TOUR DESCRIPTION
Join
our 2nd annual Sacred Sites Journeys Women's Retreat in Costa Rica!
Celebrate the Sacred Divine Feminine Within YOU
as you relax, renew and rejuvenate your body, mind & spirit
at AmaTierra, a life-enhancing retreat center
nestled on 8 acres in the central Costa Rican mountains.
 Daily sessions to
support you to access & empower your Goddess Within
SPECIAL
INCLUSIONS!
A Day at the Beach!
Turubari Tropical Eco-Park
which features a
guided rainforest tour
and optional canopy zipline on the best one in Costa Rica!
Visit to Horse Ranch: Goddess Power through the Way of the Horse
Individual Tarot Readings
 OTHER OFFERINGS
An
Evening Sound Healing Experience with Crystal Bowls
Optional morning Hatha Yoga Classes
Optional Wellness Services:
Massage, Energy Balancing, Detoxification, Nutritional/Herbal Consultation
Hike
to the stream
or the pochote tree forest where you might just see a colorful toucan,
an iridescent mot-mot or any one of several species of birds for birdwatching
Visit Puriscal, a bustling town with its market and traditional town square
Relax at the pool - take a dip, lounge with a good book or write in your
journal
Enjoy 3 daily meals of a healthful combination of home
cooking,
using fresh organic fruits and vegetables, local fish and chicken
A
library of DVD's with players in all rooms
RETREAT
PERSONNEL
Retreat Hostess & Featured Speaker: Andrea Mikana-Pinkham
Director
of Sacred Sites Journeys
Andrea
Mikana-Pinkham is the Director of Sacred Sites Journeys. She has been designing, operating and
leading spiritual pilgrimages to the world's most important sacred sites around the world
since 1994. Andrea is an avid practitioner of the Goddess Tradition, a
trained shamanic practitioner, Reiki Grand Master of Ichi Sekai (One World) Reiki, and a
spiritual counselor. She has been an intuitive and trance channel since 1987, bringing
through the energy of the Kumaras, teachers of the Divine Feminine.
She is a Lady
Knight Templar and the North American Grand Prioress of The International Order of Gnostic
Templars, a modern-day spiritual Templar Order dedicated to the revival
of the Goddess Tradition and Gnostic Wisdom.
During our Women's Retreat Andrea will facilitate
sessions to support you to access
your Divine Feminine energies on a deeper level
through exercises, group meditations, sacred ceremonies, rituals, and channeling sessions.
As well, she will offer each participant a private tarot reading.
Owners and Hostess/Host at Ama Tierra: Jill and Bob Ruttenberg
Bob and Jill Ruttenberg,
originally from Tucson AZ, live on the premises at AmaTierra.
Jill Ruttenberg
is a registered herbalist (AHG) who specializes in Chinese and western herbal medicine.
She is a colleague of Dr. Andrew Weil and participated in weekly patient conferences at
the program in Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona Medical Center. She has also
had the good fortune to study with some of the best herbalists and OMD's in the world,
including Dr. Michael Tierra and Dr. Joel Penner. Jill is also a certified massage
therapist who practices many modalities, a Hatha Yoga instructor, and writer of
articles for U.S. alternative health publications. Nutritional consulting, massage and
yoga classes are all available on the premises at AmaTierra.
Jill will also offer our group an evening of sound healing using crystal bowls.
Bob Ruttenberg comes from a career of 40
years in the music business which began the day he returned to Chicago from the Woodstock
Festival of 1969. He owned two record stores in the mountains of Colorado in the 70's
& 80s and since then has helped hundreds of artists become known and respected,
especially in the world of jazz music. Bob's enthusiastic nature and passion for turning
people on to good things now allows him to ignite the guests' love of beauty and the arts
and to be the innkeeper he has always dreamed of being. He is also working on creating a
jazz and world music festival in Costa Rica. Ask Bob to play you something special. You'll
like it!
