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 surrounded by 3 volcanos, an expansive sunset view and 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.
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-energise and renew.
Environment and Herd
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 neighbouring 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 72 acre property - with trails, rivers, waterfalls, valleys, primary rainforest and abundant wildlife - truly accessible nature.
Tula Vida Foundation is a 501c 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 kind of experiences.
Sometimes you just need to feel a place to find out what the fuss is all about. The Tula Vida Taster is a two-night stay designed to give you exactly that — a real, unhurried taste of life at the ranch.
You’ll sleep here, eat here, breathe the air and wander the trails. You’ll sit with the horses in a guided experience and feel what happens when you slow down enough to really be with them. You’ll explore the food forest and regeneration project, understand the land we’re tending and why it matters. And you’ll have space — real space — to simply be.
This isn’t a condensed version of something bigger. It’s a complete experience in its own right: a small, quiet sample of all we have to offer, woven together with care.
Maybe this is part of a bigger Costa Rica adventure — a few days in the mountains before heading to the coast. Maybe you want to dip your toe into horse experiences before committing to a longer retreat. Or maybe you're a retreat leader quietly wondering if this could be the place for your people.
Whatever brings you here, you're welcome.
Eighty-five acres of off-grid sanctuary, set between three volcanoes, next to a rainforest preserve. The kind of place where your nervous system starts to settle before you’ve even unpacked.
Wander the trails at your own pace. Find a favourite spot. Watch the light change over the valley. There’s no agenda — just open land and the rare gift of genuine quiet.
A guided tour of our food forest and garden will show you where your meals come from and how we’re working to restore and regenerate the land. We’ve planted thousands of trees and created wildlife corridors connecting the surrounding national parks. This isn’t a backdrop — it’s a living, growing project, and you’ll get to walk right through the heart of it.
Feel the earth under your feet, the weight of real roots around you. Something in us remembers our connection to living earth as our form of safety and nourishment — and settles.
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. The centrepiece of your Taster is a guided horse experience: a quiet, unhurried session that invites you to build a real connection with a non-verbal, deeply sensitive and profoundly present herd member.
Horses respond to what’s really going on inside us. What unfolds in a session is always touching, often surprising, and hard to put into words until you’ve felt it for yourself.
All meals are home-cooked with love, using fresh ingredients from our garden or sourced from the local area. We do serve meat and we can cater to most dietary preferences.
Come and be taken care of. Feel your taste buds come alive with fresh Costa Rican fruits, share the culture in local dishes and feel a sense of belonging around our table where all are welcome.
Start your mornings with a session of either Qi Gong with the horses (a gentle, meditative practice in the presence of the herd) or yoga on the rooftop deck with views of the volcanoes.
Start the day in your body, in the presence of the herd, and feel the difference it makes.
Every evening, we watch the sun paint the sky spectacular colors and sink down over the valley. It’s a simple ritual, and often one of the things guests remember most.
Enjoy the awe and wonder, and let the day close gently around you.
2 nights at Tula Vida Ranch with full access to miles of trails, surrounding horses, spring-fed pond and more
3 meals per day, starting with arrival dinner and ending with departure breakfast.
Enjoy a grounding Qi Gong practice with our herd, or share some mindful movement with Eric Kolesar on our rooftop yoga deck
A group experience with you and the Tula Vida herd, facilitated by Eric or Sally. You will learn to speak the language of a horse, become truly present and aware of your own presence, create a non-verbal connection with the herd…and see what the horses have to teach you… (No horse experience necessary)
Enjoy the views from your rocking chair or wander the miles of trails, with spring-fed ponds, rivers to paddle in, forests to marvel at and wildlife that may visit. It's a whole experience in itself just soaking in the atmosphere here
Gather for spectacular sunsets to savour the moment and practice gratitude together
A guided walk through our food forest and regeneration project — see where your meals come from and feel the living, growing heart of the ranch.
You arrange your own travel to/from Liberia airport (LIR) in Costa Rica. We can assist with airport transfers or onward transport if needed - we work with a reliable local transport company.
We require that travel insurance is purchased in case of any need to cancel, travel disruption or medical emergencies.
We recommend not drinking alcohol during the retreat so as to be fully present and connected.
This is optional but often people want to leave tips for staff and drivers.
