Spring Awakening: An adventure yoga retreat in Baja
March 2-7, 2025

By early March it is common to find yourself ready to come out of your winter's nest and stretch your legs a bit. La Ventana, a small fishing town in Baja Sur, is a wonderful place to retreat and do just that. Sitting on the Sea of Cortez, this quiet town has a little for every adventure seeker - ocean waters out the back door and desert-mountain trails out the front door. Over this 5-night, 6-day stay, yogis will not only explore their breath and body, they will connect with the beauty of the natural surroundings, and explore life in southern Baja.

What's Included?

5 night, 6 day stay in a beachfront Mexican Villa
- 6 bedroom home with beds and common areas
- An outdoor pool and direct access to the beach
- Plenty of parking (though renting a car is not necessary to enjoy this place)
Healthy, plentiful, homemade breakfasts
- Coffees, snacks, and fruit before morning yoga
- Full mid-morning breakfast following morning yoga
- dietary restrictions will be accommodated for but need to be disclosed by 1/31 to ensure time and planning can be done
- emphasis on plant-based and locally sourced animal products
Light grab-n-go lunches at the villa
- think salads and/or sandwich/wraps with fruit
Welcome Drinks, Intention Setting, and Dinner at the Villa upon arrival
Dinners around town
- "Must Love Tacos" is the sub-name of this retreat in my planner, so a love of and ability to eat simple local food is the name of the game (fish tacos are plentiful but other options are also available)
- of the 4 meals out, 2 will be sit-down family-style restaurants and the other 2 will be local taco stand/fast casual settings
Yoga Classes/Workshops (mindful morning meditation and journaling, class each morning and most evenings gatherings of varied formats and intensity)
Closing Cacao Ceremony
Daily Outings (Beach Walks, Farmers Market visit, Paddle boarding, Hot Springs field trip, Hikes on local trail system that Joel and I help to support/build)
A balance of planned activities (all optional and encouraged) and downtime in the afternoons

What's Not Included?

Flight to/from Cabo San Lucas airport (or La Paz airport, which is closer but transportation to our villa is not included)
Cost of Getting to the Villa (we can/will organize a shuttle in line with United flight 294 from Denver on 3/2 and you will pay the driver upon arrival at the Villa and we can/will arrange another with arrival at the airport in line with United flight 338 to Denver on 3/7. OR you can organize transportation on your own.
Additional Meals, Snacks, and/or Beverages
Drinks (beyond water) at our meal's on the town
Excursions added on your own
Yoga Mats and Props
Travel Insurance

Loose Agenda

Sunday
5p Arrival/Get Settled
6p Welcome, Introductions, and Intention Setting
7p Dinner and Community

Monday-Thursday*
7a Coffee and Light Food set out
8a Yoga
915a Breakfast
1030a Adventure/Daily Group Outing
1p Lunch

130 Downtime
430p Yoga
630p Dinner

*one "down" day where participants can choose activities (or lack thereof) on their own

Friday
7a Coffee and Light Food Set Out
8a Short and Potent Yoga Practice and Cacao Ceremony
915 Grab-n-go breakfast

10a Pack It Up and Say Goodbye

Pack List

Comfortable, moveable clothing - with some layers (mornings and evenings are a bit cool)
One or two "nice" outfits - if you'd like to shift from simply yoga clothes and bathing suits for dinner
Toiletries
Yoga Mat, Water bottle, and other props.
Journal and Pen
Hiking or tennis shoes and pool/beach shoes
Swimsuits, sunscreen, sunhat, sunglasses, sun-shirt (the sun is strong and so is the wind in the afternoons)
Snacks beyond our 3 meals per day (light lunches)

Disclaimers (things I see as a bonus, but you should consider as a participant)

The town of La Ventana/El Sargento is NOT Cabo San Lucas
- It is a two hour drive north from the San Jose del Cabo airport to a small fishing town on the Sea of Cortez that tons of ex-Pats migrate to November through April.
- It is NOT a tourist mecca - what you bring (and we have and the house has) is what we will have for the time together. The closest major store is a 45-minute drive - so you learn to live with less and support more of what is local.
- There is no such thing as "luxury" in this town - it is simple living all-the-way!
Our dogs will be there. We have two Westies (~16lb non-shedding old dudes) and they will be around the house with us. No other pets are permitted (the property has a two pet limit).
We will be living in this town from late December til just after the retreat. We know the area well. You will be well resourced.
We are caterers during the time we spend in Colorado, so fear not, you will be well fed and nourished. And things like dairy-free creamer do not exist.... so we will also make the best of what is local and available.

Pricing, Sign Ups and Policies

Shared Bed (potentially in a shared room): $1900*

Single bed in a Shared Room: $2150

Private Room with En-suite bathroom (you are the only person OR two folks share one private room): $3500
Want to bring a partner/family member/friend who isn't going to practice yoga but is along for the fun and adventure ? subtract $200 on their cost.

*in a shared bed scenario, you would name your bed-mate. We won't be setting you up in a bed with a stranger. This is a great option for friends/family that don't need intimacy space but are also comfy sharing sleeping space.

Ready to sign up? Send your $500 non-refundable deposit today!

All payments sent via Venmo (@christenbakkenyoga) or Zelle (christen.bakken@gmail.com) - be sure to include your email in the notes of your payment.

Remaining Payments:

Due 1/31 - 50% of your total amount (so half, minus your $500 deposit)

Due 2/21 - the other half of your payment

No refunds are given on deposits. No refunds are given after balance payments are made. If you have to cancel, you will surrender all payments you have made to that date. No transfers - deposit go to hold your spot and cover the overhead of booking this 6-bedroom home.

Need a more extended payment plan? Reach out to me directly. The answer is no if you don’t ask.

Within 48 hours of your deposit payment, I will send an email to collect your initial info (contact info, emergency contact info, and dietary restrictions and allergies). You will also receive a welcome and prep email no later than February 21 with further details related to travel, packing, and our plans together.