EARLYBIRD OPEN!
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Stars of the Earth Astrological Herbalism & Flower Essences Retreat
with Lupo & Friends at Wild Ginger Community Herbal Center
March 3-11, 2025
Join us in the abundant Talamanca region of Costa Rica (again!) for an Introduction to Astrological Herbalism & Flower Essences Retreat. This eight night intensive will be spent working with the astrological elements, modes, planets and signs as well as the flowers, leaves, stems and roots as well as the flower essences of our beloved plant allies. As we honor the ancient dance of both earth and sky, we will be taking what we learn from the jungle and native plants and couple it with the time worn wisdom of the stars and the planets. Working directly with the beautiful tropical flora that surrounds the Caribe Sur we will build a deep and meaningful relationship to this long proven pairing.
Each participant will help create over a dozen Astro inspired Tropical Flower Essences to take home to use for years to come! This is a certificate program in Astro Herbalism and Tropical Flower Essences. All participants will be awarded a certificate of completion. Additionally, will have the chance to learn local herbal and foodways with an amazing local Afro-Costa Rican herbalist!
Lupo Passero is a Community Herbalist and Educator and the Director of Twin Star Herbal Education and Community Apothecary. She brings with her over 20 years of knowledge, intimate relationship, and understanding of the plants and flower essences. While Lupo has had the honor to learn from many teachers and lineages of plant medicine throughout Europe and Central America, she centers and draws deeply upon her own Italian and Irish ancestral knowledge.
Wild Ginger Herbal Center - Additional Activities:
At Wild Ginger Herbal Center our work centers around relationship, with the plants, the land, and with each other. In addition to the classes taught by Lupo Passero, this experience in an amazing opportunity to truly immerse yourself in the South Caribbean of Costa Rica. Together we will explore plant medicine while surrounded by the infamous natural beauty. Our program will include a balance between field studies to local Black and Indigenous traditional herbalists and farms, classes at our center, and time spent exploring plants with amazing teachers who have dedicated their lives to plant medicine local to Costa Rica. You will stay at our traditional wooden rustic group Caribbean Cabinas, just one block to the Caribbean sea!
The incredible Talamancan Coast of the South Caribbean of Costa Rica is where everything got started for Wild Ginger. We have been facilitating incredible cross cultural and educational programming for many years in this region home to Indigenous communities such as the BriBri, Kekoldi, and Cabecar, as well as Chinese and Afro-Costa Rican communities who came to work building railroads and working on banana plantations. Over the years this area has become increasingly diverse with residents from virtually all over the globe. In additions to the foundational skills classes our programs focus on the local foodways as well as traditional herbalism as it is practiced across the incredible cultures that inhabit Talamanca.
Schedule:
Monday March 3
2:30 Meet outside Juan Santamaria San Jose Airport and depart for Wild Ginger Herbal Center
Stop & Eat Dinner Along the Way (bring $ for dinner)
9:30 pm Arrival
Tuesday
8:30 Breakfast
9:30 Welcome & Orientation
Our first morning together will be spent pairing the trifecta of the planets, the plants and the essences. We will begin to lay the ground work for hw all thre of these aspects play into modern Herbalism via the lens of tradition and history. Numerous connections will be made and our relationships with the plants and how to best understnad them fr healing purposes will be highlighted. We will cover the basic history of astrology, herbalism and flower essences and how throughout more recent times they have been separated and more importantly, how we can begin to weave them back together.
12:00 Group Dinner
2:00 pm Class with Lupo
Elements/Directions Exploring the Elements: Earth, Air, Water, Fire
The four elements are present all around and within us and all living things. They are essential to understanding ourselves and the plants. The Earth was formed by these four elements: earth, air, water, fire. The elements go beyond the physical and manifest as personality traits and energetic forces in both plants and people. Fire needs water to be quenched and the earth needs wind to move it. We will begin our journey exploring the most basic elements and connecting them to ourselves and to the plant world.
Sitting with the 7 Directions: East, South, West, North, Above, Below, Within The seven directions tell one of the oldest stories, shared commonly with cultures around the world. They walk us through each season, time of day and each stage of life, childhood through elder. Getting to know the directions gives us a better idea of how we sit with the Earth and offers a greater understanding to the plant world and which plants govern each direction.
