Awakened Heart: A GBTQ+ Sacred Plant Journey

Location icon
San José Province, Tinamaste, Costa Rica
Date
May 18 - 24, 2025

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

Awakened Heart is a 7-day retreat set in the breathtaking Diamante Valley of Costa Rica, designed to help you reconnect with the truth of your intrinsic wholeness. Created specifically for the queer community, this experience weaves together sacred plant ceremonies, immersive experiences in lush nature, and holistic wellness practices to guide you toward healing, self-discovery, and a sense of profound connection. Here, in a supportive and inclusive environment, you’ll explore the themes of wholeness, our bond with nature, and the power of community while gently examining areas of life where you may feel blocked or fragmented.


This retreat welcomes GBTQIA+ men (cis and trans) of all backgrounds, body types, and experience levels. Through yoga, meditation, nature excursions, and trauma-informed integration, you’ll deepen your relationship with yourself, your community, and the natural world. Together, we’ll explore our connections to sex, sensuality, and intimacy, creating a safe and non-sexual container for open reflection and personal growth. Whether you’re experienced with sacred plant work or entirely new to this journey, you’ll find a space here to reconnect with your authentic self and reclaim the vibrant life that’s always been yours.



What to Expect


Sacred Plant Ceremonies: Three optional guided plant ceremonies (two nighttime and one daytime) for deep personal insight and healing, supported by trauma-informed facilitators.
Holistic Wellness Practices: Daily yoga, meditation, and movement sessions to align body and mind. Satsang (heartfelt discussions and guided reflections) to be offered two-three times during the week.
Nature Immersion: Waterfall purification rituals and a nature reciprocity ceremony to strengthen your connection with the earth.
Supportive Community & Integration: Pre-retreat Zoom preparation for connection and intention-setting, plus post-retreat group meetings to ensure long-lasting integration of your experience.
Nourishment: Organic, farm-to-table meals crafted to support your body and spirit.
Non-sexual space: Open discussions on sexuality, but an agreement to refrain from sexual activity, fostering a secure space for deep introspection.




Who Is This For?


This retreat is for GBTQIA+ men (cis and trans) seeking:


Personal growth through plant ceremony and mindfulness practices.
A deeper connection to nature and their authentic selves.
A supportive and inclusive community of like-minded individuals.
Whether you’re experienced with yoga, meditation, or sacred plant ceremonies—or entirely new to these practices—you are welcome. Health screenings and consultations ensure this retreat is safe and supportive for all participants.







To create a safe environment conducive to healing and community development, we will ask all participants to adhere to these agreements throughout the week. While we will explore topics of sexuality, we will ask participants to refrain from sex during the retreat. This helps to create a safe environment, and encourages deep connections without the motivation of sex.

Getting Here

Location icon Jungle Gayborhood, San José Province, Tinamaste, Costa Rica

Accommodation

Shared 4 Bed Cabin

Accommodation
A beautiful bamboo cabin with four comfortable individual bunk beds. You will be have one bed to yourself and you will be staying with up to three other guests who will sleep in the other beds. All cabins are equipped with elegant lighting, cooling fans, multiple outlets, comfortable beds and linens, and are fully enclosed in mosquito mesh netting. All cabins share a beautiful bamboo bathhouse with hot water.

Private King Cabin

Accommodation
A beautiful private bamboo cabin with a king-size bed. All cabins are equipped with elegant lighting, cooling fans, multiple outlets, comfortable beds and linens, and are fully enclosed in mosquito mesh netting. All cabins share a beautiful bamboo bathhouse with hot water.

Shared Twin Cabin

Accommodation
A beautiful bamboo cabin with two comfortable twin-size beds. You will be have one bed to yourself and you will be staying with another guest who will sleep in the other twin bed. All cabins are equipped with elegant lighting, cooling fans, multiple outlets, comfortable beds and linens, and are fully enclosed in mosquito mesh netting. All cabins share a beautiful bamboo bathhouse with hot water.

