Pura Vida
Festival Retreat
11.-14.06.26
Check this year's Program!


Join us in a life-changing summer experience that leads you into deep connection with yourself, other people and nature and the world as a whole...

Free of alcohol and other drugs.

We realign our inner compass, unleash our creative potential and learn to live meaningful relationships - to consciously and proactively create a regenerative and just future together. With music, art, dance, ceremonies and holistic learning we celebrate pure life in all its facets!

1:1 OfferingsLocationFAQ

Celebrate sober

Pura Vida is a drug-free space. This also means: no alcohol.

We come together to consciously connect with ourselves and eachother. To experience emotions, music, nature and encounters as they truly are. Without drugs clouding our consciousness, we can fully immerse in workshops as well as musical and artistic performance.

And we can pause to savor the moment - honestly, unfiltered, and deeply.

Nourish yourself at our vegan restaurant

... and make new friends while having breakfast, lunch, dinner or an in-between snack!

Our food and drink corner is situated on the main road at the most central spot on our grounds and serves as a buzzing meeting point. Our kitchen team will serve you a great menu every day and ensures to nourish everyone perfectly well with amazing delicious meals and affordable prices.

Everything is vegan, organic and made with a lot of love.

Explore the Market Space

We are excited to invite a variety of artisans and crafts makers for our buzzing market space!

Stop by for an organically produced coffee, refresh yourself with a lemonade or try some deliciously nutritious snacks and sweet treats throughout the day, while you have a look through the jewelry, clothes, incense products and much more handcrafted valuables...

Maybe you'll find a special little talisman to always remind you of your unique Pura Vida experience?

Kids welcome...Come as a Family!

While many of the workshops and festival activities are family-friendly, we also provide childcare during workshop times, so adults can also attend the experiences without their kids and fully dive into the sessions.

At our kids space, children of the ages from 3 to 12 have their own creative playground to engage in various projects. Will they design their own upcycled crazy hat, create a magic dreamcatcher or come up with a completely new game to play together?

Feel safe with our Empathy & Awareness Team

There might be times at the festival when you experience intense or challenging emotions. We are here for you.

Find somebody with a Walkie-Talkie or come to us: Our empathy tent is the safe space to give your nervous system. what it needs. Our team has different specialties in embodiment, breathing and meditation practices as well as guidance through emotions and trauma. The space is free for you to come anytime to take a breath, cuddle, rest or to just be held and seen.

And let's always keep in mind: We are all co-creators of each others experience. Please engage with consent, respect peoples boundaries and communicate your own clearly. Let's care for a harmonious space where everyone feels safe, supported, valued and heard.

Read our Culture of Care Guidelines

Find your hive

One aspect that will make your time here truly unique are our Pura Vida hives. The intention of the hives is to offer you a home base to hold you through the festival journey - and to help you integrate your experiences.

You will be part of a small group of people, led into deep sharing and open-heart connection by one of our hive guides. The hives meet three times throughout the festival retreat – but you’ll soon start greeting the members of your hive whenever you see them on the festival grounds. It’s the feeling of home.

Glamping Tents

Elevate your experience and make yourself a cozy home and safe haven to rest, relax and recharge during the festival journey! Treat yourself with an extra bit of comfort immersed in nature. The stylish tents offer space for up to four people and are equipped with beds, sheets and pillows, a carpet, a lamp and electricity connection.

Book your Glamping Tent

Be part of our sweat lodge ceremony

We have the pleasure to invite you to join our sweat lodge, a cleansing ceremony and prayer space inspired by an old Icelandic tradition. The lodge serves for purification, renewal, and the strengthening of our intentions.

The facilitator Manu is walking the path of shamanic rites since over a thirteen years and is pouring water for the Sweatlodge since 2022, mostly in context of Vision Quest work.

You can already pre-book a sweat lodge ceremony with Manuela Bosch now!

Book your Sweat Lodge Ticket

Relax in the sauna

You wish to take a break from the buzzing festival grounds for a while to treat yourself? Our Wellness Space got a big upgrade this year and merges with our Healing Space to one big Soul Spa oasis!