5:00 Group Dinner
Wednesday
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Afro Costa Rican Plant Walk with Alda
12:00 Lunch
2:00 Class with Lupo Plants, Planets & The Sun & Moon Looking through a botanical lens, we will explore the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune and the plants that they rule. We will also explore the energies and essences of both the Sun & Moon
5:00 Group Dinner Free Evening
Thursday
8:00 Breakfast
8:45 Depart for BriBri - Indigenous Herbalism and Traditional Chocolate Making
Hike & Swim at Waterfalls
5:00 Group Dinner
Friday
8:30 Breakfast
9:30 Tropical Herbal Flower Essences with Lupo
12:00 Group Lunch
2:30 Class with Lupo How Plants Speak We will stroll along the Caribbean Sea and into the Jungle to discover the Doctrine of Signatures and through close and careful observation will learn to interpret the Language of Plants. We will practice deepening our intuition and our relationship to the plant world building upon ancient techniques and principles utilized by humans for millennia.
5:00 Group Dinner
Saturday
8:00am Breakfast
9:00 Trip to Local Farmers Market in Puerto Viejo - Explore Market
Free Time in Town of Puerto Viejo
1:00 pm Return Back to Wild Ginger on Group Bus
FREE EVENING
Sunday
9:00 Breakfast
The Zodiac and Corresponding Botanicals Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces! We will spend the afternoon in our oceanfront classroom getting to Know the 12 signs of the Zodiac & the botanicals that correspond with and physically and energetically support them.
12:00 Lunch
2:00 Tropical Plants, Utilizing Planetary Herbs & Essences We will take a deep dive into the plants that the jungle of Talamanca so generously offers and will be making tropical herbal remedies and essences with some of our favorite plants, highlighting their planetary correspondence, including Coffee (Mercury), Cacao (Sun), Ginger (Moon), Black Pepper (Mars), Ylang Ylang (Venus), Macuna (Jupiter), Nutmeg (Uranus), Nettle (Saturn), Passion Flower (Neptune)
Each participant will help create over a dozen Astro inspired Tropical Flower Essences to take home to use for years to come!
5:00 Group Dinner
Monday
7:00 Breakfast
7:30 Walk in National Reserve with Local Naturalist
12:30 Lunch
2:30 Class Birth Charts & Closing Ceremony We will end our time together exposing our own individual Natal Charts and the plants that support our true Soul Path. All participants will receive a printed copy of their natal birth chart and together we will explore the plants, remedies and essences that can best support us on our journey.
6:00 Group Despedida and Cooking Class
Tuesday March 11
4:00 am Depart from Wild Ginger Herbal Center to San Jose Airport - planned arrival by 9 am, do not plan to take any flights that leave before 12 noon
with Lupo & Friends at Wild Ginger Community Herbal Center
March 3-11, 2025
Join us in the abundant Talamanca region of Costa Rica (again!) for an Introduction to Astrological Herbalism & Flower Essences Retreat. This eight night intensive will be spent working with the astrological elements, modes, planets and signs as well as the flowers, leaves, stems and roots as well as the flower essences of our beloved plant allies. As we honor the ancient dance of both earth and sky, we will be taking what we learn from the jungle and native plants and couple it with the time worn wisdom of the stars and the planets. Working directly with the beautiful tropical flora that surrounds the Caribe Sur we will build a deep and meaningful relationship to this long proven pairing.
Each participant will help create over a dozen Astro inspired Tropical Flower Essences to take home to use for years to come! This is a certificate program in Astro Herbalism and Tropical Flower Essences. All participants will be awarded a certificate of completion. Additionally, will have the chance to learn local herbal and foodways with an amazing local Afro-Costa Rican herbalist!
Lupo Passero is a Community Herbalist and Educator and the Director of Twin Star Herbal Education and Community Apothecary. She brings with her over 20 years of knowledge, intimate relationship, and understanding of the plants and flower essences. While Lupo has had the honor to learn from many teachers and lineages of plant medicine throughout Europe and Central America, she centers and draws deeply upon her own Italian and Irish ancestral knowledge.
