Meditation and Satsang Retreat, Hacienda del Sol Retreat Center, San Juaniilo, Guanacaste, starts JAN 13

Join Pamela Wilson and amigos for a deep and nourishing week at Hacienda del Sol on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast.  You will be treated to exceptional organic vegetarian cooking from Crystal Bruneau.  Of course, there will be yoga in the morning; two satsangs a day, morning and evening; and plenty of time to relax and enjoy the beaches and the beautiful surroundings. You can also treat yourself to one of the many body-loving treatments provided by Hacienda del Sol's resident practitioners, or participate in a local excursion.

Here's a taste of their tropical paradise:

Dolphins - local boat tours available daily to watch and swim with the dolphins.

Turtles - each month, Olive Ridley turtles find their way up the beach to lay hundreds of eggs.

Fishing - daily boat tours provided by local expert fishermen.

Horseback riding - daily horse rentals available for trail and beach rides.

Surfing - some of the best surfing beaches in Costa Rica (like Playa Guiones) are located only 15 - 30 minutes away.

Other Activities include:

swimming

snorkeling

boogie boarding

exploring rock reefs and tide pools

paddle boarding

canopy tours

river boat tours

ATV rentals

Rincon de la Vieja volcano park

bird and monkey watching

sunbathing

relaxing in hammocks

nature walks to small river pools

The retreat starts on Thursday evening, January 13 and ends on Thursday morning, January 20. The best time to arrive is early afternoon Thursday; best time to leave is the following Thursday afternoon.

Retreat price is $350, plus the resort rate (see table below) and transportation. Couples: $500. Under 25s: $150.

To reserve your place, two separate payments need to be made. First, send a deposit of $100, by check made out to Fellowship of the Heart, to Fellowship of the Heart, P.O. Box 747, Tesuque, NM 87574 - and please write Costa Rica on your check.

Second, choose your preferred accommodation from the table below, and send 25% of the week-long rate directly to Hacienda del Sol online at www.haciendadelsolcr.com. Payments can be made with your credit card via Paypal.

The table below shows the per person resort rates for seven nights, which includes three meals per day and local taxes, but not gratuities.

Accommodation Type Per Person Rate 25% Deposit

Private cabin with bathroom $595 (Deposit $150)
Private cabin without bathroom $525 (Deposit $131)
Shared cabin with bathroom $490 (Deposit $122)
Shared cabin without bathroom $455 (Deposit $114)
Hostel room $315 (Deposit $79)
Commute Option (food only) $250 (Deposit $62)

Questions about your reservation can be emailed to haciendadelsolcr@gmail.com. You can also call the office in Costa Rica at 011-506-8828-4080.

Retreat: Thursday, JAN 13 at 1:00pm - January 20 at 1:00pm

Location: Hacienda del Sol Retreat Center, San Juaniilo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

For more info about Hacienda Del Sol:   http://www.haciendadelsolcr.com/

Costa Rica regional Rainbow Family Gathering, starts JAN 15 in Golfito

Dearest Rainbow Family Brothers and Sisters,

The Tribe is meeting up for a regional gathering at The Rainbow Hostel, Golfito, Costa Rica, starting January 15.  In the authentic tradition of the Rainbow Gatherings, the Bliss Camp (boat house) area will be offered gratis in gratitud y amor for those who wish to participate and co-create unconditional love together.

Lo que tiene que traer:

• A tent:  As with all Rainbow Gatherings, sleeping arrangements for this gathering will be exclusively in tents (tents can be erected anywhere on the property.) 
• Bring mosquito repellant (preferably a natural repellant) and a flashlight
• Enough comida for a few days:  Traditionally, the Magic Hat is passed around and everyone contributes to food—however, before you arrive at the hostel (antes de su llegada), you should purchase a few day’s worth of food, until food and food prep is organized by all the participating brothers and sisters.
• Bring your drums, didgeridoos, poi, songs, dreams, los niños, prayers, yoga mats, potions, and love.

A boat taxi will provide access and egress to the hostel site for the cost of $5.00 per person, one way, to/from Golfito. Internet is available on site for $1.00 per hour.

