The Rhythm of Nature The Nature of Rhythm

The Rhythm of Nature - The Nature of Rhythm

Costa Rica Forest and Beach Retreat

February 18 - March 4, 2026

🌿 Rhythm of Nature Retreat

🗓 Dates: Feb 18 – Mar 4, 2026

Imagine waking to birdsong in the rainforest, dipping your feet in a jungle river, and moving with the rhythms of nature. Later, wander a sandy beach near the bohemian town of Montezuma, share laughter over meals, and let playful sound, movement, and creative exploration guide you back to joy and connection. This is not a “skills workshop” — it’s an immersive, experiential journey. Together we’ll:

Drum and play rhythms that anyone can enjoy
Explore movement, voice, and breath as creative pathways
Listen deeply to the music of the river, the jungle, and the sea
Create a space of laughter, connection, and renewal

✨ No experience needed — just an open spirit.

📍 Locations

Living Forest (Feb 19–24): cozy retreat center beside a tranquil jungle river near Lake Arenal, with cedar sauna and river-song backdrop.
Boho Lodge (Feb 24–Mar 3): private air-conditioned cabins in a lush coastal jungle, swimming pool, yoga deck. A short walk to a pristine beach and a short drive to the artsy town of Montezuma.
Arrival & Departure Nights: Feb 18 & Mar 3 are at a comfortable hotel near the airport for easy arrival and departure.

🏡 Accommodations

Your own bed in shared rooms and cabins
12 retreat nights + 2 airport-adjacent hotel nights = 14 nights total

🍴 Meals

All meals included, except at local restaurants
Home-cooked meals prepared for us at Living Forest
Hands-on group cooking at Boho Lodge

🎶 Workshops

Sound, rhythm, movement, and nature connection
Playful, immersive, hands-on experiences

🛶 Excursions

Included: Relax and soak at Colinas del Miravalles Hot Springs with its thermal pools and jungle waterfall
Optional extras: Bioluminescent boat tours, hidden beaches, jungle hikes, and other adventures can be arranged for an extra cost.

🚐 Transport

Group shuttles between mountain and coastal locations

✨ Experience

Listen deeply.
Play freely.
Breathe fully.
Connect heartfully.
Be one with the rhythm of nature.

💰 Price

Regular: $2,600 per participant
Early Bird: $2,400 if booked by December 15, 2025
Payment plans available

Reserve Your Spot

Spaces are limited for this intimate, immersive experience.

Retreat Details

Rhythm of Nature Retreat

February 18 – March 3, 2025 | Costa Rica

Step into two breathtaking landscapes of Costa Rica — first in the beautiful tranquil mountain foothills near Lake Arenal, then along the warm coastal jungle near Montezuma. This retreat is a space to listen deeply, play freely, and immerse yourself in the rhythms of nature, exploring sound, movement, and rhythm in a hands-on, joyful way.

At the Rhythm of Nature - Nature of Rhythm Retreat in Costa Rica we will revitalize our natural connection with the rhythms of the earth.

Since the beginning of time, sound and music have been used to celebrate, communicate, and express all that it means to be human. Drumming resonates through the body and reconnects us with our deep ancestral roots. Sound connects with the deep voice of the infinite.

As we connect with Nature, we will bring heightened awareness and keen listening that opens the door to developing a new relationship with ourselves and with the Nature that surrounds us.

Participants will learn to embody sound and rhythms from around the world and discover the energy, nuances, and power available as we bring rhythm to life.

Where We Will Be

Living Forest Retreat Center (First 5 Days)

Rainforest sanctuary in mountain foothills — pleasantly warm by day, refreshing at night.
Sabalo River flows through the property — dip your feet, hear the river’s music, and let it guide your days.
Sleep and awaken to the soothing sounds of the jungle.
Relax in the cedar sauna nestled beside the river.

Boho Lodge (Next 7 Days)

Five air-conditioned cabins in lush jungle, walking distance to a pristine beach.
Jungle alive with exotic birds, monkeys, and butterflies.
Move, breathe, and play on the tranquil yoga deck.
Stroll the sandy shore, listen to the whisper of the ocean, and experience the magical meeting of jungle and sea.
Adventure to the nearby artsy, bohemian town of Montezuma.
Refresh body and spirit in a private swimming pool tucked into the jungle’s embrace.

Arrival & Departure Nights: Feb 18 & Mar 3 at a comfortable hotel near the airport for easy arrival and departure.

Accommodations

Your own bed in shared rooms, providing comfort and personal space.
Living Forest: eco-style rooms with shared bathrooms, river and jungle sounds.
Boho Lodge: five charming cabins with air-conditioning, nestled in a peaceful jungle garden near the beach.