The brand-new community-built sauna of Wir bauen Zukunft awaits you to sweat it out, let go, and let the changing infusions and aromas carry you into a state of deep relaxation. Full on detox within the flavours provided by our wellness angels. Also the pool is ready for you to get fresh and wet afterwards!

Have your personal massage or healing session

The Soul Spa Healing Space is a hidden oasis of calm on the festival grounds. Connect with practitioners offering 1:1 massages, bodywork, coachings, energy work and a variety of other individual sessions for mind, body and soul. Our team’s mission is to empower you and awaken your innate self-healing abilities.

You can pre-book your session already via the ticket shop and secure a discount!

Pre-book your session

Glamping Tents

Elevate your experience and make yourself a cozy home and safe haven to rest, relax and recharge during the festival journey! Our Glamping area will be provided by Domo Camp. Check out their amazing offer and treat yourself with an extra bit of comfort immersed in nature. The stylish tents offer space for up to four people and are equipped with beds, sheets and pillows, a carpet, a fatboy lamp and electricity connection.

Healing Space Offerings

With the following practitioners you can book your 1:1 Session in the Healing Space.

Cat Schwartz

Romiromi (Māori Körperarbeit)

Cat Schwartz

Romiromi (Māori Körperarbeit)

English, German

Cat is a naturopath from Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Romiromi is a traditional and deep form of bodywork. It is a taonga (treasure) of the Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. Romiromi works on pressure points in the body and affects muscles, bones, the lymphatic system, and deeper tissues.

It also has a significant impact on our endocrine system. Ro means “inner” and Mi means “to stimulate.” This Mahi (work) grounds you, shifts your focus from your mind to your body, and opens and brightens your heart.

Wild yet gentle, Romiromi releases stored (as well as old and unconscious) tension, stress, and physical and emotional blockages.

Cat is honored to bring this Mahi (work) - long suppressed by colonialism - to Pura Vida Festival Retreat. She herself studied under the Tohunga (healers) Wikitoria Oman and Atarangi Muru.

The treatment is performed while wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.

Sessions can be booked for 60 or 90 minutes.

Website Cat Schwartz

Joanna Tohtz

Holistic Ayurvedic Massage & Health Guidance

Joanna Tohtz

Holistic Ayurvedic Massage & Health Guidance

English, German, Portuguese, Spanish

Joanna offers: 

- Ayurvedic Bodywork: Warm herbal-infused oils meet gentle osteopathic touch, intuitively following where your body wants to go. A journey to sink, be nourished and regenerate on deeper levels.

- Ayurvedic Health Consultation: Together we explore your constitution (Prakriti) and current imbalances (Vrikriti) together, looking at lifestyle, nourishment, sleep and emotional wellbeing, so you can take your health into your own hands, following simple Ayurvedic wisdom.

All the wisdom we seek outside is already held in the intelligence of our bodies. Joannas own long journey of returning to that trust, and fully coming home to her body again, is what brought her to this work. Joanna draws from Ayurveda, Osteopathy and Somatic Release to guide you back inward.

Joannas Sessions are 60 or 90mins.

Joannas Website

Leo Fey

Massage & Bodywork

Leo Fey

Massage & Bodywork

German, English

For Leo Fey, massage is more than technique, it is presence in motion. With over 10 years of world-class training and multiple championship awards (World Massage Championship Bronze, German Champion 2× Gold, Swiss Champion Gold), each session combines precision, intuition, and deep care.

Leos signature Element Massage is a somatic journey through the five elements, designed to restore balance in body and soul.

Earth grounds through deep pressure and structure. Water restores flow and mobility in the fascia. Fire releases muscular tension. Air calms the nervous system. Ether invites profound stillness through craniosacral touch.

A unique treatment that goes beyond relaxation, creating real transformation, inner balance, and a lasting sense of connection within yourself.

His Sessions are 60 or 90 mins.

