Mexico HSP & Introvert Eco Arts Retreat

A off-grid gathering blending nature-based expressive arts and an unforgettable visit with the majestic gray whales of Baja Sur

February 23 – March 1, 2025

w/ Melissa Renzi and Gabriela Flores

Mexico HSP & Introvert Eco Arts Retreat

A off-grid gathering blending nature-based expressive arts and an unforgettable visit with the majestic gray whales of Baja Sur

 

February 23 – March 1, 2025

w/ Melissa Renzi
and Gabriela Flores

“The world is our body. If we want to act for its healing, we need to recognize our kinship with all life.” – Joanna Macy

Connect with kindred spirits, the natural world, and yourself on a nature-based expressive arts retreat in Mexico’s Baja Peninsula.

This intimate retreat takes place at a remote ecology center set amid a uniquely biodiverse habitat where desert meets sea. The center is off-grid, 100 percent solar-powered, and built upon principles of conservation and regeneration. It offers an invitation to unplug from a few modern amenities to connect more deeply with the land, sea, and life of the region.

Our carefully curated itinerary features some of the most knowledgeable and passionate guides, dedicated to ecological education and stewarding the local ecosystem.

Each day offers a mix of nature-based expressive arts, gentle yoga, and contemplative time to meditate atop the desert dunes.

We’ll also have a day trip to the majestic gray whales on the Pacific Coast, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness these gentle giants and their young in their natural habitat.

*Nature-based expressive arts, or “eco arts”, combines expressive arts and ecotherapy, which refers to practices that foster a healthier, reciprocal human-nature relationship. We’ll engage in creative play and expression, converse with nature allies, remember our place as part of nature, and explore ways to nurture nature.

At a Glance

Facilitators: Melissa Renzi and Gabriela Flores
For: Introverts & HSPs Who Care About Our Environment
Highlights: Eco Arts Program & Gray Whales Excursion
Venue: Rustic, off-grid, solar-powered ecological center
Rooms: Single occupancy eco casitas, shared compost toilets
Food: Vegetarian / pescatarian, can meet dietary needs
Activity Level: Mild (gentle hike/yoga)
Weather: Daytime 70s-80s °F, Nighttime 50s-60s °F
Group Size: 8-10 guests (likely 8-9)

Our retreats are LGBTQ+ Friendly & Affirming.

Sign up by November 25, 2024

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The Land & Space

Baja Sur is a unique destination for nature and wildlife lovers—where ancient desert meets incredible sea life. Nature encounters with whales and sea lions contrast with hiking and horseback riding through quiet deserts and canyons. Rich Mexican culture lives just north in La Paz away from the overdeveloped lands of Los Cabos.

La Duna Centro Ecológico is a remote, peaceful ecology center with a mission to “inspire the protection and restoration of the natural community through collaboration, scientific research, ecological practices, spirituality, and art.”

Amidst the quiet, undeveloped coastline of desert dunes, you can listen to nature’s whispers and gaze upon the star-laced night sky. The center is off-grid, 100 percent solar-powered, and built upon principles of sustainability.

La Duna is located 40 minutes from La Paz International Airport, less than 1 hour from downtown La Paz, and about 3 hours from Los Cabos International Airport.

Eco-Casitas: La Duna offers 8 simple desert eco-casitas with stone floors, stucco walls, and thatch roofs modeled after homes native to the region. Each casita can accommodate up to two people with either a queen or two slightly smaller than twin-sized beds. The casitas are small, so unless you’re signing up with a close friend, we recommend single occupancy. Each casita comes with solar-powered lamps and mosquito nets.

Bathroom Facilities: La Duna offers shared bathrooms with 3 dry compost toilets, 2 showers, and 2 sinks (all separated). Hot water for showers is available.

Solar Electricity: 100% of La Duna’s electricity comes from solar panels. The solar lamps in each casita are not connected to the system. There is electricity in the main areas (palapa, dining room, and bathrooms) to charge your phone. Cell service and WiFi are limited.

Weather: There’s no need for air conditioning. February is cool in La Paz with daytime temperatures in the 70s-80s °F and nighttime temps in the 50s-60s °F. It can also get chilly on the Pacific Coast where we’ll see the gray whales. Temperatures fluctuate. In our last trip, we often went from tank tops and swimsuits to warm jackets and hats. Pack layers!

