Free to Thrive Retreat
Costa Rica
June 9-14, 2025
Reset. Align. Focus.
When you take the time away from the day-to-day, magic happens.
Imagine 6 days of nourishing your body, giving it exactly what it needs to overcome your inflammation, and kickstart or refocus your journey.
Imagine being able to fully focus on your health and exactly what your body needs to heal.
Imagine being in a like-minded community to see things differently and accelerate your progress.
Imagine being tucked away in the beautiful jungle of Costa Rica, to step away and fully focus on you.
Imagine having the time to rest, reset, and the clarity to move forward.
Imagine being away from all daily life distractions to focus on how you can finally make the changes needed to thrive each day.
You could never do all this at home. It takes getting out of your everyday routine and being in a new setting.
An immersive, luxury wellness retreat for women tired of feeling exhausted, inflamed, and stuck—ready to heal, reset, and finally feel energized, strong, and in control of their health.
The Free to Thrive Retreat, pulls back the veil and digs into your health and mindset to find the clarity and freedom you’ve been searching for all along.
You’ll learn tangible tools to reshape your mindset and habits and have a deeply supportive and uplifting environment that fuels change.
This experience will be empowering, refreshing, motivating, and healing all at the same time.
In addition to learning from inflammation expert Kara, you’ll enjoy curated anti-inflammatory meals and snacks, luxury accommodations, cooking demos, coaching, and will walk away feeling renewed, supported, and ready to step into a life free to thrive.
Sample Agenda
If you are trying to visualize a typical day at The Free to Thrive Retreat, we hope this sample schedule paints a beautiful vision (subject to change):
Arrival Day:
11:00 am: Arrival – welcome mocktail and snacks
11:30 am: Welcome to Imiloa Institute – share the retreat schedule and intention, and meet your fellow retreaters
12:30 pm: Enjoy a nourishing lunch
1:30 pm: Allow one of our team members to show you to your room. Explore the grounds and settle in
5:00 pm: Session 1
5:30 pm: Sunset Mocktails by the pool
6:30 pm: Dinner: During the retreat, you will enjoy anti-inflammatory gourmet dinners curated for our retreat
Sample of Daily Schedule (subject to change – each day will differ):
7:30-8:30 am: Movement
8:30-9:30 am: Breakfast
10:00-11:30 am: Session
11:30-12:30 am: Reflection & Journal Time
12:30-1:30 pm: Lunch
1:30-3:00 pm: Coaching with Kara + a Session
3:00-6:00 pm: rest, relax, enjoy your new friends, explore, journal
6:30 pm: Gourmet Anti-Inflammatory Dinner
Your experience includes:
Luxurious accommodations
Your stay at Imiloa is more than just accommodations—it’s an experience. Whether you find yourself in a 200-year-old hand-carved home from Bali perched on a cliffside, a Geodesic Dome nestled deep in the Jurassic jungle, or a cozy Jungalow with an open-air bathtub near our unofficial sloth sanctuary, every space is designed to inspire, restore, and reconnect you with nature.
Connection and community
Through shared meals, meaningful conversations, and unexpected moments of laughter and reflection, you’ll form deep bonds with like-minded women. You’ll leave not only with new friendships but with a renewed sense of belonging and a commitment to living with more joy, authenticity, and purpose.
Rest and relaxation
Step away from the demands of daily life and into a sanctuary of deep relaxation. From walks through the breathtaking landscape to an infinity plunge pool overlooking the Pacific, every detail is designed to help you unwind with intention. Surrounded by historic 160-year-old homes and peaceful lounge areas, this retreat invites you to slow down, recharge, and reconnect with a sense of inner calm.
Nourishing, gourmet cuisine
Every meal at this retreat is an experience—nourishing, intentional, and beautifully crafted to support your body’s natural healing process. The cuisine is ‘conscious comfort food,’ featuring gourmet, plant-based dishes made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Each meal is designed to be deeply anti-inflammatory, balancing artistry, flavor, and science to reduce inflammation, restore energy, and leave you feeling truly revitalized from the inside out.
Breathtaking scenery
Wander through miles of jungle pathways that lead to hidden gems throughout the property, including our private waterfall, 'Morundwa'—a sacred site named and activated by the Indigenous Kogi Tribe of Colombia. As you explore, you'll be immersed in the untouched beauty of Costa Rica, where every step invites you to connect with nature in a deeper, more meaningful way.
Coaching, support, and encouragement from Kara
Kara Swanson brings over 15 years of expertise and an unwavering commitment to helping women break free from inflammation and step into vibrant health. As the founder of Life Well Lived and creator of the Stuck to Thriving Method, Kara has guided thousands of women worldwide to reclaim their energy, balance their hormones, and feel their absolute best. Sharing space with Kara means stepping into an atmosphere of transformation, where science meets soul, and every conversation is infused with insight, encouragement, and actionable steps for lasting change.
Who is this for?
This retreat is for women ready to break free from the habits, stress, and inflammation that have been holding them back.
If you’re craving the space and time to fully focus on your health, overcome inflammation, and either begin or reset your wellness journey, this retreat is for you.