Leos Instagram

Sebastiaan Lefuce

Kundalini Activation | Guided Energy Attunement

Sebastiaan Lefuce

Kundalini Activation | Guided Energy Attunement

German, English, Dutch

Sebastiaan Lefuce is a Berlin-based facilitator working with energy, movement, and embodied awareness, and a background in yoga, breathwork and ecstatic dance. At Pura Vida, he offers Kundalini Activation and Guided Energy Attunement.

You can expect a space for deep release, clarity, and reconnection. Sebastiaan works intuitively with music, touch, and energetic presence. His sessions invite the body to open, move, and express naturally

At Pura Vida, he offers 1:1 sessions, supporting you to reconnect with your inner energy, release stored tension, and access a deeper sense of clarity and authentic expression.

Sessions can be 60 or 90 mins.

Sebastiaans Website

Nora Brandt

Individual Scent Creation Rituals

Nora Brandt

Individual Scent Creation Rituals

English, German

Essential oils act on our emotional center and open gateways to memories, visions, and inner processes. Nora loves working with them and creates ritual fragrances that help you embody what you wish to integrate and manifest in your life.

At an Individual Scent Creation Ritual with Nora, she will find yours! Together, you first open a sacred space where you invite all the qualities you wish to embody. Nora reads your energetic field and explores your intentions... and then the magic begins.

From a collection of 250 high-quality essential oils, she selects those that best support you and your intentions, creating your personal fragrance companion. This scent helps you embody the qualities you wish to express and serves as a perfect gift to carry into your everyday life.

Beyond Pura Vida, Nora creates and holds tantric spaces for deep self-exploration and connection, drawing on energy medicine, aromatherapy, conscious tantric touch, tantric rituals, and somatic coaching. Her work supports others in embodying their highest potential and stepping into free, conscious expression of themselves, their intimacy, and sensuality.

60mins Sessions only.

Noras Website

Christoph Wischnewski

Thai Yoga Massage

Christoph Wischnewski

Thai Yoga Massage

German, English, Spanish

Christoph is a Thai Yoga Massage practitioner and teacher based in Berlin. He has a background in bodywork, movement, and ongoing osteopathy studies, blending traditional Thai techniques with a sensitive, therapeutic approach. His work combines dynamic flow and stillness — supporting deep relaxation, release, and reconnection with the body.

At Pura Vida Festival Retreat, Christoph offers Thai Yoga Massage sessions to help you unwind, recharge, and come back into balance. Each session is intuitive and adapted to your needs — whether you seek grounding, softness, or a deeper energetic reset.

Sessions are 60 or 90mins.

Christophs Website

Lucas Nagel

Massage

Lucas Nagel

Massage

German, English

Enjoy a mindful, intuitive massage for relaxation with flowing movements, including many elements of the Lomilomi massage, but also inspired by many years of experience in dance, contact improvisation and Fluentbody as a source.

Lucas is open to whatever feels good for your body at this moment. He massages with or without oil, depending on your preference and ranging from very gentle to fiery and powerful.

You will discuss your wishes in detail beforehand and Lucas is happy to also respond spontaneously to any further impulses you may have during the session. You can let go and enjoy, find your inner peace and draw new inspiration.


As an enthusiastic bodyworker and dancer, as well as a nature educator and nature coach, Lucas enjoys supporting people in their individual processes in various seminars and projects and in my practice in Berlin.

Lucas' Website

Timur Özdogan

Hangab Inversion Experience

Timur Özdogan

Hangab Inversion Experience

English, German

When our world turns upside down, we open up to miracles and healing – an ancient and powerful medicine.

Hangab uses a pulley system to gently and carefully guide you into the inversion pose, also known as Flying Shavasana.

You will be supported in your process of letting go –  precise, mindful and easy. The technique works gently and holistically on all sensory systems, starts with aromatherapy,  inversion bodywork concluding deep shavasana for integration back on mother earth.

The ones who truly let go experience a profound and transformative process that might bring bliss, deep reset of your energy system and often shows new insights for next steps in life.

Can be booked for 60 or 90 mins.

Anja Klönhammer

Holistic Coaching

Anja Klönhammer

Holistic Coaching

German, English

Anja’s coaching is right for you if you want to make lasting changes, tap into your power more and more and wish to become more attuned to your needs.