Mark
& Marsha Friedman
Psychotherapists & Horse Ranch Owners
 
Psychotherapists Mark & Marsha Friedman bring an added dimension
of healing to AmaTierra's menu of holistic services. The Friedmans have a beautiful horse
ranch which we'll visit as a group. Their nine horses of varying ages and sizes help
people address emotional, behavioral and relational issues simply by being in their
presence. “These horses are amazing co-facilitators,” Marsha says. Guests can
participate in a “horse reflection” session to learn more about the deeper
levels of their true selves, and come to terms with life’s challenges in a unique
way. This experience is also known as EAP, or Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy, a fun way to
get to know yourself in the presence of beautiful Horse-Beings.
Mark and Marsha are also available for private individual sessions during your stay at
AmaTierra. They have been married for 35 years. Their work together is deeply creative,
experiential, filled with joy, humor, compassion and honesty. These ingredients help their
clients toward affirming life, health and harmony and creating powerful and lasting
change. They can help you to re-frame negative thinking and learn better
communication skills to deepen relationships and transform engrained patterns. The end
result is a healthier self image and more joyful interactions with others.
BRIEF RETREAT ITINERARY
(For a more
detailed itinerary, scroll down)
Day 1. Saturday, May 22.
Arrive San Jose, Costa Rica.
Group transfer to retreat center.
PM: Introductory Group Meeting/Meditation/Opening Ceremony
Dinner
Day
2. Sunday, May 23.
AM: Optional Yoga Class
Breakfast
AM: Session with Andrea - "Empower the Goddess Within"
Lunch
PM: Free time - Hike the trails at the retreat center, relax at the pool,
and/or enjoy wellness therapies
Optional Tarot Readings with Andrea
Dinner
Day
3. Monday, May 24.
AM: Optional Yoga Class
Breakfast
PM: Visit to Horse Ranch: Goddess Power through the Way of the Horse
Lunch
AM:Session with Andrea - "Message from the Kumaras - The Divine Feminine Within"
Optional Tarot Readings with Andrea
Dinner
Day 4. Tuesay, May 25.
Breakfast
Full
Day at the Beach
Dinner
Evening: Toning/Sound Healing with Crystal Bowls
Day 5. Wednesday, May 26.
Breakfast
AM: Free time - Hike the trails at the retreat center, relax at the pool,
and/or enjoy wellness therapies
Optional Tarot Readings with Andrea
Lunch
PM: Session with Andrea - "Deepen Your Connection with Your Intuition"
Optional Yoga Class
Dinner
Day 6. Thursday, May 27.
Breakfast
Full Day at Turubari Tropical Park (Includes Lunch)
Dinner
Day 7. Friday, May 28.
AM: Optional Yoga Class
Breakfast
AM: Free time - Hike the trails at the retreat center, relax at the pool,
and/or enjoy wellness therapies
Optional Tarot Readings with Andrea
Lunch
PM: Session with Andrea - Meditation and Closing Ceremony
Dinner
Day
8. Saturday, May 29.
Breakfast
Group Transfer to the airport in San Jose
BRIEF OPTIONAL EXCURSION ITINERARY
(For a more detailed itinerary,
scroll down)
Day 8. Saturday, May 29.
Breakfast
Group Transfer to Arenal Volcano area.
Lunch on your own with the group.
Check in. Free time.
Dinner
Overnight San Ramon.
Day 9. Sunday, May 30.
Breakfast
Rainforest Mysteries Day Hike, which includes Arenal volcano viewing (Lunch included)
Return to Lodge. Free time.
Dinner.
Overnight San Ramon. Overnight San Ramon.
Day 10. Monday, May 31.
Breakfast.
Check out.
Return to San Jose.
Lunch and dinner on your own.
Overnight San Jose.
Day 11. Tuesday, June 1.
Breakfast.
Check out.
Transfer to the airport in San Jose.