This trip was an extraordinary opportunity to unplug and connect with nature all while in the presence of sensitive and kind people. I felt continuously awed in this beautiful setting and returned home rejuvenated, centered and grateful. Melissa is a master at what she does, combining her well-earned travel and facilitation experience with sensitivity and intuition to create a relaxed, yet invigorating experience!

Lia F.

Day 1

Arrive at La Duna: Guests will meet in La Paz by 2:00 p.m. A private group van will transport us to La Duna. We’ll arrive around 3:00 and have time to relax before our opening circle at 5:00. The circle will include introductions, intentions, and setting group agreements. We’ll then share our first meal together, and after dinner, Melissa will guide a restorative yoga and nidrā practice.

Day 2

Expressive Arts + Native Plant Walk: Rise at your own pace and ease into a self-guided morning practice of choice, perhaps a sunrise meditation atop the dunes or mindful beach walk. Breakfast will be at 8:00 and then we’ll gather for our first Expressive Arts session, focused on the Earth element. You’ll have time to relax after lunch. Later in the afternoon, we’ll take a short canyon hike nearby to learn about native plants with our guide, Citlali. Upon our return, you’ll have time to relax and shower. After dinner, Melissa will guide a restorative yoga and nidrā practice.

Day 3

Expressive Arts + Free Day: Each morning you’re invited to establish your own mindful morning practice. Following breakfast, we’ll have our second Expressive Arts (water element) session. After lunch, you’ll have free time to relax in a hammock or get a massage. In the late afternoon, we’ll have a gentle flow + restore yoga class, which will be followed by a group reflection circle. We’ll have dinner and then head to bed early to prepare for our gray whale outing the next morning.

Day 4

Gray Whale Watching (Full Day Trip): The awe one experiences seeing these gentle giants is incredible. It’s only in Mexico where you can see the gray whales with their calves up close. We’ll depart with Citlali at 6am with a packed breakfast in the van. After driving 2.5 hours to the Pacific Coast, we’ll get on a boat to see the whales and stop on a beach for a picnic lunch. Then, we’ll return to La Duna. We’ll get back late in the afternoon to have time for a shower before dinner.

Day 5

Expressive Arts + Bioluminescence: After breakfast, we return to Expressive Arts (fire). After lunch, you’ll have free time. Later, Melissa will guide a gentle yoga practice. We’ll have dinner early and then drive to nearby beach to see bioluminescence, which is the production and emission of light by living organisms. We’ll follow this time with a bonfire to warm up. Note: If conditions do not permit, we will offer an alternative activity.

Day 6

Expressive Arts + Free Time: This is our final full day. We’ll continue our rhythm with a sunrise self-guided practice, breakfast, and our last Expressive Arts (air) session. You’ll have the remainder of the day to get a massage or relax in a hammock. We’ll have yoga and our closing circle before dinner.

Day 7

Say Goodbye: We’ll awaken to our final morning moments at La Duna. It will be a leisurely morning and we will depart in our group van for La Paz at 11:00. If time permits, we may gather for a final gratitude and closing ritual after breakfast.

Meet Your Guides

Melissa Renzi (she/ella) is a Licensed Social Worker, Certified Yoga Teacher, Retreat Organizer, and Community Builder. She believes in the unique strengths of highly sensitive people and their potential to create a more just and equitable world. Melissa organizes global retreats and online community circles, providing spaces for sensitive people to embrace their sensitivity, connect with a supportive community, and harness their strengths for meaningful impact. Since 2016, she has led over 20 retreats in 7 countries, welcoming more than 250 participants. Melissa’s retreats are designed to help sensitive introverts experience the world without social pressures, offering spacious schedules and honoring diverse forms of participation.

Gabriela Flores (she/ella) is the Director of La Duna Centro Ecológico. Gabriela brings her experience as an environmental educator together with her Sharing Nature and Expressive Arts certifications, and her love for the healing arts, to offer deep nature and self-immersion experiences that help us refocus and rekindle our soul intentions. She works closely with local conservation non-profits, youth leadership groups, and wellness retreats to share sustainable practices that transform and reweave our lives into nature. In this retreat, Gabriela will guide us through an Expressive Arts & Eco Arts curriculum that gives us access to the hidden language that exists within our embodied engagement with the earth.

