Women Warrior Retreat in Costa Rica
- Pepper Ailor
- 3 hours ago
- 5 min read
In August, five combat veterans attended a retreat with Freedom Alliance at Los Sueños Resort in Costa Rica. The women all had served in the Navy, with exceptional service histories, and were excited to unite for a week of fun, adventure, and healing.
This program relies on the generosity of the community – many of whom have supported Freedom Alliance since our first event in Costa Rica in 2013. They were housed in condominiums at the resort donated by grateful Americans: Gerald & Virginia Lindholm and the Perna Family of Florida. Grupo Montecristo donated golf carts for transportation around the resort, donated by the Durman Family of Costa Rica.
Bob Schwegler, a resident of Los Sueños, offered to host the first dinner of the week at the resort’s famous Hook Up Restaurant. Bob has helped Freedom Alliance for about a decade and frequently picks up our tab for the first meal.
Rainmaker Conservation Park is intentionally our first activity for these retreats and events. The hour-long drive to the destination provides an opportunity for small talk and generic information-gathering. Then, we arrive at the park entrance to immerse ourselves in the rain forest. Owner of the park, Mick Guttierez, donates the activity fees which becomes the first of many tangible gestures of appreciation for their service.
For this group, we weren’t five minutes into the trail when we spotted a half dozen poison dart frogs – bringing up the energy from the get-go. And it only got better from there – crossing suspension bridges in the jungle canopy, cooling off in the multiple swimming holes, and marveling at the pristine beauty of waterfalls.
That night, Christian Rojas provided a private chef experience in the Perna’s condo, fixing dinner in the form of several courses including vegetable, poki tuna bowls, and a dessert recipe given to him by his grandmother. It was even more perfect because it was the birthday of one of our veterans!
Throughout the week, the participants spent time in group sessions aimed at bringing awareness and understanding to the burdens, the moral facets, and complexity of war. The sessions build each day and provide a safe-space for openly sharing about the unique experiences each veteran endures from combat.
Mid-week, we partnered with A Reel Difference (ARD) and NOW Costa Rica to insert a bit of community service into the schedule. We have one lesson in our group discussion that defines a warrior as someone who serves and protects. In Costa Rica, Mother’s Day falls in August and we used that holiday to serve the women of a local neighborhood – providing them with a bag of groceries donated by ARD. It was a cross-cultural experience that was impactful for all involved.
On Thursday, we began the day at Villa Caletas – a boutique hotel on a ridgeline overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Owner of Serenity Spa, Pam Harlow, donated hour-long massages for the women which allowed us to enjoy the pool and vistas of the hotel. Pam personally greeted the combat veterans, spending time swapping stories of life and living abroad.
Pam wrote: “I had the pleasure of meeting Pepper of Freedom Alliance in Los Sueños Resort and got to know all the great work he has done helping veterans. I jumped at the chance to help. Why? Because I don’t think anyone understands the psychological and emotional drains on our warriors. Most people don’t even give it a second thought! But if I am lucky to just give the tiniest of help and loving care back to them, it will always be my pleasure. At the end of the day my interaction with these people have left me feeling fuller than when I started my day. The pleasure has always been mine.”
We paused the activities after lunch for the women to take a moment to privately honor one of their fallen sisters-in-arms in a solemn and cathartic way.
Following the excursion to the hotel, the group was picked up from the hotel to enjoy a tour with Jose Eduardo of Jose’s Crocodile River Boat Tour. Jose is a knowledgeable guide and has been conducting tours on his hometurf along the Tarcoles River, pointing out birds, lizards, and the infamous American Crocodiles that infest the waters. The informative tour is elevated by Jose’s humor and jolly personality – making learning fun for all ages.
Jim Kitchell, owner of Costa Cat Cruises, graciously donated our final activity of the week – a catamaran ride to Tortuga Island. This tour is one of the area’s top activities…if you like paradise. Jim has been a stalwart supporter of Freedom Alliance since founding his company in 2015 and continues to support our groups whenever we ask.
The women boarded the 55-ft catamaran and were welcomed up into the bridge to ride to Tortuga Island with the captain, Geovanny. The first special moment came when a pod of dolphins were spotted and we circled them, watching the aerial jumps and arcs of their movement. Next, two sea turtles were spotted in a lover’s embrace…and the comments were hilarious. Seeking to give the turtles a little privacy, we continued on to the island.
The women spent the day relaxing in the shade of almond trees and palms on beach recliners, swimming and snorkeling in the warm, blue Pacific waters, and laughing as they were pulled around the channel on a banana boat. The Costa Cat crew provided drinks and lunch on the island, ensuring their final day in the country was stress-free.
Upon returning home, one veteran the following review: “I had the incredible chance to take part in Freedom Alliance's Offshore Experience retreat in Costa Rica. Since retiring from the military two years ago, this was the first time I’d really been able to reconnect with other combat veterans. The group sessions gave me a chance to share my experiences with others who had been through similar situations. I was also impressed by how Freedom Alliance brings together a community of people who genuinely care about supporting veterans. Beyond the group discussions, we got to experience so much of what Costa Rica has to offer. We went on a beautiful waterfall hike, took a crocodile tour, enjoyed massages, rode a catamaran to a tropical island, and we enjoyed an authentic Tico dinner prepared by a private local chef! One of the most meaningful experiences was delivering bags of food to families in an underserved community. It really spoke to our desire to keep serving others. None of this would have been possible without the incredible network of support that Freedom Alliance has built.”
Comments