TOUR ITINERARY
(B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
Day 1. Saturday, May 22. (D)
This Women's Retreat is LAND ONLY. You are responsible to book your
roundtrip international flight to SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA.
ARRIVAL: Please arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica by noon on Saturday,
May 22, 2010 in order to connect with our group transfer to Ama Tierra Retreat
Center. (Detailed instructions about how to meet Andrea and the group will be included
with your final tour documents which will be sent to you about 2 weeks before the
retreat.)
 We transfer from San Jose to the mountains east of the city, to Ama Tierra Retreat and Wellness Center, our
home for the next seven nights. You'll feel at home in the arms
of Mother Nature, amidst the mango trees and sounds of the living forest in your simple, elegant suite. Tastefully designed with unique
decor to allow you to enjoy the serenity of your surroundings, each Suite comes with its
own jacuzzi tub, private terrace and garden with outdoor
seating. Hardwood furniture and a ceiling made of teak brings the ambience of the
forest into your room. The sleeping area has comfy beds,
ceiling fans, a refrigerator, coffee/tea maker, a phone,
complementary snacks and TV/DVD player (choose a movie, free, from over
250 in the retreat center's collection). And for any of you who feel the need to stay
connected with the outside world, there is WI-FI Wireless Internet Service.
After settling in, we'll gather for our Introductory
Meeting. After introductions, Andrea will facilitate a Meditation and
Opening Ceremony to assist you to begin making that deeper connection
with the Goddess Within. The spiral at the left is the best known modern symbol
of the Divine Feminine or the Goddess. It represents the
womb, fertility, feminine serpent force, continual change, and the evolution of the
universe. The life renewing potential of the Spiral appears in the stories of various
cultures, as a representation of the universal process of growth, as well as the desire
for diverse expressions of creativity. When drawn clockwise, it brings things towards
you, and when drawn anti-clockwise, it pushes negative energies away from you. It is a
natural function for human beings to grow, change and evolve…and the Spiral
symbolizes this process of growth and evolution. It is a process of coming to the same
point again and again, but at a different level, so that everything is seen in a new
light. The result is a new perspective on issues, people, and places.
A word from Andrea: "As
women, we are all born goddesses. By undertaking this spiritual retreat to reclaim Her
true essence, you will realize more of your Goddess Within. My goal is to support each
of you to come to know your Divine Feminine or Goddess Aspect on a more profound level.
Through meditations, rituals, ceremonies, divinatory tools, and a group channeling
session, we'll tune into the energy/voice/vision of the Goddess Herself, as She relays Her
unique and timely messages to you. It's my hope that when you leave our Women's Retreat
and return home to your life, you'll see the issues and people in it with a new
perspective - one that you will be able to use to engage your life with more of Her
qualities of Love, Allowance, Compassion, and Intuition, so that you will deepen your
spirituality and serve others in more creative and positive ways."
 We're in for a luscious and nutritious treat, as we enjoy dinner a
la Ama Tierra on the balcony, one of our first of many delicious meals. The local cooks serve up delicious dishes made with
fresh fish (mahi-mahi, talapia, shrimp and corvina, or sea bass are commonly offered),
chicken dishes (orange/mango chicken with coriander, served with brown and wild rice is
one favorite) or occasional red meat dishes ("typical" picadillo made with green
papaya and pork, or Iraqi meatballs in a delectable sweet and tangy sauce). They also
easily accommodate vegetarian diets with such dishes as Spinach Risotto and Vegetarian
Thai Curry over rice.
The goal is healthful, enjoyable dining, with attention to freshness and wholesome
ingredients. A beautiful salad is part of every dinner. They use only healthful oils, real
butter and local honey, often substituting honey or "dulce" (minimally processed
sugar cane, for white sugar.) Desserts are homemade and generally light, though your love
for chocolate, the Food of the Goddess, will be accommodated too!
