Wilder Sanctuary gold botanical logo

Medicinal Plants · Earth Wisdom · Regenerative Living

Tropical Herbalism
Retreat

A living immersion into medicinal plants and the rhythms of the rainforest.

Begin your journey
Lena harvesting medicinal herbs in Wilder’s tropical gardens
South Pacific · Costa RicaPrivate & personalizedImmersed in nature

YOUR RETREAT AT WILDER

Here, herbalism
is lived.

Hidden in the lush South Pacific rainforest of Costa Rica, Wilder Sanctuary offers a deeply immersive Herbalism Retreat guided by herbalist and regenerative lifestyle educator Lena Ropp.

Surrounded by thriving medicinal gardens, abundant tropical food forests, waterfalls, rivers and untouched jungle, this retreat is an invitation to reconnect with the ancient relationship between humans and plants.

Learn directly from the land through sensory experiences, hands-on medicine making, plant identification, garden harvests, herbal preparations and nourishing plant-powered meals.

Fresh medicinal leaves and butterfly-pea flowers harvested in a basket

WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE

A living apothecary.

Medicinal plant garden tours

Explore our extensive medicinal herb gardens and tropical food forests while learning about healing plants traditionally used for vitality, digestion, immunity, nervous system support, detoxification, women’s wellness, skin health, and emotional balance.

Hands-on herbal medicine making

Create your own herbal remedies using freshly harvested plants from the sanctuary:

  • Herbal teas & infusions
  • Tinctures
  • Herbal baths
  • Botanical skincare
  • Poultices & compresses
  • Medicinal tonics & elixirs

Herbalism education

Learn foundational and intuitive herbalism practices including:

  • Plant energetics
  • Herbal actions & properties
  • Wild harvesting ethics
  • Herbal preparation methods
  • Tropical herbal medicine
  • Regenerative growing practices
  • Creating your own home apothecary

THE ELEMENTAL JOURNEY

Guided by nature’s rhythms.

Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether inspire a living, evolving experience. Every journey is personalized, with space for rest, exploration and presence.

01 · Earth

Grounding & presence

Rainforest immersion, medicinal gardens and peaceful sanctuary living.

02 · Water

Flow & softness

Waterfalls, rivers, natural pools and the wild South Pacific coast.

03 · Fire

Warmth & aliveness

Candlelight, cacao, nourishing meals and shared moments under the stars.

04 · Air

Space & perspective

Breathwork, mindful movement and spacious moments of reflection.

05 · Ether

Stillness & integration

Sound, meditation and sacred rest, held by the rhythms of nature.

NATURE IMMERSION & WELLNESS PRACTICES

Herbalism, woven into daily life.

The retreat beautifully weaves herbalism with:

  • Yoga & meditation
  • Sound healing
  • Breathwork
  • Waterfall journeys
  • Jungle walks
  • Restorative rituals
  • Nervous system nourishment
  • Connection to Earth’s natural rhythms

PERSONALIZED WELLNESS SUPPORT

A journey shaped around you.

Each retreat is intentionally curated to support your unique goals, whether you are seeking:

  • Healing & restoration
  • Detoxification
  • Nervous system reset
  • Herbal education
  • Reconnection with nature
  • Inspiration for a more regenerative lifestyle
  • Creative renewal
  • Slower, more intentional living
Botanical elixirs and fresh tropical flowers on a garden table

NOURISHMENT FROM THE LAND

From living garden
to nourishing table.

Experience deeply nourishing meals crafted with tropical abundance directly from our gardens and local organic farms. Fresh herbal infusions, botanical elixirs, garden harvests and vibrant plant-powered cuisine connect learning with everyday life.

Whether you are completely new to herbalism or already walking a plant medicine path, the experience invites a deeper relationship with plants and a slower, more intentional way of living.

Wilder’s medicinal gardens and spiral paths
Wilder’s medicinal gardens and spiral paths
Tropical ginger flower growing in the gardens
Tropical ginger flower growing in the gardens
The rainforest hammock pavilion
The rainforest hammock pavilion

THE DAILY RHYTHM

A day of living herbalism.

Mornings begin with herbal infusions and gentle connection with the rainforest, followed by yoga, breathwork, meditation and a garden-to-table breakfast.

Mid-morning invites hands-on herbalism: medicinal plant walks, herbal preparations and regenerative living practices. After lunch, enjoy waterfalls, herbal harvesting, spa experiences, sound healing or restorative rest.

