Day 1
Morning Activities: A Rejuvenating Start to the Day
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 AM
Each morning at BLISS begins with activities designed to rejuvenate the mind, body, and spirit while fostering connections with nature and fellow attendees.
Activities and Locations
Surfing: Catch some waves! (Please note, if you are a beginner the availability of this activity will be subject to tides/conditions).
Yoga: Find your flow with a revitalizing yoga session.
Mountain Biking: Explore the breathtaking trails around Nosara on two wheels. (Please note, there will be a guide for more beginner bikers and one for intermediate/advanced)
Beach Walks/Runs: Start your day with a refreshing walk or run along the beautiful Playa Guiones.
Cold Plunges: Invigorate your senses with a cold plunge.
What to Wear: Come ready to move in comfortable athletic wear.
Monday Morning Talks: Setting the Global Context of Freedom
Time: 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Gilded Iguana Surf Club
Dress Code: Light, breathable casual wear.
Dive into a morning of transformative talks and thought-provoking dialogues that illuminate the challenges and opportunities in advancing freedom and democracy. Together, we’ll tackle the pivotal question: “What does it mean to make freedom investible?”
This session sets the global context, providing a clear-eyed view of where we stand and exploring the groundbreaking idea of investing in freedom. Though still in its infancy, this concept holds immense potential to drive lasting, meaningful change in the fight for freedom worldwide.
Noemi Boyer-Salas: Welcome to BLISS and Our Mission.
Álvaro Salas Castro: What Do We Mean by Making Freedom Investible?
Leopoldo López: A Personal Perspective on Fighting Autocrats.
Damon Wilson: A Global Endowment for Freedom.
Alberto Trejos: The Context of Costa Rica as the Final Frontier.
Panel - Stories from the Front Line of Freedom: Moderated by Nia Demming, featuring Jhanisse Vaca Daza, Nataliya Melnik, Paul Rusesabagina, & Tanele Maseko.
Panel - Global Security & Freedom Conversation: Moderated by Anmol Singh, featuring Daniel Twining, General H.R. McMaster, Max Reynolds, & Mary Beth Long.
President Iván Duque: The Case of Colombia.
Esther Perel & Noemi Boyer-Salas: The Human Ties That Bind-Exploring Relationships, Trust, and Freedom.
Monday Afternoon Workshop: Speed Dating For Freedom
Time: 2:00 – 4:15 PM
Location: Astra Hotel
Logistics: Buses will take guests from The Gilded Iguana to Astra, where lunch will be provided
Dress Code: Light, breathable casual wear.
Speed Dating for Freedom is an action-oriented workshop designed to mobilize resources, foster collaboration, and catalyze commitment within the pro-freedom movement. This session is where inspiration meets action—join us to make a tangible difference.
Monday Evening: Freedom & Peace Dinner - Celebrating Courage
Time: 6:30 - 10:00 PM
Location: Gardens of The Gilded Iguana
Dress Code: All white attire
Celebrate the Freedom Movement under the stars
BLISS Impact Report Video
Laura Chinchilla Prize for Civic Participation and Freedom: Honoring female freedom fighters.
Special Conversation: Featuring Céline Assaf Boustani and Yulia Navalnaya on Activism Rooted in Love.
This elegant evening seamlessly blends celebration and reflection, inspiring attendees to recommit to the cause of freedom and democracy.