Citlali Aguilar (she/ella) is a naturalist guide who specializes in interpretation of cultural and environmental heritage of México. Citlali always enjoyed nature, but she became passionate about wildlife when she moved to the Baja Peninsula. With a particular interest in birds,plants, geology, and natural history, Citlali works with the Rancheros of Baja California Sur to support cultural and natural conservation of the key ecosystems of the peninsula. When she is not guiding she spends her time reading, visiting ranchos, cooking, and learning new skills. Citlali has 12 years of guiding experience in Baja and is certified by SECTUR. She holds a certification as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR), and a degree in ecotourism.

What’s Included

  • 6 nights accommodation at La Duna Centro Ecológico
  • All meals (3 delicious meals per day)
  • Full-day gray whale excursion (incl: transport, meals, boat, meals & guide)
  • 4 days of nature-based expressive arts program w/ Melissa & Gabriela
  • Native plant canyon hike w/ Citlali (naturalist guide)
  • Bioluminescence activity w/ Citlali (incl: transport, wetsuits, snacks & guide)
  • Gentle evening yoga w/ Melissa, most days
  • Facilitated reflection circles w/ Melissa, some days
  • Private round-trip transfer to/from La Paz
  • Meet & Greet (via Zoom)
  • WhatsApp group to connect w/ other participants
  • Unlimited filtered water, tea, and coffee

Not Included:

  • Airfare to/from La Paz or Los Cabos Airport
  • Ground transportation from airport
  • Travel insurance – strongly recommended
  • Gratuities (about $70-80 USD total for staff & guides)
  • Additional activities, massages, souvenirs, etc.

Accommodations

La Duna has 8 desert eco casitas, which circle the palapa. Each be offered as single occupancy with a queen bed. If joining with a friend, we can offer shared/double occupancy in single beds. Casitas do not have electricity, but come with solar-powered lamps and mosquito nets. Air conditioning is not needed; temperatures are very cool at night this time of year. Casitas share common bathroom facilities.

$2,450.00 p.p. – Single, shared bath

$2,150.00 p.p. – Double, shared bath

Your sensitivity is vital to the diverse web of life.
Connect with kindred spirits and find your place within nature’s embrace.
Your sensitivity is vital to the diverse web of life.
Connect with kindred spirits and find your place within nature’s embrace.

February 23 – March 1, 2025

See our Cancellation Policy and other FAQs in the tabs below.

Our guide, Melissa Renzi, was incredibly attentive and organized. This trip was meticulously designed for introverts and highly sensitive people, with adequate downtime, no pressure to participate in planned activities, and a sensitivity to noise, motion, and outside stimulation. Participants felt well taken care of and had a great, restorative time!

Tasha E.

This place is for those who want to get away from civilization to process emotions or for spiritual renewal. The food was amazing and sleeping quarters comfortable. The most important element is Melissa. She sets everyone at ease without fuss. She arranges supportive yoga sessions and encourages adventures out on your own. I never felt rushed or overwhelmed. I found new ways to connect to people. Lifelong friendships were forged and forever memories are engraved on my heart.

Denise L.

This trip was an extraordinary opportunity to unplug and connect with nature all while in the presence of sensitive and kind people. I felt continuously awed in this beautiful setting and returned home rejuvenated, centered and grateful. Melissa is a master at what she does, combining her well-earned travel and facilitation experience with sensitivity and intuition to create a relaxed and yet invigorating vacation experience!

Lia F.

Cancellation Policy

Read the terms of our Yoga International Retreat Agreement before reserving your spot.

Trip Cancelled by Participant

  • All deposits are non-refundable/non-transferable.
  • Remaining balance must be paid 90 days before trip start date.
If you decide to cancel your trip for any reason, the following fees apply at the time we receive written notice of your cancellation.
 
– All deposits are non-refundable/non-transferable.
 
– More than 90 days before retreat start date, receive a refund of your retreat payment, excluding your deposit.
 
– 60-89 days before retreat start date, 75 percent of any payment previously made may be applied to another retreat, excluding your deposit. You will forfeit 25 percent of the price of your retreat. Ex: If your retreat cost is $2500 with a $500 deposit, and you’ve paid in full, $1500 may be applied toward a future retreat.
 
– 31-59 days before retreat start date, 50 percent of your payment previously made may be applied to another retreat, excluding your deposit. You will forfeit 50 percent of the price of your retreat. Ex: If your retreat cost is $2500 with a $500 deposit, $1000 may be applied toward a future retreat.
 
– If you cancel 30 days or less before retreat start date, you will forfeit your entire payment. 

We are not responsible for any delays or cancellations due to lack of proper travel documents. We strongly recommend you purchase “Cancel for Any Reason” travel insurance to cover your expenses in the event you must cancel for any reason.

