Cara has always been passionate about travel, having grown up in the US, Japan, Switzerland and then living and volunteering in Ecuador and Costa Rica after University. For two decades she worked for the number one active travel company, and made her home in Costa Rica where she met her husband and raises their two children.

One of Cara’s daily goals is to achieve that delicate balance between family, career, and relationships. She sees that women have the most challenging roles in today’s world and they need and deserve to reconnect with themselves through extraordinary experiences in a supportive environment. Holding space for these experiences for friends, couples and families is Cara’s natural calling. 

Luna Vida is her vision to connect more people to nature so that they may thrive via new experiences in adventure, wellness and community.  Chorro Ecolodge was born from her husband’s lifelong dream to have a riverfront property in the rainforest. Together, over the last 10 years they have built a magical place that allows visitors to completely disconnect and then reconnect with themselves and the natural world. Cara guides daily experiences in and around Manuel Antonio that offer a balance of adventure, wellness, fun, great food, soulful conversation, and a big dose of nature. These are her idea of the perfect balance to create a retreat that will nourish the soul and wellbeing of each participant. When not working or taking care of her children, Cara is a competitive cyclist, surfer, and loves bringing people together for delicious meals and spontaneous dance parties in her home.

 Jackie and Cara have known each other for 13 years and have traveled, surfed, biked, danced and supported one another as close friends during that time. The mutual desire to empower women and create transformative experiences in the beautiful Costa Rican town of Manuel Antonio has been an ongoing dream for many years. Joyride retreats are an ode to this incredible life they live and the hope is to share their local passions for their home with other amazing women.

Jackie feels most alive when she is active and connected to nature.  She began working in the outdoor active travel industry over a decade ago and enjoys sharing the fun active travel brings to her clients.  From a young age, Jackie possessed an inherent talent for creating a secure environment where individuals could embrace their true selves and openly express their thoughts and emotions.  

Jackie's fervor lies in providing unwavering support to individuals as they navigate their personal growth journeys.  She firmly believes everyone has the inherent capacity to attain emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.  With this belief as her guiding principle, Jackie is dedicated to empowering others on their paths toward holistic health.

Jackie took on a life-changing role working for Powerful Beyond Measure, a non-profit organization supporting adolescent girls from California in Africa.  The time spent in Africa gave Jackie the clarity to pursue her graduate and post-graduate education journey at Prescott College, where she is currently enrolled to complete her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.  Her love for adventure and supporting others led Jackie to specialize in Experiential Adventure-based Counseling.  Jackie uses a combination of Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused, and strength-based therapeutic techniques to help clients build resilience and create change in their lives.  

As part of her role at Luna Vida retreats, Jackie's mission is to create an environment where clients can wholeheartedly embrace the chance for growth, reflection, and resilience.  By nurturing this transformative experience, she hopes to provide the necessary space and tools for individuals to push beyond their comfort zones, enabling them to fully explore their potential for personal development, discover their inner strength, and embark on a journey of self-empowerment.