Featured Trips
1 - 3 of 12 trips
1
2
...4
Next Page
Past Trips
Intermediate Sand Play Training - with Equine Facilitated Sand Play
Arenal, Provincia de Guanacaste, Tilarán, Costa Rica
Feb 19, 2025
1 - 3 of 8 trips
1
2
3
Next Page
Reviews
MK
Monica K
The retreat with horses I attended at Tula Vida was everything I hoped it would be, and so much more. Sally and Eric have created an environment that nurtures and supports their guests. The moment you arrive you are warmly greeted by the pack and feel the love and warmth of this magical place.
The property is absolutely, stunningly beautiful, the rooms are large and comfortable and the views are breathtaking.
The high point for me was time spent with the beautiful herd. The horses are every size, shape, color and age. Each one has its own history and they are all loving and gentle thanks to the life changing love and care they have received since arriving here.
Over the course of our week together, Sally and Eric guided us through exercises that taught us how to respect, approach and bond with the horses. These special creatures are never forced or coerced to do anything - and always treated gently. It is difficult to describe how rewarding and heart-expanding this experience is. It settles in your heart and stays with you long after you say good-bye. In short, it is life changing.
Sharing delicious, nutritious authentic Costa Rican meals beautifully presented by Shirley and her kitchen crew was a great way to gather and get to know each other better. Each meal was also a time to reflect on our experiences and express what we were grateful for in that moment. The sunsets at dinner were the perfect ending to each day.
The mission at Tula Vida is to care for their animals, leave the land better than they found it and support their neighbours and community. I was a wonderful week of discovery. Don’t hesitate to come here. Your world will be brighter and you will be better for taking this marvellous journey.
The Felt Sense of Being - a Costa Rica retreat with horses
NP
Nancy P
This was my ninth visit to Tula Vida and it certainly won't be my last. This retreat, the Felt sense of Being, provided me with the nervous system reset I was hoping for, and more. It is hard to find the correct words to describe being there, we have to experience it ourselves. The space for connecting deeply with the horses could only be provided by really experienced healers like Sally and Eric, and an environment such as this. Our experiences with the horses, with Sally and Eric, the dogs, and the power of the 85 acres of land and its beauty also gave me tools to take home and utilize to preserve the experiences. I was also so impressed with the eco-preservatory stance of the retreat and the sustainability vision, including an incredible garden providing visitors with the most nourishing food, while the land is treated with great respect. The off-site trip to the El Jilguero ecotourism project site and forest led by Eric gave us a rich understanding of the ecology of the area, and was just an awesome experience.
The whole experience was supported by a wonderful attentive staff, efficient transport with friendly English-speaking drivers, fantastic and authentic food, super comfortable rooms, including strong and consistent Wi-Fi, and a warm community feel. I was also privileged to see some of the rescue work inaction, and it was just awe-inspiring. I can't wait to return.
The Felt Sense of Being - a Costa Rica retreat with horses
Anna Marie E
This was my second time visiting Tula Vida, my third time on retreat with Sally and Eric and some of the herd. Before I left Tula Vida to come home last year, I knew there was more here for me. The horses were calling me to show up in a bigger way.
So, this year, I had the honor of bringing a group of my own participants to experience the horses, the land, and the deeply meaningful Tula Vida experience. There is something truly special about this place: the way the horses meet you, the land supports you, and the entire experience invites you to soften, open, and reconnect with yourself.
As a facilitator, it was incredibly meaningful to watch my participants have their own moments of insight, healing, and connection with the horses. You can’t come here and not be positively impacted in some way by the connection and interaction with them. Their presence is powerful, honest, and healing in a way that’s hard to fully describe until you experience it for yourself.
I’m so grateful for my time at Tula Vida, for Eric and Sally, the entire staff, and for the horses who have become near and dear to my heart. What has touched me most is that the connection with the horses doesn’t end when I leave. I still carry them with me as I return to my day to day life. Their presence, their wisdom, and the way they continue to call me into deeper relationship with this work continues to amaze me.
I look forward to bringing another group back in the future.
Anna Marie Ellison retreat
Thank you so much Anna Marie - it truly was a moving, deep and powerful week and it was such a pleasure and privilege to be part of the work you are doing with horses and people in the world. We look forward to the next one!
By Tula Vida on Apr 27, 2026
TC
Tracy C
Tula Vida Equine Therapy was one of the most meaningful and powerful experiences of our Wabi Sabi Circle retreat in Costa Rica. Sally and Enrique created something truly extraordinary for our WABI SABI 8 group. What unfolded was nothing short of magical.
Sally began by teaching the women about co-regulation and HeartMath, then gently guided them into actually feeling and experiencing those concepts in real time through their connection with the horses. What made this so impactful was not only the beauty of the work itself, but Sally’s remarkable ability to walk each woman through her own individually paced one-on-one experience with deep compassion, patience, skill, and presence.
There was an atmosphere of profound safety, realization, and connection that far surpassed all expectations. The women cried, laughed, softened, opened, and came away with powerful new understandings about themselves. Even those who had experienced equine therapy before said this was unlike anything they had ever encountered.
I have the deepest admiration for Sally and Enrique, not only for their extraordinary level of expertise, but for the way they showed up so fully, so generously, and so attuned to every moment. Their presence was as powerful as their skill. What they offered our group was unforgettable, and the impact of their work will stay with us for a very long time.
~Tracy Covington
Wabi Sabi Circle, CEO
Tracy Covington - Equine Experience at Verdesana
SS
Sabina S
This place is heaven on earth, a magical Narnia. Kindness, love & healing emanate from the people & the land♥️ Working with the horses was a truly special & profound experience. Five stars are not enough! This was my second time visiting. Do I feel a third coming on... ;)
Horse and Soul - Returners Week
We do hope so Sabina!
By Tula Vida on Mar 18, 2026
References
DG
Dennis G
My recent retreat at Tula Vida left me with a deep and lasting sense of joy—a “Felt Sense of Being” that still lingers with me. Taking a few extra days for personal reflection was a wonderful choice; it’s an experience I’d recommend to anyone looking for peace and renewal.
Tula Vida is surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. Each evening, I watched the sky transform during sunsets—the colors melting into the horizon as the horses grazed quietly nearby. The garden at Tula Vida, overflowing with fresh vegetables and herbs, became the source of many delicious meals.
The horses hold a special place in my heart. Each one has its own story of rescue and healing, and interacting with them was nothing short of magical. Our group quickly bonded, not only with the animals but with each other in a space filled with genuine care and respect.
Sally and Eric have created more than just a retreat—they’ve built a welcoming, nurturing community. Their compassion extends beyond Tula Vida’s boundaries. I learned about their efforts to support the local Tico community, whether by organizing environmental programs or lending a helping hand to neighbors in need. Their kindness fosters a sense of belonging and peace that radiates throughout the area.
Since returning home, I find myself reflecting on the gratitude and inspiration I gained at Tula Vida. The sense of connection and healing I discovered there continues to influence my daily life. The retreat experience reminded me that compassion and connection can ripple outward, creating positive change far beyond where it began.
I am truly grateful for every memory made at Tula Vida. I look forward to returning and deepening these connections. Thank you, Sally and Eric, for your vision, warmth, and the many blessings you’ve shared.
Peace, love, and blessings,
Dennis