Food

Included meals:
- At Living Forest: freshly prepared to nourish our days of rhythm and exploration.
- At Boho Lodge: ingredients provided for shared cooking experiences, adding playful, hands-on connection to meals.
Not included: meals at restaurants (a few optional outings).

What’s Included

14 days / 13 nights lodging (own bed, shared rooms)
All meals (except restaurant outings)
Daily sound, rhythm, movement, and nature workshops
Two group excursions, including hot springs with dinner
Group airport transfers and transportation between locations
Playful, immersive, experiential learning in a supportive, no-judgment environment

Travel Details

Arrival: Plan to arrive in Costa Rica by Feb 18. Your first night will be at a comfortable hotel near the airport to start your journey relaxed and refreshed. Airport transfers can be arranged.
Departure: Retreat ends March 3, with the night at the same hotel near the airport. Depart anytime on March 4.
Group Transport: Shuttles are provided between the mountain rainforest (Living Forest) and the coastal jungle (Boho Lodge), so you can relax and enjoy the scenery.
Travel Tips:
- Bring light layers for the rainforest (higher elevation, cooler mornings/evenings) and breathable clothing for the coastal jungle.
- Comfortable shoes for walking, water shoes, for tide pools and river, a swimsuit for pools and rivers.
- Hat and sunscreen, bug repellent.
- A journal, art supplies, or small instruments if you like to create.
- Optional excursions (bioluminescent boat tours, jungle hikes, beaches) can be arranged in advance for an extra cost.

Cost

Early Bird: $2,400 until December 15, 2025 | Standard Rate: $2,600

➡ Reserve Your Spot and play, listen, and immerse yourself in the rhythms of nature!

The Living Forest

Living Forest Retreat Center and Lodge is nestled at the foothills of Tierras Morenas mountainous countryside and amid lush tropical rainforest where you wake up to the sound of a river and jungle with tropical birds and monkeys often in sight.

The retreat center hosts yoga, transformational and healing retreats, dance and movement, art & creativity, meditation and other spiritual retreats immersed in nature.

What other's say about the Living Forest:

"The setting is quite spectacular nestled in the mountains next to a rushing creek and surrounded by local wildlife. From toucans to howler monkeys they remind you that this is a very special place indeed."

"Just Being at Living Forest brings me totally in tune with feeling a heightened awareness of what it is to be alive and at one with Nature. Hidden in a lush green rainforest jungle, surrounded by the sounds of a rushing river, tropical birds calls (and colors!) plus families of monkeys occasionally traveling through, Living Forest is absolutely one of the most magical places I’ve been, and I’ve been to a lot of magical places! "

Watch a Video About The Living Forest

Living Forest Lake Arenal Retreat Center from Reiley Wooten on Vimeo.

Living Forest Lodge

All accommodations are shared.

The Living Forest Lodge has 3 separate bedrooms in the main center right off the lovely and spacious deck/living area; Mariposa (Butterfly), Mono (Monkey) and Rana (Frog).

Each room can accommodate from 2 - 3 people. There is a fan in each room and a screened door and windows.

The bedrooms each have easy access to two spacious shared bathrooms – which have one wall open to bring in the exotic feel of the outdoors (and full privacy).

River View Casita sits along-side the retreat center and accommodates 2 people. The double room has a king size or twin beds depending on your needs. The room has a fan and screened windows.

Boho Lodge Montezuma

Nestled in lush jungle and just a short, easy walk from a pristine beach, Boho Lodge is your sanctuary for rest, renewal, and inspiration. With five spacious, air-conditioned cabins, the lodge offers comfort while keeping you connected to the rhythms of life. Cabins are one or two bedrooms. There are several options for having a room to yourself.

Our gatherings take place on the open-air yoga deck, where the calls of howler monkeys, the songs of tropical birds, and the flutter of butterflies become part of our experiences. Between sessions, you can cool off in the swimming pool, wander to the beach, explore tide pools and swim in the ocean, or simply relax in the hammock and watch iguanas sun themselves in the trees.

We will adventure into the nearby vibrant, artsy town of Montezuma where colorful shops, cafés, and coastal culture add to the rhythm of our journey. At Boho Lodge, jungle, ocean, and spirit weave together to create an unforgettable retreat experience.

Explore The Area

A few minutes’ walk from the lodge brings you to Playa Los Cedros, a golden stretch of sand lined with palms, where the waves invite both play and reflection. At low tide, the shoreline reveals enchanting tide pools—miniature worlds teeming with sea life, perfect for quiet exploration. The jungle hums with monkeys, scarlet macaws, and butterflies, weaving nature’s music into each day.

Just up the road lies Montezuma, an artsy seaside town alive with color, cafés, and creativity. Here you’ll find the famous Montezuma Waterfalls, cascading into cool pools perfect for a refreshing dip.

