Book this package or get in touch to design your ideal retreat with us. No fixed schedule — this week is built entirely around you. Small groups (private rooms only).

Real time with founders Sally & Eric. A free-roaming herd of rescue horses, thriving and healthy, who choose to come and share space with you. Home-cooked, farm-to-table food, soil to soul. Miles of quiet trail to walk off the stress and seep in the nurture.

And once you arrive, nothing left to do but feel taken care of — by vibrant land, an active herd and welcoming humans, ready to meet you exactly where you are.

Imagine waking up to the sounds of nature, feeling the warm breeze on your skin, staring out into the awe-inspiring vastness of the volcano valley where the horses graze peacefully, and knowing that for your time here, your only job is to slow down, let your senses be nourished, and breathe.

This is your invitation to reconnect.

We are here to support you.

This experience is for you if:

• Life feels like too much—and you need space to breathe.

• You've tried resting, reading, even retreating—but you still feel like something is missing.

• You love animals and nature and know they have more to teach you.

• You want solitude, but not isolation. Quiet, but also connection.

• You want to feel like you again—a re-fill of positive energy.

• You want to be fully taken care of — in body, in company, and in nature — without having to think about a single detail.

There's no “right” reason to come. Just the feeling that maybe it's time.

Tula Vida Ranch is simply awe-inspiring. The expansive volcano views. The vibrant nature. The bird song. The sturdy, stunning buildings. And the calm, majestic herd of grazing horses all around.

The psychological benefits of experiencing awe are well-documented—it has been shown to lower heart rate, increase oxytocin (the feel-good hormone), and reduce inflammation.

“Experiencing awe regularly is deeply beneficial for our mental well-being because it helps us to feel connected to something bigger than ourselves.” — Psychology Today

This retreat is your chance to step away from the noise, immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring presence of horses and nature, and return home feeling refreshed, rebalanced, and reconnected.

• Opportunity to create exactly the mix of activities and down-time that you need

• Your own private sanctuary – a beautiful private room with breathtaking views

• Farm-to-table, soil-to-soul meals – nourishing, homemade food made with fresh, local ingredients

• Unforgettable horse experiences – connect deeply with our intuitive herd

• Qi Gong with Friesian horses – move, breathe, and feel their powerful yet gentle presence

• A tour of our garden and hydroponics system – see sustainability in action

• Miles of quiet trail – your silent integration path, to walk, journal, or simply soak in the beauty around you

• Warm company – full run of the property alongside our free-roaming herd and our resident dogs

• Enjoy a day at the local hot springs – let the warm waters melt away stress

• Opt for a mindful horseback riding experience – ride to a hidden waterfall deep in the jungle

• All local transportation included – just arrive, and we'll take care of the rest

We are here to support you.

Tula Vida isn't just a place—it's a feeling.

A space where time slows down, where horses help you tune into yourself, and where nature reminds you what truly matters.

There is a real sense of belonging and care that is deeply felt by guests:

“Sally, Eric, and the entire staff welcome you not as guests—but as family. Their hospitality is beyond generous; it's sincere. You feel seen. Held. Nourished. Tula Vida is not just a retreat from the world. It's a return to yourself. If you're longing to rest, to breathe, to remember what life feels like—this is the place.”

We are here to support you.

No group schedule, no pressure. Just nourishing experiences designed to gently bring you back into balance, in a setting that feels like nature is holding you.

This time was designed for those who want a balance of private and shared time. Who want to experience Tula Vida and all that we offer, without the structure of a retreat.

With a mix of private experiences, space and time for reflection, fun offsite adventures as well as shared group meals, this is an easy stay to say yes to and get a whole mix of amazing experiences packaged just for you.

Ask us about customising this outline to get the retreat you have been dreaming of. Maybe you want more (or less) horse time. Maybe you'd rather go paddleboarding than horse riding. Perhaps a guided hike is calling you, or a spa treatment to round things off.

Some guests like to join a local volunteering project during their stay. Perhaps there is a zipline with your name on it. Or perhaps you want a shorter (or longer) stay with us.

Whatever it is, just ask and if we can, we will make it happen (email Sally directly at tulavidateam@gmail.com).

We include guided nature and horse experiences, breathing tools, mindful movement, coaching, play and fun, as well as space and support for your own reflection or practice time in beautiful spaces.

With the Tula Vida horses as guides, you will get to know your own unique nervous system better and explore how to work with it (rather than against it) to create the state, feeling or energy that you want more of. The goal is not to control everything (control is an illusion anyway). The practice is to build a flexible and resilient nervous system that can handle whatever happens - like the horses.

Other things the horses model and teach us:

• Stress management

• Being rather than just Doing

• Becoming truly present and mindful amidst distractions

• Leading ourselves through times of distress

• Emotional and social intelligence - building connection in challenging circumstances

• Cultivating presence and positive, inspiring energy

• Belonging in the herd, connected and supported

No prior horse experience is necessary – all levels are welcome. Tula Vida horse activities will be mainly on the ground.

Away from the sights and sounds of busy human life, we have created an oasis for both humans and horses. Every time we step onto the land we feel the power of the natural world to soothe, nourish and restore us. 

