Nosara, was nourishment for my mind, body, heart, and soul. Seven days of sunshine, connection, salt water, laughter, yoga, breathwork, and self-discovery—exactly what I needed.

I had the privilege of attending the Journey Through the Chakras retreat, hosted by Anna from Wild Lights. Going into this experience, I held a few intentions close:

1. Soak in the sunshine, swim in the ocean, and be outside.
2. Retreat, relax, reset, reflect, and renew.
3. Open my chakras and deepen my self-awareness.
4. Restore my mind, body, heart, and soul.
5. Disconnect from work and day-to-day responsibilities.
6. Gain clarity on my next steps in life and career.

I arrived in Costa Rica with an open heart and mind, not fully sure what to expect but excited for the journey ahead. What I found was pure nourishment.

A Week of Ease and Flow

One of the things I appreciated most about this retreat was the absence of decision-making. For an entire week, I didn’t have to plan, coordinate, or worry about logistics. Anna took care of every detail—from airport transportation and accommodations to nourishing meals prepared by Chef Sara and her team. I felt completely supported, which allowed me to fully immerse myself in the experience.

Our home for the week, Tres Hermanas Villa, was a dream. Nestled just minutes from the beach, the villa featured an open-air dining space, a private pool, and an outdoor yoga studio that became our sanctuary. Each room even had an outdoor shower, adding to the magic of it all.

Getting around Nosara was an adventure in itself. Instead of Uber or Lyft, we hopped in Tuk Tuks—small, covered motorcycle taxis that zipped us around town. Every ride felt like a little thrill.

The weather? Absolute perfection. Full sun and 90 degrees every day.

A Typical Day in Nosara

Each morning, we began with a lesson on a specific chakra, followed by yoga. After breakfast, we had free time to explore, relax, or soak in the ocean. Afternoons brought more workshops or quiet moments of reflection. Evenings were filled with nourishing meals, heartfelt conversations, and sometimes, unexpected moments of pure joy—like ecstatic dance night.

Takeaways from the Week

I didn’t leave this retreat as a completely changed person, nor did I have any massive life revelations—but I did leave feeling refreshed, light, and deeply grateful.

What I’m taking with me:

• Prana is everywhere. Life force energy flows through food, breath, movement, music, and connection.
• We are our own healers. Understanding the chakras helps us tune into what we need to feel balanced.
• Relax, trust, and allow yourself to be nourished. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is let go and receive.
• Pura Vida isn’t just a phrase—it’s a way of being. A reminder to slow down, embrace the present, and soak in the simple joys.

Favorite Moments & Experiences:

• Walking the beach at sunset on the first night, feeling the ocean breeze and setting the tone for the week.
• The incredible meals, from fresh ceviche and locally caught fish to the nourishing breakfasts with gluten-free nut and seed sourdough.
• Exploring Nosara—whether walking through town, sipping smoothies at Nomadic, or grabbing iced coffee at Organico.
• Silks yoga at Bodhi Tree Yoga with breathtaking views, along with a Tuk Tuk ride through town.
• The heart chakra ceremony—cacao, hair brushing, eye gazing, and sharing “I love yous” with new friends.
• The deep breathwork session that created space to release and reset.
• Laughing, moving, and feeling free during ecstatic dance, ending with a night swim under the stars.
• Watching the waves, soaking up the sun, and feeling fully present on the beach.
• The closing ceremony—reflecting on the week, feeling gratitude, and capturing moments with photos on the beach.

Takeaways: Insights from the Week

• Prana—life force energy is taken in through breath, food, movement, music, connection, and nature.
• We are our own healers—learning about chakras gave me tools to recognize imbalances and realign my energy.
• Trust, relax, and receive—sometimes the most healing thing is simply allowing yourself to rest and be nourished.
• This trip wasn’t life-changing, but it was soul-nourishing—I’m leaving refreshed, rested, and filled with light and love.
• Nature is medicine—sunshine, salt water, and locally sourced foods are deeply healing.
• Connection matters—meeting 15 new women from different backgrounds reminded me of the beauty of shared experience.
• What my soul needed: quiet, sunshine, space to flow, connect, and BE. Pura vida.

