Honor what has been lost, tend to your heart with intention, rest deeply, and be held in the profound medicine of connection, ritual and nature.
Together we will explore what is possible when grief is embraced as an initiation — a powerful portal to deeper meaning, presence and embodied aliveness.
… the soul’s way of honoring what we love and value most. Yet in today’s world, we are often urged to move on quickly, numb out, silence our sorrow or to carry it alone, leaving us adrift, without a map to navigate the dark and disorienting terrain of grief.
When left unacknowledged, grief can take root in the body and spirit, showing up as anxiety, depression, addiction, isolation, anger, burnout, dissociation or physical imbalance. But when we create space to tend to our grief and allow it to move through us — with gentleness, curiosity, ceremony and community — it becomes possible to metabolize and transform it.
Rather than trying to “fix” grief, we learn to alchemize it into a catalyst for growth, healing and reconnection with ourselves, with others and the living world around us.
Imagine waking up to the lull of the river and birdsong of the forest, savoring the soft linens and views from your cabin …morning mist hanging over the mountains.
You have had a night of deep, nourishing rest — the first in a long time. With a warm beverage in your hands, you step outside, deep inhale, savoring the fresh mountain air, scent of damp earth and wild blossoms.
The river greets you with its steady song, water rushing over stones, reminding you that release is natural, grief is fluid, and tears are welcome. The land itself holds you — the forest whispers of cycles older than grief and the ancient mountains cradle and ground you.
Perhaps you join the group for morning mindfulness or yoga in the shala by the river.
Breakfast is a beautifully prepared and vibrant delight for the palate.
It feels so good to be cared for and nurtured and to just RECEIVE.
After breakfast, gather with the group in a circle to share, listen and tend to the heart. Through ritual, story-telling and guided practices, you are given space to explore and express your grief in a supportive community. Sometimes tears flow, sometimes silence is necessary to sit with it all, and sometimes laughter is a hearty surprise. All of it is welcome!
After a wholesome lunch, you may choose to rest in a hammock, journal, or walk the trails or contemplative labyrinth.
In the afternoon, somatic embodiment practices are offered to help grief move through the body. This might include movement, breathwork, soundbath, gentle bodywork or a soak in the wood-fired hot tubs and optional cold plunge in the river.
As the sun begins to set, another beautiful meal is served. Everyone sits together at the long wooden table, enjoying the comforting lilt of conversations, laughter, the warm glow of candlelight and the sweet camaraderie of a community that is bonding more and more each day.
There will be a Dia de los Muertos altar-making in honor of the ancestors and loved ones gone too soon, a heart-opening cacao and drum ceremony around the fire to release what is no longer needed, and all of this will be leading up to an optional plant medicine ceremony with live music, guided by the wisdom of the forest and fungi, inviting participants to journey inward.
Sorrow softens, tears become medicine, and grief is processed through ceremony — a beautiful portal to love, insight and belonging.
Grievers, grief-tenders, death doulas, chaplains, hospice workers — those interested in exploring the complex mysteries of grief and the depth of the lessons we can receive from this transformative human experience.
5 nights/6 days at a luxurious and tranquil eco-lodge on 105 acres of mystical cloud forest in the mountains of central Costa Rica, about an hour from San Jose. A variety of accommodation options are available, in wooden cabins sustainably built with integrity from the cypress trees on the land.
Located at the top of the property featuring gorgeous views of the forest covered mountains. This cabin is spacious and secluded for extra privacy. It features 1 king size bed, a private deck, a fireplace for cozy nights, and a soaking tub with beautiful views.
Features one queen bed and ensuite bathroom. Two of the cabins are located close to the river so you can hear the soothing sounds of the river flowing by. The third cabin has a beautiful garden view and extra privacy.
These cabins are the most spacious with two separate bedrooms, each with a queen bed. They have a large living room, writing desk, large deck with forest/garden/mountain views and a shared bathroom.