Tula Vida Ranch

Tula Vida Ranch is an 85 acre sanctuary surrounded by 3 volcanos, on the edge of the cloud forest, offering expansive sunset views, and a pristine rainforest, with rivers, springs and ponds - the horses roam freely in this stunning environment where you will find you can breathe more deeply and re-discover your flow.

Accommodation

Our rooms are beautiful and comfortable with a terrace and individual bathrooms.  

The Villas are double rooms with private bathrooms and a stunning terrace. The Horse Manor has private rooms with a shared kitchen/living area and a stunning terrace where the horses may come and join you for your morning coffee. 

Our communal lodge is where we share meals, practice yoga and is a safe, comfortable space to rest. 

Please Note: The Tula Vida property is an alcohol and smoke-free environment.

Nourishment

Meals are home-cooked with love, using fresh local ingredients.  Our water comes from our abundant natural springs and we have air fresh from the trees to breathe - everything is designed to be in harmony with the surroundings and support your mind, body and spirit to rest, re-energize and renew.

Environment

We are 100% off-the-grid with our own solar power and fresh spring water living in harmony with nature while remaining a safe, comfortable human retreat. We even have good internet!

We have planted 1000s of trees and plants already, including a food forest and a nursery for endangered trees, to encourage the forest to regenerate and give wildlife corridors to pass through the neighboring national parks.  It is a true sanctuary for all visitors, which includes shy tapirs, rare bell-birds and plenty of toucans, sloths and monkeys.

We spend a lot of time out on the stunning 85 acre property - with trails, rivers, waterfalls, valleys, primary rainforest and abundant wildlife - truly accessible nature.  

The kind of place where your nervous system starts to settle before you’ve even unpacked.

Herd

Our herd of rescue horses roam freely across the property — you'll see them in the fields, on the trails, sometimes right outside your window. 

An integral part of the Pathway to Peace program, the horses are co-facilitating healing and release for all of the participants.

Tula Vida Foundation is a 501c3 charity registered in the US with a mission to rescue horses in Costa Rica and sponsor people to come for transformational horse experiences and retreats.

A visit to us supports not just yourself but also the natural environment, the rescue horses, the local community who work with us and people without the means to have these kinds of experiences.

Visit the Tula Vida website for more details.

• 2 Horse Experiences: 1 group & 1 individual horse-led coaching session with experienced facilitators Eric, Sally and/or Nora.

• Qi Gong with the horses: Enjoy mindful, grounding movement with Eric Kolesar and the herd.

• Garden & Hydroponics Tour: See our blossoming food forest and endangered tree nursery in its beginning stages - pick your own lettuce leaves & herbs for your salad & sample whatever is in season.

• Horse Riding Connection: Experience riding your horse mindfully, starting with relationship, connection and breath. Discover what is possible in this kind of union.

• Soak in Hot Springs: An offsite trip to local family-owned, natural mineral hot springs, transport included.

• All Meals Onsite: Local, farm-fresh, soil-to-soul Costa Rica style cooking, we eat meals family-style together.

• The Trails: Miles of private trails across the property — your silent integration path, to wander at your own pace whenever you need space to let something settle in the body.

• Warm Company: Full run of the property alongside our free-roaming herd and our resident dogs.

• 6 Nights Accommodation: At Tula Vida Ranch in a stunning, comfortable private room.

• Transport: Airport transfers & other local transport is all included.

• Total Peace of Mind: All meals and experiences included mean you genuinely don't have to open your wallet once you step onto the property. Once you arrive, there's nothing more to arrange or pay for — all you have to do is show up.

• Airfare: You arrange your own travel to/from Liberia airport (LIR) in Costa Rica on retreat arrival/departure dates

• Alcoholic beverages: We recommend not drinking alcohol during the retreat so as to be fully present and connected

• Trip insurance: We require that travel insurance is purchased in case of any need to cancel, travel disruption or medical emergencies

• Tips: This is optional but often people want to leave tips for staff and drivers

There's no fixed schedule here — this time is built entirely around you. Think of your stay as a menu, not an itinerary: tell us what you're craving more of, and we'll shape the mix around it.

• More Horses: Extra time with the herd — another group or individual horse-led session, or simply more unstructured time being with them.

• More Hiking: Guided treks further into the primary rainforest, past rivers and waterfalls, deeper into the valleys.

• More Adventure: A horseback ride to a hidden jungle waterfall, paddleboarding, or a zipline — whatever gets your heart going.

• More Spa: A restorative massage, extra soak time at the natural hot springs, or a slower, more pampered pace.

• More Mindfulness: Qi Gong with the Friesian horses, breathwork, meditation, or quiet journaling time by the lake.

• More Water: A day at the hot springs, time by the spring-fed pond, or a swim spot on the land.

• More Culture: A deeper dive into the garden and hydroponics harvest, or a visit to a local community project.

  Whatever the mix, just tell us what you're drawn to and we'll build your days around it — email Sally directly at tulavidateam@gmail.com to start designing your own ideal week.

• Make It Even More Yours: Want to shape it further? Just ask. Whatever it is, if we can make it happen, we will.