You are also right with Anja, if you want to do something good for yourself!

What makes Anja’s holistic coaching unique is that it addresses not only the mental and emotional levels but also the physical and energetic levels. Together, you’ll sense what needs to be moved and how it can transform for you.

Your bodily sensations serve as important guides here, creating a new space for self-awareness.

For the past 10 years, Anja has been helping people activate their self-healing powers as a naturopath. She creates space for deep transformative processes. Anja has been teaching yoga for 3 years and has also been working as a holistic coach for yoga and transformation for 2 years. In her one-on-one coaching sessions, cacao ceremonies, and retreats, she guides you in making profound changes with ease, helping you find your flow.

Anjas Website

Clare

Holistic Bodywork with Botanical Facial Ritual

Clare

Holistic Bodywork with Botanical Facial Ritual

English, Basic German

Clare is a practitioner offering Naturopathic-focused services including Bodywork, Reiki, Sound Healing and Holistic Guidance.

In her session at Pura Vida, you can work with her holistically through the physical and energetic body to release tension, improve circulation and mobility, realign the energy centres, and restore the nervous system.

Sessions may include a combination of deep tissue work, Osteothai techniques, myofascial release, reiki, tuning fork therapy, somatic release, and aromatherapy with natural essential oils. Every session closes with a rejuvenating acupressure head and facial massage, using natural botanical extracts from Kakadu Plum or Fingerlime, which work to reduce inflammation, repair skin cells, boost hydration and improve radiance in the skin.

Please feel free to ask her any questions! Sessions can also be tailored to individual requirements or needs.

Clare is based in Berlin and has a practice called Clarity Healing Space.

She offers 60 or 90mins English-speaking sessions.

Clarity Healing Space
Book your session here!

Embracing narratives and tools from ancient wisdom traditions and latest scientific insights, our stages are designed to inspire contemplation, self-inquiry, togetherness, exchange and transformation.

Mind

Our inner worlds hold many secrets and great power. What happens when we become aware of these - and learn tools and methods to change and shape the fabric of our perception and wellbeing? We meditate, dive into the mystery of consciousness, discuss and explore philosophies of selfhood, identity and mental health. By training our minds we cultivate an accepting, kind, and compassionate relationship towards ourself and others.

Heart

Our heart - center of love, compassion and forgiveness - holds deep and profound truths. What will unfold when we dare to open it, listen to its whispering melodies, tap into its power - and express its geatest desires? With heart-opening breath work-sessions, practices of authentic relating, compassion and kindness, we aim to support the cultivation of an ethic of love through which we can walk through life and act more benevolently and generously.

Body

We are marvelous sentient beings! How can we truly find a home in ourselves? How do we build trust in our emotions and in the wisdom and resilience we intuitively hold as breathing moving bodies? Grounding our experiences in movement and body awareness, we embrace a philosophy of embodied learning.

Play

To play is an essential form of our true nature. Play worships the present moment, it allows a space to try, fail and learn without judgment. Unleash your imagination to envision the new worlds of tomorrow!The Play stage is also our big main stage: During the days, laughter, curiosity, and joy reign supreme while at night we celebrate the liberation of the human spirit with big ceremonies and blissful DJ-Sets.

World

This earth is more than our environment. When experiencing ourselves as one with nature and this universe, how do we look on global challenges and processes of destruction and transformation? How can we become guardians and caretakers of a flourishing planet? We reflect on our role in creating new visions and values to build new tomorrows in deep and meaningful relation with everything around us.

More than a Location


Where are we, actually? Building a relationship to the grounds that we celebrate, learn and grow on is an important part of our philosophy. The vibrant home and partner project to our festival retreat is called “Wir bauen Zukunft” - "We build future".

Here, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, our friends of "WbZ" are building a space that tests and exemplifies change - not only sowing the seeds for a sustainable future, but also laying the foundation for a life full of meaning and joy.