For those who may want more comfort, the main lodge facilities with cabins, kitchen and internet will be offered for the standard hostel rates.  You are welcome to come early, to help set up—email Rob at therainbowhostel@hotmail.com if you want to come early and help out.

And just a reminder of the Rainbow Family Way:

• No hay líderes aquí.

• No one speaks for The Gathering, we each only speak for Ourselves.

• No one’s needs are more important than anyone else’s here.

• This means that all we do is undertaken in consensus with one another.

• The weekend will begin with a council of all present to arrive at these understandings with one another.  El fin de semana comenzará con un consejo de todos los presentes para llegar a estos acuerdos entre sí.

• This is all a work in progress offered as an invitation to collaboration and co-creation.


Si usted tiene alguna pregunta, contact Rob at therainbowhostel@hotmail.com,  or by phone 8890 4732.

Details:

Costa Rica Regional Rainbow Family Gathering

Saturday, January 15 at 12:00pm - February 28 at 3:00pm

---

Location:

The Rainbow Hostel    www.TheRainbowhostel.com

Golfito, Costa Rica

Email: Therainbowhostel@hotmail.com

El Nocturbano: ChepeCletas’ night bike tour of historical San Jose, JAN 12, 6:30-8:30 pm

El Nocturbano is not just another touristy cultural and historic tour of San Jose; it is a conscious community event.  First of all, the entire tour is done on bicycles (se puede caminar, si lo prefiere) and your 2000 colones donation goes to ChepeCletas:  a local nonprofit organization which advocates the revitalization of San Jose, alternative transportation in the city, and is actively campaigning for bicycle lanes in San Jose.

Always a funky gathering of bicycle enthusiasts, alternative transportation advocates, health nuts, hippies, history fans, the Feria Verde folks, the occasional tourist and Couchsurfer, this is an eclectic, social crowd that meets once a month for a night bike ride around the city, not only for pleasure but to encourage cycling in the city.

El tour begins at the Monumento Nacional a las 6pm, goes through Otoya neighborhood and the limits of Barrio Amon, then runs through Spain and Morazán parks as well as some other surprises on the road. At the end of the tour, traditionally, everyone goes to a local bar/café (which offers a discount for the group) to mix and mingle. 

Details:
Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Meet-up Spot:  Monumento Nacional, downtown San Jose @ 6 pm

Actual Tour: 6:30pm - 8:30pm

For more information:  http://www.chepecletas.com/

Christmas Fiesta de Música Electrónica, San Rafael, Heredia, 10 pm, DEC 25

Baalbek Bar & Grill, a funky music venue tucked in the hills above San Rafael, Heredia, will be celebrating Christmas electronica-style.  Psychedelic party starts at 10 pm, when the kids and the old folks have gone to bed, and usually goes well into dawn. 

The DJ LineUp:

> TOMMY
> DIGLO
> PILOY.COM
> SULAKASKA - GNOSTIC
> REDPOINT/UnderVoiceRecords/ShamanFilms/Monstruo Ink Crew
> UJJUI MUSIC

:DECO: SAPIEN FLOUDESINGS.

Las Frutas del Sr.Psychedelic ((DecoParty))

Saturday at 10:00pm - Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 6:00am

Location:  Baalbek Bar & Grill – San Rafael Heredia - CR.  Map: http://www.menucr.com/place/212

Pura vida!

New Year’s WEEK: GeoParadise Rainforest Music Festival and Gathering, DEC 30- JAN 4, Osa, Costa Rica

New Year’s 2010-2011, Costa Rica-style:  6 days of live music, arts and crafts, planting trees, eco-classes, nature, waterfalls, and connecting with other conscious people, from all over the world, in a pristine rainforest overlooking Drakes Bay and the Peninsula De Osa, Costa Rica.   Quiero presentarles a GeoParadise.

GeoParadise is not just another hippie-outdoor-music-festival-in-a-jungle, but a gathering of creative, conscious souls who seek to actively form a natural symbiosis between the earth and our creative skills.  Whereas as Burning Man is “Leave No Trace”-- GeoParadise’s mantra is “Leave Positive Trace”—this means that every festival attendee contributes to the local ecology.  In this case, cada festival attendee is responsible for planting 3 young indigenous trees. No worries, this is organized by a team of reforestation experts there to guide you!

