Journey through the Sierra Nevadas de Santa Marta, where natural beauty meets cultural richness. This unique retreat offers an escape alongside the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains, where majestic peaks, lush landscapes, and indigenous heritage converge to create a truly enriching experience.

Retreat to one of Lotus Retreats' favorite retreat centers of the world! The beautiful Gitana Del Mar Beach Resort, located at the base of the Sierra Nevadas De Santa Marta mountains alongside the Caribbean sea. Its lush land harbors a retreat oasis of pure jungle and ocean bliss! Enjoy the jungle pool between cabanas, hammocks and crashing Caribbean sea. 

We will offer a variety of cultural immersions to fully experience the natural, cultural and spiritual beauty of the land! We've designed a very intimate itinerary of offerings to include sacred waterfall treks, river tubing, traditional temezcal ceremony, a Mochila weaving workshop with the indigenous Wayyuu tribe and a closing Kogi tribe fire ceremony at the end of the week.

Each day of the retreat will be spent practicing Yoga with our teachers offering a variety of styles, as well as daily meditations, breath work, journal prompts and workshops tailored to the theme of the day.

There is truly something special for everyone to gain from this retreat experience! Begin your Yoga practice, expand an existing practice, dive deep beneath the layers of the energetic system, connect with like-minded individuals, build community and explore the lush land of Colombia for an unforgettable experience.

Expect lots of time to rest and play! You’ll be given the opportunity to participate in each class, workshop and cultural immersion designing the week however you'd like. The pool, beach cabanas and hammocks are always an available option for extended naps.

Meet Erin Yannone

Erin's mission centers around guiding students to reconnect with their inner selves through profound personal journeys. She emphasizes sensation, breath, and introspection as pathways to self-discovery and growth. Her commitment to ongoing growth is evident in her dedication to evolving alongside her students, community, and environment. Erin currently resides in Costa Rica, teaching yoga full-time; cherishing the new connections made within her community and embracing this vibrant chapter of life.

Erin is 200-HR yoga teacher certified by the Kula Collective. Subsequently, Erin pursued specialized certifications in Reiki, Applied Polyvagal Theory in Therapeutic Yoga, and Embodied Intimacy, enhancing her holistic approach to teaching and healing.

Meet Loren Lotus

Your host Loren Lotus has hosted over 30 retreats around the world with Lotus Retreats! She's a passionate yogi, facilitator and event organizer who puts her entire heart and soul into curating spaces for community to gather. Loren will be sharing daily Yoga classes to get into our bodies, clear energy and make space for new wisdom to be shared. She is also an avid Kirtan singer and will be sharing the medicine of music, movement & meditation throughout the weekend. 

Gitana del Mar Boutique Beach Resort is located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea in Colombia, South America. The resort lies at the foothills of the impressive and magical Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the world’s highest Coastal Mountain Range. This area is referred to as the Heart of the world, not only because of it’s geographical location, but more importantly because every single ecosystem exists and thrives in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

It is here in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada, nestled under the shade of majestic coconut palms is a place where you can disconnect from the hectic world and appreciate the simpler things in life.  Find harmony with mother earth as she offers up the sun, empty virgin beaches, fresh salt air and unforgettable panoramic seascapes.

Gitana Del Mar's Eco-Chic Bungalows are the ideal place to relax. Each bungalow is designed with a very distinct architectural feature that the indigenous from the area have been utilizing for hundreds of years…. the palm roof.  Not only are these structures made from sustainably and locally harvested palm fronds, the vaulted ceiling design keeps the rooms cooler and more fresh than any other available, man-made material.

Let the soothing sounds of the ocean lull you to sleep after a full day on the beach and exploring the area. Our simple, clean and comfortable rooms are equipped with full private bathrooms, outdoor showers, fans, down pillows and plush sheets and towels.

Our mission during a Self-Realization & Empowerment Retreat is to offer daily yoga classes, workshops and ceremonies to deepen your understanding of Self and leave you feeling empowered and connected to your unique life's purpose.

We will gather on the Yoga shala twice a day to practice physical asana. We offer a variety of styles; Hatha, Vinyasa, Restorative and Yin tailored to all levels. We also offer daily workshops, meditation, breath work & sacred ceremony to expose you to a variety of Yogic practices.

EXPLORE the beauty of Colombia each day with organized group immersions to surrounding natural parks, waterfalls and rivers. Parque Tayrona is a main attraction in Santa Marta along with the Mendihuaca waterfall and river tubing down the Rio Don Diego. The Sierra Nevada mountains are gushing with sacred fresh water pools for us to explore & experience with the guide of our native, Juan. 

Aside from nature excursions; we'll also offer:

Mendihuaca Waterfall- Journey to one of Colombia's most beautiful waterfalls alongside the Mendihuaca river. These crystal clear cleansing waters rush from the snowcap mountains of the Sierra Nevadas de Santa Marta. For many, these waters represent the divine feminine flow that nurtures the many communities that live along it. Enjoy a day hike and trip to the waterfall for cleansing ceremony & divine time spent in nature. 