Private Deluxe Cabin

Accommodation
A beautiful private bamboo cabin with a king-size bed, en suite sink, and gorgeous jungle views. All cabins are equipped with elegant lighting, cooling fans, multiple outlets, comfortable beds and linens, and are fully enclosed in mosquito mesh netting. All cabins share a beautiful bamboo bathhouse with hot water.

Camping (Gear Provided)

Accommodation
Large tent* includes comfortable sleeping cushion, linens, pillow, blanket, a small fan and camping light. *Size note: These tents could sleep up to 4 people, but each will only be assigned to one person or group.

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent

Meals

Menu Types

Customer Reviews

5.00 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
Verified logo
Gorgeous and fabulous!
We loved our time at the Jungle Gayborhood. The retreat center is beautifully designed and comfortably nested on the edge of the jungle, close enough to feel nurtured by its vibrancy and just out of it enough to see it and have plenty of fresh air and vistas. Staff was kind, supportive and helped bring out physical healing and pleasure. Programming was light on our particular weekend but it was perfect for us: trekking, spiritual journeys, yoga, social gatherings and fun (optional) games. And they have the best mattresses so you will sleep like a baby!

5.0
Verified logo
Awesome retreat in the Costa Rican jungle
This excursion was planned in less than a week, but sure glad we took a chance. It’s like glamping in the jungle with three home-cooked meals a day. We stayed a week, and what a relaxing week it was. Several waterfalls were within a short hike from camp. Being naked is optional. Yoga is every morning. Some nights are movie nights, some nights are sound bath nights. Some nights are fire performer and campfire nights. Although we didn’t go on a retreat week, it was still fun and invigorating. We even got the chance to try ayahuasca, kambo, and rapé one evening, but wasn’t prepared for this unique opportunity. Thanks to Shelby and Jose, Ryan, Eric, Jesse, Mauricio, Brandee, Chef Eric, and Marconi for a great week! We’ll be back.

5.0
Verified logo
JungleFag
Wow! What an experience!
Firstly, the gayborhood is absolutely amazing. It's evident there's been time, effort, and planning involved to make it what it is. It had everything I needed to make my stay comfortable and at home. Special shout-outs to the chefs, cleaning team, and gayborhood staff. It's clear that it's a space individuals WANT to be at and spend their time.

The retreat was beautiful. It was an opportunity to release, to be free, and love continuously (sometimes literally!). I've never been to a retreat that was considered party AND retreat and I was a little unprepared mentally and emotionally I discovered. In talking with the staff and learning more, I realized I needed to take more intentional time for me to do more of the work I wanted to personally. That said, the description was on, I just didn't think broad and liberal enough.

Notes for the future. There were times it felt like things were mandatory, or highly encouraged to attend, yet optional. Of course you can't make anyone do anything they don't want to, but in the schedule I do think there should be an asterisk for events that are highly encouraged to attend. For example, the cabaret. What a powerful closing to the retreat. It introduced us to another part of someone we may not have gotten to see. It showed the bravery and confidence that maybe someone channeled just that weekend. And it symbolized a great level of community and support, which I think the gayborhood prides itself on.

I plan to come back next year. And as I continue to talk to participants and continue these relationships, they too want to come back and bring a friend. Thank you for this opportunity and place of love. Looking forward to more with you.

5.0
Verified logo
Lifechanging
I cannot begin to describe how transformative this past weekend was for me. I went in with intention, many of which changed when I got there. Within the first 15 hours of being there I felt relaxed, centered, and excited for everything else that was to come.

Immediately after arriving, Ryan and Brandee welcomed me with big hugs. Ryan encouraged me to be fully myself, try new things, and explore every part of myself. Shelby and his staff have put love into every detail of the Jungle Gayborhood, and through each session you can feel their effort shine through.

The Jungle gayborhood will make you feel everything you need to and more. If you're at all on the fence about booking an experience here, do yourself a favor and take the leap. I cannot wait to return.

5.0
Verified logo
Blissed out in the jungle
5 days sleeping in an extremely comfortable bed surrounded by amazing wildlife and pristine jungle. Delicious home cooked meals 3 times a day, swimming naked in waterfalls, group yoga and sound baths.
shedded so many tears of joy could not be more happy with my experience

Similar retreats