​The Magic of the Jungle Calls. An All-Inclusive Luxury Retreat.

COSTA RICA

September 4 – 9, 2026

For the courageous man or woman ready to step off the treadmill of perfectionism, overachievement, and relentless productivity. This transformational immersion was designed just for you. Drop the mask, connect to core, and untangle habitual patterns. Discover the radiance lying dormant within.

A PROFOUND EXPERIENCE AWAITS

Over six unforgettable days, the jungle becomes your classroom, the ceremonies your teachers, and your body the vessel of catharsis. Each morning unfolds with intention, leading into enchanting encounters and offering transformative depth. Combining luxury, adventure, and restoration, a carefully curated blend of modalities opens the mind, relaxes the body, and rejuvenates the spirit.

Journey to the Jungle, Awaken Through the Senses, Return to the Heart

Nestled in the Savegre Mountains at Imiloa Institute, this 5-Star Retreat Center rests on 22 acres of lush jungle and offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Deep within this sanctuary where infinite potential dances through the air, the magic of the rainforest holds the space. Every sound, scent, and sensation guides you home to your true self.

Led by Licensed Professional Counselor and Somatics Facilitator, Alicia Zielinski Straub, this all-inclusive retreat experience serves as the container to unearth the radiant core of who you are. Ease into a state of sensory delight and tap into your natural intelligence.

Stop Performing and Begin Living Fully

The time has come. After years of striving and proving, I invite you to step off the relentless wheel of perfectionism, achievement, and constant motion. You’ve choreographed your days with precision, seeking safety in certainty. Yet, a quiet pull inside whispers that another path may exist. Cut off from your inner truth, you feel unbalanced, almost invisible.

Unmasking: Connecting to Core

Come home to the authentic self, uncover the masks, and release habitual patterns and defensive habits.  The promise of growth and breakthrough is yours to embrace as you:

  • Release the unconscious defenses that keep you “on”
  • Reclaim freedom from overachievement and perfectionism
  • Restore nervous system balance and inner harmony
  • Connect authentically – with self and others
  • Live more fully, freely, and deeply

Tranquility Meets Transformation

Surrender to the awe of the present moment. This experiential journey is crafted to indulge your senses, enliven your body, and soothe your mind. The land itself becomes a sacred sanctuary, offering its quiet wisdom and reverence. Nourishing, gourmet plant-based meals uplift your energy, while luxurious accommodations support deep rest and renewal. Authentic, heartfelt connections open space for transformative emotional shifts. Mindful movement and meditation release long-held unprocessed remnants of the past. Every element of the itinerary is intentionally woven to guide you back home to your heart.

You Will Leave Feeling:

Balanced and grounded – mind, body, and spirit aligned
Emotionally liberated – freedom from old patterns and defenses
Deeply connected – to your inner self, to a supportive, transformative community, and to a greater sense of purpose
Sensually alive – invigorated by touch, tastes, sounds, smells, and movement
Empowered and radiant – ready to live your life from a place of authenticity and joy

 

 

The Retreat Experience

You’ll be welcomed with warmth and ease as you step onto a private charter flight bound for the coastal haven of Quepos, the emerald tapestry of Costa Rica unfolding beneath you. Upon landing, a dedicated driver awaits with a luxury SUV, guiding you along winding jungle roads toward your sanctuary at the Imiloa Institute.

From the moment you arrive at this private retreat campus exclusively reserved for our group, time gently loosens its grip. A cool towel and refreshing tropical mocktail greet your senses, offered by faces that feel instantly familiar. The air is perfumed with the scent of rainforest blossoms, the river hums its steady song nearby, and just beyond the treetops, the Pacific Ocean glimmers at the edge of the horizon.

The Cuisine

The Art of Mindful Nourishment

At Imiloa, each meal becomes a ceremonial celebration – a harmony of Costa Rica’s vibrant flavors and intentional culinary alchemy, created to restore balance from within.

You’ll savor three daily, 5-star, plant-based, farm-to-table meals prepared with ingredients harvested from the property’s flourishing permaculture gardens or gathered from nearby organic farms. Every plate arrives infused with color, vitality, and deep-hearted care – nourishment that is as breathtaking to behold as it is to receive.

Enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, flavored waters, homemade juice, fruits, and snacks. Superfood smoothies, detox elixirs, and specialty coffees can be ordered at an additional cost at Imiloa’s Wellness Bar.