Rio Don Diego- Float down our favorite river for a day of relaxing, rafting and restoring in the nature of the river and jungle all around us. We'll hike the trail up the river and raft our way down, all the way to where the river mouth meets the crashing Caribbean sea for us to jump back and forth between the two. 

Parque Nacional Tayrona- Located just 10 minutes away, this park is one of the jewels of Colombia covering 58 square miles of land and 6 different beachfront bays. Kogis and Arhuaco people still live within the park and visitors can visit the ancient village of Pueblito while hiking around. There are over 180 species of mammals and over 300 species of birds living in the park, some of which can only be found in this area.

Visit to Indigenous Village – This informative and cultural tour includes a 1 drive to a local indigenous culture’s pueblo in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. You will learn about their style of architecture, how they preserve and care for their land, crops and families, as well gain insight into the daily lives and farming practices of these wise and spiritual people. 

Minca – You can visit Minca on a day tour, it is approx. 2 hours from our resort. Minca is a small town nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and lost among the lush vegetation, and is known for its coffee farms and its beautiful Pozo Azul ( Blue Lagoon). Minca is rich in history and is an ecological paradise with the crystalline waters of the river Minca and its immense green vegetation that keeps the archaeological history of its ancestors. This wonderful scene served in the past as the habitat of the Tayrona culture and today are found in the highland indigenous peoples belonging to Kogi, Arhuaco, Wiwa and Kankuamo.

The Cuidad Perdida (Lost City) Trek – This 5 day trek will take you through the Sierra Nevada mountains to what has been referred to as “Colombia’s Machu Pichu”. The ruins and terraces of the city were discovered in 1975 by an archeologist who dates the site back to around 700 A.D. The city is believed to be one of the biggest of the Tayrona indigenous culture. The tour consists of 3 days hiking up to the site and 2 days hiking down. The trip is not strenuous and includes about 4-5 hours of light hiking per day. All three meals are provided  daily along with lodging on the trail. During the trek you will encounter numerous different micro-climates, as well as experiencing breathtaking views in every direction, including the impressive snow capped peaks at the summit.

Indigenous Cultures Protecting the Heart of the World

The four existing indigenous tribes (Kogi, Wiwa, Arhuaco and Kankuamo people) are ancestors of the pre-Hispanic Civilization, known as the Tayrona. They still practice and follow the Tayrona belief of “Aluna”, which is the belief that all reality is created by thought. Every object or being has both a spiritual aspect and a physical reality, both of which originate in thought. These people have been calling the Sierra Nevada Mountains their home for hundreds of years.

They refer to this area as “The Heart of the World” because they believe that what happens in the Sierra Nevada also happens everywhere in the world.  They are committed to restoring the equilibrium to Earth by daily ritual practices, mental discipline and meditations. All of their efforts are to help protect the Sierra Nevada and the world from destruction. They have plenty to protect, including multiple ecosystems, such as: wetlands, mangroves, tropical rain forests, desert, alpine tundra and finally reaching snow capped mountains at the summit.

Yoga is a practice not only on the mat, but in the kitchen! Nourishing ourselves from the inside out is a HUGE component to a Lotus Retreats week. The Gitana Del Mar gourmet kitchen offers an ever-evolving selection of unique dishes inspirited by the traditional flavors and recipes of Colombia combined with other preparations from around the world.

Flavors from the Colombian coast merge with Mediterranean and Asian influences. We serve wholesome ingredients such as fresh fruits and herbs from the garden, as well as locally sourced seafood.

Three gourmet meals are included daily during the retreat week. 

The kitchen can accommodate any vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free requests as long as you let us know in advance.

Additional items such as appetizers, beverages, and cocktails are available at an extra charge. 

We realize booking a trip and travel can be an intimidating experience! We're here to support you along the way and make the journey just as enjoyable as the destination. Please follow this link for full details on getting to Colombia and guidance with flights & transportation. Please email us with any specific travel questions and we're happy to help! info@lotusretreats.com

Which airports can I fly into?

- You can fly into Cartagena (CTG), Barranquilla (BAQ) or Santa Marta (SMR) Please view link for full details on how to arrive to Colombia!

When are final payments due?

- Final payments are due within 60-days of retreat start; December 6th

What if I am traveling solo and want to book a double or triple occupancy?

- We love this and encourage meeting new friends! We do our best to pair you in a triple or double occupancy. If no options are left, you may have to pay for single occupancy. 

Will I need a negative Covid-19 test?

- In order to enter Colombia, you will need proof of a negative Covid-19 test within 72hours of travel.

Will I need a Covid-19 vaccine?

- As of December 14th, a proof of vaccine has been required to enter Colombia. Because of this, we are postponing our retreat until proof of a negative test is mandated. 

What if we can't get to Colombia because of Covid-19?

- We have hosted 5 retreats successfully since Covid-19 and do our absolute best to stay up to date on Covid-19 travel restrictions. If we cannot travel to Colombia, all payments ~ aside from your nonrefundable deposit, will be returned. Your nonrefundable deposit can be transferred to another retreat or location.