Costa Rica:
Pura Vida Within
An Ayahuasca Retreat with
Plant Medicine People
Photo by Alberth Osorio, Pexeles
Join others from the Fargo–Moorhead area on an Ayahuasca retreat in Costa Rica guided by Plant Medicine People.
Journey with a trusted community of local, like-minded people.
Continue integrating together after returning home.
Why Travel Together?
Travel with a trusted F–M community for a deeply supported plant medicine experience in Costa Rica. Tanya at Mindful Wanderer will guide our group before we leave, help with travel logistics, and host integration gatherings. The experienced team at Plant Medicine People will facilitate every aspect of the retreat and ceremonies in Costa Rica.
Plant medicine journeys can be profoundly meaningful, and they don't end when the retreat does.
By traveling with a local community, you'll arrive already connected, experience the week alongside familiar faces, and return home with people who understand your journey.
Why Plant Medicine People?
Choosing the right facilitators was my highest priority.
I chose to partner with Plant Medicine People because of Kat and her team's deep experience, their respect for the medicines, and their integrity. Their experience in offering a variety of Master Plant Dietas, thoughtful approach to ceremony, and commitment to integration reflect the kind of experience I want to bring to our community.
Plant medicine is only part of the journey—how we make meaning of the experience afterward is just as important. That's why I love that they provide post-retreat integration, and why I'll continue supporting our local group when we return home.
Image from Plant Medicine People
The Journey
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A Traditional Plant Medicine Retreat
Held in the mountains of Santa Elena, Costa Rica, this immersive retreat is rooted in traditional Amazonian plant wisdom and held by an experienced facilitation team led by Plant Medicine People.
The retreat includes:
Three Ayahuasca ceremonies
A personalized Master Plant Dieta
Daily Rapéh offerings
Temazcal (sweat lodge)
Cacao ceremony
Waterfall hikes
Fire circles
Daily integration
Nature immersion
Organic dieta-friendly meals
Four weeks of post-retreat integration with Plant Medicine People
Everything is held within a trauma-informed, intentional, and carefully supported environment designed for deep healing and transformation.
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At the heart of this retreat is a carefully held ceremonial journey guided by the experienced facilitators at Plant Medicine People. Every ceremony is approached with intention, preparation, and deep respect for the traditions from which these medicines come.
This retreat includes three Ayahuasca ceremonies, a personalized Master Plant Dieta, daily Rapéh offerings, and a heart-opening Cacao ceremony. Together, these experiences create a supportive container for healing, insight, and personal transformation.
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Ayahuasca is a sacred plant medicine that has been used for generations by Indigenous peoples of the Amazon for healing, spiritual growth, and self-discovery. Each person's experience is unique, but many describe it as an opportunity to explore patterns, emotions, and beliefs with greater clarity and compassion.
While the ceremonies themselves can be deeply transformative, the true value often lies in how those insights are integrated into everyday life. Throughout the retreat, you'll be supported with preparation, daily integration, and compassionate guidance from the Plant Medicine People team.
Have questions about Ayahuasca, safety, preparation, or the ceremonies?Plant Medicine People has created an excellent resource that answers many of the most common questions. If you'd like to learn more about the retreat itself, you can explore their FAQ at the bottom of this page.
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One of the unique aspects of this retreat is the opportunity to work with a personalized Master Plant Dieta.
Each participant is paired with a specific plant ally, thoughtfully co-selected with Kat Courtney, to support your individual journey. Plant teachers such as White Sage, Rose, Bobinsana, Ajo Sacha, Oak, Cedar, Damiana, Marosa, or others may be selected.
Throughout the week, you'll build a relationship with this plant through daily practices, allowing its unique teachings and healing qualities to unfold alongside the Ayahuasca ceremonies.
This tradition is rooted in Amazonian plant wisdom and offers an opportunity to deepen your connection with nature, yourself, and the subtle ways healing can emerge.
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Near the conclusion of our week together, we'll gather in a ceremonial space with Mama Cacao.
Ceremonial cacao is gentle and heart-centered. It offers an opportunity to reflect on your journey, reconnect with yourself and the community you've shared it with, and celebrate the transformation that has unfolded throughout the retreat.
