'Mini Burning Man' Envision 2014 on Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast

[Danny Solano Alvarez]

Returning for its fourth year to Costa Rica’s southern Pacific Coast at Uvita, the Envision Festival will transform the rainforest into a global village of art, music, yoga and spirituality.

Envision 2014 will be held Feb. 20–23 at Rancho La Merced in Uvita, Costa Rica, home of the renowned Ballena Marine National Park, an important migratory site for the world’s Pacific Humpback Whales. Thousands of festival-goers come every year to Costa Rica for the popular multi-day event.

The Envision Festival is like a mini-Burning Man, blending music, art, yoga, dance, performance art, spiritual speakers and workshops. There is also a mini-camp for kids and families. View the full festival entertainment lineup here.

Festival organizers say they chose Costa Rica for its vibrant life and energy in the rainforest by the sea. The Envision Festival’s focus is to “inspire positive collective consciousness” for the betterment of everyone and the planet “by bringing people together through music, art and sacred movement,” states the event’s website.

Organizers say this year’s event will be better than last year since the festival is moving to a rainforest-shaded location that allows festival-goers to camp in or by their vehicles, and is only a two-minute walk to the beach.

If you want to attend the Envision Festival, but don’t want to camp, Portasol Rainforest & Ocean View Living sustainable community is a short drive up the coast to the north and offers luxury vacation rentals. Or, extend your vacation and visit Portasol before or after the festival.

The residential and vacation lodging community is well-positioned between Uvita and Dominical to the south, and the Manuel Antonio National Park to the north. Portasol is tucked into a pristine rainforest river valley, yet is only 10 minutes to the beautiful, long, turtle-nesting beach of Matapalo. The Costa Rica sustainable community rents luxury vacation homes and tropical bungalows, and also offers Costa Rica property for sale. On their 1,300 acres, you have private trails in the jungle, rivers and waterfalls with natural pools, comfortable lodging, and spa services.

Article by Shannon Farley