Wild Ginger Herbal Center - Additional Activities:
At Wild Ginger Herbal Center our work centers around relationship, with the plants, the land, and with each other. In addition to the classes taught by Lupo Passero, this experience in an amazing opportunity to truly immerse yourself in the South Caribbean of Costa Rica. Together we will explore plant medicine while surrounded by the infamous natural beauty. Our program will include a balance between field studies to local Black and Indigenous traditional herbalists and farms, classes at our center, and time spent exploring plants with amazing teachers who have dedicated their lives to plant medicine local to Costa Rica. You will stay at our traditional wooden rustic group Caribbean Cabinas, just one block to the Caribbean sea!
The incredible Talamancan Coast of the South Caribbean of Costa Rica is where everything got started for Wild Ginger. We have been facilitating incredible cross cultural and educational programming for many years in this region home to Indigenous communities such as the BriBri, Kekoldi, and Cabecar, as well as Chinese and Afro-Costa Rican communities who came to work building railroads and working on banana plantations. Over the years this area has become increasingly diverse with residents from virtually all over the globe. In additions to the foundational skills classes our programs focus on the local foodways as well as traditional herbalism as it is practiced across the incredible cultures that inhabit Talamanca.
Schedule:
Monday March 3
2:30 Meet outside Juan Santamaria San Jose Airport and depart for Wild Ginger Herbal Center
Stop & Eat Dinner Along the Way (bring $ for dinner)
9:30 pm Arrival
Tuesday
8:30 Breakfast
9:30 Welcome & Orientation
Our first morning together will be spent pairing the trifecta of the planets, the plants and the essences. We will begin to lay the ground work for hw all thre of these aspects play into modern Herbalism via the lens of tradition and history. Numerous connections will be made and our relationships with the plants and how to best understnad them fr healing purposes will be highlighted. We will cover the basic history of astrology, herbalism and flower essences and how throughout more recent times they have been separated and more importantly, how we can begin to weave them back together.
12:00 Group Dinner
2:00 pm Class with Lupo
Elements/Directions Exploring the Elements: Earth, Air, Water, Fire
The four elements are present all around and within us and all living things. They are essential to understanding ourselves and the plants. The Earth was formed by these four elements: earth, air, water, fire. The elements go beyond the physical and manifest as personality traits and energetic forces in both plants and people. Fire needs water to be quenched and the earth needs wind to move it. We will begin our journey exploring the most basic elements and connecting them to ourselves and to the plant world.
Sitting with the 7 Directions: East, South, West, North, Above, Below, Within The seven directions tell one of the oldest stories, shared commonly with cultures around the world. They walk us through each season, time of day and each stage of life, childhood through elder. Getting to know the directions gives us a better idea of how we sit with the Earth and offers a greater understanding to the plant world and which plants govern each direction.
5:00 Group Dinner
Wednesday
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Afro Costa Rican Plant Walk with Alda
12:00 Lunch
2:00 Class with Lupo Plants, Planets & The Sun & Moon Looking through a botanical lens, we will explore the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune and the plants that they rule. We will also explore the energies and essences of both the Sun & Moon
5:00 Group Dinner Free Evening
Thursday
8:00 Breakfast
8:45 Depart for BriBri - Indigenous Herbalism and Traditional Chocolate Making
Hike & Swim at Waterfalls
5:00 Group Dinner
Friday
8:30 Breakfast
9:30 Tropical Herbal Flower Essences with Lupo
12:00 Group Lunch
2:30 Class with Lupo How Plants Speak We will stroll along the Caribbean Sea and into the Jungle to discover the Doctrine of Signatures and through close and careful observation will learn to interpret the Language of Plants. We will practice deepening our intuition and our relationship to the plant world building upon ancient techniques and principles utilized by humans for millennia.
5:00 Group Dinner
Saturday
8:00am Breakfast
9:00 Trip to Local Farmers Market in Puerto Viejo - Explore Market
Free Time in Town of Puerto Viejo
1:00 pm Return Back to Wild Ginger on Group Bus
FREE EVENING
Sunday
9:00 Breakfast
The Zodiac and Corresponding Botanicals Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces! We will spend the afternoon in our oceanfront classroom getting to Know the 12 signs of the Zodiac & the botanicals that correspond with and physically and energetically support them.