One spacious bedroom with two queen beds and shared bathroom, furnished deck with garden/forest views, and a writers desk
Conscious comfort food and tasty, fresh snacks are crafted with vibrant, locally sourced ingredients and are dairy-free and gluten-free. Designed to delight the palette, each dish is thoughtfully prepared to be visually stunning artistry as well as healthy nourishment.
From the initial discovery call, to the 1:1 prep sessions, and multiple group prep and integration sessions, the emphasis is on building trust, rapport and connection so that you can feel as comfortable, informed and grounded as possible with the whole process. Creative expression and nature-based integration activities will also be offered throughout the retreat.
Helpful suggestions and guidance to ensure that your travel plans are smooth and as stress-free as possible. Packing lists, itineraries, current temperatures/weather conditions and detailed FAQs will be available
Transportation is provided to and from the San Jose Airport and the retreat center.
Recognizing that not every griever has the means to travel internationally to a retreat, 10% of proceeds from this retreat goes to funding a donation-based grief ceremony in Portland, OR.
Equity is important and together, we can support each other!
My personal relationship with grief began in 2006 when my daughter died at birth and I had a near-death experience from complications of her delivery. The devastating loss and trauma left me utterly bereft, without a compass to navigate that dark, lonely landscape of grief and depression.
In time, I sought out mentors, traditional practices from other cultures, and the potent healing of plant medicine ceremonies. What began as a journey to mend my own broken heart became an apprenticeship in grief itself- guided by a motivation to become for others the person that I had needed when my loss was fresh and raw.
Over the past two decades, I have been devoted to learning the old ways of tending grief. The lessons and gifts I have received along the way have inspired me again and again, offering unexpected insights, perspectives and friendships which continue to deepen my work and enrich my life.
My work facilitating grief and psilocybin retreats has been the most meaningful work of my life.
My work as a grief-tender is influenced by honored teachers such as Francis Weller, Martin Prechtel, Laurence Cole, Tara Brach, Sobonfu and Malidoma Somé and by the cultural traditions and grief rituals of Mexico and the Dagara community of Burkina Faso of West Africa.
Other bios coming soon...
No. You are responsible for your flight from your home airport to SJO airport.
San Jose (Juan Santamaria) International Airport. The airport code is “SJO.”
Our private ground transportation will depart from SJO domestic airport at 12:00PM on the arrival day of your retreat. Please account for time to go through customs and immigration. This process can take as little as 15 min, and as much as 2.5 hours, depending on the day at the airport and how busy it is. After you exit the airport we will have a representative waiting for you with a sign, and the representative will guide you to the domestic terminal where you will wait with the rest of your group for departure at 12:00PM.
If you are already in Costa Rica, you will simply need to show up at the domestic terminal entrance at 11:45AM. The domestic terminal is very small, and you will have no problem meeting our representative and the rest of your group there.
You will depart Verdesana at 9:00AM, and the estimated arrival time to SJO international airport is 11:00AM.
Typically, it is suggested to be at the international terminal 2.5 hours prior to your international departure. Please book your departing international flight accordingly, knowing that you will be at the airport at 11:00AM on departure day.
If you book your departure flight earlier than this, you will be responsible for your own transportation to SJO airport and any extra cost incurred.
A valid passport (make sure it does not expire within 6 months of the retreat)
No, but if you would like to, here is a recommended source: Global Rescue & Imiloa Institute
Approx. 1.5 hours
Yes we do have recommendations, please see below:
Please review the official entry requirements for Costa Rica here: https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/planning-your-trip/entry-requirements
We do not require you to purchase travel insurance, but we highly recommend it to protect your travel investment. This the the travel insurance provider we recommend:
Verdesana is located in the central mountains of the country, in the province of Cartago, about 1.5 hours from the capital city San Jose. It is a quiet, secluded and peaceful environment at 1600 meters of altitude, surrounded by mountains and cloud forest. You can look up ‘Verdesana Forest’ on Google Maps to get the specific geographic location of the campus.
Verdesana is located in the mountains and in the cloud forest which has its own microclimate. It is affected by the Caribbean climate, which makes the weather unpredictable and ever-changing. Some days will be sunny and some days will be rainy, most likely many days will include a bit of both sun and rain. The temperatures usually range between 60F – 77F, with the coldest months being December, January and February. The driest months tend to be March, April and May. From May through December the weather tends to be hotter, more humid and with good chances of both sun and rain in one day.
