NEW YEAR’S RETREAT
JAN 7 - 11 2026
PUERTO VIEJO, CARIBBEAN COAST
COSTA RICA
About this retreat:
The Heroine's Journey Retreat is an invitation for women from all walks of life to come together and explore the transformative journeys of their lives through the lens of Maureen Murdock's "Heroine’s Journey."
We had created a ceremonial retreat experience to honor our sacred faculties of expression, bonding in community, bridging, putting back together, discovering and healing.
Because of the nature of this deep work, it will be a very intimate event - with only 12-14 spaces available. Connecting with the Earth will be essential, and so we have ensured a nature-immersive experience alongside a river, in the footsteps of the highest mountain in Costa Rica: Chirripó. A place of unparalleled beauty, boutique accommodation, gourmet food, movement, ritual, and sisterhood.
This retreat offers a profound space for healing, where each participant’s journey is both witnessed and honored, fostering a unique sense of empathy and communal support among all who attend.
This retreat is for you if you:
are in the midst of a major life transition or moment of inflection
find yourself facing questions about who you are, what your purpose is, or how you fit into the story that is unfolding around you
want to cultivate deep ties of shared reality, support and sisterhood with a powerful group of women on their own journey
are looking to “re-signify” -find new meaning- in pieces of your story, in a way that feels powerful and illuminating
are mourning the loss of the world you thought you once knew: the end of a relationship, a career change, an illness, menopause, the passing of a loved one, the coming undone of the world at a political, environmental and social level
sense the potential of a new paradigm of inter-being, radical acceptance and care; and want to be a part of that shift
Journey Through Self-Discovery
We will approach each phase of this journey with theory, practice, storytelling, rituals, dance and music chosen to engage the body, mind and heart:
Reflective Learning: Understand the four pivotal phases of transformation—The Rupture, The Descent, The Emergence, and The Return
Movement and Expression: Engage with somatic movement, dance and music to reconnect with your physical self.
Rituals and Circles: Experience the power of shared rituals and women’s circles, fostering deep connections and communal healing
Nature Immersion: Enjoy the enlivening power of the lush surroundings, perfect for reflection and rejuvenation.
Facilitated by
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Costa Rican social entrepreneur, of multicultural origin. Producer of the podcast "The Heroine's Journey," empathy activist, TEDx speaker, and cancer survivor.
She holds a Master's degree in Medical Anthropology from SOAS University of London and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and International Relations from New York University.
As the founder of ConversABLE, she has impacted thousands of people by teaching Nonviolent Communication to government officials, United Nations representatives, and vulnerable communities.
She's also the co-founder of Wondermore, Passiflora and the producer of "Resilience" an internationally acclaimed short film.
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Andrea Marenco (Prema) is a Costa Rican yoga and meditation therapist and the founder of both Omprov Lab, a creative laboratory for presence where movement, storytelling, and improvisation meet and the Therapeutic Yoga Institute, a registered yoga and meditation training school. With over a decade of experience leading in the field of embodied awareness, she integrates philosophy, somatic inquiry, and archetypal exploration into her work.
Her path has been profoundly shaped by seven years of immersive study in psychoanalytic and depth psychology at Sat Yoga Ashram. Influenced by Marion Woodman, Prema weaves the wisdom of embodied storytelling into spaces of transformation.
Through her workshops, retreats and trainings, she invites participants to step into their own heroine’s journey reclaiming their stories, awakening agency, and coming home to the truth of their being.
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Laura González Murillo is a Costa Rican contemporary dancer, movement mentor, and founder of Da Corpo Dance Studio. With over a decade of experience exploring the body as a path of transformation, her work integrates contemporary dance, Ashtanga Yoga, Qi Gong, Taiji, and Taoist Chinese Medicine, studied at the Five Immortals Temple in Wudang Shan, China.
As a spiritual mentor and meditation coach, Laura has created spaces of healing and self-discovery, including the Caribbean retreat “Tu Pausa Sagrada.” Her offerings weave dance, ancestral wisdom, and contemplative practices into transformative experiences that invite participants back into the intelligence of their bodies and the stillness of their hearts.
About the Heroine’s Journey
The Heroine's Journey (THJ) invites us to move from individualism to interdependence; from self-sacrifice to the art of receiving; from competition to collaboration; from obsession with answers to welcoming questions; from asking "what can I get for myself?" to "how can I serve life?"
Using this archetypal map, we can begin to understand our personal stories of change with deep insight, compassion, and inspiration.
When we embark on the Heroine's Journey, we cross a threshold into a pathless forest.
