A Love Letter To Costa Rica

Dear Costa Rica,

Nearly three months ago, I arrived here – at a yoga retreat tucked away between your jungle and your ocean, unsure of what I would find but open to the journey. I envisioned days filled with work, meditation, journaling, teaching yoga, and writing for the resort. And while all of those things did happen, what unfolded was something far greater than I ever could have imagined.

The Magic of the Osa Peninsula

Trying to put the Osa Peninsula into words feels impossible. It’s something you feel. A sanctuary for those who seek a deeper connection with Mother Earth, this place is alive in a way I have never experienced before. I have traveled extensively over the past 26 months—Thailand, Bali, the Philippines, and beyond—all breathtaking in their own way. But none of them remain as untouched as this.

Here, nature reigns. There are no resorts, restaurants, bars, or clubs on the beaches.  There are no endless rows of tourist shops or mass-produced souvenirs. Even in Puerto Jiménez, the only trinkets I’ve seen are beautifully handcrafted, not churned out in a factory halfway across the world. It’s as if the Osa is determined to keep its essence intact, to preserve the purity of its land and its spirit. And that intention is woven into the very fabric of life here.

People don’t just live in nature; they live with it. Expats who settle here build their own homes, plant their own fruit trees, and harmonize with the land. The Ticos work hard, yet their work is always intertwined with the earth—harvesting, building, creating, all in service to this beautiful place. The surf culture isn’t just about catching waves; it’s about feeling something larger than yourself. Out in the water, under an endless sky, surrounded by palm trees where monkeys swing and chatter, you can’t help but be fully present. There’s a freedom in that, a lightness. And that sense of presence is contagious. Everyone here gets it. We are all here to feel alive.

That is what your Osa Peninsula does, Costa Rica. It holds up a mirror and shows us the way. The answers aren’t hidden; they’re right in front of us. They’re in the crash of the waves, the rustle of the leaves, the steady, grounding force of a waterfall. And the best part? We’re invited to be part of it. We can touch the ocean, catch a falling leaf, and swim beneath those waterfalls. And when we do, it takes our breath away.

Embracing the power of nature.

The Lessons Learned

You have changed me, Costa Rica. You have reminded me of the power of nature, of Mother Earth, and the undeniable force she is. In the chaos of daily life, we take her for granted. We move too fast, too distracted to notice the beauty around us. But here? It’s impossible to ignore. It’s everywhere.

And when you finally slow down enough to tune into that energy, something shifts. You reconnect with yourself. You remember who you were before the world told you who to be. I always knew, in theory, that nature and spirituality were intertwined. But here, I felt it. I lived it.

There’s a profound gratitude in that realization. Because the truth is, we are born clear—arriving in this world with a purpose, a blueprint, a knowing of who we are meant to be. But as we grow, society, family, expectations, and distractions cloud that knowing. It’s still there, whispering, calling us back to ourselves, but we don’t always listen. And that is the tragedy.

Because when you finally strip away the noise, when you stop fighting and start being—life begins to flow. Things align. Ease replaces resistance. And abundance? It meets you right where you are. You no longer have to chase anything because you are everything. And that radiates. People feel it. They see it. They are drawn to it, not in envy, but in inspiration. They want to feel it too. And that is how change happens. One person, one ripple at a time.

On a deeply personal level, I have uncovered so much about myself here. The lessons didn’t come easy, but they came. The moments of transformation were woven into laughter, tears, moonlit conversations, and yes—pain. The kind of pain that cracks you open so you can finally step into the light.

I’ve faced emotions I didn’t want to face. Fears, anger, grief. I’ve let go of what no longer serves me. I’ve learned to forgive myself, to soften, to listen. I’ve discovered what I need to thrive—the kind of community, support, and energy that fuels me. I know my boundaries now. I stand firmer in my truth. And perhaps most profoundly, I have awakened to the deep, undeniable connection I have with nature and the universe. It was always there. I just had to remember.

A sanctuary for nature lovers.

The Meditation

On my last day, I sat in my favorite spot, overlooking that vast, blue-green ocean. I closed my eyes, settling into one final meditation. The sun beat down on my chest, intense and relentless, and I almost moved to escape the heat. But I stayed. I wanted to absorb it all—one last time.

As I sank deeper, the memories came flooding in. Three months of moments—raw, beautiful, painful, transformative. The laughter, the jungle hikes, the nights spent under the stars. The tears, the breakthroughs, the surrender. The realization that every single experience, even the hardest ones, had led me to exactly where I was meant to be.

And just as those memories settled, the wind picked up. A strong, deliberate breeze, cool against my skin. The heat faded, replaced by an overwhelming sense of peace.  And in that moment, I knew – I was ready. Costa Rica, the Osa, this journey—it has prepared me for what comes next.

The universe, and you, Costa Rica, softly whispered your blessing. “You are ready. Your heart is open. Now, go and soar.”

Tears slipped down my cheeks as I opened my eyes, taking in the ocean one last time.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “Thank you, Costa Rica.  You are truly a gift and I am honored and humbled to have been in your presence.”

Pura Vida,

~Robyn

Costa Rica changed me.