After
dinner, take some time to sit out on your individual patio for some private
meditation time, an extra special experience here in Costa Rica. Or take a walk
to the stream or hike to where you can see the Nicoya Peninsula in the distance. And
as you drift off to sleep tonight, invite the energy of the Divine Feminine in your
dreams.
Day
2. Sunday, May 23. (B/L/D)
 Enjoy an optional Hatha Yoga Class this morning with Jill.
It's for every body, no matter your age or ability level. Jill’s method of
teaching is closely aligned with one of her teachers, Jean-Pierre Marques from North
Africa who was a pioneer in bringing Eastern traditions to the U.S. in 1971, and who later
initiated the Spiritual Awareness Center at Canyon Ranch Spa in Tucson, Arizona. Stretch and
awaken to your day, as you open your energy to flow more freely and easily,
thus allowing for better integration of the transformation you're inviting into your
Beingness.
Our breakfast each day will consist of: Fresh fruits or freshly squeezed fruit juices, traditional
rice & bean "Gallopinto" , eggs any style, fresh whole grain breads or
muffins served with mashed avocado, cheeses, butter and jam, baked plantain, organic
coffee or choose from a variety of black, green or herbal teas.
 After
breakfast, we'll gather in the Yoga Studio for our morning session facilitated by Andrea:
"Empower the Goddess Within". Bring with you any images of the Goddess
that are meaningful for you. Or any sacred objects that have come to you during your
life's journey that hold the energy of the Divine Feminine for you. We'll use these sacred
items as a stepping stone to access and empower our Inner Divine Feminine. Through
meditation, She will communicate with you and reveal to you what you most need to know in
that moment about You/Her. And what your path this week will be about. Then, during our
Sharing Circle we'll support each other's paths to the same center - the Goddess Within.
Photo:
GoddessGift.net
  After
lunch, you have the afternoon free. Perhaps you'd like to book a massage
or other wellness therapy to assist you to move out the old energies and
make way for the new! Sessions are tailored to your individual needs and include Shiatsu and Swedish
massage, abdominal massage, sound therapy, deep tissue massage, exfoliation and
detoxifying mud treatments using the Mother Earth from Costa Rican volcanoes.
Each day during free time Andrea will offer a private Tarot Reading
for each member of our group. A word from Andrea: "Over the
years that I've used this excellent divinatory tool, both for myself and others, the
Goddess has easily and regularly revealed Herself through the intuitive awareness that the
cards invoke. The readings I will offer will be a conversation between You and Your Divine
Feminine, through the vehicle of the cards. Contemplate before your reading what aspect of
you life you'd like to receive more clarity and guidance about. Phrase your question, open
your heart to receive, and the Goddess WILL indeed speak to you!"
Dinner tonight will be a time to share with your Sisters about your day, as well
as to enjoy the fabulous cuisine.
Day 3. Monday, May 24. (B/L/D)
Enjoy another optional Hatha Yoga Class this morning with Jill. Relax and enjoy your session
in the new open-air studio where the views will inspire profound transformation in your
whole Self.
 After breakfast, we visit
the Horse Ranch of Mark and Marsha Friedma to explore "Goddess Power through
the Way of the Horse". This workshop brings you together with horses in a fun,
safe and unique experience. (All of the exercises are done on the ground. No experiences
with horses is necessary.) Women and horses have always been drawn to one another.
Cultivating a relationship with such a beautiful, powerful animal will allow you to tap
into your sensuality, freedom and sense of possibility you had as a young girl. Horses
rely on their sensate, heart felt response and their intuition, which gives them the
unique ability to sense what is not seen or spoken. They can often reveal things about us
that we are not consciously aware of. Horses live naturally
from the way of the heart and have willingly come forward to assist us in our path of
spiritual evolution. Through intrapersonal and interpersonal exercises the horses will
guide and inspire you to:
- Reach Clarity of the Heart
- Change your thinking to sensing
- Learn to feel your way & connect by listening
- Focus your intention and
- Access and claim your authentic Goddess Power
Return to the retreat center for lunch.
