Living your Purpose: Align and Thrive!
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
January 12-17, 2025
If you are a physician who is ready to reconnect with your deepest intentions, values, and desires, join us on this continuing medical education retreat as we journey together to deeper well-being. You will walk away with clarified goals, a renewed sense of purpose and meaning, and a personalized action plan to thrive in every area of your life. This is CME for the soul!
I’m ready to thrive!
Oh, the possibilities! On this journey, you will…
Have uninterrupted time to reflect on all areas of your life, deeply listen to your authentic self, and walk away feeling more connected and self-aligned.
Reconnect with and clarify your deepest desires, values, and intentions, and create a personal action plan that promotes deeper meaning and purpose. You will continue to reap the benefits long after the retreat has ended.
Strengthen your sense of community with the support and encouragement of like-hearted people who share and understand your concerns.
Learn skills to cultivate self-compassion and minimize burnout, so you can be a healing presence for yourself and others.
I’m ready for a renewed sense of purpose and meaning!
A Journey to Deeper Wellbeing
During our time together you will be guided through a holistic wellness assessment, giving you space to take stock of where you are physically, emotionally, socially, vocationally, spiritually, and financially. Through self-reflection, deep listening, time in nature, journaling, and small group experiences, you will clarify what’s most important to you in this season of life. You’ll have the opportunity to craft a personalized action plan, so you can integrate your goals into your weekly life. This is Continuing Medical Education for the soul!
Day 1 Welcome, Overview
Welcome to Rio Perdido, your home for our time together, a place that will excite and support you on your wellness journey. Get to know your fellow travelers as we set the stage for our journey of reflection, rest, and play.
Day 2 Physical Health
Today is a time to focus on your Physical Health. You will explore your patterns of sleep, diet, exercise, and how you're attending to your healthcare needs. You will also consider the ways you can optimize your physical wellness.
You will have hours of free time throughout the day to explore and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. There are plenty of ways to stay active: yoga, hiking, trail running, mountain biking, white water rafting, or swimming in the river.
Day 3 Social Health
Today you will be reflecting on your Social Health, considering the state of your most important relationships, bringing more awareness to your relational circles of family, friends, colleagues, and community. You’ll consider the ways you enjoy socializing, celebrating special occasions and holidays, taking vacations, and spending time with friends. You’ll explore how cultivating strong and healthy relationships affects your overall health.
Relationships and emotional life go hand in hand. You’ll be dipping into your Emotional Health, reflecting on the emotional tone within your relationships and how your communication style affects others. You’ll have space to reflect on how you're handling and processing difficult emotions, voicing your authentic feelings and needs, and where areas of harmony and tension exist.
Day 4 Vocational & Financial Health
It’s time to take an honest look at your job satisfaction, areas that are going well and are enjoyable, and aspects that are burdensome and in need of adjustment. You will discover the strengths of Job Crafting and how to creatively apply it to your career. Work and finances are integrally joined, and you will have space to reflect on your financial fundamentals: income, expenditures, debts, goals, and money-based beliefs.
Day 5 Spiritual & Emotional Health
You will wade into some deep waters, as you consider how you can create deeper meaning in your life and live with a vibrant sense of purpose and joy. You will learn more about the role of self-compassion when facing challenges and setbacks and how the art of letting go begins with letting in. You will discover what medicine as a spiritual practice can look like, and how to reduce compassion fatigue.
Day 6
Putting it all together, integrating and implementing at-home, group, and coaching support.
Experiences:
Enjoy the healing benefits of nature as you immerse yourself in the beauty of Costa Rica. With so many activities in one place, it is easy to soak in the thermal springs, go on an adventure, and have a relaxing spa treatment, all in the same day.
White Water Tubing
Mountain Biking
Spa
Hiking
Canyon Adventure
Yoga
Experience the beauty and adventure of Costa Rica
Reasons NOT to miss this retreat
Gain a holistic perspective of your wellness, and learn to practice healthy self-care, so you can thrive in every area of your life.
Take steps to optimize your energy so you can fully engage in your life.
Improve your sleep and learn how it affects your weight management, emotional regulation, muscle growth, and memory.
Hone your healthy eating habits, and make small adjustments for big effects.
Develop or tweak your sustainable and enjoyable exercise routine.
Explore larger perspectives and creative ways to approach your challenges.
Increase your awareness of how you handle challenging emotions and develop skillful ways to process them in yourself and others.
Cultivate practices that strengthen and maintain the health of your most important relationships.
A world of wellbeing awaits
This wellness journey is for you if:
You’re ready for self-reflection and an exploration of what’s most important to you.
You’re open-minded and up for an adventure.
You’re willing to compassionately engage with like-minded people.
You’re ready to share in the journeys of others as well as your own.
You’re able to hold sensitive information and personal conversations in confidence.
This is NOT for you if you are:
Not wanting to reflect on your life and explore new horizons.
Not open to new experiences and willing to leave your comfort zone.
Not ready to share any of your journey with others.
Not open to holding curious, non-judgmental space for others.
The Venue:
Rio Perdido Hotel & Thermal River
Rio Perdido, The Lost River, is like finding a hidden treasure in an Indiana Jones adventure. Walking down the stairs into a tree-lined canyon, lies a thermal river heated by volcanic springs. The combination of unspoiled nature, abundant wildlife, and nature’s version of a luxury spa, will relax, rejuvenate, and inspire.
In Costa Rica, you will hear the refrain ‘Pura Vida’, meaning Pure Life, Simple Life. It is not just a greeting, it is a way of life. The genuine warmth of the staff, variety of onsite activities, and constant embrace of nature, will invite you to reconnect with yourself and celebrate life.
