Joyride Retreats

Adventure, connection, joy, and a life fully lived.

Cancer Survivor Retreats: Ages 40 and up.

Program Dates: January 24-29 & April 4-9, 2027

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You’ve been through enough. Now let’s have some fun.

Cancer may be part of your story, but it doesn’t get to be the whole story.

Joyride is about what comes next—new adventures, new friendships, big laughs, beautiful places, and remembering just how good it feels to be out there living.

Come play in Costa Rica with people who just get it.

Group of people standing on rocks in front of a waterfall in a lush, green jungle, posing happily with muddy bodies and smiling.

This is about feeling good, having fun, and saying YES to life.

Mornings might start with yoga, meditation, or a walk through the jungle—but from there, who knows? You could be rafting a river, catching a wave, jumping into a waterfall, or laughing around a bonfire with a group of people who just get it.

There’s time to slow down, too—grab a hammock, book a massage, wander down to the river, or simply do absolutely nothing.

We keep it intimate because the best adventures—and the best connections—don’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.

Tucked into the rainforest just outside Manuel Antonio, Chorro is our private little jungle hideaway—and your home for the week.

  • Safari-style glamping tents with super-comfortable beds, ceiling fans, electricity, and private bathrooms with hot showers

  • Your own rainforest waterfall & river just a short walk from camp—perfect for a morning plunge or afternoon float

  • Open-air yoga platform surrounded by jungle, birds, butterflies, and the sounds of the river below

  • Hammocks, bonfires & gathering spaces for morning coffee, afternoon naps, long conversations, and plenty of laughter

  • Wild Costa Rica all around you—toucans, monkeys, scarlet macaws, blue morphos, and all the wonderfully noisy sounds of the rainforest

  • Intimate by design—no crowds, no big resort, just our little group tucked away in nature

It’s not fancy. It’s something better—wild, beautiful, comfortable, and completely Costa Rica.

A group of people socializing outdoors at dusk around a stone fire pit, surrounded by lush greenery and tall trees.
A yoga mat on a wooden floor in front of a balcony railing with lush green trees and plants outside, with sunlight filtering through.
Indoor space with wooden floor and a wooden ceiling, decorated with hammock chairs hanging from the ceiling, surrounded by lush green trees visible outside.
Inside a tent with a bed that has a wood headboard, pillows, and a blanket, with windows showing greenery outside, and a basket with rolled towels on the floor.
Four people sitting on rocks at a waterfall surrounded by lush green foliage.
A group of people in swimsuits and casual clothing standing and sitting by a river, surrounded by lush green forest and large rocks.
A multi-level outdoor deck surrounded by lush greenery and trees with people enjoying the space. The upper level has a person standing with arms crossed near colorful hanging hammocks. The lower level has a long table, several chairs, and people mingling, some sitting and some standing, with a woman working on a laptop and another person at a makeshift bar. Brightly colored plants and flowers decorate the area.
Covered outdoor wooden deck with colorful floor cushions and lush green trees surrounding the area.
A cozy, illuminated tent in a forest at dusk with surrounding greenery.

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.

A table with various breakfast foods including a large plate of assorted sliced fruits, French toast topped with fruit and syrup, scrambled eggs, and toasted bread with toppings. There are also bowls, glasses, and condiments on the table.

We gather, share stories, laugh—a lot—and connect in that easy way that happens when you’re with people who just get it.

No need to explain. No need to be anything other than yourself.

Just real connection, big laughs, and a whole lot of living.

Group of women in swimsuits standing on a sandy beach, smiling, with ocean and cloudy sky in the background.
A group of ten people standing on the beach during sunset, silhouetted against the colorful sky, with their reflections visible in the wet sand.

What’s Included:

  • 6 days and 5 nights glamping: Cozy double or triple tents with comfy beds and jungle vibes.

