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7 Day | 6 Renewal & Recovery: A Psilocybin Retreat for First Responders Playa Grande Costa Rica 2025

Location icon
952F+X29 Provincia de Guanacaste, Santa Cruz, Costa Rica
Users icon
Up to 8 in group
Date
October 7 - 13, 2025

Retreat Highlights

  • An Experience for First Responders & Families facilitated by a retired Firefighter and wife
  • Luxury, king-bed accommodations with Ocean Views |
  • 3 Uniquely different sacred medicine ceremonies |
  • Max 10 Participants |
  • 3 Preparation Sessions |
  • 2 Onsite Individual Sessions |
  • 3 Months Post Retreat Support |
  • Small Group Shares|
  • Microdose Workshop|
  • Art Therapy Integration at an Art Studio|
  • Live Music |
  • Fire Circle |
  • Private Chef Meals |
  • Onsite massage services available |

About this Retreat

Details of this retreat

A Sacred Plant Medicine Retreat for First Responders & Their Families

Behind the scenes lies a silent epidemic of those on the front lines and the families that stand behind them. Similar to military service members returning from combat, depression and PTSD are five times more common in first responders and suicide rates are on the rise.
First responders face stress and trauma daily. That takes a toll over time. Nearly 60% experience burnout or other mental health challenges from constant exposure to crisis.

A survey of more than 4,000 first responders, published by the Journal of Emergency Medical Services in 2015, found they are 10 times more likely than the general population to consider or attempt taking their own lives – 37% of respondents reported they had contemplated suicide.

With a lack of culturally competent mental health resources available to first responders and their families, it's time to find a new approach to healing.
Psilocybin and Trauma Recovery
Repeated trauma can rewire the brain, leading to emotional numbness, over-alertness, and disconnection. But there is hope.
Psilocybin and other classic psychedelics have been shown to calm the brain’s fear center (the amygdala), support emotional processing, and help form new, healthier neural pathways.
In professions where emotions are often suppressed, trauma can get stuck in the body. Psilocybin invites deep emotional release and inner clarity, gently uncovering the imprints that block our natural resilience, vitality, and wholeness.

From Burnout to Breakthrough: Jason & Kimberly’s Story​
Owners of Ananda Lodge Costa Rica, Jason & Kimberly Ocana, know how unresolved trauma, stress, and burnout can permeate the families surrounding first responders.
As a retired firefighter paramedic, Jason struggled silently for years with depression, hypervigilance, emotional shut down, and burn out. His method of coping was typically alcohol, isolation, and dissociation. Through his smile and jovial personality, he hid the scars well. Until one day it had become too much for their family.
Hit by Hurricane Ian in 2022, Jason & Kimberly lost their home and belongings under 30 inches of water. Trying to salvage the remains, Jason steadfastly worked to support the community. When he finally returned home, he did so with a bottle and no emotional capacity for his family. It was at this point Jason & Kimberly a drastic change needed to take place.
Your Journey Towards Transformation ​
Join us in a private jungle sanctuary overlooking the Pacific Ocean for a 7-day, 6-night psilocybin retreat designed by and for first responders and their loved ones.
This one-of-a-kind experience blends sacred plant medicine, somatic healing, and community in a space rooted in safety, trust, and care.
Together we’ll begin with a heart-opening cacao ceremony, then move through three unique psilocybin experiences:



Day 1: Arrival, welcome dinner, sacred cacao ceremony


Day 2: Evening mini dose as a chocolate truffle


Day 3: Integration, somatic nervous system healing, microdose 101 workshop


Day 4: Sunrise ceremony with sound healing


Day 5: Integration and evening ceremony with live music and hape


Day 6: Integration, art therapy workshop, and beach sunset


Day 7: Group share and departure


Our days will include rest, nervous system support, nourishing meals, and heartfelt sharing circles. You'll also have the chance to work 1:1 with a somatic plant medicine specialist and connect with others who’ve walked a similar path.
After the retreat, we continue with 3 months of personalized integration and support. Come experience how ancient wisdom and modern care come together in a setting made for deep healing.
We invite you to book a Sacred Journey Consultation with us by visiting our website at www.anandalodgecr.com.

