An Immersive Mindfulness & Nature Retreat
Join us for a week-long guided mindfulness meditation retreat in the stunning Costa Rican rainforest!
We’ll spend our days mostly in silence immersed in mindfulness and compassion practices while enjoying the prolific nature of the Costa Rican jungle.
Our daily retreat schedule will invite us to rise (somewhat!) early for morning movement practice and meditation before breakfast and will support us through the day and into the evening with a sequence of sitting and walking meditation practice, loving kindness practice, gentle yoga and movement practices led by Tim and Robin.
Each day will also include a wisdom talk to encourage our practice, and a spacious period after lunch for individual practice, exploring and resting.
Nature walks into the surrounding jungle with local guides will also be a part of the retreat experience, as we open our senses and our hearts to the surrounding rainforest.
Plus It’s a Fundraiser!
This retreat helps to fund our Accessibility Fund. Your sliding scale tuition choice and any additional donations made during the registration process allow us to offer scholarships to the communities we serve with our programs and pro bono mindfulness training programs for non-profit organizations. Mindfulness Northwest is a 501c(3) non-profit organization.
Thank you for your support!
Location & Accommodations
This retreat will be held mostly in silence at Selva Verde Lodge – a peaceful eco-tourist inn interwoven into a beautiful 500 hectare primary forest reserve in central Costa Rica. This will be our third Rainforest Retreat at this magical place. Raised walkways and lovely rooms are nestled in a rainforest garden adjacent to an old growth rainforest.
Large double occupancy rooms are included; single occupancy can be chosen at registration for an additional fee. If you’d like to room with someone else who is registering, please specify this in the comments section of the registration below.
The buffet style Costa Rican cuisine is varied and accommodating of a variety of dietary preferences and needs.
SCHEDULE
May 22 – 30, 2025
Arrive in Costa Rica any time on May 22nd, see Logistics below for more details.
TEACHERS
LOCATION
COST
$1,850 – $2,875 sliding scale (or $308 – $479/month with a no-interest 6-month payment plan).
Paying higher on the scale funds our Accessibility Fund – thank you!
- All inclusive: Food, lodging, shuttle bus to the lodge, guided nature walks, and instruction are included in the registration tuition.
- Lodging: Double accommodations included, additional surcharge applies for single lodging (available during registration). Includes first night in our airport hotel and all nights at our retreat lodge.
- Scholarships: Scholarships available until filled. No need to apply; choose the scholarship tuition during registration.
- Payment Plans: No-interest, 6-month payment plan option is available during registration until April 1st.
EVENT POLICIES
- See below for the COVID policy and other logistics for this event.
- Review our Rainforest Retreat Cancellation policy before registering.
Teachings
Teachers Tim Burnett and Robin Boudette will give daily talks on a fundamental Buddhist teaching of the Five Elements. These explorations will underline connections to the biology of our natural surroundings at La Selva Verde and how we experience the environment and ourselves. Both Tim and Robin have deep relationships to time in nature. Plus, in addition to his mindfulness and Buddhist training, Tim holds degrees in biology and environmental studies and formerly worked as a field botanist and environmental educator.
Whether in circumstances that feel extraordinary to us, like spending a week in a tropical rainforest, or in circumstances that feel quite ordinary, we heal and grow when we are fully present. In the practices and teachings of this retreat we will explore ways of feeling, understanding, and experiencing full presence in every moment of our lives.
TEACHERS
Tim Burnett
Executive Director and Guiding Instructor at Mindfulness Northwest, Tim has been leading multi-day retreats in both the mindfulness and Zen Buddhist styles for many years. For these retreats Tim loves offering a universal ("secular") mindfulness retreat experience while also plumbing the depth of Buddhist texts and philosophy that form one of the deep roots of this work. You can explore an example of Tim's teachings at a prior retreat.