Daily Activities

Breathwork Journeys

Guided practices where conscious, intentional breathing techniques are used to influence your physical, emotional, and mental state. More than just a relaxation exercise, these structured experiences take you on an inward exploration leading to deep insights, emotional release, and a sense of expanded awareness.

Somatic Nervous System Practices

Techniques that deeply increase awareness of the sensations in your body (the “soma”). Intended to regulate your nervous system and release stress, tension, or trauma. Your body holds memories and emotions. By working directly with physical sensations, you can influence and enhance your emotional and mental state.

Mindful Meditation & Embodied Movement

Focusing on the breath, senses, or guided prompts, you will increase your capacity to pay attention, on purpose, to the present moment, without judgment. Gentle, fluid movements allow the observation of thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations as they arise, rather than by identifying with them. The goal is to release attachment, cultivate awareness, clarity, and inner calm.

Transformational Workshops

Immersive, guided experiences designed for you to foster deep personal growth, self-awareness, and lasting change. The focus is on inner exploration, mindset shifts, and emotional or energetic breakthroughs.

Nature Immersion

A conscious practice of fully engaging with the natural environment to reconnect with the rhythms, beauty, and intelligence of the earth. These intentional experiences calm the mind, restore the body, and awaken the senses. Helping to reduce stress, boost creativity, and strengthen emotional resilience, immersing yourself in nature will create a sense of awe and connection to something greater.

Sacred Gatherings

Sound Healing

A therapeutic practice that uses vibrations, tones, and frequencies to promote physical, emotional, and energetic balance in your body. Everything in your body, mind, and environment has a natural vibration, and certain sounds can help you realign, release, and restore harmony.

Cacao Ceremony

A sacred ritual that uses pure, ceremonial-grade cacao to open the heart, enhance connection, and support emotional and spiritual well-being. Ceremonial cacao gently elevates mood, increases focus, and encourages introspection. It stimulates feelings of love, compassion, connection support, and unity.

Blue Clay Ceremony

A ritualistic wellness practice that uses natural blue clay—rich in minerals like silica, calcium, and magnesium—to detoxify, nourish, and restore the body and skin while also supporting emotional and energetic balance.

Fire Ceremony

A purifying, illuminating experience that uses the element of fire as a symbolic and transformative tool to release what no longer serves you, set intentions, and invite renewal.

Ecstatic Dance

Free-form, expressive movement where music and rhythm is used to connect with your body, emotions, and inner energy. Unlike structured dance styles, there are no steps or choreography—it’s about authentic self-expression and letting go.

Amenities & Support

  • 24/7 Staff Assistance: Imiloa staff support via WhatsApp for any retreat-related needs.
  • High-Speed Fiber Optic Internet: Stay connected with reliable internet in your accommodation.
  • Post-retreat integration support to help you carry your transformation home

The Weather & Terrain

Days in Costa Rica are typically warm to hot, with evenings offering a pleasant coolness to provide relief from the heat. Temperatures typically range from highs of around 85°F to lows near 75°F. Rain showers are likely in the afternoon, providing a welcome break from the sun. Umbrellas at the doorstep provide respite.

Nestled in the Savegre Mountains, the retreat offers the perfect opportunity to explore rugged terrain and fully immerse yourself in the natural surroundings. You will encounter jungle trails with varying inclines, stairs, rocks, and exposed tree roots, so sturdy footwear such as sneakers or secure sandals is recommended. While the trails can accommodate a range of fitness levels, a basic level of physical ability is helpful to enjoy the experience fully. The retreat center blends indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing you to connect with nature – expect gentle winds, the presence of geckos, lizards, and jungle insects, along with the vibrant sounds of monkeys, tropical birds, and cicadas.

What Is Not Included: Please Note…

This is a substance-free retreat. A substance-free environment is one in which all guests agree to keep their space free from substances. Substances are defined to include alcohol, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cannabis, other smoking materials, plant medicine, and illicit and illegal drugs.

Costs associated with passports (required), airfare, flight changes, airline baggage fees for all baggage, medical and travel insurance, vaccinations, gratuities, and taxes for personal services, spa services, and tours/excursions must be covered by the participant.

Your Investment

Your luxurious retreat experience starts with a deposit of $1,000 USD.

