Awaken: Sacred Plant Journeys
Our sacred plant journeys are held with the utmost care, safety, and respect for indigenous wisdom. These retreats offer a catalytic path for letting go of old wounds and reconnecting with your most authentic self. Through ceremony, integration practices, and community support, we guide you from “not being enough” into presence, compassion, and wholeness.
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Profound Growth. Expanded Consciousness.
What is a Sacred Plant Journey at QASA?
Our sacred plant journeys are intentionally held spaces for deep inner work, drawing from ancient traditions while honoring the needs of modern GBQT+ men. Led by experienced facilitators, each ceremony is designed to be trauma-informed and grounded in consent and care.
These immersive retreats invite you into profound connection – with yourself, with community, with the earth, and with something greater. You’ll be invited to engage in embodiment practices, share moments of reflection, and explore the lush jungle through waterfall adventures – all within a vibrant queer community. While there may be opportunities to discuss sexuality as part of our whole selves, the retreat is non-sexual, creating a container where you can feel safe, connected, and fully present.
Through ritual, music, community, nature, and skilled integration, many participants experience clarity, transformation, and a renewed sense of belonging – both within and beyond.
Come as you are. Leave more you than ever.
The Awaken retreat series offers two distinct pathways to deep inner transformation — both grounded in nature, community, and sacred plant journey. These retreats are for queer folks ready to shed old stories, heal in circle, and remember their innate wholeness.
Choose your journey:
Psilocybin:
Gentle, heart-opening journeys with two psilocybin ceremonies and time to integrate through somatic and spiritual practices.
Ayahuasca:
Deep, ancestral journeys with two or three ayahuasca ceremonies in a reverent, trauma-informed container.
Both include a full arc of preparation, ceremony, and integration — held by expert facilitators in a non-sexual, consent-rich space that honors safety, dignity, and deep inner work.
Come Home to Yourself
The Awaken retreat series offers two distinct pathways to deep inner transformation – both grounded in nature, community, and sacred plant journeys. These retreats are for queer folks ready to shed old stories, transform in community, and remember their innate wholeness.
Choose your journey:
Mycelial Muse:
Heart-opening journeys with two sacred mycelium ceremonies and time to integrate through somatic and spiritual practices.
Grandmother Vine:
Deep, ancestral journeys with two sacred vine ceremonies in a reverent, trauma-informed container.
Both include a full arc of preparation, ceremony, and integration – held by expert facilitators in a non-sexual, consent-rich space that honors safety, dignity, and deep inner work.
The Qasa Way
Our unique methodology infused into every Qasa experience
The Qasa Way is how we create unforgettable, life-shifting queer experiences – grounded in joy, safety, and belonging. While each retreat is unique, you’ll find consistent values, elements, and philosophy across all of our experiences. Every retreat is queer-centered, evidence-rooted, and designed for your whole self: mind, body, heart, spirit, and nature too.
All Qasa experiences center on:
- Authenticity – We create spaces where you can bring every part of yourself – messy, raw, evolving – without pretense.
- Connection – Creating space for belonging, not by asking you to fit in, but by welcoming you exactly as you are; through deep listening, shared vulnerability, and the embrace of nature.
- Queer Joy – We balance soulful, transformative work with celebration, creative expression, and the kind of playful delight that lights you up from the inside out.
- Embodiment – Embracing practices and moments that drop you into your body, awaken your senses, and root you in the fullness of the present moment.
All of our retreats feature
How it feels
Through our retreats, adventures, and festivals, we guide guests from shame, fear, and disconnection to joy, embodiment, and technicolor belonging. You’ll laugh until you cry, cry until you laugh, and remember what it feels like to be fully alive – in your body, in your truth, and in a community that celebrates you exactly as you are.
Expert
Facilitators:
Skilled, trauma-informed guides create immersive, heart-opening experiences that help you grow with care and clarity.
Inclusive Queer Community:
Join a vibrant, loving community that honors queerness in all its forms - where you are free to be fully, joyfully you.
Exceptional Natural Setting:
Costa Rica’s jungle, ocean, and pura vida spirit offer more than a backdrop - they’re part of the journey.
Holistic
Wellbeing:
Our programs engage the full spectrum of your being - mind, body, heart, and spirit - through movement, rest, play, and connection.