In the darkness, we must reconnect with our intuition to survive. We learn to embrace chaos and are guided by a different kind of light, an inner knowing.
What you’ll receive:
A Map to Embrace Change with Clarity & Navigate life Transitions with confidence:
Whether you’re going through a career shift, relationship change, or personal transformation; you'll leave feeling grounded and with renewed clarity for next steps. Discover the inner strength to confidently embrace new beginnings.
Tools for connecting with your True Self and Purpose:
At any stage, having profound insights into who you are and how you fit into the larger story of your life is a part of the path of our soul’s evolution. Walk away with a restored sense of personhood, purpose, and self-worth; ready to live authentically and passionately.
Healing through Emotional exploration and Integration:
Safely explore repressed emotions such as fear, anger, disillusionment, and shame. This release can lead to a sense of inner peace and the ability to move forward with a lighter heart.
Guidance to unleash your Creativity and reconnect with Nature so you can infuse your life with Inspiration and Joy:
Immerse yourself in a beautiful natural setting that stimulates creative expression and self-discovery. Leave feeling inspired, full of new ideas and possibilities.
A Supportive, Empowering Community with lasting Connections:
Transform feelings of isolation by joining a nurturing community that truly understands and supports you. Experience the joy and strength that comes from deep, meaningful connections and a solid support network.
Practices to adopt a new way of Being and Paradigm shift:
Participate in transformative conversations and practices that will shift your perspective and empower you to be part of a new, harmonious way of living that holds care, radical acceptance and self-love at its core.
Daily Itinerary Highlights
Morning Awakening: Start with somatic exercises to awaken the body.
Focused Sessions: Dive deep into each phase of the Heroine’s Journey, from the initial rupture to the eventual return
Community and Connection: Engage in dialogues and group activities to foster support and understanding among participants
Evening Rituals: Participate in mourning rituals, offering a safe space for communal healing and reflection
Big Tree Retreat Center is a serene and luxurious sanctuary, an ideal setting for immersive retreats and meaningful gatherings.
Nestled on a private 9-acre estate where the rainforest meets the Caribbean Sea, it offers a rare opportunity to be surrounded by abundant wildlife, from toucans and monkeys to morpho butterflies and sloths.
Just steps from pristine beaches and rainforest trails, Big Tree provides the perfect balance of comfort, wild beauty, and deep connection with nature.
Investment
Early Bird:
We have limited availability for this rate, so it will be available until November 1st, or until the maximum number of spaces available is reserved. Whichever comes first.
Suite room for single occupancy $1290 +iva = $1460
Standard room for double occupancy (beds are not shared): $780 +iva= $881
Regular: from September 15th to November 5st.
Suite room for single occupancy: $1490 +iva= $1684
Standard room for double occupancy (beds are not shared): $890 +iva= $1006
Late: from November 1st to January 7th
Suite room for single occupancy: $1690 +iva= $1910
Standard room for double occupancy (beds are not shared): $1090 +iva= $1232
Important: We have a limited number of suites available.
What's included:
Accommodation for 3 nights and 4 days
All guided activities and practices
Delicious and healthy meals (3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 3 dinners)
Afternoon snacks on days 1, 2, and 3.
Continuous coffee and herbal tea station
Materials
Surprises
What's not included:
Transportation
Signing up is super easy!
You just need to fill out the registration form and then make the payment according to the accommodation option you want.
Payment methods:
If you are Costa Rican and/or living here: you can pay by bank transfer or with credit or debit card. Additionally, if you have Credomatic cards, you can pay with zero interest for 3 months.
If you live outside of CR: you can pay with credit or debit card.
Bank transfer information:
IMPORTANT: Please send the payment receipt to heroinejourneyproject@gmail.com; the payment receipt is essential to consider you officially registered for the retreat.
USD Account
Christine Raine Rodríguez
ID: 1-1164-0957
IBAN: CR82010200009469889535
BAC Account: 946988953
CRC Account
Christine Raine Rodríguez
ID: 1-1164-0957
IBAN: CR72010200009469889618
BAC Account: 946988961
For card payments and zero interest for 3 months:
Send us a message via WhatsApp and we'll share the payment link with you ;)
Please consider:
That there are limited spots available for this retreat. Therefore, spaces are reserved upon receipt of payment. If you are unable to make the full payment, you can reserve your spot with a non-refundable deposit of $200. To maintain the Early Bird or Regular price, you must pay the total amount before the end date of that rate; otherwise, the rate applicable will be the one in effect on the date you complete the payment. Please note that for the Early Bird rate, availability of spaces also affects our ability to maintain this rate.