Los comienzos en la música y la danza en DEC 31!  There will be three main entertainment zones in the festival:  2 Music Stages with DJ’s, Live Acts and Bands from around the world, and the third entertainment zone--the “GeoHaven”, an area for conference and wellness.

After three days of non-stop music, entertainment, love, and fun they will move the proceedings down the hill, onto a private, boat-only accessible beach for the last two days of the festival. 

Here is a peak at some of the talent lined-up:

LIVE

AKBAL Electrik Dream Records (Ibiza)
SHARIGRAMA Mack Mad House records (MX)
SIMMBIONIC Tilasmat records (MX)
DSP Ibidelyc Recordings (Ibiza)
EROTHYME (USA)

DJ TRANCE/PROG

ENTHEOGENIC (UK)
POLI  Spun Record (USA)
RIKAM Neurobiotic Records, Tech Safari (Canada)
SPYROS Psytribe, Caliphonic (USA)
MATTE Etnicanet Records (Ibiza)
MINDWARE usta, materia records (Spain)
MAUS Psynomads (Costa Rica)
MASSERN Psynomads (Costa Rica)
DARKCOSMO Psynomads (Costa Rica)
PULSAR Auralize Music (Costa Rica)
GOBI Auralize Music (Costa Rica)
INFINITE SUN Synchronize, Ultraviolet Carnival (USA)
LEO HAWK Ultraviolet Carnival (USA)
MANIPULATION Fractal Species - (Azores, PT)
DJ VAMPIX Mack Mad House records (MX)
GATTO MATTO Greensector (USA)
BRIAN RAE Greensector (USA)
WILLY ELECTRONARCOSIS Terrakroma (USA)
CHRISTINE Vaporvent Recs, Mandala Recs (USA)
BETO PAXIL (MX)
JOGO ELEMENT (USA)
TOO BLUR Radial Engine Tribe (USA)
ARCANO (MX)

BREAKS AND DUBSTEP

CHRIS SIA (USA)
GEOLAB surround sound show (EARTH)
MI5 (UK)
MELEÉ (USA)
BOWIE VAN LING (USA)
MADADAM (USA)
OTKUN, Atomes, Nomadstribe (Morocco)
JAMWERKS (USA)
YANN Ultra Groove Records, Tech Safari (Canada)

GLOBAL GROOVES

DAN COVAN (USA)
NOA (Spain)
MAT THC Tech Safari (Canada)
TREVOR WYSE Greensector (USA)
KUKAN DUB LAGAN Mikela Bella Rec (Israel)
ALI Transelastica (Costa Rica)
SALVADORE DI ANGELO Tilasmat records (MX)
MLARP (USA)
EVELIENE Electronic Brian Management (Ibiza)
PAXIL (MX)
ZUVUYA (USA)
KATE COTTER (USA)
RAY GUNNZ Midnight Society, Sound Groove Records (USA)
PILOY 2to6 records (Costa Rica)
NAILITCH (Chile)
NIC ARAGON Sacred Sound (USA)
MARCODELIX No Comment Records (D)
MAHADEVA (USA)

GEOHAVEN

CALINCHO (Anusara inspired Yoga)

VJ´s

JONATHAN SINGER (worked with Grateful Dead) (USA)
!A.P.T. (Armageddon Prevention Team) (USA)
PILOY (Costa Rica)
OTKUN (Morocco)

ART SPHERE AND SPACE DESIGN

CAREY THOMPSON (USA)
MANIFESTATION FACILITATOR (USA)
BLOOMING SAKURA (USA)
GEOLAB (EARTH)
MICHAEL GARFIELD (USA)
DONNA TORRES
RAUL CASILLAS ROMO

The details:

THE TIME

Thursday 30th December 2010 - Tuesday 4th January 2011

THE PLACE

Sinai

Above Drakes Bay

Peninsula De Osa

Costa Rica

About the tickets:

Tickets to GeoParadise New Years Gathering in Costa Rica constitute a donation to GeoParadise.  They not only entitle you to attend this wonderful celebration, but they also come together with the Subscription to GeoTribe Lotus Membership.  (No sólo le da derecho a asistir a esta maravillosa celebración, pero también vienen junto con la suscripción a GeoTribe Lotus miembros—for mas information: http://geoparadise.org/

Ticket options:

They are offering three ticket prices online: Regular price, Central America price and Extra Donation price, for those who can afford it and wish to contribute more to the bioregional sustainable programs that GeoParadise has created and supports.

