What do you do when a childhood friend asks if you want to go on an adventure with other cool Jewish women? And chocolate is involved? You say, “YES, I AM IN!”
That is what I did, and it turned out to be a wonderful experience.
My dear friend, and Hampton Roads native, Amy Falk Weinberger, invited me to join her for a retreat in Costa Rica. Amy, along with her husband Steve, daughter Erin, and son-in-law Gabe, own The Flo Retreat Center in Uvita, Costa Rica. Amy envisioned ways to utilize the space and bring her girlfriends together, and as a result, The Sisterhood & Chocolate Retreat for Jewish/Jewish Adjacent* Women was born.
In July of 2024, I joined 14 other women from Florida, Maryland, and New York for a week at Flo. Most of us didn’t know each other, yet the connection was immediate and real. Enjoying morning coffee in the outdoor living room while listening to monkeys and spotting toucans was a treat. We began each day with gentle stretching in the yoga studio and then took advantage of opportunities to hike, swim in waterfalls, tour local farms, and explore outdoor markets. Meals, and of course chocolate, were enjoyed at the communal table in the indoor/outdoor dining room. Shabbat and Havdalah were celebrated with warmth and unity. We were a group of new friends in the jungle surrounded by beautiful and exotic flora and fauna. What a gift!
Being at Flo felt like going to camp, but even better. A retreat, not a resort, the accommodations are not fancy, but comfortable with A/C and hot water. Participants leave hairdryers at home and enjoy delicious meals while partaking in exciting activities – “letting go and just being yourself” in a tropical paradise. I was so taken with the experience that I joined Amy as co-host for 2025, wanting to help bring this incredible opportunity to more women.
For our second season we added surf camp and art workshops to the already amazing itinerary. We had a few returnees, as well as a new group of women from North Carolina, Virginia, and California.
Tidewater’s Stephanie Adler Calliott said “Yes” to the invitation. She loved being creative and getting to “hang ten” (or five, in her case). “I can’t decide if I enjoyed eating gourmet meals at Flo or visiting the local restaurants more – turns out Uvita is a foodie town,” she says. “I do know that the experience is one I would repeat. I am a summer camper at heart.”
For me, I can’t wait to return as co-host for 2026. Waterfalls, hiking, art, nature, delicious food, and sisterhood – all part of the Costa Rica vibe – and ready to help women break out of their routine and indulge their inner child.
Information is available at www.florretreatcenter.com. Select “retreats” and scroll to Sisterhood & Chocolate for Jewish/Jewish Adjacent Women, July 14 – 21. Retreats are also available for career women and women of color. Why should cool Jewish women have all of the fun?
*Jewish adjacent refers to individuals who may not be Jewish themselves, but who are closely connected to the Jewish community through family, partnership, or shared values.