Baja Sur Mexico HSP & Introvert Eco-Retreat
An off-grid adventure of wildlife encounters, nature-based expressive arts, and true connection to the land and cultureJanuary 28 – February 4, 2022
“There is wisdom hidden in nature that you will only learn from a whale watching you with her big, peaceful eyes.” – Planeta Libre
Connect with the extraordinary nature, wildlife, and culture of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula on an eco-arts retreat specifically for highly sensitive people and introverts.
Learn nature-based expressive arts and ecological knowledge from the retreat’s director in a remote, bio-diverse habitat of desert and sea.
Immerse yourself in the heart of Mexico with mindful cooking and cultural adventures with our local guide partners.
Gaze into the eyes of a gentle giant gray whale in its natural habitat, the coastal lagoons of Magdalena Bay.
Meditate atop the natural dunes and nurture with yoga that embodies the flow of the sea and stillness of the earth.
Extend your stay with an optional add-on tour to snorkel with sea lions at the pristine Isla Espíritu Santo.
This retreat is for you if you welcome the opportunity to disconnect from some modern amenities in order to truly connect with the land and people of Mexico, while living in accord with principles of conservation, zero waste, and sustainable travel.
We’ve curated a truly special itinerary with some of the most amazing guides who truly care about the environment and its inhabitants, including you.
Book by November 15, 2021
COVID-19 Safety
We take COVID-19 seriously and are striving to ensure safety for all travelers and residents of our host countries.
In addition to COVID-19 travel requirements set forth by the Mexican government and your home country, we require:
- Proof of full vaccination sixty (60) days before the retreat start date
- A negative COVID-19 test result within three (3) days before the retreat start date
Please read the full policy below before registering.
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 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.” La Duna sits on a quiet coastline of desert dunes where 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 truly sustainable travel. La Duna is located 40 minutes from La Paz and less than 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. Each casita comes with solar-powered lamps, mosquito nets, and a side table.
Bathroom Facilities: La Duna offers shared bathrooms with two dry compost toilets, two showers, and two sinks (all separate). Hot water for showers is available, but we ask guests to keep their shower time short to conserve water and ensure enough hot water for everyone.
Solar Electricity: 100% of La Duna’s electricity comes from solar panels and there is electricity from 7am-10pm in the main areas (main palapa, kitchen, bathrooms, dining room, and kitchen). La Duna has solar lamps in each room that are not connected to the main system, so after 10pm, rooms and the toilets have illumination. There is a charging station for phones in the main palapa area. There is no WiFi on site any cell service is likely to be spotty or non-existent.
*You will have access to Wifi on Days 4 & 5 when we go to the Pacific Coast to see the gray whales, as well as a night of a few more amenities in your accommodations.
Having attended two retreats with Melissa, I can say her trips are outstanding opportunities for HSP/Introverts to enjoy amazing places, practice yoga, eat gourmet-level meals, participate in discussions–plus have solo time. The relaxed pace is so much more enjoyable than typical group travel. Melissa is a delightful leader and skilled yoga teacher, with a sensitive energy and care for each attendee.
Meet Your Guides
Melissa Renzi (she/ella) is a Licensed Social Worker and Yoga Teacher who has been organizing and leading global retreats since 2016, and for introverts and highly sensitive people since 2017. Having lived and traveled around the world, Melissa is passionate about curating meaningful travel that truly connect guests to the land and people of each place. She believes that as highly sensitive introverts, we can experience the world as it is without overwhelm or depletion when we have supportive structures that move at a slower pace and group agreements that to tend to the needs of everyone. To date, Melissa has led retreats to Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Maine, and Tennessee with many repeat trips to some locations. At the forefront of Melissa’s mission is creating space for sensitive people to be seen and known while uncovering their given strengths as agents of healing for themselves and communities.
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 passionate 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. Particularly interested in birds and plants, and an enthusiast of geology and natural history, Citlali works with the Rancheros of Baja California Sur in order to support cultural and natural conservation of the key ecosystems of the peninsula. When she is not guiding hiking, kayak, or snorkel expeditions she spends her time reading, visiting ranchos, cooking, and learning new skills. Citlali is a co-founder of Planeta Libre Expediciones, has 9 years of guiding experience in Baja certified by SECTUR, and holds a certification as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and a degree in ecotourism.
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Immersed in a remote, majestic cacti forest along a coastal landscape, La Duna is completely off-grid and built with true sustainability at its core. This retreat is for those who welcome the opportunity to disconnect from some modern comforts in order to truly connect with the land and people of Mexico, while living in accord with principles of conservation.
