Where is the retreat?

We fly into Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico (HUX) and then it's an hour drive to San Agustinillo, where we'll be staying. It’s a tiny, sleepy town with essentially one little street with beautiful restaurants (amazing food), a couple of lovely shops, a pharmacy, a long beach, and a little school as Mexican families live there.

San Agustinillo is right in between two other little towns. From Zazil Retreat there's about a 10-minute walk to Mazunte, a young, hippy town that’s really vibrant and lively. It’s about a 10-minute taxi or bus ride to another still tiny but slightly bigger town, Zipolite where you will find the older hippies haha.

What food is included?

Tita, the resort manager and chef, is a French trained chef born in Oaxaca city. Included with your retreat are 2 dinners, 3 lunches, and 5 breakfasts. We’re not doing all the meals because there's such great food in the little towns and folks can explore different restaurants.

What airport should I fly to for the retreat?

Huatulco (HUX).

What airlines fly to Huatulco? And I don’t want to layover in the US.

WestJet and Air Canada usually offer direct flights from Vancouver, but there are other options with layovers (in Canada) should you chose.  You will not need to travel through the states.

Aeromexico is a good airline and offers a layover in Mexico City. You may want to stay in Mexico City for a few nights if you have the time – it is an amazing city.

Flights are expensive right now because we’re so far out. Prices are usually better about 12-8 weeks before departure, and more flights may open up closer to the date. Anna is monitoring flights and will let Tanya know if prices drop sooner.

Can I book extra nights at Zazil so I don’t have to move accommodations?

Yes, you can book extra nights at the same place. I recommend booking early to ensure availability, but it should be possible, especially since we end midweek. We chose 5 days for the retreat because it's nice to have a day on either end. If anybody wants accommodation recommendations outside of Zazil, let Tanya know, and she’s happy to recommend.

Will transportation from the airport to the retreat be arranged?

Yes, it is not included in the retreat fee, but we are happy to group people for shuttles, or arrange a trusted driver for you. It’s about $60-$100CAD for a taxi for two from the airport.

What time does the retreat start on February 6th?

We start with a welcome dinner on the 6th, followed by a restorative practice. Most flights arrive mid-afternoon, so it’s doable even if you fly in on the same day.

Accessibility

The retreat is at the top of a steep, paved hill about 300 meters long which provides us with beautiful views and a quiet setting. This hill connects the retreat with the town and the beach. Walking up takes less than 5 minutes, but taxis are available for about 20 pesos if you prefer not to walk. The site is not suitable for those with serious mobility issues.

Capacity and rooms

The retreat can accommodate up to 16 participants (not including Tanya and Anna) with shared and private options. There are two large rooms that can accommodate 4 people each, great for friends or mother/daughter getaway. All of the rooms, except for one, have ocean views with beautiful terraces, and the other has a jungle view.

Off-site accommodation is also possible if you want a lower-budget option, though you’d need to travel up the hill each day.

Can I bring my partner/friend who isn’t participating?

That's totally fine, we would have special pricing for that. They could opt in to just the meals, for example. But I bet once they see how great you feel, they will want to play too!

I’m apprehensive about travelling alone.

As for travelling alone to Mexico, the retreat location is very welcoming, and many travelers end up loving it and even extending their stay. I feel very safe there. I lived there for 5 weeks, and I walked the beach and through the town at night alone, feeling completely safe the entire time. The people are wonderful.

We can help connect solo travelers so you don’t have to travel alone if you don’t want to – there are often folks heading to retreat on the same flight.

We were thinking of staying a little longer. Can you provide an email with some recommendation?

Yes! Just ask.

If we want to stay before or after, which town would you recommend, Mazunte or Zipolite?

I'd stay in San Agustinillo, it's my favorite and it’s quiet. Mazunte is busier and noisy at night with younger people but you can get cute places for cheap, maybe $50 a night. Zipolite is nice, they have a really big beach and interesting people.

My very favorite place to stay is Cerro Largo Rancho, and the only reason I'm not hosting a retreat there is because it's an eco resort so they have composting toilets, and you get a rain barrel and a half a coconut for your shower (not everyone is adventurous like that). But that's where I would recommend. We will visit there for the Temazcal.

What is a Temazcal?

A temazcal is an indigenous Mexican sweat ceremony held in a pre-built adobe structure, guided by a local. There are no psycho-active substances involved—just some herbal tea. It's a meaningful way to sweat, connect with local culture, and honour the land and its traditions. We will have a private Temazcal for anyone in our group who chooses to participate.

Do I need Mexican money?

Yes, bring Mexican pesos with you. Most of the restaurants take credit cards and some stores have ATM machines, but sometimes they run out of money. Some of the hotels want to be paid in cash, taxis you’ll want to pay in cash. American money is no good there, nobody wants that. It's pesos or a credit card.

Is it common to get sick from the food in Mexico?

If you eat at reputable restaurants and drink bottled water, you should be fine. I eat salads and fresh juice daily and haven’t had any issues, except once after eating sushi. The water system is much better now, and the resort brings in clean water. There’s also a pharmacy right in town, if needed.

Do I need to speak Spanish?

Knowing a little bit of Spanish is recommended and super helpful. Anna will prep and share a little cheat sheet of some key phrases like how to get a taxi and a few yummy dishes to order. I’ve been a consistent Duolingo user for many years and I finally feel like I can get around pretty well. There is a language school in Mazunte if you want to really dive in! Usually there is someone around in a restaurant that can help you get your point across. Smiling and pointing go a long way!

Daylight

Mexico is so close to the equator. It's basically a 6:45AM sunrise and about a 6:30PM sunset, so we get almost 12 hours of daylight.

When should I register?

We are getting close to capacity, so I would jump in sooner rather than later!

There is something for everyone.

When I'm on a Yoga retreat. I just want quiet, soft. I want to walk. I want to swim, and that's it. Other people want to do other things, and I can point you to those -- whale watching, fishing, a turtle museum, and a lagoon with crocodiles, among other ways to explore.

Please reach out if you have any questions at all: connect@tanyaharmon.ca. Thank you and hope you see you there!