Then take time for a bit of rest before we gather for a group channeling session
in the yoga studio with Andrea: A Message from the Kumaras - The Divine Feminine
Within".
A word from Andrea about this offering: " I began my journey
with trance channeling on the day of the Harmonic
Convergence, August 17, 1987 when I opened up to a Light
Being who said I'd contracted with it before I took incarnation in this life to bring
through its energy and teachings. That began a metaphysical journey that in the years to
come presented the teachings of various Light Beings. I shared these in both private and
group sessions. In April of 1996, during a trip to Mt Shasta with my husband Mark Amaru Pinkham a
new energy came through during a session on the sacred mountain. This energy has been
working me since that day. It calls itself "Kumara", and says that it's the
oversoul of the entities that have incarnated here on planet earth as a Kumara. They also
say that Kumara is not a name, but rather that it's a vibrational frequency key that
assists those it communicates with, both energetically and verbally, to balance their
male/female energies and realize the state of Unconditional Love, that which They are, We
are. It's a very loving energy, one that is very loving, patient, wise, and sometimes
humorous too! The teachings of the Kumaras are those of the Divine Feminine. They have
told me they will be very honored to be with our women's group in Costa Rica....to help us
all remember what we are, as well as how we can know it and live it in each moment. If the
session is like those in the past, which I'm sure it will be, you'll be in for an
inspirational and transformational experience."
Tonight is another fabulous dinner, during which we'll take time to share
about our day. Afterwards pamper yourself and take some time for relaxation and
integration.
Day 4.
Tuesay, May 25. (B/D)
Another great opportunity this morning to ground and center during an optional
Hatha Yoga Class with Jill. 
 After breakfast we leave for our Full Day at the Beach! We'll spend
the day at Esterillas
Oeste, a stunning Central Pacific Coast beach, one of Costa Rica's most
beautiful! Just over an hour from Ama Tierra, it's truly a beach lover's paradise. Palm
trees overhang the white, sandy beaches and exotic Scarlet Macaws make their homes in
the trees. Located in a quiet coastal village, Esterillas Oeste, is known by locals as one
of the best beach destinations in the country. Adventure lovers will enjoy excellent surf
breaks. Sun lovers can soak up the rays. And everyone will enjoy the cool ocean breezes.
The serenity will permeate your body, mind and spirit!
We'll head
back into the nearby town for lunch (on your own). Then we have time for a bit of Retail
Therapy.
 On the way back we'll stop for a
quick look at local crocodiles that live under a bridge over the highway.
We return to the retreat center later afternoon. You have free time before our group
dinner.
After
dinner we're in for a very special treat! An evening of Toning/Sound Healing with
Crystal Bowls facilitated by Jill. The special quartz crystal bowls used in sound therapy are
tuned to the body's "chakras" or energy centers, and can help to push through
stagnant or blocked energy channels in much the same way ultrasound therapy is used to
ease pain and even to cleanse clogged arteries. People find it to be a mesmerizing and
sensual experience that leaves them feeling renewed and energized, more in harmony with
the natural rhythm and flow of the earth's own energy field. The bowls are aligned with
the same electromagnetic frequency of the earth and made to resonate with the natural
world which our bodies, when in balance, hum along with.
Day 5. Wednesday, May 26. (B/L/D)
After another excellent Ama Tierra breakfast, you have free time again to hike
the trails at the retreat center, relax at the pool, and/or enjoy wellness therapies.
Again, Andrea will be offering more of the individual Tarot Readings
(as described in Day 2 above).
 After lunch our afternoon Session
with Andrea is "Deepen Your Connection with Your Intuition".