Expect lush idyllic nature with wide open green fields, majestic trees, lots of magical hidden spots and an enchanted forest to be explored. In a flourishing environment and absolute tranquility underneath the sparkling starry skies, we can experience ourselves as beings that belong on this planet.

More Info on "Wir bauen Zukunft"

FAQ

Location and accomodation

How do I get to the Festival Retreat?

The nearest train station is Schwanheide. It takes less than two hours by EC/ICE from Berlin (prices from 30 euros), and from Hamburg it just takes 40 minutes (prices from 17 euros or free with a Deutschlandticket). From Schwanheide, you can either use our shuttle bus for a small fee or take bike ride (see Elbe cycle path: www.elberadweg.com/reiseideen/hamburg-berlin ).

Our shuttle bus will take you directly from the station to the festival on Thursday and from there back to the station on Sunday. Please buy a ticket for the shuttle bus in our ticket shop.

Shuttle Bus Time Table

Thursday, June 11th - Shuttles from Schwanheide to WBZ:

12:25, 14:25, 16:25, 18:25, 20:25

Sunday, June 14th - Shuttles from WBZ to Schwanheide:

11:00, 13:00, 17:00, 19:00


If you arrive by train on Friday or Saturday, you can book an on-demand bus (Rufbus) via this website: https://www.vlp-lup.de/rufbus/rufbus-bestellen/

You must order it at least 2 days in advance. The on-demand bus costs around 4€ and also runs from Schwanheide to WBZ.


If you want to order a cab as a last option, you can contact this number via WhatsApp: 0151 51051009. The ride costs about 40-60€.

If you want to come by car, we all know it: Sharing is caring. Please try to coordinate and take other festival visitors with you!! (Rumor has it that one or the other has already found love on the way to Pura Vida...) If you are looking for a ride or have a ride to offer, you can use our Carpooling table (link in your guest email!). Remember to buy the appropriate parking ticket for your Car or Campervan.

By the way: If you come by car, you can leave your luggage directly at the festival site and then park a little further away. The subsequent walk back to the site takes about 15 minutes.

Where will I sleep?

The easiest way to stay overnight on the premises is if you bring your own tent. There is a designated camping area where you can setup your tent. (It actually is a beautiful field close to the forest nearby :)) We recommend to pick your spot early if you have a preference.

And please note: The ground can be uneven. We recommend to bring a good ground tarp under your tent — it protects against moisture if it rains.

Also good to know: There are no individual power outlets at campsites. Communal charging stations with power strips are available - bring a power bank for convenience.

I saw that there will be Glamping Tents?

Yes! If you prefer a little more comfort, then you might find our glamping tents to be the perfect blend of luxury and nature.

Our glamping tents are meticulously designed to provide a harmonious retreat, where you can immerse yourself in the beauty of the outdoors without compromising on modern comforts. These thoughtfully crafted shelters not only offer a comfortable escape but also contribute to the regenerative culture we aim to foster.

Visit our Ticketing page to book your Glamping Tent.

Facilities and catering

Are there Showers and Toilets?

Yes, no worries! There will be a mix of composting/dry toilets and regular flush toilets as well as beautiful outdoor showers (cold/solar-heated) available. Please don't expect hot water on demand and have a lovely refreshing shower experience watching the sky and the trees.

Please note that we are guests in a fragile protected ecosystem - and we wish to treat it with love and respect. Please make sure to only use organic toiletries and please refrain from peeing in the wild, as nature would not like that.

Do I have to bring food and drinks?

We recommend to plan wisely how you will feed yourself. There will be space to prepare your own meals.

There will also be a food truck on-site, serving all day. Menu includes porridge, various bowls, fries, and soup and prices range from €5–€13 per dish. The food truck accepts card or mobile payment. Still, one food truck for the whole festival means limited variety. We recommend bringing your own camping cooker and food to supplement - especially if you have dietary needs.

Please also bring your own cup to reduce waste from single-use cups. Drinking water taps are available on the grounds. Bring a reusable bottle.

Drinking water is available at various locations on the premises. You can also buy cacao, coffee, tea and many other non-alcoholic treats at our bar.

