Labyrinth in Costa Rica

A Visit to La Senda

JoAnne Tucker / March 14, 2025 / Costa Rica, Personal Life

Ever since Ronald Esquivel designed Camino del Artista – the labyrinth at my home, Casa Uno – I have wanted to visit La Senda, the largest labyrinth in the world, which Esquivel collaborated in creating. It is located outside of Tamarindo, about 4 hours from my home. I also knew that someday I would get there. I did, on my birthday this January. Pam Wax, a friend and poet who leads workshops and writes about labyrinths, also wanted to visit, so the trip was planned when she was here.

First challenge was how to get from Atenas to La Senda without renting a car. It’s fun how things fall into place. Several months ago, former Avodah dancer Kerri Anne Grace visited and shared how she had found an easy way to travel around Costa Rica by using Interbus (https://www.interbusonline.com). While they don’t list Atenas as one of their routes, I learned from Kerri that you can call and make a reservation and request both a pickup and drop off at a gas station outside of town. We took a 20-minute taxi ride from home to the gas station, and the bus was right on time to pick us up. About halfway into the trip our small bus of about 18 people stopped at a large roadside area that had a restaurant, gift store, bathrooms and a large parking lot where other vans were parked. We all got off and had a relaxing time enjoying some refreshments while our driver moved any checked luggage to the next van that would take us to our destination. The wait for the next van can be as short as 10 minutes or as long as an hour depending on traffic and vans’ arrivals. I was impressed with the organization of the system and the comfort of the waiting area. It was fun to talk to some of the other passengers and to discover this was a very safe and economical way to travel around Costa Rica. I thought to myself… yes, I would use this again.

Once in Tamarindo we were met by a driver from La Senda and made the half-hour drive to the beautiful 74-acre property located in a tropical dry forest. We were met by one of the owners, Ann Vervoort. Although I had not met Ann in person we had been on several Zoom and WhatsApp groups related to labyrinths in Costa Rica so it felt like I was meeting a good friend. She drove us to our glamping unit which was almost a half mile away. Pam and I each had our own separate unit.

La Senda’s website (https://lasendacostarica.com/en/) describes the glamping units:

These units that we call Leaves of Hojas in Spanish are architectural pearls, 4 meters (13’) high and 10 meters (33’) long. They each have a private, partly open-air bathroom and a terrace with view of the forest. All Leaves are equipped with movable fans. We did not opt for AC so prana can flow freely. Staying at our Leaves opens the opportunity to connect fully with Nature.

Shortly after I got settled, I heard rustling outside of the front door, and sure enough there were several monkeys playing in the trees. I sat on the steps of my unit watching and photographing them.

As it was cooler and the air more refreshing, I decided I wanted to walk to the labyrinth and begin to experience it. The glamping units have a lovely path through the forest to the labyrinth. It is a back way to enter, not the usual day-visitors’ entrance. As I walked I felt like I was going to a special sacred site.

I easily found the sign to enter the labyrinth. I immediately felt its largeness and how the path is defined by diverse cacti of different sizes.

A description on the website states:

the position of the entrance in the North, and the exit in the South, the fact that all turns had to take place in the central part of the labyrinth, there had to be 14 layers (two times seven = two complete musical scales), and it had to be built out of cactus to attract Prana (Life Force), according to the knowledge from local indigenous tribes.

As the biggest in the world, the labyrinth measures above 2.5 acres (over 1 hectare) and the path is almost 2 miles (3km) long. It took 6 years to develop and now is fully planted with over 5.000 cactus. All sentient beings, like humans, animals, and plants in La Senda constantly live under the upbeat influence of this big pulsing heart of energy.

I walked slowly and sometimes stopped to make sure I had made the correct turn. The sun was beginning to set and the colors were intense and beautiful, particularly looking toward what I learned was Tiger Mountain.

After a while I was beginning to feel tired and realized I was also near the first of the two centers. It was a big circular opening with cut down tree logs to sit on.

