiloa (which means “exploration driven by a sense of wonder and imagination” in the Hawaiian language), you get the entire place for you and your guests only.
Now, you will encounter a few challenging problems…
First, your participants will have to decide which accommodations they’d like to stay in.
Hmmm…
Maybe the 200-year old imported Balinese homes hand-carved from Indonesian craftsmen?
Perhaps the riverside bungalows nestled in the jungle?
These babies are Balinese-inspired and let me tell you, the bathtubs make me drool. Oh – and did I mention they are on the way to their private waterfall?!?
Or perhaps your guests would prefer the adventure of a luxury geodesic dome with sweeping 180-degree views?
These are inspired by the famous architect and designer Buckminster Fuller, are solar-powered and will make you believe that you’ve been dropped onto the set of Jurassic Park (minus the scary dinosaurs).
Tough call, I know.
So here’s the deal – they have the ability to accommodate up to 39 total attendees double occupancy. There is a Staff and Master’s Executive Suite so you have privacy if you choose.
Have a group larger than 39? No problem, they can add a few extra beds if needed.
Their group meeting buildings are also a dream.
There’s the House of Masters, located in the center of the property and also Balinese inspired, which sits 100’ up in the jungle. It’s like your own private (huge) tree house! You can use the space for any type of gathering, workshop, yoga studio or trance dance party.
Then there’s the Heart of Imiloa, which is their sprawling social, dining and chill space and features a hip open-air lounge, and tons of comfy couches to crash on, have an intimate chat at or simply gaze at the moon from.
Now I can just imagine having a spectacular water ceremony at that private waterfall I mentioned – or a long luxurious dip while you bask in the beauty of the enchanted forest, listening to the native birds singing while getting your nature glow on.
If that utterly bores you – you can always book a whale watching boat tour, check out a ziplining adventure, hike a volcano or a cave, scuba dive, go snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, visit some hot springs, and so much more.
Worse case is that you simply relax and eat the three organic, plant-based meals per day. Oh, by the way, their Costa Rican chef Pablo Pabhu, healed himself from brain cancer using a plant-based diet and Ayurvedic medicine – so he is VERY passionate about what he cooks and how he cooks it. Seriously folks.
So smoothies, elixirs, other beverages and snacks will be available throughout the day for you and your guests.
Oh, and did I mention the saltwater pools and spas that give you the perfect view of the stunning sunsets?
Costa Rica has been on my travel wish list for years. In fact it was so high on the list that we’d considered moving to the country even though we’d never visited. What’s so special about Costa Rica? Read about this beautiful country and our reasons to visit Costa Rica and you’ll understand…
Costa Rica has almost 6% of the world’s biodiversity despite only occupying .03% of Earth’s landmass. In this country, roughly the size of Denmark (or West Virginia in the U.S.), there are 12 very different microclimates. And if this wasn’t enough to draw a nature lover like myself, Costa Rica is also known for its gorgeous beaches, outdoor activities, and very friendly people. But if you’re not yet convinced you should plan a holiday in Costa Rica, read on.
If you ask someone, “what is Costa Rica known for?” they will most likely answer its natural beauty and abundant wildlife. The country’s wildlife refuges support jaguars, tapirs, sloths, green and leatherback sea turtles, and four varieties of monkey. There are bats, insects, and lots of amphibian species. And almost 10% of the world’s bird species can be found in Costa Rica. But before we get into the amazing wildlife found on an ecotourism trip, let’s take a look at the other reasons to visit Costa Rica.
Costa Rica has long been recognized as a leader in sustainability. It has made energy independence, quality of life, and the environment its priorities. The success of their work has made Costa Rica one of the top ecotourism destinations in the Americas. To ensure that increased tourism didn’t negatively affect the work done, the Costa Rica tourism board put together a sustainability certification program in 1997. This is a plus for both the country and the traveler to Costa Rica.
The Certification of Sustainable Tourism (CST) program encourages any businesses involved in tourism to plan best practices for the local communities, and the environment. Businesses – lodging and tour operators – are ranked with how well they meet the needs of sustainability. They receive rankings from 1 to 5 ‘leaves’ This is currently an optional program, so if you find a lodging that doesn’t display a badge, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a sustainable lodging or company.
When we organized our trip, we asked our Costa Rica tour coordinator (Absolute Experts Costa Rica) to choose sustainable lodging whenever possible. She booked us in the Hotel Belmar for our time in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. It was a fabulous experience made better by knowing that it had won 5 leaves from the tourism board.