12:00 Lunch
2:00 Tropical Plants, Utilizing Planetary Herbs & Essences We will take a deep dive into the plants that the jungle of Talamanca so generously offers and will be making tropical herbal remedies and essences with some of our favorite plants, highlighting their planetary correspondence, including Coffee (Mercury), Cacao (Sun), Ginger (Moon), Black Pepper (Mars), Ylang Ylang (Venus), Macuna (Jupiter), Nutmeg (Uranus), Nettle (Saturn), Passion Flower (Neptune)
Each participant will help create over a dozen Astro inspired Tropical Flower Essences to take home to use for years to come!
5:00 Group Dinner
Monday
7:00 Breakfast
7:30 Walk in National Reserve with Local Naturalist
12:30 Lunch
2:30 Class Birth Charts & Closing Ceremony We will end our time together exposing our own individual Natal Charts and the plants that support our true Soul Path. All participants will receive a printed copy of their natal birth chart and together we will explore the plants, remedies and essences that can best support us on our journey.
6:00 Group Despedida and Cooking Class
Tuesday March 11
4:00 am Depart from Wild Ginger Herbal Center to San Jose Airport - planned arrival by 9 am, do not plan to take any flights that leave before 12 noon
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Registration Details
Registration is Now Closed
Waiver Form to print and send signed photo
We ask everyone who registers for Wild Ginger Programs
to please read and agree to our Values and Agreements.
Click Here to Read and Sign!
*Important*
Please note all participants must bring
12 1/2 ounce drooper bottles with you to this program.
These cannot be purchased in Costa Rica and are not included in registration.
Cost:
General Registration $1850 (Earlybird Discount of $100 ends July 1, 2024, course is $1950 after that date)
Includes Transportation To and From San Jose Juan Santamaria Airport to Our Center, 8 nights stay at our rustic herbal center, all meals listed, and all classes included in the event. Price does not include your flight to and from Costa Rica. Accomodations are very rustic in a traditional historic wooden Caribbean house, it is not bug or air tight, and more like enclosed camping.
Payment Schedule:
$700 Deposit to hold your spot
$600 Due January 15, 2025 (do NOT send this payment ahead of time, we will send direct payment link.)
$650 cash payment onsite upon arrival at Wild Ginger Center (in clean, unripped $20 - no larger bills can be accepted)
All Payments are final, non refundable and non-transferable
Important Info:
Only 13 spots available - these spots are filling quickly!
*To register please download the above waiver form below, sign and return as attachment via email to [email protected]
(Shared rooms may have 4-5 people in them, you may choose your roomates or if you sign up as a single we will assign your roomate/s)
General Registration $1850 (Earlybird Discount of $100 ends July 1, 2024, course is $1950 after that date)
Includes Transportation To and From San Jose Juan Santamaria Airport to Our Center, 8 nights stay at our rustic herbal center, all meals listed, and all classes included in the event. Price does not include your flight to and from Costa Rica. Accomodations are very rustic in a traditional historic wooden Caribbean house, it is not bug or air tight, and more like enclosed camping.
Payment Schedule:
$700 Deposit to hold your spot
$600 Due January 15, 2025 (do NOT send this payment ahead of time, we will send direct payment link.)
$650 cash payment onsite upon arrival at Wild Ginger Center (in clean, unripped $20 - no larger bills can be accepted)
All Payments are final, non refundable and non-transferable
Important Info:
Only 13 spots available - these spots are filling quickly!
*To register please download the above waiver form below, sign and return as attachment via email to [email protected]
(Shared rooms may have 4-5 people in them, you may choose your roomates or if you sign up as a single we will assign your roomate/s)
Rustic Accommodations
Our group rooms fit between 3 and 4 people. Our beloved home is one of the oldest still standing in our village, a traditional wooden house built with local hand harvest and milled wood. You will be visiting one of the most bio diverse places on earth, we are located where the jungle meets the sea the the hot, humid raindforest. Bugs are ABUNDANT! Please not it is very hot, humid, the accommadations are not air conditioned, and are not air/big tight. Be prepared for mosquitos, and indoors it is common to find geckos (who are your friends and eat mosquitos!) and other critters as well!