I sat down. Within a few minutes I both felt and saw clear waves of energy coming from the sides of my legs. The palms of my hands felt intensely warm. I stayed very still and quietly heard a voice inside me say, “Be.” I knew I didn’t need to do anything. Just sit there. I sat for a while until the sun was set and it was getting dark. I put on the phone’s flashlight and made my way out of the labyrinth and back to the path that led me to my glamping unit. Since La Senda only serves breakfast and twice-a-week Farm-to-Table dinners, I had brought food for dinner as this was not a Farm-to-Table evening. I didn’t have much appetite, and I was too tired to do anything other than “be.” I did not write, read or sketch as I had planned. Even today, over 6 weeks later, I still am processing the experience.

The next morning after breakfast I had a chance to talk with Ann and learned that there are two opposite charged centers found in the middle of the labyrinth. One is feminine and the other masculine. The labyrinth was designed with these two spots as centers. Where I was sitting was the feminine center.

Sergio Salas, an expert in energy work, discovered these energy points on the property. Sergio collaborated with Ronald Esquivel and together they designed the unique layout based on sacred geometry and the energy setting.

My second day at La Senda, I decided to walk the perimeter of the labyrinth instead of following its path and completing the full distance of visiting each of the two centers and exiting. I photographed as I walked, taking in its diverse cacti and acknowledging how large and unique it is. I climbed the stairs of a pavilion and took some pictures but was not able to get the full labyrinth in a single camera shot.

My body felt an internal energy surge different than I had ever experienced. I felt mindful to be quiet and still. I didn’t feel unsafe or unhealthy, just a clear message to “be.”

I am now home and walking my home labyrinth that I had a part in designing with Ronald Esquivel. Since visiting La Senda I may be finding a different, quieter purpose emerging for this chapter in my life. It is to “be” here as a keeper of this home I call Casa Uno and to share it.

Casa Uno – Labyrinth Number 26 – Camino del Artista (Part 4)

JoAnne Tucker / May 23, 2022May 31, 2022 / Costa Rica, Music

The Labyrinth was completed on a Saturday afternoon and of course I was excited to take my first walk that very afternoon. As I walked it this first time, I saw the garden and the surrounding property in a new way. For the next few mornings, I followed a pattern of walking the labyrinth first thing in the morning. Again, I was surprised at how I saw things differently. A new flower that had opened or a bird sitting on a nearby tree stump delighted me. When our garden crew came on Monday, the “head” of the team walked it himself and shared that it wasn’t so easy. Yes, it was filled with turns and curves. I found it challenging and helpful in working on my balance.

A flower that just opened and only lasts for a day. Picture taken on one of my morning walks!

My thoughts soon turned to what kind of ceremony to have to honor the designer, Ronald Esquivel, and Jan Hurwitch, who had selected crystals to be buried in the labyrinth. My good friend and very talented musician Newman Taylor Baker was coming with his daughter to spend some time, and I thought, “How perfect. Let’s do the ceremony when he is here and maybe he will be willing to play his washboard.” While Newman has toured around the world as a jazz percussionist, he now has been working on solo programs and small ensembles with the washboard. He mentioned he would be bringing it.

A date was set, and then it was frustrating that I wanted to invite lots of people but knew with COVID and the limited parking at the house it was important to keep it to a very small number. In the end we did two celebrations, one that was in English and included eight of my ex-pat friends in the community… that ended up being fourteen people in all when you counted Ronald, Jan, myself, Newman and his daughter, and Manrique the house manager. The second one was for Manrique’s family who speaks very limited English.

When Ronald and Jan arrived, we discussed how to proceed. I thought that Newman would play while we walked the labyrinth for the first time, but Ronald said no, we should just focus on walking first and then later Newman could play. Our focus would not be divided, and Newman would have the option of walking with us! Before we walked, Jan led us in a beautiful ceremony of planting each of the crystals. As you remember from an earlier blog, she had selected five different crystals.