The Arc of Your Qasa Journey
Every Qasa experience is more than just time on the land – it’s a journey with three powerful phases designed to support your transformation.
- Preparation – From the moment you say yes, we help you arrive ready – emotionally, physically, and energetically. You’ll receive resources, reflection prompts, and guidance to set intentions so you can step into your retreat with clarity and openness.
- Retreat – Immersed in the lush jungles of Costa Rica, you’ll move through a carefully crafted program of practices, rituals, and experiences that guide you from disconnection to connection, from holding back to living in full color.
- Integration – Transformation doesn’t end when you leave. We offer tools, practices, and community touchpoints to help you carry your insights, connections, and new ways of being into your everyday life.
At Qasa, we hold the container for your whole journey – before, during, and after – so your experience isn’t just memorable, it’s lasting.
Upcoming Sacred Plant Journeys
Join us in the Costa Rican jungle for immersive, expertly-held retreats designed to awaken, heal, and reconnect. Each experience includes beautiful accommodations, nourishing food, diverse gathering spaces, holistic wellness offerings, and access to nature-based adventure.
Held by trusted facilitators and a loving team, our sacred plant journeys offer a safe, supportive container for deep transformation – whether it’s your first journey or your fifth.
- November 30 - December 6, 2025
- February 15 - 21, 2026
- March 8-14, 2026
- April 19 - 25, 2026
- May 17 - 23, 2026
- July 26 - August 1, 2026
Research Spotlight: Psychedelics & LGBTQ+ Wellbeing
We proudly partnered on the first longitudinal study to explore how psychedelic retreats impact LGBTQ+ participants.
Key Findings:
Mental Health
Participants reported significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress - improvements that persisted at the three-month follow-up.
Quality of Life
Measures of psychological, social, and environmental wellbeing all increased, with many describing a greater sense of stability, purpose, and joy in daily life.
Spiritual Connection
Many experienced a deepened sense of meaning, connection to something larger, and a renewed relationship with their own inner wisdom.
Self-Compassion & Authenticity
Participants reported feeling more comfortable in their identities, more self-accepting, and more willing to express their authentic selves.
Beyond the numbers, personal accounts revealed themes of belonging, liberation from shame, and profound emotional release. Many participants described the retreats as life-changing, offering both immediate breakthroughs and tools for continued growth.
Is This for Me?
Sacred Plant Journeys are for you if:
You feel called to explore healing with sacred plants in a safe, inclusive, and respectful space.
You are navigating grief, transition, stuckness, or disconnection - and seeking deeper clarity or release.
You want to be held by experienced facilitators who honor both tradition and trauma-informed care.
You crave time in nature, community, and ritual to reconnect with your inner truth.
You are ready to feel more whole - less numb, more present, and deeply supported.
Ready to Rediscover Yourself and Connect with Others?
What participants say
Our Retreat Amenities include
Spectacular waterfalls
11 Gorgeous Bamboo Cabins (25 beds sleeping up to 28)
Camping area
Beautiful yoga shala
Communal bathroom and showers
Kitchen + dining to accommodate 30+
Gym
Pristine Nature
Abundant hiking
On-site bodywork
Accommodations include
All cabins are handmade primarily from locally-sourced bamboo, and while they are protected from the elements and enclosed in mosquito netting, they are open air and have spectacular views of the jungle. Private and shared accommodation options are available.
Private Deluxe Cabin
A beautiful, hand-crafted bamboo cabin with a queen or king bed.
SHARED TWIN JUNGLE CABIN
A shared cabin with two comfortable twin-size beds. You will have one bed to yourself and you will be matched with another participant who will sleep in the other twin bed.
SHARED 4 BED JUNGLE CABIN
A shared cabin with four comfortable single beds. You will have one single bed to yourself and you will be matched with three other participants who will sleep in the other beds.
King Jungle Cabin
A beautiful, hand-crafted bamboo cabin with a queen or king bed.
All cabins come with:
- Lights
- Electricity
- Overhead Fan
- Luxurious Bedding
All cabins share a gorgeous bamboo bathhouse and shower facilities.
A/C is unnecessary in our region.
Price includes accommodation, use of facilities, and morning embodiment classes (such as yoga, meditation, etc) offered several days per week.
This price does not include the cost of meals ($50/person/night).