In our fast-paced and often chaotic world of today, we have more and more need to open up
to our intuition and develop it. As we search for more meaning in our lives and seek to
create our dreams, following our intuition becomes a must. Developing our intuition, which
is the voice of the Goddess Within, is the pathway to manifesting all that we need and
want in our lives. Connecting with and using our intuitive abilities is our
birthright!
As a woman, you've most likely been aware for most of your life that you
had intution - that knowing, gut feeling, the unexplainable instinct about things and
people. Perhaps you had precognitive dreams as a child. Or you knew what others were
thinking and feeling, without them telling you. You just "knew" things, but
didn't know how you knew them. If you were fortunate enough to have had support from your
parents or another important adult in your life, you no doubt didn't lose contact with
that ability, but rather were encouraged to develop it. Or, if your ability was made fun
of and you were scoffed at or even shamed for demonstrating it, you no doubt shut down to
using it. And lost it. Well, not to worry. Intuition n is like a muscle and like any
muscle, the more you use it the stronger it becomes. In our session this afternoon,
through using various exercises, Andrea will guide you to access and strengthen
your connection with your own intuitive abilities. (Photo Credit: Rekha Krishnan)
"The only real valuable thing is intuition." - Albert Einstein
"It is always with excitement that I wake up in the morning wondering what my
intuition will toss up to me, like gifts from the sea. I work with it and rely on it. It's
my partner." Dr. Jonas Salk
"There is no instinct like that of the heart." - Lord Byron
"Cease trying to work everything out with your minds. It will get
you nowhere. Live by intuition and inspiration and let your whole life be Revelation."
- Eileen Caddy
Join the optional Hatha Yoga Class this morning with
Jill and communicate with your body, mind and spirit.
Another
yummy and nutritious AmaTierra dinner to enjoy tonight!
Day 6. Thursday, May 27. (B/L/D)
 After breakfast we're
off to nearby Turubari Tropical Eco-Park (Includes lunch), the most
complete tropical park in America, a fresh
destination with unspoiled natural environment and a commitment to sustainable tourism.
High above the Rainforest and only 15 minutes from AmaTierra, in the
village of San Juan de Mata at Turrubares, Turubari is one of the biggest parks in Central
America, set amongst 595 acres of breathtaking, unspoilt grounds.
We'll
learn about Costa Rica’s natural history and discover some of the most amazing and
diverse wildlife species in the world. We'll hear some of the over 150 species of birds
singing throughout the forest, and observe a wonderful array of flora, including orchids,
palms, cactus, bamboo, bromeliads and ancient trees. We can stroll through the tropical
garden and see unique botanical collections; discover the butterfly,
orchid and bromeliad gardens as well as the Rio Grande de Tarcoles, which is recognized
for its large crocodile population.
 We
can view the park from the Turubari Sky Ride, an
aerial tramway that offers spectacular views of the park at 265 feet, suspended high above
the rain forest canopy. Or, the Sensational Cable tour, which takes you
on a mile-long journey through the forest at a maximum speed of 55 miles per hour and a
height of 315 feet. Or, if you're feeling especially adventurous today, you can choose one of three
different options for "zipline" (optional), an exhilarating
experience of flying over the canopy of trees, safely. Turubari is known to have
the best canopy tours in all of Costa Rica.
We
return to our retreat center later in the afternoon. Take a bit of time to rest and
integrate before dinner. We have so much to share about our adventures today!
Day 7. Friday, May 28. (B/L/D)
This morning is your last opportunity to attend an optional Hatha Yoga
Class with Jill.
After breakfast, you have free time again to enjoy any of the retreat center's
activities that you've not yet enjoyed: hike the trails at the retreat center, relax at
the pool, enjoy one of the wellness therapies, or schedule a consultation with Jill.
Andrea will be offering the last of the individual Tarot Readings this
morning.