Eco-Casitas: La Duna offers 8 simple desert eco-casitas with stone floors, stucco walls, and thatch roofs modeled after simple homes native to the region. Each casita can accommodate up to two people with a queen or two twin beds. There are solar-powered lamps (no electricity) in each room and a side table. Mosquito nets are also provided (although there are no mosquitoes). Weekly linens and towels are provided. You will need to bring beach towels. Daily maid service is not provided in the rooms.
Bathroom Facilities: La Duna offers shared bathrooms with 2 dry compost toilets, 2 showers, and 2 sinks (all separate from each other). there is also a third bathroom in the facilitator’s room, which will be available for guest use during the day. Showers are heated on demand, and it takes about 20 minutes to heat the water, so you will need to be prepared to wait for it to be heated. There is sufficient hot water in the heaters for everyone to have a short shower.
Solar Electricity: 100% of La Duna’s electricity is from onsite solar panels and there is electricity from 7am-10pm in the main areas (palapa, kitchen, bathrooms, dining room, and kitchen). There is a charging station for phones in the main palapa area with a 110 ac/dc plug (Mexico plugs are the same voltage as Canada/USA and require no adapter). There is no Wifi on site and very limited cell service. La Duna has solar lamps in each room that are not connected to the main system, so after 10pm each room and the toilets have illumination.
Minimalist Packing: The casitas are simple and do not have a lot of space for excess luggage and belongings. If you intend to share a casita, we ask that you kindly commit to bringing minimal luggage (daypack & small suitcase or backpack). Consider this as a camping trip with beds.
Booking Your Spot: Availability is limited – a $400 deposit secures your spot. Prices are per person.
Register by November 15, 2021.
Before registering, read the section at the bottom of the webpage to review our COVID-19 Safety Policy & Cancellation Policy.
- Double Occupancy – Two twin beds, shared bathroom facilities – $1,775.00/person (6 in total)
- Single Occupancy – Queen Bed, shared bathroom facilities – $2,175.00/person (5 in total)
Snorkeling Tour w/ Sea Lions at Isla Espiritu Santo
Extend your adventure and join us for a full day among the pristine waters and beaches of Isla Espíritu Santo, as we visit a sea lion colony, snorkel coral reefs, and encounter plentiful wildlife surprises along the way.
Included in this add-on excursion:
- Round-trip boat transportation
- Naturalist guide (Citlali)
- Snorkel equipment and life vests
- Healthy lunch
- Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks
DATE: February 5, 2021
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (approximate)
COST: $140.00
Note the following before booking:
- You’ll need to plan for 2 extra nights in La Paz on Fri 2/4 and Sat 2/5 (before/after tour) and fly out on Sun 2/6.
- We will offer hotel recommendations to fit your budget. These costs are at your expense.
- Sea lions may curious and approach you, but swimming toward or touching them is not permitted.
- Boat rides from one site to another can range from 30-90 min. This tour is not for those who get sea sick.
- Though the boat offers some shade, we advise bringing a long-sleeve shirt and hat for sun protection.
- This add-on does not include snorkeling with whale sharks. If you want to do this while in La Paz, we can connect you to a separate tour.
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INCLUDED:
NOT INCLUDED:
|
Immersed in a remote, majestic cacti forest along a coastal landscape, La Duna is completely off-grid and built with true sustainability at its core. This retreat is for those who welcome the opportunity to disconnect from some modern comforts in order to truly connect with the land and people of Mexico, while living in accord with principles of conservation.
Eco-Casitas: La Duna offers 8 simple desert eco-casitas with stone floors, stucco walls, and thatch roofs modeled after simple homes native to the region. Each casita can accommodate up to two people with a queen or two twin beds. There are solar-powered lamps (no electricity) in each room and a side table. Mosquito nets are also provided (although there are no mosquitoes). Weekly linens and towels are provided. You will need to bring beach towels. Daily maid service is not provided in the rooms.
Bathroom Facilities: La Duna offers shared bathrooms with 2 dry compost toilets, 2 showers, and 2 sinks (all separate from each other). there is also a third bathroom in the facilitator’s room, which will be available for guest use during the day. Showers are heated on demand, and it takes about 20 minutes to heat the water, so you will need to be prepared to wait for it to be heated. There is sufficient hot water in the heaters for everyone to have a short shower.