Actions to Bring Home:

1. Embrace the Pura Vida way of living—simple, joyful, present.
2. Nourish my mind, body, heart, and soul with good food, movement, and rest.
3. Enjoy sensory experiences—taste, touch, sound, sight, scent.
4. Continue creating beautiful, intentional experiences in my daily life.
5. Check in with my chakras and practice energy medicine when needed.
6. Find ways to bring more sun, sand, and salt water into my life.

Chakra Lessons & Key Takeaways:

Root Chakra (Grounding, Stability, Security)

• Belonging is medicine—branch out, grow your roots, find connection.
• Energy medicine: walking barefoot, grounding, releasing control.

Sacral Chakra (Creativity, Pleasure, Flow)

• To be sacral is to feel deeply—pleasure, emotions, creativity.
• Medicine: inner child work, sensuality, receiving, movement.

Solar Plexus (Confidence, Strength, Empowerment)

• Trust your gut—instincts guide the way.
• Medicine: eating the right foods, nervous system regulation, surrender.

Heart Chakra (Love, Connection, Compassion)

• Love is about receiving as much as giving.
• Medicine: alone time, self-love, forgiveness, asking for help.

Throat Chakra (Authenticity, Expression, Communication)

• Speak your truth—authenticity attracts the right energy.
• Medicine: sharing ideas, listening, using your voice.

Third Eye Chakra (Intuition, Inner Knowing, Perception)

• Move through life intuitively guided.
• Medicine: imagination, creativity, dreams, spiritual awareness.

Crown Chakra (Higher Consciousness, Wisdom, Connection to the Universe)

• Trust the divine flow of life.
• Medicine: silence, surrender, moments of transcendence and bliss.

Getting to Nosara

For anyone looking to visit Nosara, here’s what my travel route looked like:

• Flight: Direct from MSP to LIR (about 5 hours).
• Airport Transportation: We used Gypsy Transportation for a smooth 2.5-hour ride to Nosara.

Accommodations: Tres Hermanas Villa

We stayed at the stunning Tres Hermanas Villa, which comfortably housed our group of 15. The villa featured:

• Three bedrooms inside the main house and a separate bunk room.
• A fully equipped kitchen and open-air dining/lounge area.
• A private pool and a covered, open-air yoga studio.
• An additional room outside the main house.
• Each room had an outdoor shower—pure magic!
• A 2-3 minute walk to the beach and Destiny Café (a favorite for coffee and smoothies).
• Easy access to a walking path leading to a shopping area with Organico (great coffee) and an organic market across the street.

Getting Around: Walk or Tuk Tuk

Nosara is an easy town to explore without a rental car.

• Our villa was in a prime location, allowing us to walk to the beach, food spots, shopping, and a market.
• Instead of Uber or Lyft, Tuk Tuks are the way to go! These small, covered motorcycle taxis fit about three people and are a fun and affordable way to get around.
• We took Tuk Tuks to Bodhi Tree Yoga and when heading home from dinner at La Luna.

Helpful Notes for Travelers

• Airport Transport: Use Gypsy Cab for a smooth ride from Liberia Airport.
• Yoga: Check out Bodhi Tree Yoga for incredible open-air classes.
• Transportation: Tuk Tuks are fun, affordable, and the best way to get around town.
• Food & Drinks:
  • Organico – My go-to for coffee.
  • La Luna – A must-visit for a sunset dinner.
  • Destiny Café – Great for smoothies and quick bites; get the cloud coffee.
• Currency & Payments: They have a local currency, but I used my card for most purchases.
• Tipping: Not as common as in the U.S., but I tipped drivers, house staff, and other service providers.

This was exactly what my soul needed—quiet, sunshine, rest, space to flow, connect, and just be.

Costa Rica, I’ll be back. Until then, I’ll be carrying a little piece of pura vida with me wherever I go.