Travel the other way, and you’ll discover Cabuya, a quiet fishing village at the entrance to Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve—Costa Rica’s first protected park, rich with wildlife and trails that lead to untouched beaches.

This is a place where jungle and ocean meet, and where each step opens to wonder.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is more than a vacation destination; it is an interactive sensory experience. The country is bestowed with an intense array of biodiversity and environmental attractions including majestic volcanoes, emerald jungles, misty cloud forests, stunning river valleys and hundreds of pristine and exotic beaches. Costa Rica or "rich coast" in English, lives up to its name in many ways.

In size, Costa Rica is a fairly small country, a grand total of 19,530 square miles which hosts around 3 million inhabitants, most of whom live in the Central Valley. For its size, the country has an amazing amount of diversity. From mountainous ranges, to tropical, dry, and cloud forests. Costa Rica is a naturist’s wonderland. There are over 10,000 identified species of plants, 850 species of birds, 800 species of butterflies, and 500 species of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, combined. Costa Rica carries a fascinating ecological story, woven into the history of a friendly, peaceful and family-oriented culture.

Costa Rica is on the Central American isthmus that connects North America and South America. Geographically speaking, it is part of North America while its cultural heritage is Latin American. Bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south and east. The Pacific Ocean borders the western and southern parts of Costa Rica, and the Caribbean Sea borders Costa Rica on the east. It is located between 9 and 10 degrees north of the equator within the latitudinal belt known as the Tropics. Easy to access from the Americas, it is a perfect place to explore paradise!

Named the happiest country in the world; a paradise for peace and biodiversity; a green beacon for environmental stewardship - Costa Rica is a country of many accolades. But Costa Rica’s history and culture extend far beyond the reach of international recognition. The small Central American nation is home to incredible biodiversity and rich cultures, a passion for freedom, and a history of democracy, equality, and education for all.

Transportation And Logistics

Travel Details

Arrival: Schedule your flight to arrive in Costa Rica by Feb 18. Your first night will be at a comfortable hotel near the airport to start your journey relaxed and refreshed.
- Airport transfers can be arranged.
Departure: Retreat ends March 3, with the night at the same hotel near the airport. Schedule your flight to depart anytime on March 4.
- Airport transfers can be arranged.
Group Transport: Shuttles are provided between the mountain rainforest (Living Forest) and the coastal jungle (Boho Lodge), so you can relax and enjoy the scenery.
Travel Tips:
- Bring light layers for the rainforest (higher elevation, cooler mornings/evenings) and breathable clothing for the coastal jungle.
- Comfortable shoes for walking, water shoes, for tide pools and river, a swimsuit for pools and rivers.
- Hat and sunscreen, bug repellent.
- A journal, art supplies, or small instruments if you like to create.
- Optional excursions (bioluminescent boat tours, jungle hikes, beaches) can be arranged in advance for an extra cost.

About The Retreat Leaders

Patricia Hatfield lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she shares her passion for bringing people together in harmony and full self-expression through music. Trained in Cross-Cultural Healing Sound, Music, and Sanskrit Mantra, Patricia studied with Pat Cook, PhD, at the Open Ear Center. She has led drumming and music workshops for over 30 years, teaching percussion, rhythm, and improvisational music, and is skilled in using cross-cultural music and sacred sound for health and well-being. Her musical background includes studying performance and composition at U.C. Berkeley, Indian tabla with Swapan Chaudhuri at the Ali Akbar College, and extensive training with African and Afro-Cuban teachers.

Learn more at harmonydrumcircles.com

Cheryl Bell is an expressive arts coach, musician, and improvisational performer from the San Francisco Bay Area. With a background that includes studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and training with improvisational leaders Marcia Kimmell (The Next Stage) and Mary Knysh (Rhythmic Connections), Cheryl brings depth, playfulness, and soul to her work. She leads The Art of Being workshops—immersive adventures in sound, movement, music, and improvisation—that invite participants to reconnect with their creativity, presence, and joy. Blending her passions for music, theater, and expressive arts, Cheryl creates welcoming spaces where surprise is celebrated, mistakes are magical, and everyone belongs. She and Patricia, along with colleague Judith Lerner, recently created and performed The Sky Was Never Silent, an improvised myth in sound and story that explores the beauty and complexity of being human.

Adventures

Day Trip to Colinas del Miravalles Hot Springs

Slip into deep relaxation at Colinas del Miravalles, a natural hot spring sanctuary nestled at the base of the majestic Miravalles Volcano. Surrounded by lush gardens and volcano views, you’ll soak in warm mineral-rich pools that melt away tension and restore balance. Between dips, enjoy the volcanic mud baths for a playful, rejuvenating skin treatment, or simply rest in the tranquil beauty of the landscape. It’s a day of pure renewal—where earth, water, and spirit come together in harmony.