All ticket options entitle you to access the Gathering and GeoTribe Lotus Membership, so it is completely up to you. (Los ciudadanos centroamericanos que compran los boletos con descuento tendrá que mostrar su identificación en la puerta, o pagar la diferencia.)

- Regular: US $150

- Extra donation: US $250

- Central America Discount: US $75

(NOTE:  Youngsters 16 years old or less do not need to purchase a ticket, they can come for free. Ciudadanos nacionales de Central America el precio es un 50% mas barato. Selecciona la opción Central America Discount y recuerda venir al evento con tu Cédula de Identidad que pruebe tu nacionalidad, de lo contrario, se solicitará el abono de la diferencia. Menores (16 años o menos) no tienen que comprar ticket.)

How to get there:

By car:

By road it is 195km, from the SJO Airport to the Gathering Site, driving south on the Panamerican Highway 2. Rental cars are available at the airport.

By bus:

Buses from San Jose to Palmar Norte run every 2 hours. from 05:00 18:00

Details for direct buses to Venecia (30 km south of Palmar), ask the bus driver to stop at Pulperia Las Vegas walk up the track until you come to the car park.

The Bus Station in San Jose: Antigua Terminal de Cartago, Plaza Viquez
Bus Company: Tracopa Ltda  phone number: 22214214
Bus Times: 5am  7am  10am  1pm

For more information about this eco-lutionary music festival and gathering, please visit:   http://geoparadise.org/

No matter how you choose to spend the holidays--wishing you peace, happiness, and joy!

Organic Oasis and community center in between San Isidro de General and Dominical: Con Mucho Gusto

Next time you are traveling between San Isidro de General and Dominical, make sure to stop by Con Mucho Gusto (technically, located in Tinamastes.)  This is not your ordinary multicultural, natural foods café.  This is a community center!   

Yes, they specialize in raw and vegan, organic dishes—featuring Indian, Thai, Caribbean, and fusion cuisines.  Yes, of course, they have organic veggie and fruit smoothies; organic chocolates and a coffee bar with baked goods.  But more than that, Con Mucho Gusto also acts as a local artesian boutique and community arts center frequently with live music, special events and performances--as well as offering a variety of enrichment activities such as English and Spanish classes, arts and crafts, dance, and yoga.

Con Mucho Gusto is a valuable information portal—complete with wifi, books, and volunteer resources and community calendar.  Con Mucho Gusto brings the art, eco, and local communities together for an enriching exchange.  For more information, do not hesitate to contact Con Mucho Gusto at conmuchogusto@hotmail.es, or by phone: 8988-2939

Ever dream of owning an authentic English Pub-- with a house, pool and gardens-- on a mountain, near a beach in Costa Rica?!!

No hablo "Real Estate", but my good friends at Black Sheep Pub, Helena and Joe Greaney, are retiring and planning to move to the Central Valley.  And thus, they are now selling their DREAM place in Nosara, Guanacaste, Costa Rica (and for ridiculously cheap:  only $675,000 USD!) and they have asked me to spread the word.

OK, before you read on…see the photos first:

http://www.nosaraparadise.blogspot.com/

Black Sheep Pub, an authentic English Pub, nestled on top of a mountain overlooking Nosara, is a local institution—known for its diverse, rare collection of hard-to-get European beers (on TAP!); live music venue; special events and parties; and famous for its annual New Year’s Eve Gala. 

In addition to the pub, there is a main-house, two guest houses, a pool, gardens, gazebo, outdoor kitchen, Biergarten, ranchito, and more!  Therefore, you can either keep it as the local event venue or transform it into something entirely different, like a holistic retreat center and whatnot.

All details can be found at http://www.nosaraparadise.blogspot.com/

And send queries directly to the owner, Helena Greaney hgreaney@gmail.com.