Leaves and Lizards Retreat
/lēvz and lizərds rəˈtrēt/
Lodging & Rates
We offer 9 unique private deluxe cabins spread out on 30 acres of rolling hills ALL OPTIONS offer amazing views of the Arenal Volcano.
Vacation Packages
We can streamline your vacation planning by creating customized experiences for individuals, couples, groups or families.
Tours & Activities
There’s so much to do in Costa Rica! At Leaves and Lizards, your activities and tours are personalized and can be customized to meet your needs.
Escape from the ordinary at Leaves and Lizards…
We’re not just another Costa Rica rain forest hotel. Choose one of our unique cabins and immerse yourself in the local Tico culture. Take in breathtaking views of the Arenal Volcano as you watch toucans from your private porch. Collect eggs, milk a cow, or brush a horse on our working farm. Enjoy fresh farm to table food and delicious Costa Rican coffee. Experience the best horseback riding in Costa Rica, let us plan a zip-line or rafting adventure for you, or simply relax by the pool and enjoy a signature cocktail.
Come visit us and find out for yourself why Leaves and Lizards Retreat in Costa Rica is ranked in the top 1% of resort hotels in the world!
Contact Us
Toll free from the US or Canada: 1-888-828-9245 or 1-866-860-7613.
Locally in Costa Rica: 2478-0023 or 8333-6863.
Email: leavesandlizardsretreat@gmail.com
Our address is: 500 meters Sur de Super Kike, Alto Monterrey, Monterrey, San Carlos, Alajeula, Costa Rica
Leaves and Lizards Retreat
The 2019 International Equine Summit committee will be offering 3 full days of workshops for interested individuals attending the Summit. Please plan to arrive and stay at Leaves and Lizards on or before Sept. 30th. Space is limited to ensure quality one-on-one experiences.
Participants can mix and match according to their interest, however, the ‘Introduction to Sand Play Therapy, is a 3 day course.
Option 1: Shelley Rosenberg. Expand your riding skills and learn how to support the rider, combining EFL techniques while the rider is in the saddle and ride to a beautiful waterfall in the rain forest. $100/day
Option 2: Deborah Draves Legg – Advanced Eponaquest Riding Instructor and Power of the Herd Instructor will present a full day course teaching EFL professionals how to incorporate Linda Kohanov’s ‘Power of the Herd’ principles when working with families and understanding family dynamics. $100/day
Option 3: Sally Nilsson – Eponaquest Riding Instructor and Power of the Herd Instructor, IPEC Professional Coach will offer individuals a one day course teaching a variety of tools to enhance their professional practice and create presentations. $100/day
Option 4: Gretchen Morgan – LCSW and Sand Play trainer will teach a 3 day course ‘Introduction to Sand Play’ and you will learn how to incorporate it into your equine practice. This certified course offers professional continuing education credits. $650 per person. 18 CE’s are offered.
Option 5: Sidsel Sommer equine osteopath will teach a 3-day basic osteopath course. Click Here for more information. $300/person
To sign up, or if you have any questions about these pre-summit courses please contact Deborah at leavesandlizardsretreat@gmail.com
Post-Summit Eponicity Retreat (Oct. 9,10,11,12,13)
Tuition $600/person
This retreat will highlight the elements of equine facilitated learning (EFL). Come as a seasoned practitioner or a newbie to EFL – the possibilities are limitless when we allow horses to facilitate us. Experience being chosen by your horse partner in Eponicity’s unique partnering process, this selection starts a deep, authentic connection between two beings and ends with an understanding of yourself and where you are as a human being now at this time in your life. This retreat is a wonderful way to finish the Summit experience.
Limited to 10 participants
Facilitated by Deborah Legg – RN, Advanced Eponaquest instructor, Riding Instructor and Power of the Herd Instructor and Sally Nilsson – Eponaquest instructor, Riding Instructor, IPEC coach and Power of the Herd Instructor
Retreat starts at 9 am on Oct. 9th. Participants depart on or after October 14th. (Retreat working days are the 9,10,11,12 and 13th) The retreat activities will most likely include riding. (no horse experience is necessary – adults only please).
All participants will be staying at Leaves and Lizards. Food and Lodging charges according to the rate schedule for the Summit.
Eponicity is pleased to announce our next collaboration with Danielle MacKinnon!
Danielle MacKinnon has been named an expert TV psychic medium, intuitive, animal communicator, and foremost expert on soul contracts. She has appeared on numerous radio shows, TV and taught along side some of the world’s most renowned psychics, mediums, healers and TV experts. She will joining forces with our herd of healing horses for this life changing retreat. Limited space to ensure personalized one-on-one interaction with Danielle.