Our property is 105 acres
Our beautiful cabins are handcrafted with cypress wood directly from our plantation. They have been carefully designed to be functional, aesthetic, safe, and eco-friendly.
All rooms come with a full queen sized bed per person. We provide a full bath series (shampoo, conditioner, body wash). Hair dryer. Essential oils & diffuser. A heater and extra blankets for cooler evenings. Some cabins have a writer’s desk. All cabins have a furnished private patio/deck with views of the gardens, forest, or mountains. Umbrellas and headlamps are available. All cabins have standard North American power outlets, so make sure to bring an adaptor if your appliances work with a different system
Yes, we have a cabin designed for people with special needs, which is extra spacious and accessible.
The closest town Cartago is approx. 25 min away, and there is a hospital here.
The accommodations/cabins are located relatively close, and each is about a 1-2 min walk from the dining/community space. Some of our trails fx. to the river and yoga space are steep, so it’s a good idea to bring comfortable and practical closed-toed shoes for these trails.
Yes, $25 per load to pick up, wash, dry, fold and deliver back to you. Allow 24 hours for turnaround.
Yes we have wifi in all structures/cabins onsite except for El Templo yoga shala. The speed is around 100megas, but can get affected if it’s very rainy or windy. Overall the wifi is pretty strong and very reliable.
Yes! We have several small trail systems located directly onsite. Hikes offsite the property are also available. Please inquire with our onsite team if you want to book a guided hike.
You can choose to get your massage at our spa facility or request to have it in your room if the space allows (only some cabins will have space for this).
No, we do not have a gym. However, we’re located on a mountain with excellent hiking and nature trails, yoga equipment, and a spacious yoga shala.
We do not police our guests — we are sharing our values and why they’re important to us. If you are seen with alcohol on campus, you will be reminded of why we have an alcohol-free campus once, and if we observe it again publicly, we will respectfully ask you to leave.
Before arrival, you are sent a form to include all of your personal information, such as allergies or dietary needs. Our kitchen team will ensure that all of your allergies are considered while preparing your food.
Yes! Our water is triple-filtered UV from our mountain’s well and perfectly healthy and safe to drink from all faucets on the property.
We serve three big meals daily. Between meals, we also serve fruits, snacks, nuts, juice, etc. Coffee and tea are available at all times throughout the day. If you get hungry between meals and snacks are not sufficient, please let our kitchen staff know, and they will be happy to provide extra food for you.
No, we cannot prepare individual smoothies. However, if our hosts request a smoothie or food item for the retreat experience, we will, of course, provide it.
We provide room service only in cases of sickness and/or Injuries; otherwise, the answer is no.
A full operations and executive team is available throughout your stay. All staff are legally hired and local to Costa Rica.
Tips are not required but always appreciated. Tips for the staff are pooled together and distributed equally amongst the property team members once a month. This includes everyone you see or may not see during your stay, such as kitchen staff, gardeners, housekeepers, the maintenance team, etc.
See our recommended packing list here:
For phone service, there is WIFI on campus, and we recommend WhatsApp as the best way to communicate.
We are a dry campus. If you are consuming alcohol at Verdesana or alcohol is visible in your accommodations or you smoke cigarettes or marijuana or anything in your accommodations, that is not aligned with our core values, we will directly let you know. You will be asked to leave the property and secure accommodations and coordinate your travel back to SJO at your own cost.
Please email your request to welcomehome@imiloainstitute.com and include the breed of dog, weight, and supporting documentation. While we will consider your request, we respectfully reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone with an emotional support animal unless they have received approval in writing from our team.
We take these requests seriously and have to evaluate several factors before making a decision including the allergies of other guests and team members, impact on the wildlife, and impact on the accommodations and our property.
If you have a certified service animal, please email us so we can work with you to accommodate your accessibility needs.
Yes, options are available for installments of 4, 6 and 8 payments