Our group rooms fit between 3 and 4 people. Our beloved home is one of the oldest still standing in our village, a traditional wooden house built with local hand harvest and milled wood. You will be visiting one of the most bio diverse places on earth, we are located where the jungle meets the sea the the hot, humid raindforest. Bugs are ABUNDANT! Please not it is very hot, humid, the accommadations are not air conditioned, and are not air/big tight. Be prepared for mosquitos, and indoors it is common to find geckos (who are your friends and eat mosquitos!) and other critters as well!
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What's included In Your Trip:
The price includes your rustic accomodations in Costa Rica, each of the classes and tours (and transportation to and from said tours) outlined on the itinerary. PRICE DOES NOT include flight to and from Costa Rica.
Materials List:
We ask participants to bring 16 glass dropper bottles 1 ounce size
Please read the Disclaimer:
*COVID-19 Disclaimer - *If participants contract or test positive for COVID-19 during the trip they will be required to quarantine separately from the group. Medical costs, care, as well as the the cost of separate accommodations in nearby hotel and or separate transportation to and from airport is not covered by Twin Star Herbal Education or Wild Ginger Herbal Center, and will be the responsibility of participant. We can provide a list of local accommodations as well as trusted private transportation if needed.
Please read the Disclaimer:
**All participants must be 18 years of age or older unless with a legal guardian.
** Please note, by registering for this tour you acknowledge Wild Ginger Herbal Center acts only as agents for the various independent suppliers that provide hotel accommodations, transportation, sightseeing, activities, or other services connected with this tour. Such services are subject to the terms and conditions of those suppliers. Wild Ginger Herbal Center and their respective employees, agents, representatives, and assigns accept no liability whatsoever for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or any other incident which may be caused by the negligence, defect, default of any company or person in performing these services. Responsibility is not accepted for losses, injury, damages or expenses of any kind due to sickness, weather, strikes, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature, local laws or other such causes. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws and regulations of the country in which they are provided. Wild Ginger Herbal Center is not responsible for any baggage or personal effects of any individual participating in the tours / trips arranged by Wild Ginger Herbal Center. Individual travelers are responsible for purchasing a travel insurance policy, if desired, that will cover some of the expenses associated with the loss of luggage or personal effects as well as their personal health insurance policy. Wild Ginger Herbal Center is not responsible for providing your health insurance or healthcare while on the trip, are not responsible for any flight cancellations or changes to your personal travel itinerary not provided by the trip. The itinerary and schedule are available on www.centroashe.org and the exact activities may change slightly based on weather while on the trip. Occasionally weather can become an issue and we reserve the right to not participate in a certain activity if it is deemed unsafe due to weather (boat ride etc) but we will replace that activity with another of equal value.
Accomodations:
Staying onsite at Wild Ginger Herbal Center our rustic wooden cabina located in the Caribbean of Costa Rica. We live very very simple and rustic, our house has electricity, and is equipped with WIFI internet that will be slower than you are used to if you are from the US. We do not use chemicals to spray our home, thus in the tropics we have little geckos that will be indoors, they're your friends they eat mosquitos! Sometimes there are ants, etc, be prepared to be in community with nature! We provide communal rooms with single beds for our apprentices and guests, fans in each room, and bathroom. Great place for relaxing, Our classroom is right onsite at Wild Ginger Herbal Center and our humble site is home to medicinal and edible plants. You're are one block to the beach and we make sure you have lots of relax and self care time while you are here. We do not provide laundry services on site, however you can pay to do laundry at a couple locations around town during your stay here. Additionally we utilize comparable rooms at a neighboring cabina in order to accomodate our groups beyond our capacity on site at Wild Ginger Herbal Center.
