Meet Your Hosts
How We Dreamed it Planned it and Did It!Name ten things you would like to do if money and time were no object?

Ask your partner the same question, write down your answers separately and compare your lists and dream.
That is what Steve and I did when we met in 2003. We compared our lists and found them to be surprisingly similar, and not out of reach. That was the beginning.
Moving to Costa Rica was on my list, Steve’s list included items that could be accomplished while living in Costa Rica, actually up and moving to Costa Rica had never occurred to Steve, until he met me and I took him to Costa Rica on vacation in 2003.
During that vacation my dream of moving to Costa Rica became our dream. We hiked the Osa Peninsula, swam in the Pacific at Manual Antonio, sipped rum drinks on our porch at the Arenal Observatory Lodge and watched the volcano’s nightly fireworks show while listening to the complaints of Howler monkeys after an afternoon rain.
We learned about the fragile circle of life in the cloud forest at Monteverde, the effects of deforestation to the ecosystem and longed for a way to make a difference in this magical land. We fell in love with the culture, the people, and the way of life in Costa Rica.



Friends found us a perfect 26 acres of land, near the tourist center of La Fortuna with unbeatable views of the Arenal Volcano. They helped us through the property buying process in Costa Rica. They are committed to the environment and preservation of Costa Rican Culture.
We purchased the property in April 2006, started the cabin construction in August 2006, and opened the Monkey, Toucan and Volcano Cabins in Jan. 2007. In May 2007 we reforested the property and planted 3,500 trees. We added the Heliconia House in Dec. 2008, Hummingbird, Coco, Congo and Mariposa in Dec. 2009. The Lava Lizard restaurant opened in Dec. 2009! We added the pool and bar in 2016. The GRAND Tree House was completed in 2017!
The people of our community, Monterrey, are incredible, helpful and welcoming. The kindness, support and generosity of these people have made our transition to life in Costa Rica easy. Our tours incorporate the community and our rural tourism project puts money directly into the pockets of locals.
With the success of Leaves and Lizards we have been able give back to our community in other ways too. We started a therapeutic horseback riding program, Vinculo con Caballo (The Horse’s Bond) for individuals in our community that will benefit from this type of therapy. Our Equine program has grown over the years, and Debbie is now an Advanced Eponaquest Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL), Riding Focused instructor and Power of the Herd Instructor. In 2016 Sally Nilsson left her corporate attorney life in London. Now she and Debbie offer learning retreats and corporate workshops in EFL. Eponicity is our equine division, individuals from all over the world come to learn with the horses at Leaves and Lizards.
We added a yoga deck and riding arena in 2015. Hosting events and community programs in this new space is a benefit to our community. We have an on-site yoga instructor for most of the year.
In 2016, Leila A. Pages come to interview us for her documentary, Freedom Tracks, and decided to stay! She has become part of our family our on-site photographer and horsewoman.
We love hosting groups and educational programs. Broadreach study abroad program is one relationship we are very proud to host, annually.
Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat is our paradise and a dream come true. We hope to continue to provide our guests with memorable life-long experiences that create a customized mix of adventure, discovery and tranquility for many years to come.