Each year in Uvita, something remarkable unfolds in the jungle-meets-ocean landscape of Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast. Envision Festival has grown into an internationally recognized gathering that merges music, movement, art, spirituality, sustainability, and community into a multi-day immersive experience.
To Date: Setting the Tone
The week began, as it always should, at the Sacred Fire, where Indigenous leaders opened the festival with ceremony and intention. If you missed the opening, the closing ceremony offers another opportunity to gather, reflect, and root yourself in the deeper meaning behind the celebration.
As attendees arrived from across Costa Rica and around the globe, fresh energy poured onto the grounds. Monday night’s stages came alive—along with a proper jungle downpour. A reminder: this is a tropical rainforest climate. Boots are not optional. By Tuesday, the site had dried, the sun returned in full force, and the rhythm of reunion took over. Hugs lingered. Movement resumed. Old friends reconnected as if no time had passed.
So What’s the Big Deal?
Yes, there is yoga. Yes, there is world-class electronic and live music. Yes, there is large-scale stage architecture and visionary art.
But Envision is fundamentally about community and collective intention.
This year’s attendance is capped at approximately 5,500 participants, maintaining an intimate atmosphere while retaining global recognition. International media outlets such as VICE Media have previously covered the festival, highlighting its unique intersection of conscious culture and music. (Key to Happiness)
It is also deeply intergenerational. The Village, a dedicated family zone, provides workshops, creative play, and educational programming for children and parents alike. This is not a side note—it is central to the ethos. Envision is not an escape from life; it is a reimagining of how life can be lived together.
Local presence remains strong. Familiar faces return year after year—from long-standing community members to beloved personalities (and yes, everyone seems to know Maggi). The Elder tribe of Uvita continues to show up with wisdom and grounding energy. This year’s iconic community photo will take place once more at the beach on Thursday at sunset, uniting jungle and ocean in one frame.
What to Look Forward To
Music
This year brings heavyweight, newcomers and cherished returnees:
- Polo & Pan – The French duo known for lush, melodic electronic soundscapes layered with global influences. Their arrival signals a major moment for the lineup.
- CloZee – A returning favorite whose organic bass textures consistently resonate with Envision’s audience.
- Emancipator – Set to deliver one of the festival’s most anticipated sunrise sets.
- Dev Singh – A globally touring artist whose platform continues to expand across conscious music circles.
- Ancient Future Collective – Known for weaving ancestral rhythms with modern production, bringing ceremonial intensity to the dance floor, a new space that has been added.
Are but a few of the big names. This year feels like the schedule is packed with goodies for everyone.
Local talent remains essential to the pulse of the festival. Artists like Bunny, Santos, and Bosque Sound ensure Costa Rica’s own soundscape is well represented.
The Stages: Living Architecture
One of Envision’s defining features is its stage design—temporary structures built from natural and sustainable materials, crafted largely by local artisans.
- Village Stage – Imagined by Drew Laplante and realized with a dedicated local build team, this year’s iteration showcases heart-centered craftsmanship. The detailing is extraordinary; these aren’t just stages, they are immersive environments.
- Lapa Stage – A local favorite. “Vamos a patear!” The energy here is consistently electric. Nati Giacomini and her team have gone above and beyond this year. And the speakers are stacked.
- Sol Stage, now reimagined as the Bamboo Stage – Leaning further into organic materiality, emphasizing bamboo construction and natural aesthetics.
- Luna Stage – Anticipated in full illuminated glory, transforming after dark into a kinetic sculpture of light and sound.
- El Nido – A new favorite gathering space, intimate and tucked into the jungle canopy.
- Rend Tent – A dedicated space for women to gather, workshop, and connect in a supportive container.
The site itself has expanded, and themed camps and installations add another layer of immersive storytelling throughout the grounds.
The Art: Expansion Through Image
For many, music is the gateway. For others, it’s the art.
Envision’s gallery spaces and monumental installations consistently elevate visionary artists. For me, this is where transformation happened. The very first year I went massive illuminated works by Alex Grey were displayed—pulsing with backlit color, appearing almost anatomically alive—I unknowingly became an art collector. The imagery didn’t just decorate space; it animated feeling. Which one will be this year’s favorite?
Art here is not accessory. It is dialogue. It is expression and it comes in all forms.
Food, Elixirs & Jungle Flavor
It would be negligent not to mention the culinary program. The vendors curate menus that align with sustainability values—organic sourcing where possible, plant-forward options, globally inspired cuisine.
Custom elixirs, adaptogenic drinks, fresh juices, and specialty offerings feel heightened in the humidity and salt air. There is something about eating in the jungle—taste seems amplified, as if the ocean breeze sharpens the palate.
Golden Hour Ritual
And then there is the ritual that unites nearly everyone: sunset at the beach.
Every evening, as the sun descends over the Pacific, people migrate toward the shoreline. Music drifts. Strangers dance. Friends embrace. The sky performs in oranges and pinks that feel almost theatrical. In Costa Rica, sunset is always sacred—but during Envision, it becomes collective ceremony.
Helpful Resources
The official festival app streamlines scheduling, sends push notifications, and helps attendees navigate workshops, performances, and installations efficiently. Given the density of programming, it’s super helpful!
Closing Thoughts
So—what’s the big deal?
It’s that lifelong friendships are formed here.
It’s that art shifts perception.
It’s that world-class production happens in our backyard in Uvita.
You may love it. You may question it. But you cannot deny its scope, its curation, or its ambition.
Envision has established itself as a global gathering grounded in Costa Rican soil. And whether you attend every year or only when timing allows, one thing remains clear:
Life is not meant to be dissected from the sidelines. It is meant to be lived — immersed, connected, and wide awake.
- Follow the story as it unfolds: www.facebook.com/EnvisionFestival
- See the highlights: www.instagram.com/envisionfestival/
- Get Your Tickets: www.envisionfestival.com
- Check out the Founder Josh Wendel’s thoughts about “Back to Our Roots“
- Check out the recap video from 2023