PRIVATE
DELUXE CABIN
A beautiful, hand-crafted bamboo cabin with a queen or king bed.
SHARED 4 BED JUNGLE CABIN
A shared cabin with four comfortable single beds. You will have one single bed to yourself, and you will be matched with three other participants who will sleep in the other beds.
KING JUNGLE CABIN
A beautiful, hand-crafted bamboo cabin with a queen or king bed.
SHARED TWIN JUNGLE CABIN
A shared cabin with two comfortable twin-size beds. You will have one bed to yourself, and you will be matched with another participant who will sleep in the other twin bed.
All cabins come with:
- Lights
- Electricity
- Overhead Fan
- Luxurious Bedding
All cabins share a gorgeous bamboo bathhouse and shower facilities. A/C is unnecessary in our region.
Price includes accommodation, use of facilities, and morning embodiment classes (such as yoga, meditation, etc) offered several days per week. This price does not include the cost of meals ($50/person/night).
Meals include
We have an in-house chef who prepares fresh and delicious meals daily, using local, organically grown ingredients whenever possible. We will do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions.
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
Affiliated Retreats
frequently asked questions
FAQs
Dive into a wealth of information about our retreats, accommodations, and experiences. Quickly find comprehensive answers for a seamless and well-informed journey with us.
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frequently asked questions
FAQs
Got questions about our retreats in Costa Rica? Read the FAQs or get in touch via the contact form below.
Need more insights? Read our comprehensive blog about all things retreat-related in Costa Rica.
Qasa is a queer sanctuary nestled in the lush Costa Rican jungle. We are a hotel and retreat center offering a mix of transformative experiences, playful freedom, embodied pleasure, wellness, and connection — all centered around the LGBTQ+ community. Whether you’re coming for a retreat, a hotel stay, or an event, we welcome you with open arms (and optional clothes).
While our retreats are predominantly for GBTQ+ men, our hotel welcomes all guests who value conscious community, natural beauty, and authentic connection – regardless of background, identity, or how you love.
Qasa offers an eco-chic boutique hotel and transformational experiences, including sacred plant journeys, nature-based adventures and embodied pleasure retreats. We also offer intentional gatherings, parties, and festivals, as well as daily world-class classes, workshops, and events.
Yes! You can stay with us as a hotel guest during “off-retreat” times. It’s a beautiful way to enjoy nature, community, and rest. Check availability here.
Key community agreements include respect, radical self-expression, inclusivity and non-judgment, clothing-optional, consent, sex positivity, intentionality, responsible use of consciousness-altering substances, clear communication, and co-creation.
Absolutely. We celebrate body freedom and comfort. Nudity is welcome in common areas, and respected as a non-sexual form of self-expression. Please always sit on a towel 🙂
Yes. We are an adults-only space (18+). Our programming and environment are not suitable for children.
Yes, Costa Rica has a good track record in terms of safety, and its growing social acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community makes it a relatively safe destination.
In Costa Rica, personal participation in sacred plant ceremonies for spiritual growth is not penalized under current law, with enforcement focused on trafficking rather than individual practice. While the landscape remains unregulated and evolving, ceremonies conducted in genuine spiritual contexts may benefit from constitutional protections; we honor these traditions with full respect for Costa Rican law and culture.
Getting to QASA
- Qasa is located 3.5-4.5 hours from San Jose International airport (SJO), and roughly 1.25 hours from Quepos Airport (XQP) which has regular flights from SJO on Sansa Airlines and Green Airways
- After booking a stay at Qasa we will be happy to help you book a private taxi through a trusted provider. Private taxi rates (subject to change) are approximately:
- $180 from San Jose or SJO Airport
- $80 from Quepos or XQP Airport
- $90 from Manuel Antonio
- $30 from Dominical
- $30 from San Isidro
- If renting a car, a 4×4 is required to access the hotel in the rainy season
- The most economical option to arrive is to take a public bus to San Isidro or Dominical and then take a private taxi
Flexible Stays/Experiences
Hotel Stays in Costa Rica
Indulge in pure relaxation at our serene retreat. Just stay and enjoy the hotel, where every moment is designed for your comfort. Unwind in stylish accommodations, savor delectable cuisine, and relish in the tranquil atmosphere. Your escape begins here.