Please do not use your camping cooker beyond the self-cooking stations. Open fire is strictly forbidden everywhere else. Please also be mindful in case you see or smell smoke and help us to avoid fires in any case!! There will be fire extinguishers on multiple points.

Is this event really free of Alcohol & Co?

Yes! We made a conscious decision to create an alternative to the classical music festivals to show that you don’t need substances to have fun.

The experiences we make consciously with each other are not only more sustainable for interpersonal relationships, but also for personal health and nature. Therefore, there will be no alcohol to buy at the festival and we would like to ask you to simply leave alcohol and other substances (including "plant medicine") at home.

Program

When does the Festival Retreat start and end? Can I come inbetween?

We will open the doors on Thursday, June 11th, at 12. The first workshops will take place at 2.30 pm before the joint opening ceremony begins at 4.30 pm.

The Festival Retreat ends on Sunday, June 15th, at 5 pm.

It is a whole carefully curated journey! We really recommend taking the whole trip and, if possible, taking a day off on Monday. You can also stay one more night on the site until Monday.

What is the language of the Workshops?

We wish to be inclusive to Only-German-Speakers as well as to Internationals visiting us. That is why our festival is bilingual and will be held in German and English.

The languages are indicated in the timetable. We tried to have it 50/50, so there are a lot of options available for both speakers.

We will have the timetable available on our website soon. Still, there may be some minor changes before the festival - please check the schedule again on site!

How can I attend the Sweat Lodge Ceremony?

For details on the sweat lodge in general, please have a look at the workshop program.
Please register at least 24 hours before the event! The space is limited to 15 participants.
To be prepared, please bring:
- two old towels
- a large filled water bottle
- optional fruit or nuts
- objects for the altar

You may enter naked or wear light cotton or linen clothing. Feel free to bring a rattle if you have one. We recommend entering the hut with an empty stomach, so please have no breakfast or only a very light one.
Due to the intensity of the ritual (heat and darkness), it is intended for people who feel physically, mentally, and emotionally stable.

Book your ticket via the ticket page!

Caring for the lands

This is a protected ecosystem, isn't it?

Yes! We are guests in a very fragile natural ecosystem that we want to treat with respect and care. Please help us to build a loving relationship with our new home and be very mindful with the following:

Every product you bring must be 100% biodegradable. This includes organic soap, shampoo, sunscreen, mosquito spray, dish soap - everything. If you are not sure if your products qualify: Our on-site shop sells biodegradable sunscreen and mosquito spray. Please also do not bring any glass bottles or other glass objects that you do not want to take home with you.

We also want to avoid as much waste as possible. Please help us by bringing only the essentials and avoiding plastic and disposable packaging in particular. Especially plastic glitter and similar products that can introduce microplastics into the environment should be left at home!

On the grounds, we have set up three waste stations. Please separate your waste and dispose of it at the appropriate stations. If you want to smoke, please bring a pocket ashtray to properly dispose of cigarette butts.

And please always use the designated toilets and urinals and please refrain from peeing in the wild. Nature says thanks!

Are there animals as well?

Indeed.. The fireflies dance with us! Please do not irritate the beetles in their lovemaking with bright artificial light at night, but move carefully and respectfully. The same applies to the forest and the creatures that live there.

Also, there will be mosquitoes and ticks! The grounds are near a forest and lakes in a natural area. Please do everything to protect yourself. Bring biodegradable mosquito spray, and check regularly for ticks, as they can infect you with Lyme disease. Please inform yourself of the risks, and bring a tweezer. Long sleeves and pants, especially for the evenings, help too.

If you forgot your protection, our on-site shop sells biodegradable mosquito spray and sunscreen. We also have doctors onsite who can help you remove ticks.

Let us kiss the ground with our feet and be aware with every step that we are affecting a sensitive ecosystem of plants and animals.

There is also a lake on the pictures - Can I swim there?

We have a natural swimming pool onsite - still, it's a very delicate ecosystem and sacred home to non-human beings.

If you wish to swim, please only do so after properly showering off any deodorants or sunscreen. Please be aware that we might need to close the pool in case of harmful or potential overuse.