Another community-based program that encourages sustainability is the Blue Flag Ecological Award. A Blue Flag award is given to beach areas, and communities that have taken steps to improve, or maintain, their environment. Look for a Blue Flag when booking your Costa Rica destination.
In 2021 the very first Earthshot Prize was awarded to Costa Rica in recognition to the remarkable work the country has done to recover from deforestation. . In 1996 it became illegal to cut forest without approval and in 1997 they established the Payments for Environmental Services program which rewarded farmers for replanting and preserving forests. Since the 1990s when Costa Rica began prioritizing the environment, the forested areas have doubled in size. wildlife thrived, and the resultant ecotourism contributed to economic recovery and social support. These three factors – environment, economy, and social justice – are the definition of sustainability.
The country has made sustainability a priority and as a result, ecotourism is a large part of the economy. We think this is one of the most important reasons to visit Costa Rica.
Like many couples, we try to balance activities when we travel. I’d be happy spending all day on nature walks, but my husband can only take so many birds before he’s ready for a relaxing day on the beach, and an evening of live music. In some areas it’s tough to find this balance, but Costa Rica gave us so many choices!
You can get even more in touch with nature and yourself by joining a yoga retreat.
The resorts along the coast offer stunning views, beautiful pools, and many recreation options, including golf courses and opportunities for horseback riding. One resort we visited, Marriott Los Suenos, would be wonderful for a Costa Rica family vacation. In addition to the Pacific Ocean beach and beautifully designed pool, they offered a kid’s club, mini golf, and a children’s pool.
With 6 active volcanoes in Costa Rica, there are lots of opportunities for enjoying hot springs on your trip. Many of the lodges in the area of the Arenal Volcano have tapped into hot springs to create bathing opportunities for their guests. But for a really unique experience, try the natural hot springs in the area.
For those more adventurous (and younger) than us, there’s plenty of thrilling activities to enjoy. Try zip-lining through the rainforest, or whitewater rafting. Hike around the volcanoes, parasail, or learn to surf. Some of the world’s best surfing spots in Costa Rica, particularly in the central Pacific coast towns of Hermosa and Jaco.
Traveling to Costa Rica was a trip of a lifetime. It’s time to plan your travel to dream destinations. Read Trips of a Lifetime: inspiration to book your dream destination.
We were accompanied on our trip by a 9-year-old and loved seeing the country through her eyes. The nature guides all included her in the discussions and adjusted the scopes so she could observe the wildlife.
Costa Rica has so much to recommend it for a family vacation. It’s a safe country with many things for the kids to enjoy. Learning about nature in an country that values its environment will (hopefully) lead children to prioritize sustainability in their lives and their future travel.
Whatever you chose, there’s so much in Costa Rica for kids to enjoy.
Finally… the natural beauty and wildlife of Costa Rica! Ecotourism is one of the top reasons to visit Costa Rica and it was definitely what drew us to the country.
When you begin to design your Costa Rica itinerary, research where the wildlife that interest you most live. Many of the most sought after animals , the jaguar and the tapir, can be found on the Osa peninsula in biological reserves around Corcovado National Park. But if you’re interested in sea turtles, go to the Caribbean side, to Tortuguera National Park. As this was our first visit to Costa Rica our itinerary included some of the big tourist destinations – the Arenal Volcano, the city of San José, and Monteverde Cloud Reserve- and a week on the central Pacific coast.
Ready to head off on your adventure? Read The Nature Traveler, a guide to preparing for nature-based travel.
With over 900 species of birds living in Costa Rica, this is a birdwatcher’s dream destination. (FYI that’s 10% of the total number of bird species worldwide and as many as can be found in the entire continental US)
For more images and information visit Nature and Birding Costa Rica.
What can we say? The people of this country have figured out how to enjoy life. Is it that they’ve abolished their army and directed the funds toward quality of life for its residents? Is it the free health care and education? Or is it just that they live in this gorgeous part of the world? I don’t know, but when you’re with the people here you will also begin to relax and enjoy the Pura Vida.
Photo: bird caller extraordinaire and one of the best local guides for Arenal Volcano National Park, Giovanni Bogarin of La Fortuna!
Costa Rica is located on the Panama Isthmus of Central America with both Pacific and Caribbean coasts. The area has been inhabited since before 7000 BC. Today Costa Rica is a democratic republic with a president, two vice-presidents, and a 15 member cabinet.
Costa Rica 
Yoga, Beach Day, and Bonfire!