This retreat is designed for first responders and family members 18 years and older with no history of severe mental health conditions. All activities involve legal use of plant medicines within Costa Rica's regulatory framework. Application and health screening required.

Schedule

PRE-RETREAT
2 Individual Preparation Sessions

DAY 1 (ARRIVAL)
4:00pm Check In
5:00pm Group Orientation
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Cacao Ceremony

DAY 2 (CEREMONY 1)
9:00am Breakfast
10:00am Group Ceremony Preparation
12:30pm Lunch
2:00pm Individual Dosage Consultation
6:00pm Ceremony 1 (mini dose chocolate truffle)

DAY 3 (INTEGRATION)
9:00am Breakfast
10:00am Group Integration
12:30pm Lunch
1:00pm Dosage Consulting
4:00pm Microdose Workshop
6:30pm Dinner

DAY 4 (SUNRISE CEREMONY 2)
5:00am Ceremony 2 (sound healing journey)
12:00pm Lunch
Rest, Healing Services, Integration
4:30pm Beach Sunset
6:30pm Dinner

DAY 5 (CEREMONY 3)
8:00am Beach walk
9:30am Breakfast
12:30pm Lunch
2:00pm Dosage Consulting
5:30pm Hape Circle
6:00pm Ceremony 3 (Live Music)

DAY 7 (INTEGRATION & ART)
9:00am Breakfast
10:00am Group Integration
12:30pm Lunch
2:00pm Art Therapy Class
4:30pm Beach Sunset
6:30pm Dinner Celebration
7:30pm Fire Circle

DAY 6 (DEPARTURE)
8:00am Breakfast
9:00am Closing Circle
11:00am Depart
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Location icon Ananda Lodge, 952F+X29 Provincia de Guanacaste, Santa Cruz, Costa Rica

Directions

Ananda Lodge's prime location offers easy access to and from key destinations:
- 1 hour to Liberia (LIR) Airport
- 30 minute drive to Tamarindo or 5 minutes by boat ride
- 40 minutes to Potrero
- 40 minutes to Marina Flamingo

Accommodation

Capturing a sweeping view of the property and the Pacific Ocean, our 8-room lodge is nothing but spectacular. With eco-sustainable construction and natural, local wood elements, the lodge is our primary housing for guests. Guests will each enjoy private ocean-view king bedroom accommodations with teak wood finishes, and an open-air shower. Guests enter their rooms through the back of the lodge, allowing for unobstructed views of the property and ocean from the oversized, private balconies. Each room is thoughtfully designed for luxury, sustainability, and ultimate relaxation.

Accommodation
Private Ocean View King Stay
Accommodation
Price

Venue & Amenities

Venue & Amenities
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
At Ananda Lodge Costa Rica, nestled in the natural beauty of Playa Grande, we offer a sanctuary where trauma-informed care meets ancestral wisdom. Our luxury accommodations provide comfort as you engage in transformative experiences guided by respected facilitators. We honor sacred plant medicines and integrate somatic practices, creating a safe, nurturing environment to support each individual's unique healing journey, allowing for deep restoration of body, mind, & spirit

Meals

Menu
Menu

Menu Types

We feature local cuisine that is fresh and nutritious, as well as fresh baked breads and pizza from our artisanal oven. Vegan, vegetarian, allergies, and dietary restrictions welcomed.