Get involved

Can I join as a volunteer?

Yes, absolutely, we’d love you to! You can join volunteering during the main festival days (11th - 14th of June) for a reduced price or join for our Creators Week (6th - 17th June).

Festival Volunteer (11th - 14th of June): The volunteering ticket is a good balance between being able to participate in most activities and supporting the festival with around 2 shifts of 6 hours. To participate as a volunteer simply buy a volunteer ticket and after the festival we reimburse you half the price. For each shift you work you also receive 1 food voucher. Camping is in your own tent like for all guests.

If you wanna know more about the experience, read our Blog article!

Creators Week Volunteer (6th - 11th and 15th - 17th of June) (registration closed): Co-create the festival's magic and spending 1 full week with us in nature on the beautiful lands of “Wir Bauen Zukunft”! You will be working mainly to build-up the festival from Monday until Thursday and take it all down again from Monday to Tuesday. In return you get a free festival ticket and free food on each day that you work. You will sleep in your own tent. You will receive all necessary information after you filled-in the google form.

Both volunteering during the main festival days as well as in Creators Week are great ways to be part of the festival. You'll have a look behind the scenes, connect with the whole team on a different level and be right in the middle of the action. Being a volunteer at Pura Vida Festival Retreat means you're a big part of making it all happen. Come join us and have an amazing time!

Good to know

What should I bring?

Well, first and foremost: an open heart and a curious mind!

Apart from that: If you are camping, think of the necessary equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, flashlight, etc. Otherwise, please think of comfortable and warm clothing, as even in June, night outdoors can get chillier than you think. For some workshops you might like to have Yoga or sports clothes, and maybe even a Yoga mat, if you wish.

Don’t forget (organic!) mosquito / tick repellent and sun protection.

A reusable water bottle is also recommended, even though there will be drinks to buy on site.

If you’d like, please bring your own music instrument as well as your favorite celebration outfit for our Saturday Evening Celebration :)

And as we do not want you to forget anything: Here you can find our Check List to help you pack!

It is your first time festival? The following things might be worth to know:

  • Toilet paper / tissues. Outdoor toilets may run out. Bring your own supply.
  • Hand sanitizer (biodegradable).
  • Flip-flops or shower shoes. You might not want to shower barefoot.
  • Plastic bags / zip-lock bags. For wet clothes, dirty laundry, or keeping your phone dry in the rain.
  • A small first aid kit. Plasters, painkillers, blister patches, antihistamines.
  • Medications you take regularly. There is no pharmacy nearby.
  • Something to sit on. The ground is often wet or cold. A blanket, or sit pad makes a big difference.
  • Cash. The food truck takes card, but market space vendors may prefer cash.
  • Know your tent before you arrive. Practice setting it up at home. Doing it for the first time in the dark is no fun.
  • Label your stuff. Tents, coolers, and water bottles all look the same at a festival.

What should I not bring with me?

Please do not bring any pets onto the site, weapons of any kind, drugs (also alcohol!), glitter, generators or loud devices, open fire equipment and fireworks. Igniting open flames is prohibited on the entire site as there is a risk of fire.

Please also bring only organic 100% biogradable toiletries: Natural soaps, sprays, deodorants, make-up, shampoos etc. (We do not ask this for fun but because the bacteria of the sewage system onsite is super delicate and we do not want it to die!) 

Please also note that we ask you to leave any professional camera equipment, especially drones, at home. There will be photographers onsite.

How loud will it be? Will I be able to sleep?

Pura Vida is both a festival and a retreat. Balancing those two worlds is something we think about a lot. We want to create space for joy, music, dancing and aliveness, while also caring for rest, nervous system regulation and the wellbeing of everyone on site.

That means: yes, there will be music, vibrant communal spaces and celebration. And we also try to create quieter moments and areas where people can slow down, reconnect and recharge.

We use a professional sound system. If you plan to spend time close to the speakers, we strongly recommend bringing hearing protection (reusable concert earplugs work great).