Evenings unfold with a candlelit garden dinner, gentle ritual, herbal tea and time beneath the stars.

THE DETAILS, THOUGHTFULLY HELD

Your time at Wilder.

What’s included
  • Private yoga, meditation & breathwork at our rainforest and ocean-view Yoga Shala
  • Tropical herbalism education & hands-on medicinal plant workshops
  • Guided walks through our medicinal herb gardens and tropical food forest
  • Herbal medicine making with fresh plants from the sanctuary
  • Herbal elixirs, healing teas & botanical infusions
  • Sound healing ceremony in our Lily Pad Pavilion above the Koi Fish Pond
  • Nervous system restoration & deeply grounding wellness experiences
  • Guided forest bathing to waterfalls and natural pools within the sanctuary
  • Jungle excursions chasing hidden waterfalls throughout Costa Rica
  • Green Door Rainforest SPA experience with wood-fired sauna & rainforest spring cold plunge
  • Massages, bodywork & restorative therapies
  • Botanical facials & natural beauty rituals using plant ingredients
  • Garden-to-table plant-powered cuisine prepared with vibrant tropical ingredients
  • Cacao ceremony under the stars
  • Beach picnic at one of Costa Rica’s most serene beaches
  • Healing Arts Therapy Session
  • Self-guided hikes through miles of rainforest trails across our 30-acre sanctuary
  • Chakra gardens with meditation and contemplation spaces throughout the property
  • Sacred rest in our rainforest hammock lounge overlooking the Pacific Ocean
  • Airport transfer from Quepos to Wilder Sanctuary and all local transportation
  • Pre-retreat alignment & post-retreat integration support
What is not included?

International flights, visa fees, travel insurance, personal purchases and optional additional body care rituals are not included. Your personalized proposal will confirm the experiences and arrangements for your stay.

The Tropical Casita nestled within rainforest gardens

STAY CLOSE TO NATURE

Your rainforest home.

Our Rainforest View Tropical Casita offers privacy, natural beauty and heartfelt hospitality. Crafted from wood and palm leaves, it is surrounded by lush gardens, with a queen bed, outdoor shower, mini kitchen and lounge area.

Garden trails connect your private space to the Bamboo House, Yoga Shala and Green Door Rainforest Spa.

Accommodation is arranged as part of your personalized retreat.

Lena Ropp with a freshly harvested cacao pod

THOUGHTFUL HOSPITALITY

With care, from Lena.

Retreat curator, living foods chef, certified herbalist and regenerative lifestyle educator, Lena Ropp brings more than a decade of experience in creating personal, nourishing experiences. Her work brings together vibrant plant-based cuisine, tropical herbalism and immersive time in nature. With a thoughtful eye for detail and warm, personal care, she shapes each retreat around the intentions and rhythms of her guests.

Meet Lena

THIS RETREAT IS PERFECT FOR

Follow your connection to the Earth.

  • Nature lovers
  • Wellness seekers
  • Herbal enthusiasts
  • Plant-based lifestyle explorers
  • Healers & practitioners
  • Burnout recovery
  • Creatives seeking inspiration
  • Anyone longing to reconnect with the wisdom of the Earth

COME LEARN FROM THE LIVING MEDICINE OF THE JUNGLE

Live in harmony with the land.

This is not a conventional herbalism course. It is an embodied experience of living in harmony with plants, nature, nourishment, and regenerative rhythms — while being deeply cared for in one of Costa Rica’s most magical sanctuary settings.

Book your private Herbalism Retreat at Wilder Sanctuary and experience the healing power of the living Earth.

At Wilder Sanctuary, we create deeply personalized wellness journeys for those craving restoration, reconnection and emotional renewal.

Hidden in the lush rainforest of Costa Rica, our sanctuary invites you into a slower rhythm of living through immersive nature experiences, inspired by the elements — Earth, Water, Fire, Air & Ether. Through movement, meditation, ritual, waterfall adventures, sound healing, garden-to-table plant-powered cuisine, jungle immersion and intentional experiences and sacred rest curated uniquely for you, we align with the energetic qualities of each element.

BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY

What is calling you to Wilder?

Every retreat is privately curated and deeply personalized. Tell us what is calling you here and the kind of experience you feel most drawn toward.

Complete the Retreat Inquiry Form. If we feel we are a beautiful fit, we will connect within 48 hours to begin crafting your experience.

Retreat Inquiry Form