Held with music, intention, and gratitude, the cacao ceremony provides a beautiful transition as we begin preparing to carry the lessons of Costa Rica back into everyday life.
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The ceremonies are the heart of the retreat, but they're held within an entire ecosystem of support.
Every aspect of the retreat is intentionally designed to support your nervous system, deepen your connection with nature, and help you integrate the experience as it unfolds.
Throughout the week, you'll be immersed in practices that nourish both body and spirit, including:
Daily Rapéh offerings to support grounding, presence, and intention
Temazcal (sweat lodge) for purification, renewal, and reflection
Guided hikes through Costa Rica's lush forests and waterfalls
Flower baths as a ritual of cleansing and integration
Daily integration circles to process insights in a supportive community
Organic, dieta-friendly meals thoughtfully prepared to nourish your body and complement the medicines
Time for rest, reflection, and connection in the beauty of the retreat center
Each element has been carefully woven together by the Plant Medicine People team to create an environment where healing can unfold naturally.
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The retreat is only one part of the experience.
After returning home, our Fargo–Moorhead group will continue gathering in person for integration, reflection, and community support. My goal is to help you weave your experience into everyday life and deepen your support locally.
Image from Plant Medicine People
Itinerary
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Arrival at any time during the day or evening in San Jose, Costa Rica. We have reserved a block of rooms in a lovely local hotel. The shuttle to the retreat location will depart from the hotel at 7:30 am on Day 2.
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We’ll arrive at the retreat center and acclimate to our tropical destination. To begin, we’ll connect with the land, ask permission from the local spirits to work with us, set our intentions, and get to know one another. Ceremony facilitators will provide an overview of the Ayahuasca process, and then the maestros will open each participant's dieta in a mini-ceremony. There’s no Ayahuasca the first evening so we can ground and connect with our Master Plant.
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After a delicious breakfast, the day will begin with flower baths, the first Temazcal ceremony, a waterfall hike, talking circles for the first Ayahuasca ceremony, and a healthy, grounding lunch. Facilitators will conduct one-on-one interviews with each participant before the first ceremony that evening.
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After breakfast, PMP will offer flower baths, nature walks, massages, and some downtime to integrate the ceremony experience. After lunch, we will meet for an integration circle and begin to give language to what is transpiring in the healing portal. We will have a delicious dinner and a fire circle ceremony in the evening.
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The second Temezcal/Waterfall walk happens after breakfast, followed by a big, supportive lunch, flower baths, and time for massages and rest. The facilitators will hold the next round of interviews in preparation for our evening ceremony.
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NOBLE SILENCE DAY
This day is all about a profound connection to our Master Plants. We will awaken and honor noble silence all day. We will enjoy a quiet contemplative morning, eating our two meals in silence, enjoying meditative flower baths, and preparing for the final Ayahuasca ceremony that evening.At the end of the ceremony, we will break Noble Silence by inviting everyone to sing the Icaro we learned the day before. A bonfire will gather all those who wish to use their voices so we can talk about what's been transpiring.
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On the last day in the dieta portals, participants will have plenty of time to connect with the land and their master plants. We will have two powerful integration workshops, 3 organic meals, and will close each dieta portal throughout the day.
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Our last full day as a tribe will be spent in celebration. After a light breakfast, we will connect with Mama Cacao in an authentic ceremonial portal, followed by an afternoon tree-planting ceremony to give back to the beautiful land. We will also have a big feast and fireside connection with music and laughter that evening.
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We will enjoy breakfast together one last time at the retreat center before heading out on our early morning shuttles to the San Jose airport. Flights leaving early afternoon, from 2:30 pm on, are recommended.
This retreat may be a good fit if you're feeling called toward personal growth, healing, self-discovery, or exploring plant medicine in a safe, intentional, and well-supported environment. Whether this is your first experience or you're returning to deepen your relationship with the medicines, you'll be held by an experienced facilitation team every step of the way.
Is this retreat for you?
Photo by Plant Medicine People
What’s Included & Pricing
Everything you need for a supported, meaningful journey—before, during, and after Costa Rica.