 After our last
scrumptious lunch, take a siesta or sit out on your private patio to take in the blessings
of Mother Nature for the last time. In the later afternoon we gather in the Yoga Studio
for our Closing Ceremony and Meditation. What parting
Gifts of Spirit will the Goddess bestow upon you? What have you learned about yourself and
the Goddess Within this week? Where will that realization take you as you re-enter your
life back home? We'll take time to integrate our experience and prepare for this re-entry.
Bring a small gift as a "Give Away" as we'll exchange mementoes
with our Sisters in symbology of the bounteous and giving nature of the Goddess. (Price of
gift not to exceed $20.00)
Let's take time at dinner this evening not only to enjoy our last meal together,
but as well to share our Attitudes of Gratitude for what we've received
during our time as Goddesses in Paradise - the new insights, growth and
blessings that we'll be taking home with us to make our lives fuller, deeper, juicer and
more in alignment with the path of our Divine Feminine.
Day 8. Saturday, May 29. (B)
After breakfast we check out and depart Ama Tierra for our group transfer to the
airport in San Jose.
Please
book your international return flight to depart after noon.
Note:
This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.
OPTIONAL EXCURSION to ARENAL
VOLCANO
May 29 – June 1, 2010
Day
8. Saturday, May 29. (B/D)
 After breakfast we check out and depart Ama Tierra. We're on our way to the
Arenal Volcano area.
Lunch on your own with the group along the way.
We arrive at our retreat center, a private rainforest reserve that houses numerous hiking trails where
monkeys, frogs, birds, coatimundis, pacas, and many more animals can be found. Expert
bilingual guides will reveal the secrets of earth’s most bio-diverse habitat, and
explain why their organic biodynamic farm keeps the crops healthy, from the happy water
buffalo to the wiggling worms in the compost. In the Sacred Seeds Sanctuary you can learn
about the connections between medicinal plants worldwide, your health, and the need to
conserve not only the rain forest but also cultural knowledge. 
During our two days here, you can climb the 50 ft. observation tower and catch a
glimpse of the Arenal Volcano. There is a natural spring fed swimming pool, a solar heated
hot-tub jacuzzi, and lounging hammock to enjoy. You can saddle up and hit the
mountains on horseback or mountainbike. As, well the lodge offers on-site massages and spa
services (Reservations required).
Check in. Take
a bit of time to rest before our group dinner. Overnight San Isidro.
Day 9. Sunday, May 30. (B/L/D)
 After our breakfast we meet for our Rainforest Mysteries Day Hike.
We enjoy our Welcome and Introductions with a refreshment and fresh fruit. Then we're off
on our all-access Interpretive Rainforest hike, followed by tasting various edible plants
(optional). After a knowledeable lecture about the retreat center's medicinal plants they
grow, as well as their sustainable agriculture, we enjoy lunch. Then after some time for
retail therapy at the gift shop, we view Arenal Volcano! One of the ten
most active volcanoes in the world, it's a fascinating natural wonder and a must visit
destination for many travelers to Costa Rica. On almost a daily basis, red-hot rocks crash
down its steep slopes and volcanic grumbles produce huge ash columns above the crater.
Arenal has maintained constant activity since the time it re-awoke, after a span of nearly
400 years. The last huge eruption was in 1968. 
Afterwards, we return to our Lodge. Take some free time to relax, take a swim, or have a
massage before our group dinner. Overnight San Isidro.
Day 10. Monday, May 31. (B)
After breakfast we check out and head back to San Jose. Lunch on your own with the group
along the way. We arrive at our hotel later afternoon and check in. Dinner on your own. Overnight
San Jose.
Day 11. Tuesday, June 1. Depart Costa Rica (B)
After breakfast we check out and depart to the airport in San Jose. Please book your
international return flight to depart after noon.
Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.
RETREAT INCLUSIONS
Your Sacred Sites Journey
Women's Retreat to COSTA RICA Includes:
-
Roundtrip group transfer from airport in San Jose to retreat center
- Seven nights lodging, double occupancy, in a room with 2 beds and a private bath
(IMPORTANT: A few single rooms are available, so if you want your own space for the
retreat, please book as early as possible.)