Rio Perdido is a nature lover's paradise. Located in the middle of a spectacular 1,500-acre natural reserve, there are 20 miles of trails to explore, hike, run, or mountain bike. Yoga platforms are tucked away in the jungle, and a ziplining experience takes you through a canyon over the rivers and forest. You can even zipline at night, where the cover of darkness and jungle sounds are sure to excite. Whitewater tubing is an adventure through a stunning canyon landscape, and whitewater rafting is another way to spend thrilling time in nature and bonding with friends.
For a unique spa experience, arrange your massage to take place in a quiet part of the thermal river, where the soft sounds of babbling water and song birds, set the stage for an immersive experience. Relax at the 3 pools as you look out into the forest, or swim up to the pool bar for a snack and drink, and mingle with new friends.
Your room will keep nature front and center. East Bungalows, perched in the forest, are like sleeping in a tree house. The Center Bungalows feature a glass wall, connecting you with the forest and the outdoor shower is a special experience.
Welcome to Rio Perdido, your oasis of well-being and adventure awaits!
The East Bungalows
The Center Bungalows
The Cuisine:
Savor the essence of Costa Rica. Dining is an opportunity to come together – to celebrate the beautiful surroundings and savor the seasonal, locally sourced cuisine.
At Rio Perdido, food is more than just fuel. The local food and homegrown organic produce are prepared in ways that respect the integrity of local tradition, while also infusing innovative accents.
For a relaxed lunch try the quinoa and seasonal vegetable bowl, or ‘gallos’, homemade corn tortillas, guacamole, house hot sauce stuffed with your choice of protein or vegetables.
In the evening, toast to another wonderful day in paradise with a locally inspired cocktail at the bar, followed by a delectable dinner. Start with the carrot and peach palm fruit hummus with root vegetable chips, or maybe the fresh sea bass and lime ceviche. Enjoy a glass wine with your pesto linguine, or perhaps the New York steak with taro root puree and chimichurri sauce.
All these exotic new flavors will be complemented by the absolutely stunning views that unfold around you.
Begin your day with a superb breakfast, which features homemade granola, house made yogurt with fresh fruit, a variety of egg dishes, and traditional ‘Ticos’ (locals) breakfast of eggs, mini corn tortillas, pico de gallo, fried plantains and gallo pinto (a combination of rice and beans). You may want to split the ‘Toast Duo’, homemade whole wheat toast, one with avocado and sauteed mushrooms, and one with artisan cream cheese, natural yogurt and dill blend, topped with beetroot and home-cured brook trout. Yum!
Sounds Delicious!
The following services are included in the cost of the retreat :
6 days 5 nights accommodations at Rio Perdido
Pre-arranged transfers from and to the ***Daniel Oduber International Airport, also known as Liberia International airport and Liberia Guanacaste airport. Airport code: LIR
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
1 daytime canyon adventure
1 white water tubing adventure
Oasis Adventures group wellness teachings
Group Coaching Sessions
CME credit
Services NOT included
Flights and airfare
Spa Services
Tours and Excursions
Beverages/Alcoholic-Beverages
Other guided activities such as biking, yoga, white water rafting
Investment:
6 days/ 5 nights at Rio Perdido
*Per Person, **for double occupancy:
East Room: $5,197
Center Bungalow: $5,647
**For single occupancy, there is a supplement fee of $1,500
Discover an oasis to rest and rejuvenate
TRIP LEADER
James Juarez, MD., DipPH
James brings 25 years of experience taking reflective wellness retreats and 15 years of working as an emergency medicine physician in Southern Oregon. For the past 8 years he’s been teaching continuing medical education around the world and is trained as a Mindfulness in Medicine facilitator. He enjoys hiking, traveling, cooking, reading, exercise, and soulful conversations.
Your Questions Answered
-
Medical Health Care Professionals including MD, DO, PhD, NP, DNP, PA, medical students, residents, AND their significant other/ spouses
-
YES! The reflective process is designed for everyone to be able to benefit, regardless of background. *Everyone attending will be participating in the group learning and activities.
-
YES! Everyone attending will be participating in group learning and activities.
-
Not yet. Currently retreats are designed for people 21 years and older. We anticipate hosting child friendly retreats in the future.
-
This event will be accredited for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Total CME will range between 12-14 CME Credits. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
-
Yes, we will work with the resort to try and accommodate common dietary restrictions. Please let us know about your dietary needs.
-
Yes, roundtrip transportation from *Liberia Guanacaste Airport (LIR) aka Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR) is included in the price of your trip.
-
On the purchase checkout form, select the box, “2 Queen beds, double occupancy”
If the room ends up not being filled with a second person, you will be notified and the single occupancy supplement of $1,050 will apply.
-
All rooms are in the Adult only section, Ocean View suites.
Double Occupancy: 1 King bed
Double Occupancy: 2 Queen beds
Single Occupancy 1 Queen bed
-
If you’d like to extend your stay at Palmaia before or after the retreat, please let us know. We can facilitate that for you.
-
YES, to enter Costa Rica, a valid passport is required. Make sure your passport doesn't expire within 6 months of your travel date. If it does, it’s recommended you renew it before traveling, or you may be restricted from traveling.
-
We highly recommend you buy travel insurance for reimbursements on any travel interruptions, as well as emergency medical expenses, as per the insurance policy. Please note that clients will be directly responsible for any claims to be made directly with the insurance company. Here are some suggestions to help you get started with your research:
Sites that help you compare insurance companies and policies: Insure my trip & Squaremouth
Popular travel insurance options: HTH, Travel Guard Insurance, Allianz Travel Insurance, Travelex
-
We’ll send you a suggested packing list after registration and closer to the trip departure date.
-
Please reach out on the contact page with any further questions.