Expectations & Respect:
We expect those that apply for this program to have an true interest and excitement for plant medicine. We ask that everyone show up on time to all classes and activities in order to honor each other as well as our teachers and facilitators. When coming to Wild Ginger Herbal Center openness and respect are central. All people are welcome and we celebrate life in all our beautiful manifestations and forms. We expect people of diverse paths to come here with respect for each other, we have an expectation of non-violent communication when faced with challenges that can arise when living together during intensive communal experiences in new environments. All people of varying class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, immigration status, political ideology, race, sex, sexual orientation and religious, non-religious, or spiritual beliefs are welcome at Wild Ginger Herbal Center and we seek to build a community space for all.
Foods:
Our focus is on eating an abundant healthy and whole foods based diet rich in local fruits, veggies, rice, beans, oats, different traditinoal baked goods, and plantains are central to our diet, and sometimes we get local cheese, meats, yogurt, fish, eggs. There are several options offered each meal. While we encourage everyone to participate and share in meals together, we understand some people may have special diets in which case they will need to supplement their diets with food purchased elsewhere.
Money:
Make sure to bring enough US Dollars to last you at least the first few days of the trip including stopping for a snack on your way down to us. Do not bring bills larger than $20, and make sure they are not ripped or in poor condition or folks will not accept them. Our town has no ATM, and the closes one is about 12 kilometers away. Everyone accepts US Dollars here, but again in the same town as the ATM there is a money exchange you can exchange your dollars for colones. You should expect at 500 colones to $1 exchange when using USDollars in our area. While we provide your food for all indicated meals during your time with us, and we provide drinking water during our programs, you are responsible for any extras you might need, including snacks etc etc. If you want to buy souveniers/personal care items etc you are responsible for those as well. Our town does have a few small shops "pulperias", two of which accept credit cards.
Call Your Bank!
*MAKE SURE TO CALL YOUR BANKS AND LET THEM KNOW YOU WILL BE IN COSTA RICA* - This will ensure your card does not get shut off for suspicious activity.
What to Bring:
An open mind, heart, and soul! A true openess and interest in plants and folk medicine, in learning the traditional medicine of the people of Talamanca, Costa Rica. Remember our cabinas at Wild Ginger Herbal Center are rustic and very simple, we try to live as simply and in tune with nature as possible. We do not have air conditioning and we live simply in a way very much like our local community members. Coming on this trip and life in the Caribbean here is an opportunity to go with the flow and enjoy a slower and more simple lifestyle - that is part of the medicine of your time here. Most people when they talk about the rainy season it actually refers to the pacific side, which has a very distinct rainy season, 6 months dry, 6 months wet. We will be on the Caribbean side, and while yes it rains, it is more evenly balanced through out the year. That doesn't mean it won't rain, because it certainly can and probably will. As far as clothes, bring light weight stuff that dries easily, it is HUMID! Bring a good pair of shoes to hike with that you dont mind getting muddy, and flip flops, and whatever else you'd like to have with you. Cotton tshirts and shorts are great, a rain jacket, bathing suit, towel for the beach (please do not bring hotel towels to the beach), are all great. Yoga mat if you'd like. BUG SPRAY is important to your comfort here, thankfully we do not have Zika virus etc in our area, however here in the Caribbean we do indeed have mosquitos. So bring repellent that works well for you! Bring natural bug spray if you're into that because you can't get that down there or whatever type of repellent that is actually effective for you, any personal care items you need we recommend you bring with you. Bring any regular medications/supplements you use. Bring SUNSCREEN! A hat. Sunglasses. As far as a laptop - there is internet in town so you're welcome to bring it, just depends how connected you'd like to be! It's another thing to travel with and to be conscious of while you're on buses etc. But it can be convenient, so that is totally your decision. Outlets there are the same as the US, no converter is needed. Also please remember pens and note pads for note taking. Come prepared with clothing appropriate for tropical heat and tropical rain. Sandals, Sun protection, waterbottle, hats, etc. Bathing suit, towels and sarongs. We provide bath towels but you have to bring your own towel for the beach. A first aid kit, headlamp or flashlight, any prescriptions you need. Boots suitable for getting muddy walking in the jungle or on farms, rain jacket with hood. While many people take this opportunity to "unplug" you may feel like bringing a wifi accesible device to use while onsite. These are your responsibility and while traveling we always recommend traveling without valuable goods, but take good care of what you do decide to bring. Long and short pants, long and short sleeves. Personal care products. We do not have laundry onsite but there are places in the area you may pay to get your clothes washed and cleaned. We cannot stress enough how bringing what you need to protect you from bugs will make your stay more comfortable, the struggle is real with mosquitos, sometimes sand fleas and more. These vary depending on the time of year, but we encourage you to bring protection with you!