“…I came into the retreat not really knowing what to expect. Having read and/or heard accounts from people who have been at L&L for a retreat and exclaimed it to be “life changing” was daunting to me. I like my life! The thought of having a life changing experience was scary to me. Luckily, those thoughts went away once we got started on the actual “work”. I’m someone who reads A LOT about making changes, becoming more mindful, improving yourself, you name it. All with good intention, but reading something in a book or magazine and wanting it is one thing – you need to know HOW to make it happen to understand and change. To me, that is where the horses came in. After going through the process of being chosen by my horse, it seemed that he knew just what it was that I needed to work on. And in very real & tangible ways, he was able to show me how to change. That being said, the facilitators (Debbie, Sally, Danielle) was really what created the space in which I was able to feel safe enough to allow myself to be vulnerable and share my “stuff”. I can’t say enough how meaningful it was to have facilitators with the compassion, understanding, energy and knowledge to help pull all the pieces of me out and then guide me on putting myself back together. The combination of the horse and human facilitators is, I believe, what made my experience so essential to conquering the real lasting change I have been seeking for so long.
I did enjoy all of it – what I enjoyed most (maybe not in the moment, but looking back at it definitely) was the sense of accomplishment when I was pushed (gently nudged) to do something uncomfortable. The facilitators’ (collectively Debbie, Sallie, Danielle) ability to know just how much to push was so helpful.
I believe the things I learned about myself have changed me on a very deep level, and they changed the way I look at myself and how I am living my life. I have a new belief in myself and who I am that can’t help but alter the way I live my day to day life now.
Life-altering! :)” ~ Kathy Rumsey, U.S. (April 2017)
Please contact us for more information about attending this retreat. Space is limited and will fill quickly.
CLICK HERE for more information and full brochure
Bibbity Bobbity Boo!
In the fall of 2018 Felicia Steriti-Smith discovered a magical place with a special yoga instructor at the base of a smoking volcano in the Costa Rica rain forest. This place is Leaves and Lizards, their retreat program is Eponicity and the yoga instructor is Eric Kolesar, founder of Higher Living Now. Eric has studied and practiced a wide variety of yoga in his 20+ years of experience. His personal style brings connection, peace, light ~ illuminating an awareness of the possibilities of what lies within us during his yoga classes. Join Felicia in Costa Rica in October 2019 and experience the magic yourself!
Click Here for the Full Brochure: Felicia Yoga Retreat October 2019
As a Healer your soul has been called to give, to heal, to provide comfort to others during difficult times; with selflessness and compassion.
Your needs are often set aside and life consists only of giving and can you may find it hard to receive.
Eventually the giving becomes a strain, both physically and emotionally.
The depleted healer becomes vulnerable to burn-out, and can begin to perceive their healing gift as a burden.
Recognizing it is essential to take time for self-care, to renew and to learn to receive can restore light and energy back into the soul of the healer.
Click here for full brochure: Healing the Healers 2019
Resort Amenities
- Infinity Pool
- Poolside Tiki Bar
- Lava Lizard Restaurant
- Vegetarian and vegan offerings
- Gluten free options
- Concierge service
- Laundry service
- Naturalist guide service
- Covered Yoga Deck
- Yoga classes
- Massage therapy
- Horseback riding
- Our own private waterfall
- Arenal River access
- Rain forest hiking trails
- Working farm with cows, chickens, and pigs
- Farm fresh eggs and milk
- On-site photography services
- Photography classes
- Personal coaching
Things to Note about our Cabin Retreat
- Our delicious Breakfast is included in the nightly rate.
- Leaves and Lizards Rates do not include the 13% Costa Rica tourist tax, it is added to your food and lodging total.
- In accordance with local tourism law, an additional 10% service charge is added to your food bill.
- Cash, PayPal, VISA and MasterCard are accepted on site.
- We are not a typical hotel/resort. We have a welcoming retreat like atmosphere.
- In keeping with our retreat atmosphere, we ask for a minimum stay of 3 nights. Please don’t ask for shorter stays. Our average length of stay is 4-5 nights.
- Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat is suitable for older children. We may not be the best choice for kids under the age of 5.
- We can provide transportation, please inquire about rates.
- We are located in a rural area. Expect a bumpy ride on the Yellow or Red Route, take the Green route if you want to stay on the paved road.
- Check-in is at 1:00 pm and Check-out at 11:00 am. This can be flexible, just ask.
- FREE local calls and FREE high speed wireless internet in the Lava Lizard only, no WiFi in the rooms.
- Daily yoga $15/person during most peak times.
- Lunch – $12, Dinner – $16-$25. Served at the Lava Lizard restaurant. Children’s menu $8. Reservations are necessary.
- Farm to Table Fresh is our motto! Foods grown at Leaves and Lizards: Milk, cream, sour cream, cheese, butter, ice cream, chicken, beef, pork, eggs and a variety of fruits and vegetables.
- Please plan to pay tips in cash.
- For ideas of other great places to stay, our friends Berni and Nhi, owners of Pura Vida Hotel near SJO, have excellent recommendations. ‘Places you will want to stay (longer)’.