Music will play until around 2:00 a.m. After that things become noticeably quieter, though people may still be softly socializing around the grounds. If you are a light sleeper, we recommend bringing earplugs for sleeping to help you rest well. 💛

Will there be Photos or Videos taken?

Yes - thoughtfully.

One of the beautiful things about Pura Vida is that people often become deeply present here and spend less time on their phones. At the same time, we know how meaningful it can be to have memories of the experience afterward and to share glimpses of the atmosphere with future participants.

That’s why we have a small team of professional photographers on site documenting selected moments of the festival retreat.

Because Pura Vida also includes emotional and vulnerable spaces, we approach photography with a lot of care and sensitivity. Our photographers are briefed to move mindfully through the space, stay aware of consent and avoid capturing moments that feel too personal or inappropriate to document. We also check in with the facilitators to exactly know which workshop spaces might be inappropriate to capture.

By participating in the festival retreat, you agree that photos and videos may be used for Pura Vida communication channels such as our website and social media.

That said: your comfort matters deeply to us. If you do not want to be photographed in a certain moment, simply let the photographer know directly. We will share a festival photo album with all of you afterwards.

And if you later discover an image of yourself online that does not feel good or appropriate to you, just reach out to us and we will remove it. Before pictures are published anywhere, we will first share a festival photo album with all participants exclusively anyways - as a little gift to the community and to give you the opportunity to contact us before anything in there goes public.

To help preserve a more intentional atmosphere, we also ask all of you to leave professional camera equipment (including drones) at home and be mindful with your phones onsite!

How do you maintain a safer space?

We invite you to come with an open heart and an open mind, to take ownership and see yourself as an active co-creator to make Pura Vida a beautiful experience for all.

You can find our full awareness guidelines on site and our culture of care at the Infopoint or here:

Awareness Guidelines (English)

Please check it out!

Please also note: Pura Vida has a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination, racism, illegal activities, violence or deliberate harm to others. Any behavior or action that violates our principles will be punished with appropriate consequences - including expulsion from the festival and possible legal action.

If you need emotional support during the festival, come to the Empathy & Awareness Space, where a trained team will be available at all times.

I have a severe disability. Can I bring my accompanying person for free?

Yes, the accompanying person of someone with a disability card marked with a “B” (Schwerbehindertenausweis mit Merkzeichen "B" ) has free admission to the festival and does not need to purchase a ticket. Simply show the card at the entrance.

Also, if you need more specific information about the grounds to decide if you wanna come, please contact us via mail at info@puravida-festival.com !

What if the festival retreat can’t take place?

If the festival cannot take place for any reason, e.g. Covid-19 restrictions or the like, then you have the choice whether you want to have your ticket rewritten for the next festival or whether you want to like to have the ticket refunded, or would like to donate the ticket amount to the Pura Vida Initiative. In the event of a refund, we will refund 80% of the ticket price and 100% of the accommodation upgrade options. The 20% help us to finance costs already incurred in the event before the cancelation. Otherwise the tickets are non-refundable, but you always have the opportunity to transfer your ticket to another person.

Mental and Physical Emergencies

What if somebody gets injured?

We have paramedics and an emergency doctor on site.

Please inform a team member and they will call them via Walkie-Talkie.

Otherwise you will always find help and medical materials in our back office next to the world stage.

What if I feel overwhelmed during my experience?

There might be times at the festival when you experience intense or challenging emotions. We are here for you. Find somebody with a Walkie-Talkie or come to the Empathy tent.

Our tent is the safe space to ground and relax your nervous system by reconnecting with yourself as well as with others. Our team has different specialties in embodiment, breathing and meditation practices as well as guidance through emotions and trauma. They support you whenever you need it!

The space is free for anyone to come anytime, to take a breath, cuddle, rest or to be held and seen.

Also, always keep in mind: We are all co-creators of everyone's exerience. Please engage with consent, respect boundaries - and communicate your own clearly.

Let's care for a harmonious space where everyone feel safe, supported, valued and heard. Please have a look at our Awareness Guidelines:

Awareness Guidelines (English)