The price includes your rustic accomodations in Costa Rica, each of the classes and tours (and transportation to and from said tours) outlined on the itinerary. PRICE DOES NOT include flight to and from Costa Rica.
Materials List:
We ask participants to bring 16 glass dropper bottles 1 ounce size
Please read the Disclaimer:
*COVID-19 Disclaimer - *If participants contract or test positive for COVID-19 during the trip they will be required to quarantine separately from the group. Medical costs, care, as well as the the cost of separate accommodations in nearby hotel and or separate transportation to and from airport is not covered by Twin Star Herbal Education or Wild Ginger Herbal Center, and will be the responsibility of participant. We can provide a list of local accommodations as well as trusted private transportation if needed.
Please read the Disclaimer:
**All participants must be 18 years of age or older unless with a legal guardian.
** Please note, by registering for this tour you acknowledge Wild Ginger Herbal Center acts only as agents for the various independent suppliers that provide hotel accommodations, transportation, sightseeing, activities, or other services connected with this tour. Such services are subject to the terms and conditions of those suppliers. Wild Ginger Herbal Center and their respective employees, agents, representatives, and assigns accept no liability whatsoever for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or any other incident which may be caused by the negligence, defect, default of any company or person in performing these services. Responsibility is not accepted for losses, injury, damages or expenses of any kind due to sickness, weather, strikes, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature, local laws or other such causes. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws and regulations of the country in which they are provided. Wild Ginger Herbal Center is not responsible for any baggage or personal effects of any individual participating in the tours / trips arranged by Wild Ginger Herbal Center. Individual travelers are responsible for purchasing a travel insurance policy, if desired, that will cover some of the expenses associated with the loss of luggage or personal effects as well as their personal health insurance policy. Wild Ginger Herbal Center is not responsible for providing your health insurance or healthcare while on the trip, are not responsible for any flight cancellations or changes to your personal travel itinerary not provided by the trip. The itinerary and schedule are available on www.centroashe.org and the exact activities may change slightly based on weather while on the trip. Occasionally weather can become an issue and we reserve the right to not participate in a certain activity if it is deemed unsafe due to weather (boat ride etc) but we will replace that activity with another of equal value.
Accomodations:
Staying onsite at Wild Ginger Herbal Center our rustic wooden cabina located in the Caribbean of Costa Rica. We live very very simple and rustic, our house has electricity, and is equipped with WIFI internet that will be slower than you are used to if you are from the US. We do not use chemicals to spray our home, thus in the tropics we have little geckos that will be indoors, they're your friends they eat mosquitos! Sometimes there are ants, etc, be prepared to be in community with nature! We provide communal rooms with single beds for our apprentices and guests, fans in each room, and bathroom. Great place for relaxing, Our classroom is right onsite at Wild Ginger Herbal Center and our humble site is home to medicinal and edible plants. You're are one block to the beach and we make sure you have lots of relax and self care time while you are here. We do not provide laundry services on site, however you can pay to do laundry at a couple locations around town during your stay here. Additionally we utilize comparable rooms at a neighboring cabina in order to accomodate our groups beyond our capacity on site at Wild Ginger Herbal Center.
Expectations & Respect:
We expect those that apply for this program to have an true interest and excitement for plant medicine. We ask that everyone show up on time to all classes and activities in order to honor each other as well as our teachers and facilitators. When coming to Wild Ginger Herbal Center openness and respect are central. All people are welcome and we celebrate life in all our beautiful manifestations and forms. We expect people of diverse paths to come here with respect for each other, we have an expectation of non-violent communication when faced with challenges that can arise when living together during intensive communal experiences in new environments. All people of varying class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, immigration status, political ideology, race, sex, sexual orientation and religious, non-religious, or spiritual beliefs are welcome at Wild Ginger Herbal Center and we seek to build a community space for all.