I must admit that I was a bit nervous about this part. While I liked the idea of planting the crystals, I didn’t want this part to get too touchy-feely. Jan led it perfectly. She guided us starting with the black onyx which was planted at the point where we “show up.” We haven’t entered the actual labyrinth yet, and the onyx is symbolic of releasing negative energy. Its purpose is both to help the walker let go of any negative energy, and to protect the labyrinth from negative energy. When Jan asked for a volunteer to plant it, Katy quickly responded, and we handed her the large spoon to use. The black onyx was planted with the purpose of repelling negativity.

Newman volunteered to plant the next crystal, the aquamarine, which represents courage. It was planted at the most private place, giving an individual the opportunity to go inward and think about what they might want to create or to just be still for a few minutes with their personal thoughts! The next crystal was planted at the opposite end. It’s a point where one can look outward beyond the property. The orange agate was planted here by Raquel for the purpose of reducing stress!

Next the whole group moved to the entrance of the labyrinth. Paul planted the crystal quartz, which promotes healing and spirituality. We didn’t follow the actual path at this point but rather just went to the places where the crystals would be planted.

Jan asked me to plant the last agate, the rose quartz, in the center of the labyrinth to represent love and compassion. She reminded us that love and compassion must always start with oneself!

JoAnne finishing planting the rose quartz. After each crystal was planted, the person who planted it blessed the ground. Other individuals joined in by placing their hands on the person’s back to be part of the blessing. Photo by Stefani Baker

Now that all the crystals were planted, we regathered at the “showing up” place. A few people had taken off their shoes to walk barefoot which is the most beneficial way. Some places were ready for us to walk barefoot with lush grass. Others lacked grass and had stones, so I did mention that and some of us kept our shoes on.

Ronald led us and we followed the path into the center. Ronald gave us the option of following the path back out, which is the traditional way and how I do it as much as possible. A few took that option.

Ronald guiding us as we walked the labyrinth as a group for the first time. Photo by Stefani Baker.

We made a circle in the center when we completed the walk in. Photo by Stefani Baker.

We celebrated with some refreshments and then enjoyed a wonderful intimate concert with Newman playing the washboard. Everyone was totally mesmerized by his playing and the variety of sound that he could made from just one instrument.

Newman playing. Photo by Stefani Baker
Link to a short excerpt from Newman’s playing. https://vimeo.com/712620130

Our smaller celebration with Manrique’s family challenged Newman’s daughter Stefani and I to describe the labyrinth in Spanish. We both worked with our teacher Raquel to be able to do this. It was another wonderful experience that ended with each of the four women spending a minute or two playing the washboard.

I am amazed at how each day my walk on Camino del Artista is different. Sometimes I am filled with a new idea and at other times I am seeing new things in the garden or far off landscape. If I am off balance I know it and as I slowly follow the path, I regain my balance. A deep bow of gratitude to Ronald Esquivel for creating this special labyrinth and to Jan for selecting the crystals. I look forward to sharing it with others.

Thank you, Stefani, for documenting the event, and I had to close with this fun selfie you took with your “Daddy” in the background!

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Casa Uno – Labyrinth Number 26 – Camino del Artista (Part 3)

JoAnne Tucker / May 2, 2022 / Costa Rica, Personal Life

With the design created for the Labyrinth, it was now time to focus on the building process. The first step was to trace the pattern on the ground. We had already decided that the path would be outlined with red bricks, so the same day that the tracing happened, the red bricks were delivered! A team of three men came to help with the tracing and moving of the bricks. Ronald Esquivel, the designer, was here for the tracing and supervised work for the next two days. The rest of the week the men were here on their own working a full day to place each brick where it needed to be and to regularly check the measurements. Slowly I could see the path developing. I regularly took pictures of the process.

Part of the completed Labyrinth as it winds its way through the garden.

In the next blog I’ll share the opening celebration and thoughts on regularly walking the labyrinth.

