Envision 2014 (Feb 20-23 - Uvita, Costa Rica) Preview

Published: January 3, 2014

By: Ellie Salrin

With the outbreak of arctic weather hitting most of the country right now, I’m sure a lot of you, like us, are dreaming of warm sunshine, ocean waves crashing on the beach, and tropical vibes. We wouldn’t be mad if some Tipper, Papadosio, The Polish Ambassador, Random Rab, and other premium psychedelic and bass artists were thrown into the mix as well!

Fear not, because a truly unique event awaits February 20-23 that is transformational festival meets exotic excursion. Envision, taking place in the breathtaking landscape of southern Costa Rica, looks to forge together community, music, art, yoga, performance, and learning into a perfect destination festival to cure your winter blues and propel you forward into this shiny new year.

The lineup contains a colorful array of artists ranging from funky, glitch, shamanic, sacred bass, and beyond. Think Rootz Underground, The Fungineers, Whitebear, Phutureprimitive, Kaminanda, The Human Experience, along with aforementioned Tipper (2 performances including a downtempo sunrise set), The Polish Ambassador, Papadosio, and Random Rab.

Tickets
Early Bird 4-day passes are available until January 15 for $235. The regular 4-day passes are $265. Add-ons include early arrival (Wednesday only) passes for $70, and VIP parking and car camping passes for $60. Feel like an upgrade? The Solo Bueno VIP package includes a 4-day pass, VIP paradise backstage lounge, airport and local shuttle passes, VIP parking and camping, meal plan with drink tickets along with additional swag, and is available until January 15 for $599 and will go up to $650. Click here for additional ticketing info.

Experience
In addition to world-class musical acts, there will also be an array of speakers and yogis giving workshops, classes, and demonstrations throughout the weekend. Dabble in dance with Quixotic, learn tantric yoga, or visit the healing sanctuary.

There is no shortage of things to enrich the senses and open the mind here in this little slice of paradise. Mind-blowing performance artists of many styles will create whimsical circuses for your viewing pleasure, along with art installations and live painters. As an added bonus, The Untz will be on-site holding panels and meet & greets throughout the weekend!

Adventure Time - There a variety of island activities like canyoning, jet skiing, kayaking, zip lining, rafting, ATVs, and more, along with guided pre- and post-festival expeditions.

Venue
Moved just a short distance away from last year’s location, the venue includes a campground, village, and workshop zones, all well shaded by tropical trees. It is just a few minutes’ walk from the beach and there is plenty of jungle in the surrounding area if you’re in the exploring mood. A beautiful waterfall is accessible via foot, horseback, or shuttle.

Community-made goods will be available including clothes, jewelry, hoops, and more. Organic and locally-sourced food will be available for purchase as well. The campgrounds are where you’ll rest your head (or not). Bring your own supplies, or rent a tent to lighten your load. The rentals include a foam mattress and pillow. A single is $75 and a double is $95.

Sustainability/Environmental Awareness
Eco-education is a focus of many of the workshops hosted at Envision, but it also ingrained in the culture. Having leveraged the educational opportunities and the festival community itself, Envision’s organizers are thought leaders of festival greening. Costa Rica, a world leader in eco-local awareness, serves as the perfect backdrop for such initiatives. 5% of all tickets sales will go to Community Carbon Trees, who focus on sustainability and the reduction of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.

Additional Tips

You need a passport to travel to Costa Rica. These currently take 4-6 weeks to process (or 2-3 weeks for expedited), so if this fest is a consideration, go ahead and apply.
Local transportation must be arranged from the airport (San Jose). The venue is located in the town of Utiva, which can be accessed from San Jose by the Costanera highway that stretches from Puntarenas to Panama, a scenic trip along the coast.
- You can take an Envision Shuttle (recommended), taxi, or rental car.
Almost everywhere you go accepts US dollars. Don’t feel pressured to convert your money in the airport, as these locations have high exchange rates. Instead wait for the opportunity to go to a bank or just keep and use USD.
There will be no ATMs on site so be sure to bring enough money to sustain you for the weekend.

This is one for the ages, folks. The Untz gives Envision a big, fat stamp of approval. Whether it’s a Valentine's trip with your lady or a tropical vaca with your buds, envision yourself as a sponge soaking up the life, energy, and rejuvenation you will find in this magical corner of the world.