Meet Kara
Nutritionist & Inflammation Expert
Kara Swanson is a certified nutritionist, inflammation expert, and founder of Life Well Lived. With over a decade of experience, she has helped thousands of women worldwide overcome inflammation and reclaim their health using her proven Stuck to Thriving Method.
Kara’s approach has empowered women to:
• Eliminate pain and reverse disease
• Restore energy and lose weight for good
• Heal digestive issues and create lifelong healthy habit
Kara’s mission is simple:
To help every woman heal, find freedom with food, and confidently say “Yes!” to what matters most.
She believes that when you nourish your body, reset your habits, and prioritize your well-being, you can show up as the best version of yourself in every area of life.
Choose Your Experience
Standard: $4,597
- Shared Room
- Expert Coaching on Nutrition, Habits, and Mindset
- Gourmet Anti-Inflammatory Meals
- Intimate Group Training
- A Supportive Community
- Private Transportation from Airport to Retreat
- Private Campus
VIP: $6,597
- Private Room
- 1:1 Coaching Session with Kara
- VIP Gift Bag
- Expert Coaching on Nutrition, Habits, and Mindset
- Gourmet Anti-Inflammatory Meals
- Intimate Group Training
- A Supportive Community
- Private Transportation from Airport to Retreat
- Private Campus
Have questions? Schedule a 15-minute call here.
FAQs
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Life Well Lived does not provide travel insurance. We recommend you have sufficient insurance to cover such things as personal accident, medical treatment, repatriation, cancellation charges, theft, and property loss.
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Yes, please check all travel requirements HERE.
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Located 800 feet (240m) above sea level, Imiloa is a bit cooler than the beach and has fewer bugs. The average temperature is 85°F (27-33°C) during the day and 65-75°F (17-24°C) at night.
• Yoga-pants and shorts, tanks and shirts. We will move together in a breezy, outdoor space covered from the sun.
• Swimsuits and Coverups
• Sunscreen and bug-repellent.
• Sandals, Tennis Shoes, Waterfall Shoes (Teva sandals, or Crocs work great! Otherwise, bring a pair of old tennis shoes)
• Casual comfortable clothing for meals and trips beyond campus
• Reusable water bottle
• Journal/ pen
• Any travel goodies, prescriptions, or specific requirements you may need
• Cool, breezy, casual clothing. A light sweater and pants for evenings.
And if you forget something at home, there are shops nearby.
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Please book your international flight to San Jose International Airport (Airport code; SJO).
All retreat participants and hosts need to be at SJO domestic terminal at 8:45AM on June 9th. The charter flight will depart at 9:15AM. Arrival to Imiloa is approx. at 11:30am. If you arrive to San Jose airport the same day as your retreat begins please arrive by 7:00AM or earlier.
About the Charter Arrival Flight
We privately charter flights from SJO to our landing strip near Imiloa to cut the travel time from 4 hours in the car, to 20 minutes by plane. It’s a wonderful way to arrive.
Please note:
If you cannot arrive at the international terminal by the suggested times above, please book your travel to arrive in the day(s) BEFORE the start of the retreat.
If you arrive to the domestic terminal at SJO after the suggested times, you will not arrive in time to travel on the charter flight. We can still assist with your transport, but you will be responsible for your own transportation to Imiloa as well as any cost incurred.
If you choose not to utilize the method of transportation provided for your retreat to/from Imiloa you are responsible for the cost of alternate/ground transportation.
Departing Imiloa:
You will depart Imiloa at 9AM, and arrive at the landing strip at 9:45AM, with an estimated arrival to SJO airport at 10:30AM.
The domestic terminal is a 5-10 minute walk to the international terminal at SJO.
Typically, it is suggested to be at the international terminal 2.5 hours prior to your international departure. Please book your departing international flight accordingly, knowing that you will be at the airport at 10:30AM on departure day.
If you book your flight earlier than this, you will be responsible for your own transportation to SJO airport (airport taxis are $285 one way, and taxis from Imiloa to Quepos landing strip are $115 one way).
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We understand you may need to keep in touch with those at home. We have fiber optic WIFI throughout the resort available for all guests.
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No, you will not need an adapter if you are traveling from North America, as electrical outlets are North American.
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Yes, please let us know your restrictions to communicate to the Imiloa Kitchen staff.
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Imiloa is an alcohol free property. We have a beautifully curated spirit free drink menu to enjoy.
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The Imiloa Institute is located in the Savegre mountains, a 20 minute drive from the small surf town Dominical and 30km from Quepos (medical facilities, airport, great dining if you’re coming before or after the event).
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The currency in Costa Rica is the Colon, which you can withdraw from an ATM at SJO or exchange at your departure airport. You would only need this cash for excursions outside the resort or to tip employees (optional) should you choose to leave them. There is also an option to tip via Paypal directly to Imiloa Institute.
Imiloa is a credit/debit card ONLY campus. We are 100% cashless except for optional tips.
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Airfare to/from Costa Rica
Travel insurance (recommended)
This is exclusive to women only
Please note this is an ALCOHOL-FREE Retreat Center.
Have questions? Schedule a 15-minute call here.