  • White Water Rafting, Manuel Antonio Beach Day, Epic Waterfall Adventure, Catamaran Sunset tour, Blue Clay Treatment, and Chocolate Workshop.

  • 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

Optional Add ons:

Manuel Antonio National Park, Ziplining, Kayaking, Bird Watching, Horseback Riding, Massages

Sign Up Today!

Joyride Retreat Investment

$1950 per person

$500 non refundable deposit to secure your spot.

What makes this different?

People sitting and standing on rocks by a river surrounded by dense green trees and mountain hills under a partly cloudy sky.

  • A small, intimate group
    Enough people for great energy, small enough to really connect

  • A community that just gets it
    No long explanations needed—there’s an ease that comes from shared experience

  • Adventure—with plenty of choice
    Raft, surf, hike, jump in the waterfall—or grab a hammock and cheer everyone else on

  • A little Costa Rican magic
    Rainforest mornings, chocolate, waterfalls, home-cooked meals, wildlife, and life lived pura vida style

  • Lots of laughter and real connection
    The kind that happens over shared adventures, long dinners, bonfires, and probably a few ridiculous moments

  • Space to just be YOU
    Not a patient. Not a diagnosis. Just you—having a really great time in Costa Rica.

Four people, two children and two adults, sitting on a swing in a wooden outdoor shelter, smiling at the camera.

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.

Three smiling people at the beach, with surfboards and a green sail, some sand and clouds in the background.
Bicyclist with a helmet, sunglasses, and cycling gear smiling outdoors near a slide and lush green trees.
A group of kids and an adult rowing in a red inflatable raft through a river with rocks and green trees, wearing life jackets and helmets.

Joyride is about choosing joy—again.

In the big moments and the little ones.
A belly laugh with a new friend.
Jumping into a waterfall.
Trying something you never thought you would.
Dancing around the fire.
Or doing absolutely nothing in a hammock.

Surrounded by nature. Connected by something we never asked for.
And here to make the most of this beautiful life.

Life is a gift.

A group of people standing in a river at the base of a waterfall surrounded by lush green foliage.
A blue morpho butterfly resting on a green leaf.
Silhouette of a person performing a yoga pose on the beach during sunset, with the sun in the background and calm ocean waves.
An aerial view of a long suspension bridge crossing over a waterfall in a lush green forest, with several people walking and gathering near the water below.
A multi-level wooden treehouse with a red-tiled roof in a lush, tropical forest. The upper balcony has hammocks and a young girl leaning on the railing. The lower level is an outdoor seating area with colorful chairs and tables, surrounded by green p
A person standing on a rock in front of a large waterfall with arms outstretched.
A woman in a pink swimsuit joyfully standing in a river with arms outstretched amidst splashing water.
Hammock hanging between two trees on a sandy beach with ocean and rock formation in the background, under a bright blue sky.
A small squirrel monkey with white, black, and gray fur on its face and orange and brown fur on its body sitting on a tree branch in a green forest.
People swimming and relaxing in a natural pool with a small waterfall, surrounded by rocks and lush greenery.
Colorful parrots flying over a lush tropical forest near the ocean.
Group of people enjoying a waterfall in a natural setting, with water cascading over rocks and splashing into a pool at the bottom.
Group of people white water rafting on a river with a waterfall and lush green trees in the background.
Cheese and fruit platter with sliced mango, passion fruit, dried fruits, nuts, and citrus slices on a wooden board.
Three people sitting in front of a waterfall in a forest setting.
Group of people swimming in a natural pool at the base of a waterfall surrounded by lush green trees.
Group of about 15 people posing and smiling near a small waterfall in a lush, green jungle setting.
A person crossing a narrow suspension bridge in a lush green forest.
Three women sitting at a wooden table outdoors, smiling and enjoying a meal with various dishes, including pizza, pasta, and salads, with a lush green background.
Person surfing on a wave in the ocean with islands in the background.
A person hiking on a narrow trail through dense jungle with tall trees and lush green foliage.