Wildlife + Waterfalls Retreat

Wildlife + Waterfalls is a 4-day immersion into the living, breathing ecosystem of the Costa Rican jungle—where life is constantly moving, calling, revealing itself.

Set in the lush Diamante Valley, one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, you’re surrounded by an extraordinary density of life—birds flashing through the canopy, insects pulsing in rhythm, monkeys, amphibians, dense plant life—and yes, a vibrant group of queer men finding their place within it all. Led by survivalist and 7-time Naked and Afraid veteran Dan Link and Costa Rican ecologist Eugenio Garcia Lopez, the experience weaves together guided wildlife encounters, deepened awareness, and a natural rhythm of adventure, rest, and connection.

There are waterfalls to slip into, beautiful spaces to land in, and a sense of community that forms with surprising ease—but what lingers is something quieter, deeper. The feeling of attuning to the wild. Of realizing how much is alive around you, and the profound remembering that you are a part of it. 

Who It’s For & Why People Come
This retreat is for queer men who want to experience Costa Rica in a way that is active, immersive, beautiful, and deeply connected – to the land, to the wildlife, and to each other.

Some guests come for the wildlife, birds, waterfalls, jungle trails, and extraordinary biodiversity. Others come for the feeling of being held in a queer community while sharing meaningful adventure in a stunning natural setting. Many come because they want both: the thrill of exploration and the comfort, connection, and beauty that Qasa does best.

You do not need to be an expert hiker, birder, or naturalist to enjoy this retreat. You just need curiosity, openness, and a willingness to participate. The retreat is designed for guests with a base level of fitness who are comfortable with moderate hiking, uneven jungle trails, stairs, heat, humidity, and getting in and out of natural swimming areas. Activities are meant to be engaging and active, but not extreme.

People come for:

• Guided wildlife, birdwatching, and naturalist experiences in one of Costa Rica’s most biodiverse landscapes
• Access to multiple stunning waterfalls, including six major waterfalls on the Qasa property
• The chance to learn more about tropical ecology, animal behavior, and the rhythms of the forest
• A connection to Costa Rican’s culture and indigenous wisdom
• T retreat that combines adventure, restoration, and genuine queer connection
• Luxurious accommodations, nourishing meals, and beautifully designed spaces immersed in nature
• The opportunity to build community with other queer men through shared experience, conversation, and play

What to Expect

The Experience

You go still, and something in you softens with it. The longer you listen, the more the jungle starts to flirt back – calls echoing, wings flashing just at the edge of your vision. And then suddenly, you’re in it. That quick burst of color, that perfectly timed bird call – it lands in your body like a wink. Intimate. Electric. Like the forest just let you in on something.

By the time you reach the water, you’re already a little undone – in a good way. The cool rush against your skin, the sound wrapping around you – it pulls you deeper and opens you outward at the same time. You feel awake, a little wild, less contained. Like your edges got softer.

And at some point, you stop being the observer. You’re just… in the dance. Following the sounds, chasing little flashes of movement, letting the jungle lead for once. And somehow, that feeling stays with you – the quiet thrill of being fully here and the deep connection to the world around you, and the knowing that you can return to it anytime you choose.

Program Highlights (all optional):

• Sunrise birdwatching in the jungle canopy as the forest stirs to life around you – coffee (or maybe a mimosa!) in hand, eyes lifted, senses fully awake.
• Waterfall adventures woven throughout the retreat, with access to six major waterfalls on the Qasa property, and endless Immersive hikes through lush tropical forest
• Guided wildlife and naturalist experiences with our knowledgeable guides, Dan and Eugenio, designed to help you see, hear, and fall in love with Costa Rica’s extraordinary biodiversity.
• Nighttime nature experiences that invite you into the jungle after dark, when the sounds deepen, the air shifts, and an entirely different world comes alive.
• Daily yoga in the open-air shala to ground, stretch, and soften you into the experience.
• A signature survival-skills offering with Dan blending practical knowledge, wild awareness, and a deeper relationship with the living landscape.
• A cultural and indigenous wisdom experience with an indigenous elder to deepen your connection to the history, traditions, and spirit of this place.
• Bonfires, beautiful shared meals, and meaningful group moments that turn adventure into connection and strangers into chosen family.
• Luxurious stays at Qasa, where jungle immersion meets comfort—beautiful accommodations, nourishing meals, and exquisitely designed spaces that invite both adventure and deep exhale.

Schedule Overview

Days at Wildlife + Waterfalls follow the natural pulse of the jungle – early mornings, active exploration, and slow, connected evenings.

Mornings begin with the forest waking up around you. Most days include early birdwatching or a guided wildlife walk, when the jungle is most alive, followed by daily yoga to ground and open the body. After breakfast, you’ll head out again for a second guided nature experience – often a waterfall hike, blending movement, swimming, and deeper sensory immersion.

Afternoons offer a mix of rest, optional learning, or light adventure—a nature outing, sometimes space to integrate, swim, or simply listen to the forest.

Evenings shift into a softer rhythm: shared meals, sunset moments, and occasional night wildlife excursions, where the jungle transforms and an entirely different world of sound, movement, and life emerges. Nights often close with bonfires, conversation, and connection under the stars.