Solar Electricity: 100% of La Duna’s electricity is from onsite solar panels and there is electricity from 7am-10pm in the main areas (palapa, kitchen, bathrooms, dining room, and kitchen). There is a charging station for phones in the main palapa area with a 110 ac/dc plug (Mexico plugs are the same voltage as Canada/USA and require no adapter). There is no Wifi on site and very limited cell service. La Duna has solar lamps in each room that are not connected to the main system, so after 10pm each room and the toilets have illumination.
Minimalist Packing: The casitas are simple and do not have a lot of space for excess luggage and belongings. If you intend to share a casita, we ask that you kindly commit to bringing minimal luggage (daypack & small suitcase or backpack). Consider this as a camping trip with beds.
Booking Your Spot: Availability is limited – a $400 deposit secures your spot. Prices are per person.
Register by November 15, 2021.
Before registering, read the section at the bottom of the webpage to review our COVID-19 Safety Policy & Cancellation Policy.
- Double Occupancy – Two beds, shared bathroom facilities – $1,775.00/person (6 spots)
- Single Occupancy – Queen Bed, shared bathroom facilities – $2,175.00/person (5 spots)
Snorkeling Tour w/ Sea Lions at Isla Espiritu Santo
Extend your adventure and join us for a full day among the pristine waters and beaches of Isla Espíritu Santo, as we visit a sea lion colony, snorkel coral reefs, and encounter plentiful wildlife surprises along the way.
Included in this add-on excursion:
- Round-trip boat transportation
- Naturalist guide (Citlali)
- Snorkel equipment and life vests
- Healthy lunch
- Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks
DATE: February 5, 2021
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (approximate)
COST: $140.00
Note the following before booking:
- You’ll need to plan for 2 extra nights in La Paz on Fri 2/4 and Sat 2/5 (before/after tour) and fly out on Sun 2/6.
- We will offer hotel recommendations to fit your budget. These costs are at your expense.
- Sea lions may curious and approach you, but swimming toward or touching them is not permitted.
- Boat rides from one site to another can range from 30-90 min. This tour is not for those who get sea sick.
- Though the boat offers some shade, we advise bringing a long-sleeve shirt and hat for sun protection.
- This add-on does not include snorkeling with whale sharks. If you want to do this while in La Paz, we can connect you to a separate tour.
Melissa was organized, accommodating and a beautiful person to connect with. She made the retreat exceptional. It was great to be surrounded with like-minded people, as we all felt we could easily open up and genuinely be ourselves.
The introvert/HSP focus made for the most congenial travel I’ve experienced with a group. The itinerary was carefully planned to include meaningful visits to local initiatives and important archaeological sites, as well as building in a perfect amount of personal time for us introverts to use to re-charge or explore on our own.
Melissa is way more than just a trip organizer, she goes above and beyond to connect people together and creates an atmosphere of open-mindedness with other travelers, local people, and local experiences.
Join us for a peaceful adventure with people who get you!
Please read our COVID-19 Safety Policy, Cancellation Policy (below) & Yoga International Retreat Agreement.
January 28 – February 4, 2022
COVID-19 Safety Policy
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Proof of full vaccination sixty (60) days prior to travel
- A negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test result within the three (3) days prior to travel
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Proof of vaccination
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A negative COVID-19 test within three (3) days prior to retreat start date
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A negative COVID-19 test within three (3) days prior to travel to home country
Cancellation Policy
Trip Postponed by MNR Retreat, LLC.
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All deposits are non-refundable.
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Remaining balance must be paid 90 days before trip start date.
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If you decide to cancel your trip, the following fees apply at the time we receive written notice of your cancellation.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend and encourage the purchase of travel insurance. If your concerned about cancellation due to COVID-19, we recommend purchasing “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage. Here’s an overview with some key considerations: “Travel Insurance & Coronavirus”
Passport & Visa
Group Size & Demographics
Weather & Climate
Late January to early February is a dry, cooler season in and around La Paz. Daytime temperatures in Fahrenheit are typically in the 70s and nighttime temps can drop down to 60s or even 50s, so 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. Please pack layers!
When viewing the bioluminescence, you will be provided with a wetsuit and snorkel equipment. With the cooler temperatures, you’ll also have the option to put just your face (not hair) in the water.
Food & Alcohol
La Duna’s caretaker, Malena, tailors the menu to each group and provides a rainbow 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 preferences and restrictions so that we can plan accordingly.
La Duna does not serve or sell alcohol, but you may purchase alcohol in La Paz if you wish. We trust our guests to decide whether to consume alcohol. These retreats draw a mix of people who will have an occasional alcoholic drink or not drink at all. It’s never a party and tends to be a non-issue.
Smoking and illegal drugs is not permitted on the property.
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.