What's Included

  • 7 Day | 6 Night Luxury All-Inclusive Experience
  • King-Bedroom, Ocean View Accommodations
  • 3 Unique Psilocybin Ceremonies
  • 1 Sacred Cacao Ceremony
  • Personal Dosage Consultations
  • 1 Hape Circle
  • Live Music
  • Art Therapy Workshop
  • 3 Preparation Sessions
  • 2 Onsite Individual Sessions
  • 3 Months Post-Retreat Support
  • Small Group Shares
  • Microdose Workshop

What's Not Included

  • Airfare
  • Transportation to and from Ananda

Customer Reviews

4.97 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
Verified logo
All around excellent
From the accommodations tk the attention to detail, to Kimberly and Jay making sure everyone had everything they needed, to Chase (the huachumero) being a wonderful guide, Ananda delivered on all front. I’ll be back

5.0
Verified logo
Something real happened to me at Ananda...and I’ll never forget it
I don’t even know how to put this into words, but my time at Ananda changed me in a way I’m still trying to understand. The property is absolutely magical!

Peaceful, natural, and just full of soul. You can feel it the moment you arrive. Kim and Jason put so much love into this place, and it shows in every detail. They made us feel so welcome, like family, and that meant a lot to me.

Working with Chase and the medicine was something I’ll never forget. I had some intense releases and honestly, it wasn’t easy. But Chase saw something in me, and the work we did together reached a place in me that needed healing for a long time. He never pushed..just held the space with this calm, grounded energy, and somehow knew what needed to be done. It was deep, spiritual, and emotional — like something old was finally let go.

Even though I didn’t have big visions, I felt the shift. I’m still processing everything, and I know it’s going to take time to fully integrate. But something is different. I’m different.

If you’re feeling the call to do real inner work, to shed what’s not yours, and to reconnect with who you really are...Ananda is where you want to be. I’ll always be grateful for the experience.

P.S. and kudos to Jason who was our chef for the week...the food was absolutely delicious!

5.0
Verified logo
Better than expected
The coaches really care, genuinely from their heart. They helped me recover and heal in ways I didn't know I could, giving me full autonomy over my experience. They were so understanding, and offered amazing guided support as the ratio was only 2:1 for coach to attendee. The lodge itself was so beautiful, full of nature, inviting you to delve deep into your core for answers you didn't know you had. The elements of water, wind, and earth, were all present with us on our medicine journey. The sisterhood was strong. The girls were strangers on the first day and felt like blood sisters throughout sharing and on the last. It was confidential, safe, and just everything I ever could hope for. Thank you Kim, Rachel, and Laura for being the best, most sincere, caring, and honest retreat leaders there are. You will forever have a special place in my heart. Highly recommended.

5.0
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Amazing healing space
From the moment I stepped onto the property I knew Ananda lodge was the right place for what we wanted to share with our guest.
Safe clean quite
Jay and his staff are very accomadating
The professionalism and the patience of Jay Kim and there staff is outstanding.
As one of the host for the Design your life yoga retreat I always felt comfortable to share our vision and it was recieved with no judgment.
Our guest also felt very comfortable asking questions to both Jay and the chefs , Jonathan & Mary who are magic ! We had quit a few dietary concerns . Bless them they made all of our bellies very happy.
Describing every meal with such beautiful presentation and if you wanted seconds or thrids in my case on pasta night ( sooo good)it wasn't a problem.
We enjoyed a sound bath with Kim in the maloka that had everyone looking forward to wrapping themselves up in the vey comfortable beds for a good night's sleep.
The cleaning staff and security did an amazing job , when you are visiting the jungle you should be prepared to find some if it's lovely creatures. From frogs to monkeys and such beautiful brids 😀
Jay is such a pleasure to work with and
he was always there when we needed him his service was outstanding !
Its turly PURA VIDA at ANANADA LODGE


5.0
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Incredible Retreat Venue
We had such a beautiful time hosting at Ananda Lodge. We brought 12 women to lead a 5 day yoga/therapy retreat. From the beginning Jay and Kim were incredibly supportive and communicative. The rooms were beautiful and the yoga shala/maloca was a dream to teach in.
The food was out of this world, chefs Jonathan and Mary created dishes with love and intention. Every meal was a hit with our guests. Jay helped us arrange excursions so we got to explore surfing, zipling and a sunset cruise. We would love to bring more groups and guests in the future.

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