Foods:
Our focus is on eating an abundant healthy and whole foods based diet rich in local fruits, veggies, rice, beans, oats, different traditinoal baked goods, and plantains are central to our diet, and sometimes we get local cheese, meats, yogurt, fish, eggs. There are several options offered each meal. While we encourage everyone to participate and share in meals together, we understand some people may have special diets in which case they will need to supplement their diets with food purchased elsewhere.
Money:
Make sure to bring enough US Dollars to last you at least the first few days of the trip including stopping for a snack on your way down to us. Do not bring bills larger than $20, and make sure they are not ripped or in poor condition or folks will not accept them. Our town has no ATM, and the closes one is about 12 kilometers away. Everyone accepts US Dollars here, but again in the same town as the ATM there is a money exchange you can exchange your dollars for colones. You should expect at 500 colones to $1 exchange when using USDollars in our area. While we provide your food for all indicated meals during your time with us, and we provide drinking water during our programs, you are responsible for any extras you might need, including snacks etc etc. If you want to buy souveniers/personal care items etc you are responsible for those as well. Our town does have a few small shops "pulperias", two of which accept credit cards.
Call Your Bank!
*MAKE SURE TO CALL YOUR BANKS AND LET THEM KNOW YOU WILL BE IN COSTA RICA* - This will ensure your card does not get shut off for suspicious activity.
What to Bring:
An open mind, heart, and soul! A true openess and interest in plants and folk medicine, in learning the traditional medicine of the people of Talamanca, Costa Rica. Remember our cabinas at Wild Ginger Herbal Center are rustic and very simple, we try to live as simply and in tune with nature as possible. We do not have air conditioning and we live simply in a way very much like our local community members. Coming on this trip and life in the Caribbean here is an opportunity to go with the flow and enjoy a slower and more simple lifestyle - that is part of the medicine of your time here. Most people when they talk about the rainy season it actually refers to the pacific side, which has a very distinct rainy season, 6 months dry, 6 months wet. We will be on the Caribbean side, and while yes it rains, it is more evenly balanced through out the year. That doesn't mean it won't rain, because it certainly can and probably will. As far as clothes, bring light weight stuff that dries easily, it is HUMID! Bring a good pair of shoes to hike with that you dont mind getting muddy, and flip flops, and whatever else you'd like to have with you. Cotton tshirts and shorts are great, a rain jacket, bathing suit, towel for the beach (please do not bring hotel towels to the beach), are all great. Yoga mat if you'd like. BUG SPRAY is important to your comfort here, thankfully we do not have Zika virus etc in our area, however here in the Caribbean we do indeed have mosquitos. So bring repellent that works well for you! Bring natural bug spray if you're into that because you can't get that down there or whatever type of repellent that is actually effective for you, any personal care items you need we recommend you bring with you. Bring any regular medications/supplements you use. Bring SUNSCREEN! A hat. Sunglasses. As far as a laptop - there is internet in town so you're welcome to bring it, just depends how connected you'd like to be! It's another thing to travel with and to be conscious of while you're on buses etc. But it can be convenient, so that is totally your decision. Outlets there are the same as the US, no converter is needed. Also please remember pens and note pads for note taking. Come prepared with clothing appropriate for tropical heat and tropical rain. Sandals, Sun protection, waterbottle, hats, etc. Bathing suit, towels and sarongs. We provide bath towels but you have to bring your own towel for the beach. A first aid kit, headlamp or flashlight, any prescriptions you need. Boots suitable for getting muddy walking in the jungle or on farms, rain jacket with hood. While many people take this opportunity to "unplug" you may feel like bringing a wifi accesible device to use while onsite. These are your responsibility and while traveling we always recommend traveling without valuable goods, but take good care of what you do decide to bring. Long and short pants, long and short sleeves. Personal care products. We do not have laundry onsite but there are places in the area you may pay to get your clothes washed and cleaned. We cannot stress enough how bringing what you need to protect you from bugs will make your stay more comfortable, the struggle is real with mosquitos, sometimes sand fleas and more. These vary depending on the time of year, but we encourage you to bring protection with you!