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Casa Uno – Labyrinth Number 26 – Camino del Artista (Part 2)

JoAnne Tucker / April 26, 2022May 2, 2022 / Art, Arts in Education, Costa Rica, Personal Life

Knowing I wanted a labyrinth in my garden, I Googled “Costa Rica Labyrinths” to see if I might get some help in creating one at my home in Atenas, Costa Rica. I was surprised when the search generated a lot of information. The very first link was totally fascinating. “Costa Rica is home to the World’s Largest Labyrinth.” It’s called La Senda and it is located about a four- to five-hour drive from where I live. There is a website all about it and several articles online about how it was created. (https://lasendacostarica.com/en/). If you are interested in knowing more about it, please check out the website, and do a Google search for additional articles. Among the names associated with this labyrinth is Ronald Esquivel, who was contacted to design the labyrinth related to two energy vortexes. Ronald is a Costa Rican architect who specializes in sacred geometry and labyrinth design.

So, of course, my next Google search was “Ronald Esquivel” and again I was rewarded with lots of information both about him and about the different labyrinths that he has designed. Instead of the usual circular ones that I was familiar with, his designs were totally different, and each one unique. He has built labyrinths for public parks, universities, a prison, a children’s hospital, a yoga center and private homes. There was also a lot of information on YouTube where his channel has over 69 videos, many of them examples of the different labyrinths he has created. I was totally fascinated. He was a keynote speaker at the 2009 Labyrinth Society Gathering in Portland, Oregon as well as a speaker for the Society again in 2020 when he was interviewed in a program called “Creating Balance in Unbalanced Times.” I listened to the interview and read his kindle book Labyrinth Design and The Energy of its Geometry. When I found an email address for him online, I decided to send him an email and see if he helped private homeowners like myself create labyrinths for their gardens.

I was delighted when I got a response the next day, and a few emails followed. We set up a time for him to come and visit the garden and to make some suggestions. After reading his book, and in particular an article that he and Jan Hurwitch wrote in 2013, I knew that he creates different designs unique to the environment he is working in. For example, at the time of this article he had created 14 labyrinths including a Wisdom Labyrinth, a Growth Labyrinth, and a 4 Element Series. For more information I suggest reading the article. http://gaiacr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Labyrinths-of-Costa-Rica.pdf

In my mind I was beginning to think about a labyrinth here as part of the Artist Retreats I was thinking of offering on my property in Costa Rica! When Ronald arrived, I felt an immediate connection to him as we walked the garden. He asked questions and I shared how I envisioned using the labyrinth for both myself and for guests at the Artist Retreats. Soon we were talking about the creative process and how the labyrinth might represent different stages of the creative journey. I also talked about how important the diagonal line was to me as a choreographer and in my paintings! Over the next few weeks, we continued emailing and discussing the different stages of creating something, whether it is a dance, a painting or a musical composition.

Another visit followed, during which Ronald took careful measurements of the garden, and I finalized my decision that he would design the labyrinth and we would use his team to chalk it and create it! We also determined that the borders of the path would be red brick, and when the work would begin.

The next step involved Ronald submitting the design for my approval and asking if I wanted any changes. I loved it and we had fun following the design and envisioning how it would be on the property.

Design of the Labyrinth: “Camino del Artista” by Ronald Esquivel

Ronald also showed me where each of the physical places of the creative journey we had agreed on would be located.

The stages we had determined were:

First you must show up!! – that’s the beginning point, from which the two diagonal lines go out, and where you walk to enter the labyrinth.
Then one tends to go inward to see what it is one wants to create. That’s a place in a corner which is very private and somewhat hidden.
Next step is gathering all the tools and research one needs to make the vision happen. That is represented by the curves and twists in the labyrinth as one moves from one side of the garden to the other.
There is a point where one looks outward… and begins to share, and this is represented by a corner where one can view the mountains in the distance.
And of course, there is the center which the path reaches. I view that as the first draft!
The return journey is all the editing that one does to complete a project.

Ronald’s friend and co-author of the 2013 article, Jan Hurwitch, joined him as we reviewed the draft and she brought with her 5 crystals that would be buried on the path, representing different relevant emotions. They are:

A black Onyx to repel negativity
Aquamarine for courage
An Orange Agate to reduce stress
Crystal Quartz for healing and spirituality
Rose Quartz for love and compassion, particularly starting with oneself.

The crystals will be buried once the labyrinth is completed, at the inaugural ceremony.

Coming next will be Part 3 – Building the Labyrinth!!

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