Robin Boudette
Robin Boudette, PhD, a clinical psychologist and mindfulness instructor, has practiced yoga and meditation for more than 30 years and has completed multiple training programs as a Buddhist teacher. For over 10 years, Robin taught MBSR at the Mindfulness Institute at Jefferson University Hospital. She also works with Judson Brewer, MD, Ph.D., offering evidence-based mindfulness interventions for habit change as the Training Coordinator at Mindsciences. She offers online courses, workshops, and retreats around the country. Robin is especially committed to the practice of life release and is engaged in animal rescue. Tim and Robin have led many retreats together.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Logistics & Covid Policy
COVID POLICY – Help us keep the group healthy. Our policy requires a COVID home test before you leave home to attend an overnight retreat. Please review our complete COVID policy before registering.
ARRIVAL – Arrive in Costa Rica at any time on May 22nd, 2025 and take a short taxi ride or request their shuttle van to take you to your first night in Costa Rica at Double Tree Hilton Cariari near the airport (included in your registration). The group will gather on the morning of May 23rd at 10am for our bus journey together to Selva Verde Lodge in the central rainforest area of Costa Rica. This will be an easeful way to arrive in Costa Rica, get your bearings and meet up with the group without stress.
RETREAT – We’ll begin our retreat at Selva Verde Lodge in the evening on Friday May 23rd, and spend our remaining nights there until the bus returns us to the airport on the morning of Friday May 30th.
RETURN – Return to San Jose airport with us on our chartered bus arriving by 11am on Friday May 30th. If you are leaving Costa Rica that day, flights departing after 1pm should work fine.
COMMUNICATION EN ROUTE – We’ll be on a group text group using the Whatsapp communications app. This will allow us to easily check in and coordinate during our journies. (Whatsapp is also widely used in Costa Rica for texting and phone calls).
QUESTIONS? – Don’t hestitate to reach out to us at office@mindfulnessnorthwest.com or 360-830-6439 x0.
Who this retreat is for
- Students of mindfulness and compassion interested in deepening and maintaining their practice
- Mindfulness teachers who’d like to strengthen their understanding of the Buddhist roots of contemporary mindfulness
- Those who have taken a course in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindful Self-Compassion, or Mindfulness for Healthcare Professionals.
- Adults age 18 and over
YOUR FIRST LONGER RETREAT?
Before sitting a multi-day retreat we recommend that you have teacher-led experience with mindfulness or related contemplative practices. Please contact us if you have questions about whether this retreat will be appropriate for you.
About Our Residential Silent Retreats
Residential Retreats are multi-day, teacher-led silent meditation retreats. After initial introductory greetings and information, your instructors will explain how silent retreat practice works to support you in a deep experience of practice. The daily schedule will include gently guided sitting and walking meditation, morning teachings, mindful movement, and the body scan, as well as compassion cultivation and loving-kindness meditations.
We also offer Residential Trainings for Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC). These 5-day events, offered at retreat centers, mirror the content of our 8-week courses. They’re much more interactive than a silent retreat. See our MBSR & MSC sections for more information.
WHO COMES TO RETREATS
All are welcome! We are honored to support each participant in their meditation practice regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual identity, age, physical ability, political affiliation, or religion. Our retreats are suitable for beginning through experienced practitioners.
We are committed to offering support for any accessibility needs you have as we are able. Please contact us with any questions or requests related to accessibility prior to registering for a course.
YOUR FIRST LONGER RETREAT?
Before sitting a multi-day retreat we recommend that you have teacher-led experience with mindfulness or related contemplative practices. Please contact us if you have questions about whether this retreat will be appropriate for you.
IS RETREAT RIGHT FOR YOU? Meditation retreats are not right for everyone. If you have a history of trauma or acute psychological issues consider checking with a mental health professional to decide if intensive retreat practice would be supportive. If you have questions or concerns about whether a retreat is right for you, please contact us at office@mindfulnessnorthwest.com.
STRUCTURE AND PARTICIPATION
FOUR DAILY PRACTICE SESSIONS
- Mindfulness and compassion practices are offered in four blocks daily: early morning, morning, afternoon, and evening.
- Participants are expected to attend all sessions and follow the printed schedule you will receive on site as fully as possible.
However, we are flexible and always willing to work with you on what your body and mind can reasonably do. Speak with the retreat teachers if you have concerns about following the complete schedule.
PRACTICING IN SILENCE
- After the initial orientation and introductions on the first evening, our residential retreats are held in silence.