Trip Postponed by MNR Retreat, LLC.

We reserve the right to make reasonable changes to the itinerary or postpone the retreat where deemed advisable for the safety and well-being of participants. If it is necessary to postpone the retreat due to conditions that may be hazardous such as pandemics, weather, political, or any other reason we deem necessary, we reserve the right to postpone said retreat. In this case, 100 percent of all payments, less any payment processing fees and non-refundable, including but not limited to in-country airline, train, bus, entrance tickets, or permits purchased by us on your behalf for the previous booking, will be applied toward the same retreat on future dates.

We reserve the right to cancel any retreat prior to departure in the event that there are too few people booked in which case you will be given a full refund of your full payment, including your deposit. We strongly encourage and recommend that you purchase your flight after your retreat is confirmed, which will be no more than 90 days days prior to retreat start date.

You will not be entitled to claim any additional amounts or seek any compensation for any injury, loss, expenses or damage, either direct or consequential, or for any loss of time or inconvenience which may result from such cancellation, including but not limited to visa and passport fees and expenses, flights, flight cancellation and reservation fees, and vaccination costs). We strongly encourage and recommend that you purchase travel insurance within two (2) weeks of registering your trip.

Getting There + Away
You have two airport options:
 
La Paz International Airport (LAP) is located just outside the city of La Paz and is 40 minutes from La Duna.
Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) is at the southern tip of the peninsula and is 3 hours to La Duna.
 
Here’s a map for your reference.
 
Arrival: Due to La Duna’s remote location and lack of cell service, taxis may have difficulty finding the location. We’ll provide a group shuttle to La Duna, which will leave La Paz on the retreat start date at 2:00 p.m. The meeting point will be determined as the trip approaches.
 
Departure: On our last day, we’ll leave La Duna at 11:00 a.m. in a group van, arriving to La Paz by 12:00 p.m. If flying out of LAP, plan your return flight to depart after 3:00 p.m. If flying out of SJD, you can fly out that night after 6:00 p.m. or stay the night near airport and depart the next morning.
Passport & Visa
Mexico requires a current passport that will be valid for a minimum of six (6) months after your travel dates. For U.S travelers, Mexico does not require a special visa to enter.
Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance. We don’t recommend a specific company or policy, but we’ve partnered with InsureMyTrip (affiliate) as the best option to compare plans. They have a recommendation engine to help travelers find the right plan. They will also provide support before, during, and after your trip if you should need anything, including help with a claim.

We recommend “Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) coverage, which will cover your trip in the event you are unable or choose not to attend for any reason. CFAR insurance typically reimburses 50 or 75 percent of your trip cost if you need to cancel for reasons not otherwise covered and requires the following conditions:

  • Purchase the policy within 14-21 days of first trip payment.
  • Insure all prepaid and non-refundable travel expenses prior to departure.
  • Cancel more than 48-72 hours prior to your departure date.

Read the policy terms. If you miss the window for CFAR coverage, you can still buy other policies.

Weather

January through February is a dry, cooler season in and around La Paz. Daytime temperatures in Fahrenheit are typically in the 70s-80s and nighttime temps can drop down to 50s-60s. Thus, there is no need for air conditioning. Our gray whale excursion will be on the Pacific Coast where it can get windy and chilly on the water. Temperatures will fluctuate widely, so please pack layers!

Food & Alcohol

Food: All meals are included in your retreat package. La Duna provides an eclectic cuisine of Mexican and international flavors. Meals consist of plentiful fruits and veggies, and may also offer eggs, fish, and chicken upon request. Please inform us of your dietary needs so that we can plan accordingly.

Alcohol: La Duna does not serve alcohol, and for this retreat, we ask that guests refrain from bringing alcohol into the retreat center. This is not for any moral or health reason, but to be sensitive to those who may be in recovery and the way in which alcohol has potential to change the group dynamic.

Smoking & Other Drugs: Smoking and illegal drugs are not permitted on the property. If you smoke tobacco, please reach out to discuss.

Hotels in La Paz

Aquamarina and Casa Juarez are both quiet, small B&Bs with friendly owners and swimming pools. They’re right around the corner from each other.

Hotel Catedral is also a nice hotel with a rooftop pool and huge breakfast. If you book at Hotel Catedral, ask for a room in the back of the hotel away from the atrium, as the atrium can get noisy at night.

We will be providing some budget-friendly recommendations soon.