Unmasking Includes:
– 6 Days / 5 Nights at Imiloa Institute, Costa Rica
– Private round-trip charter flight from San José (SJO) to Imiloa
– Luxury accommodations, all meals, somatics, workshops, ceremonies, Playa Linda beach excursion

To Join Us

– Choose your room type.
– Make your non-refundable retainer of $1,000 USD
– The remaining balance is due 30 days after the deposit.
– Payment Plans are available upon request.
– Final payments are due by August 1, 2026.

Your Invitation

Step into a sanctuary where the rainforest whispers your truth, ceremonies open your heart, and every movement, meal, and breath guides you home.

Unmask. Release. Reclaim your authentic self. Restore balance within. Connect deeply with yourself, others, and the natural intelligence within.

Your journey begins here.

With Love & Gratitude,
Alicia

Frequently Asked Questions and Potential Concerns

Is this retreat for me?

If you’re a man or woman looking to step off the treadmill of perfectionism, relentless productivity, and overachievement – Unmasking is for you.

As you connect to the core through a combination of somatic practices, group workshops, activities, and the felt sense of genuine togetherness during shared meals, you will drop the masks and begin living from a place of truth accompanied by an increased sense of ease and contentment.

What is Somatics?

Somatics is the practice of tuning into your body’s sensations, movements, and inner signals to release stress, unwind stored patterns, and return the nervous system to balance. It is rooted in the idea that the body holds memory – stress, trauma, habits, emotions, and experiences.

 Somatic practices include mindful movement, breathwork, yoga, meditation, and light touch. Somatics helps you notice where you’re tight, holding, bracing, or disconnected. When we bring conscious attention to these places, the body can reorganize, soften, and heal.

I’ve never traveled alone. Where do I start?

For many, this is one of the most powerful aspects of the experience – stepping into the unknown by oneself for the very first time. It cultivates, as well as increases one’s sense of agency – the feeling of I can do this and am fully supported.

You will receive guidance from the very first call. Assistance will be available from flight recommendations to packing lists, and you will feel hand-held throughout the entire experience.

I’m uncomfortable traveling with people I do not know.

Guests who enroll are like-minded individuals who share a heartfelt intention to relax, release, and let go. Unmasking has been curated to ensure that the ideal conditions are in place for individuals to feel comfortable, safe, and at ease with themselves and one another. This is the magic of corrective emotional experiences – to feel witnessed and celebrated.

A pre-retreat call will allow for introductions several weeks before our journey begins. A WhatsApp chat will allow us to establish a connection and grow familiar with one another beforehand, so by the time we gather in person, we’ll already be feeling like long-time friends.

How could I possibly take time away from my family or work?

Learning to take the time and create the space to connect to the core is a requirement for dropping the masks, untangling habitual patterns that no longer serve, and living more in alignment with what matters most.

Gifting oneself with this opportunity affirms one’s sense of worthiness, as well as the deservingness to tap into one’s true radiance, which then continuously shines on those around you. It is a ripple effect.

Do I have to participate in all activities?

This is your retreat where everything is an invitation, not an obligation. Each offering is designed to support your experience and is suitable for practitioners of all levels, from beginners to the most seasoned.

Rest is built into the schedule; however, you can use any of the amenities at your leisure at any time – hiking the grounds, relaxing by the infinity pool, or sinking into the comfiest chairs with a book or journal in hand.

I need a roommate. How do I arrange for that?

You will lovingly be paired another like-hearted participant if you select double or triple occupancy. Before arrival, you’ll be invited to the Unmasking WhatsApp chat to connect with your retreat family and your assigned roommate.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

Absolutely. Imiloa’s 5-star culinary team specializes in plant-based, gluten-free, and allergy-conscious meals. Once you’ve confirmed your retreat registration, Imiloa will provide a form to note your dietary preferences, allowing their chefs to ensure you’re well-nourished throughout your stay.

What is the cancellation policy?

Because Imiloa operates as a private, non-refundable retreat campus, all payments are non-refundable once made. In exceptional circumstances, your booking may be transferred to another participant only with prior approval, and all remaining payments must be fulfilled in full.

Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended to protect your investment against illness, travel delays, or emergencies.

What do I pack?

A detailed packing list will be sent after registration, but essentials include: light yoga clothing, sandals, a swimsuit, a journal, a reusable water bottle, insect repellent, sunscreen, and an open heart.