Beyond the Piña Colada: Why More Travelers Are Seeking Meaningful Experiences

Maybe you’re not a retreat person. Honestly, I hear versions of that all the time. Many people are curious about retreats but hesitant about wellness culture, skeptical of anything that feels too “woo-woo,” or simply unsure whether they belong. The truth is people are seeking something more.

More Than a Getaway

Not long ago, a vacation was primarily about getting away from it all—beautiful destinations, comfortable rooms, a poolside drink—a break from the demands of everyday life. And while there is certainly nothing wrong with rest, relaxation, or the occasional piña colada, something has shifted in recent years. More people are seeking something beyond a temporary escape. They want experiences that leave them feeling not just rested but connected. 

As a therapist, retreat facilitator, and someone who spends a great deal of time talking with people about what matters most to them, I hear a common longing beneath the surface of many conversations. People are craving meaningful connection—with themselves, with others, with nature, and with a deeper sense of purpose and belonging.

Skeptical of Wellness Culture

At the same time, many people feel hesitant about, if not resistant to, the wellness or spiritual worlds. Maybe you can relate. You may be curious about retreats, meditation, breathwork, yoga, or other experiences that promise healing and transformation. Yet something about the culture surrounding wellness can feel uncomfortable, inaccessible, or simply not you. Maybe it feels too woo-woo, overly curated, or performative. Or maybe you’re skeptical of anyone claiming to have the answers. Honestly, I get it. It’s important to be cautious.

I’ve spent my career helping people navigate grief, loss, trauma, difficult relationships, divorce, and other life transitions. What I’ve learned is that healing rarely comes from finding the right answer or the best solution. More often, it emerges through connection, presence, and the willingness to show up honestly for our experience, be curious and embrace all that’s here.

What people seem to be seeking today isn’t necessarily another self-improvement project. They’re seeking authenticity and experiences that help them remember what matters most. They’re looking for opportunities to slow down enough to be in their bodies and get quiet enough to tune inward and nurture what’s there. They’re more interested in moments of awe, beauty, laughter, reflection, and genuine human connection.

The Shift Toward Meaningful Experiences

This is one reason why we’re seeing growing interest in retreats that offer more than luxury accommodations or beautiful beaches. People are increasingly drawn to experiences that engage the whole person—mind, body and soul. Experiences that invite them into local culture, meaningful community, nature, creativity, service, and personal reflection. The irony is that many of us wait until we’re completely depleted before giving ourselves permission to pause. 

We tell ourselves we’ll rest later, when this is over, after…. We’ll take the trip someday. We’ll reconnect when life calms down (I’m guilty of this one for sure). We’ll address our grief, our burnout, our loneliness, or our longing when we have more time. But life has a way of continuing to move. And often, what we’re really craving isn’t an escape from our lives. It’s a deeper relationship with them.

What We’re Really Looking For

At TwoCan Retreats, we’re less interested in offering answers than creating experiences. Experiences that invite people to step out of their routines and into something different. A morning spent immersed in nature, a moment of unexpected awe, unbridled joy, or even excruciating grief. The realization that someone else’s story resonates with your own, or that other people feel this too. And the feeling of being fully present in your life, even if only for a little while. That might look like sharing a meal with new friends around a table overlooking the ocean; watching the sunset after a day of surfing; laughing harder than you’ve laughed in months or shedding tears you’ve been carrying for years. It might be as simple as discovering that you’re not as alone as you thought you were.

Whether we call it grief, loss, transition, uncertainty, overwhelm, or simply the weight of being human, many of us are carrying more than we let on. Having space to acknowledge that, and to do it in community, can be profoundly freeing. You don’t need a yoga practice, or to consider yourself spiritual. You also don’t need to identify as a “retreat person.” You simply need a willingness to step away from the noise long enough to tune in to what matters most—starting with you. 

If that sounds like something you’re ready for, we hope you’ll join us in Costa Rica.

Waves of Grief Retreat

July 8-13, 2026, Santa Teresa Costa Rica