Joyride Retreats
Where healing meets adventure, connection, and a life fully lived.
Cancer Survivor Retreats: Ages 40 and up.
For those who know the journey—and are ready to share it with others who truly understand.
Program Dates: December 6-11, 2026 and April 4-9, 2027
Life after a cancer diagnosis doesn’t just go back to normal.
You move forward—but something feels different. Your body, your energy, your priorities… even your sense of self. And while everyone around you celebrates that you’re “okay”…you may still be figuring out what that actually means.
This retreat is for that space—and for the version of you that’s ready to feel like yourself again.
This is about exhaling… letting go… and feeling like yourself again.
Each day begins with gentle movement—yoga, meditation, or a quiet walk—
just you, your breath, and the sounds of the jungle waking up.
Your days are a mix of meaningful experiences and space to simply be—
from ocean time and cultural connection
to resting in a hammock with nowhere to go.
We keep it intimate—because real connection doesn’t happen in a crowd.
Where you will stay…
Stay at Chorro Ecolodge—
where the river sings you to sleep and waterfalls are part of daily life.
Open-air jungle living
Comfortable, cozy safari tents
Nature all around you
Not luxury. Something more meaningful.
Nourishment and Connection
You’ll eat beautifully.
Fresh, vibrant meals prepared by your private chef, paired with the magic of a local woman cooking over her wood-burning stove.
We gather sharing stories, laughter, and the kind of connection that only happens when you’re truly understood.
No explaining your journey. No filtering your experience.
Just real connection… with people who get it.
What’s Included:
5 nights glamping: Cozy double or triple tents with comfy beds and jungle vibes.
Blue Clay Treatment, Beach Day, White Water Rafting, Hanging Bridges Waterfall and Cultural Cooking Class, Chocolate Workshop, Breathwork and Sound Bath.
Airport shuttle: Group transportation to/from SJO Airport → Chorro Ecolodge.
Daily movement: Optional Yoga, meditation, or morning jungle walks to start the day.
Meals made with love: All meals.
Your guides & host: Retreat host Cara + incredible local guides who know every hidden corner of Costa Rica.
What is not included:
International airfare to/from Costa Rica
Extra Excursions
Alcoholic beverages
Travel/health insurance
Tips for guides and staff
Joyride Retreat Investment
$2550 per person
($500 deposit to secure your space!)
What makes this different?
A small, intimate group
Because real connection happens when there’s space to be seen and heardA community that understands
No explaining your story, just being with people who truly get itA balance of movement, rest, and choice
Do as much or as little as feels right for youMoments that awaken the senses
From chocolate and nature to laughter and shared mealsConnection that goes beyond small talk
Real conversations, real laughter, and the kind of support you don’t have to ask forA space to reconnect with yourself
Gently, at your own pace, in a way that feels safe and real
My Cancer Story
In 2015, I lost my father to neuroendocrine cancer. Like many, I never imagined that “this” could happen to me. Then in October 2022, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I underwent a bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, and later, reconstructive surgery.
This experience changed me — not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally. The importance of living in the present and taking life one day at a time has never been clearer.
Throughout treatment, I discovered how essential it was to hold onto the things that brought me joy. I felt immense gratitude for my passions and the incredible place I call home, where I could still get out into nature — even on the hard days. Mountain biking, rainforest hikes, ocean swims, surfing, and yoga became lifelines, grounding me and lifting my spirit. Prioritizing those moments, however small, made a world of difference in how I felt — physically, mentally, and emotionally.
One day during treatment, I spoke with a new friend who had also been through cancer. She shared that even though her treatment had ended, and the world expected her to return to “normal,” she still felt overwhelmed and unsure of how to truly move forward. “I feel like I could really use a retreat,” she said. That moment stayed with me.
I began reflecting on what my husband Leo and I had been building — Luna Vida and his dream of Chorro Ecolodge — spaces rooted in nature, adventure, and deep connection to Costa Rican culture. I realized that what I wanted most was to create experiences that support the healing journeys of others, just as nature had supported mine.
And so, a new path became clear: to offer retreats for those touched by cancer, creating extraordinary, nurturing spaces where people can reconnect with themselves, with others who understand, and with the incredible healing power of nature.
This is my purpose now — to help others heal, thrive, and rediscover joy here in the magical country I’m lucky enough to call home.
Joyride is about choosing joy—again.
Not perfectly.
Not all at once.
But in small, meaningful moments.
Surrounded by nature.
Supported by community.
And held by people who truly understand.