Our Mission
Reconnect the world by healing one soul at a time.
Our Vision
A world where everyone is resilient and well-adjusted; be a vessel of love; able to cultivate harmony and thrive in regardless of the challenges of life.
We do this by offering deeply meaningful and impactful experiences grounded in ancient healing practices that will help people find purpose, heal and become self aware and empathetic of those around them.
Our Values
We strive to live in harmony with nature while giving back to the ecosystems around us. We support the local community that has lived in the area for many centuries. We borrowed the recipes of the local folk using locally grown ingredients and refined them, helping you experience the joys of tasty, wholesome food that is unique to the region. We employ and train people from the area, be it the naturalist who guides you through the wilderness or the therapist who rejuvenates your mind and body. Most of our staff is from the region. So, not only do they know the land and the culture intimately, they are deeply concerned about preserving them.
Sustainability
The United Nations World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future. Rather than being a type of product, it is an ethos that underpins all tourism activities.
Two different types of woods have been used in the creation of Samasati: the first type, called “Green Wood”, was obtained with the permit of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) from trees that have fallen naturally over the years around the property and that were cut to size “in situ” and pulled to the building sites with Oxen. There was no impacting the forest with power vehicles or roads. The second type of wood used came from young harvested wood brought from the plantations in the central valley of Costa Rica.
The style of construction follows the Afro Caribbean Sustainable Architecture, which is building for maximization of ventilation, isolation from heat, protection from humid climate, enhancement of the natural elements of the rainforest such as view, sounds, and breeze. The shape of the roofs and materials provide protection in each building, all of which minimize the need for cooling.
A special custom-made sewage treatment system was designed by a sanitation engineer along with a strict control of the treatment of residual water. A large reservoir tank was built to collect rainwater from the roofs for re-use for bathrooms and showers.
Since 1996, 80% of the entire property has been legally declared as Private Biological Reserve. Absolutely no exotic species of fauna or flora have been introduced into the rainforest to avoid alterations to the ecosystem.
At Samasati, we use only biological products for cleaning and personal hygiene. We buy only chemical free vegetables and fruits for our cooking. We make compost from organic waste and use the remaining organic trash as food for an animal farm next to us. Samasati uses a recycling system for plastic and glass and we only use energy efficient light bulbs.
A Rainforest Biological Reserve
With a dense Rainforest jungle in a mountain as a backdrop, we built Costa Rica’s first Eco Retreat twenty years ago. Our retreat was built with simple tools wielded by bare hands with the goal of minimal impact on the environment and eco system. Land and trees were not cleared, instead structures were positioned so they would blend with the surroundings. Rainwater was chosen as the primary water source. It is captured, filtered and used throughout the property. We made ecological promises to the land that we are privileged to occupy and adhere to that spirit to this day.
We are guardians of a Biological Reserve that comprises over 250 acres of primary and secondary Rainforest making it one of the largest in the area. It is home to a rich and diverse variety of vegetation, flora and fauna. Some examples are sloths, monkeys, frogs, snakes, spiders, anteaters, butterflies, bats, kinkajous, margays, ocelots, and even some that are under threat of extinction. In addition, there are well over 200 species of birds on the Samasati property.
Sustainability
The United Nations World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future. Rather than being a type of product, it is an ethos that underpins all tourism activities.
Two different types of woods have been used in the creation of Samasati: the first type, called “Green Wood”, was obtained with the permit of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) from trees that have fallen naturally over the years around the property and that were cut to size “in situ” and pulled to the building sites with Oxen. There was no impacting the forest with power vehicles or roads. The second type of wood used came from young harvested wood brought from the plantations in the central valley of Costa Rica.
The style of construction follows the Afro Caribbean Sustainable Architecture, which is building for maximization of ventilation, isolation from heat, protection from humid climate, enhancement of the natural elements of the rainforest such as view, sounds, and breeze. The shape of the roofs and materials provide protection in each building, all of which minimize the need for cooling.
A special custom-made sewage treatment system was designed by a sanitation engineer along with a strict control of the treatment of residual water. A large reservoir tank was built to collect rainwater from the roofs for re-use for bathrooms and showers.
Since 1996, 80% of the entire property has been legally declared as Private Biological Reserve. Absolutely no exotic species of fauna or flora have been introduced into the rainforest to avoid alterations to the ecosystem.
At Samasati, we use only biological products for cleaning and personal hygiene. We buy only chemical free vegetables and fruits for our cooking. We make compost from organic waste and use the remaining organic trash as food for an animal farm next to us. Samasati uses a recycling system for plastic and glass and we only use energy efficient light bulbs.
Our People
Scott McKenzie
Scott McKenzie has traveled extensively to some of the Worlds most remote jungles where he has worked with scientific programs and animals such as crocodiles, cobras, bushmasters, primates, tigers, and others.
Scott volunteers his time and resources to training wilderness first responders and equipping indigenous populations with lifesaving anti-venom. He has been the first responder on several would be lethal snake-bites and has had a 100% survival rate.
Concurrently, Scott has participated in ecological surveys and trail mapping in Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, the United States and Costa Rica. He has spent a cumulative of 12 years living in these harsh environments studying and documenting the wildlife.
Scott has applied his experience and knowledge to the rehabilitation of various endangered species in cooperation with zoological parks worldwide.
He has over a decade of experience working in the Hollywood film industry as a dangerous animal wrangler. His work can be seen in movies such as; We are the Millers, Safe Haven, Journey to the Center of the Earth III, Revolution and many more.
He currently lives in Costa Rica where he is General Manager and curator of the bio-reserve and animal sanctuary at Samasati Retreat and Rainforest Sanctuary.
Liseth Carpio Gomez
Liseth was born and rise in Cartago province, Costa Rica. Since she was a little girl she felt passion by nature, conservation and travel, so she studied Tourism.
She has worked in different hotels in Costa Rica, since 2010 she’s being working as the Reservation Manager and also Administrator of Samasati Yoga & Wellness Retreat.
She was also part of the board of directors of the Costa Rican Network of Private Natural Reserves, for about 3 years.
Few years ago she got a degree in teaching to combine it with her studies in tourism, and she has taught some Tourism classes for a night high school in San Jose, with the Ministry of Public Education.
She likes to practice yoga and CrossFit and any outdoor activity. She has a 2 year old boy and she loves cooking, hiking, spending time with her family. She also loves animals (she has 5 dogs, 1 cat, plus Bartolo & Josefina; the rooster & hen).
Our Resident Yogini – Stephanie McKenzie
Stephanie is versed in the different traditions of yoga that emerged from the teachings of Krishnamacharya including Ashtanga and Viniyoga. She has also immersed herself in the study of Anusara, Yin Yang, Therapeutics, Vinyasa, Murat Boran. Drawing on her varied background, she seamlessly provides individualized customizations and gently a nourishing experience for each student according to their experience level. She truly cares for those who visit Samasati and wishes for everyone to feel at home.