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Dates
November 5 to 13, 2027
Detailed Itinerary
Coming soon!What’s Included
One-night hotel stay in San José, shared room
Luxury shuttle to and from retreat center
Shared tent at retreat center
Local, organic, dieta-friendly meals crafted by mindful chefs at retreat center
Ceremonies: 3 Ayahuasca · 1 Cacao · Daily Master Plant Work · Rapéh Offerings
Facilitator Ratio: 1 facilitator per 5 participants
Personalized preparation interview to ensure physical, emotional, and mental safety
Integration circles, fire circles, daily flower baths, and personal support
Traditional Temazcal (sweat lodge), tree-planting ceremony, and nature-based rituals
Peaceful natural setting with waterfalls, rivers, and jungle trails
Indigenous-trained shamanic team led by Kat Courtney
4 weeks of post-retreat integration support by led Plant Medicine People
Group coordination and on-site facilitation
Fargo-Moorhead pre-departure group gatherings for preparation and cohesion
Post-retreat connection in F-M area
Access to the detailed digital itinerary
What’s Not Included
International airfare
Lunches and dinners outside of the retreat center
$250 in-person cash fee for sacred plants (covers all medicines and sacraments)
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
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Standard Shared Room Rate: $3,900
Deposit: $1500 (non-refundable after July 1)
Private Tent Upgrade: +$1,200 (limited availability)
Payment
A special rate is available if you pay in full at registration.
Early registration rate $3,900 available until Feb. 1 using code: JOURNEY
Structured monthly plan is also available.
Full program balance is due by August 1 to prepare for our November departure.
Your deposit secures your place. All participants must complete the Plant Medicine People Intake Process and be accepted. Any participants not accepted by PMP will receive a full refund.
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Arrival & Departure
The retreat takes place at a center in Santa Elena, Costa Rica.
You’ll arrive on November 5th and depart on November 13th after 2:30 pm at San Jose Airport. The first night, we will stay at a hotel in San Jose. The following day, a shuttle will take us to the retreat center for the week.
International Flights
International airfare is not included. You can opt to extend travel to explore Costa Rica. Tanya will share her flight itinerary for those who wish to fly together from Fargo.
Domestic Travel
Your ground transportation for program activities in the itinerary is included.
Travel Insurance
Strongly encouraged for international travel.
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Room Types
Shared rooms are included. You do not need to know someone before you go. The beauty in this experience is becoming friends with aligned individuals.
Private tent upgrade: + $1,200 (limited).
Retreat Stay
Reconnect with nature while enjoying the comforts of thoughtfully prepared glamping accommodations. Each tent offers a peaceful retreat, complete with luxurious linens and the option of single or double occupancy. Guests have access to beautiful, clean, single-sex bathhouses stocked with fresh towels, unlimited fresh spring water, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
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Pre-Departure Gatherings
We will meet before the retreat to cover logistics, cultural context, and gentle introductions with others on the journey. These gatherings create early coherence and connection.
Group Coherence & Support
You’ll begin the retreat feeling prepared and familiar with your fellow travelers.
Post-Retreat Integration
Plant Medicine People will offer 4 online integration sessions. In addition, we will gather to reflect on our experiences together and support a continued connection to help bring it back into your everyday life.
Integration is an essential part of the experience.
If you feel the pull, reserve your space
by Feb 1.
Early registration rate until Feb. 1 with code: JOURNEY
Photo by Plant Medicine People
This journey is held by experienced facilitators who guide the flow and ceremonies.
Your Facilitators
Tanya
Retreat designer and facilitator rooted in experiential journeys and meaning-rich travel. Tanya facilitates the journey's arc with depth, grounding, and intentionality, supporting logistics and embodied practices throughout the path. Learn more about Tanya.
Kat
The in-country logistics and ceremony of the retreat are led by Kat Courtney, Plant Medicine People Co-founder and 20-year ceremonial veteran with Ayahuasca. She facilitates alongside a highly experienced group of compassionate, Indigenous and Indigenous-trained facilitators. Plant Medicine People is dedicated to ethical, trauma-informed plant medicine experiences rooted in respect for traditional wisdom and thoughtful integration. This retreat is held in a profoundly safe, nurturing, and intentional container so you can soften, release, and remember who you truly are.
Photo from Plant Medicine People