- Participants are expected to follow guidelines around silence and participation:
- not speaking to other participants including close friends or partners you are attending with
- not using technology of any form
- not reading books, magazines, flyers, or any reading materials
- reducing interpersonal contact through the eyes or other body language
- Necessary communication with the retreat teachers can be done via a notes station or by taking them aside.
The intention of silent retreat is to settle deeply into your own experience and to not interact with others, allowing everyone space to have the retreat they need to have — including you!
PERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL SAFETY
- Participants are expected to be sensitive and responsive to these guidelines and the needs of fellow participants as fully as possible.
- Please do not take photos or make recordings of other participants or the teachers.
- Do not use alcohol or mind altering drugs of any kind.
- Emergency contact information to share with loved ones is generally included on our venue pages. Venue staff and Mindfulness Northwest instructors will make sure you receive incoming messages promptly while your phone is off. If you are expecting an urgent message please let your instructor know.
- Instructors are available at all times to offer support, including conversation if needed.
WHAT TO BRING
- A pair of binoculars for birding if you have them (if you’ve been thinking about investing we recommend full-sized 10×42 binoculars for birding).
- Warm-weather clothes in layers – the climate is warm and damp but it does cool off in the evening and early morning.
- Rain coat AND umbrella – we’re walking between buildings. It is likely to rain every afternoon. This is the tropics.
- Toiletries and overnight things.
- It’s okay to bring a notebook if you wish to do some writing, but remember this is a silent, contemplative retreat.
- A flashlight. The lodge is reasonably well lit but we walk between buildings in the early morning and evening and we will be going on a nature night walk.
- Meditation cushions / supplies – if you have meditation cushion(s), a bench or other sitting gear that’s easy to pack, bring it. The lodge will also provide a mat and cushion for each of us. Chairs are also available.
- Shoes that are easy to slip on and off are helpful at meditation retreats – we will be taking shoes off in the practice room.
LODGING
Lodging assignments will be available on check-in at the venue. The Base Tuition includes a double occupancy room with single occupancy available with a supplement.
AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING TAKEN BY MINDFULNESS NORTHWEST
Audio/video recordings of our instructors may occasionally be created for certification and training purposes during these programs. These recordings will include only our instructors in the photo frame (though they may pick up student voices at some points in the recording) and are for internal use only.
We may also request your consent to take photos or videos for promotional purposes. Your image will not be captured or used without your consent.
EXTENDING YOUR STAY: COSTA RICA TRAVEL SUGGESTIONS
Interested in further explorations? Selva Verde Lodge is itself an excellent area for birding and ecotourism and is near several other excellent areas. Come early or stay after the retreat at Selva Verde Lodge (please arrange directly with them) and book a birding tour at La Selva Biological Station (15 minutes drive from the lodge). You could also do additional birding tours at the Lodge.
Interested in regular Costa Rican culture and/or Spanish language studies? The town of Heredia is 30 minutes from the airport and also has a stop on the commuter train into San Jose itself (note that the airport is in Alajuela, not San Jose proper). We recommend Hotel Hojarascas in Heredia – a delightful and affordable family run hotel. There are highly recommended Spanish language schools in Heredia as well.
Interested in nature and seeing more of Costa Rica? Travel to one or more of these nearby nature hotspots:
1) The Carribean coastal area of Tortuguero: see coastal bird and amphibian species, a flooded rainforest, sea turtles and many other species in a warm laid-back environment. About 3 hours drive plus a 1 hour boat ride from Selva Verde Lodge.
2) The Arenal Volcano. The Volcano itself is impressive and many forest bird species can be seen. Nearby hot springs at La Fortuna are a delight as well. About 2 hours drive from Selva Verde Lodge.
3) The Monte Verde Cloud forest, one of the most impressive cloud forest regions in the Americas. 3 hour drive on from Arenal Volcano.
Travel independently or arrange with an outfitter. For an outfitter we recommend Aratinga Tours who will help you create an at-your-own pace itinerary. Please tell them you’re part of the Mindfulness Northwest group.
Reminders
See above for the Covid policy and other logistics for this event.
We recommend reviewing our Rainforest Reteat Cancellation policy before registering.
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