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
- Motorcoach transportation for all tour activities
- Sightseeing as per the itinerary, including entrance fees
- Pre-Paid Gratuities
OPTIONAL
EXCURSION INCLUSIONS
-
Three nights lodging, double occupancy (IMPORTANT: A few single rooms are available, so if
you want your own space for the retreat, please book as early as possible.)
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Motorcoach transportation for all tour activities
- Sightseeing as per the itinerary, including entrance fees
- Pre-Paid Gratuities
NOT INCLUDED:
- Roundtrip international air to San Jose, Costa Rica
- Cost to obtain valid passport
- Any items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, internet access, and telephone
calls.
-
Any item that is not specifically detailed on the Sacred Sites Journeys website, in the
retreat brochure or final trip itinerary
RETREAT PRICING
This
Women's Retreat is LAND ONLY. You are responsible to book your roundtrip international flight to SAN
JOSE, COSTA RICA.
ARRIVAL:
Please arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica by noon on Saturday, May
22, 2010 in order to connect with our group afternoon transfer to AmaTierra
Retreat Center.
DEPARTURE:
Please book your international return flight on Saturday, May 29, 2010
or Tuesday, June 1, 2010 from San Jose to depart after noon.
DISCOUNT!
Make ALL of your payments by check or money order and receive a 4% discount! This discount
is INCLUDED in the prices below listed for this payment option.
NOTE: We are
only able to take credit cards for payment up until 35 days before the tour departure
date. After that you can pay with a credit card check, bank cashier's check, or money
order. Or wire funds to our bank account (Additional bank wire fee applies from wires
originating out of the USA).
COSTA RICA WOMEN'S RETREAT (May 22 -
29, 2010): Per Person, double
occupancy, land only
$1849.00 for payments
via check or money order
OR
$1926.00 for payments via credit card
Plus
Pre-paid Gratuities:
$80.00 for payments
via check or money order
OR $83.00 for
payments via credit card
Single Room Supplement - No Single Rooms left for this portion of the retreat
ROOMMATES:
Would you like to meet and make a new friend during your women’s retreat? If you're
not traveling with anyone you know, and would like for SSJ to try to match you up with a
suitable roommate, we'll be happy to try to do so.
Per our Terms and Conditions,
we will hold the registration for the trip open until 30 days before the retreat begins
(or later if possible) in order to try to match you with someone. If by that date we have
not been able to do so, you will be responsible to pay for the single supplement. If you would like to be matched with a roommate, please
register early.
EXCURSION
TO ARENAL VOLCANO (May 29 - June 1, 2010) Per
Person, double occupancy
$249.00 for payments via check or money order
OR $260.00 for payments via credit card
Plus Pre-paid Gratuities:
$40.00
for payments via check or money order
OR $42.00 for payments via credit card
Single Room Supplement:
$200.00 for payments via check or money order
OR $208.00 for payments via credit card
NOTE: This is the additional amount you will pay if you choose to have your own
private room throughout the retreat.
The number of single rooms is very limited, so if you want your own room, please book
early!
RETREAT REGISTRATION
This Sacred Sites Women's Retreat in COSTA RICA is open to the first 10
women who register.
The group is already more than half full.
Registration closes May 7th, or sooner if the group fills before that date.
Reserve your space NOW in order to assure your participation.
To access a registration form that
you can print out, Click
Here
Questions? Email info@SacredSitesJourneys.com
Or, call our office at 888
501-3853 (Toll free in the US) or 928 284-2384
If you'd like to receive our Monthly
Sacred Sites Journeys E-Newsletters, please Sign Up Here!
Newsletters are sent out about once a month.
Occasionally you may also receive an e-news bulletin about a specific journey or event.
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You can easily un-subscribe at any time.
To read copies of our
current and past E-Newsletters, Click Here!
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