Join Jennifer on this unique retreat to Yelapa, Mexico. This is both a

yoga experience and a cultural adventure. Enjoy a week of yoga, meditation, rest,

renewal, play time, nature, camaraderie, and great food in this

car-free Mexican village on the peninsula south of Puerta Vallarta.- just a water taxi away from PV. Pura Vida, a beautiful hillside retreat center overlooking the ocean. Practice yoga everyday! It is a one of a kind experience.   

Pura Vida is a non-denominational, spiritual, health-focused wellness retreat center in a tropical paradise called Yelapa in Mexico. Our beautiful accommodations are right by the ocean, for those seeking connection with nature and themselves.  The retreat center offers a sweat lodge, amazing food, gorgeous beachfront infinity pool, and views galore. The staff are gracious and friendly. 

 Magical Yelapa- Yelapa may not actually be an island, but you do have to get here by boat. The local community has refused to permit roads into town and are active in preserving their way of life. In doing so, they have managed to create an oasis for vacationers truly unlike any other. It’s quaint, and charming, and real. With pristine beaches, spectacular views, mouth-watering food, and a flare for adventure, Yelapa will transform your vacationing experience. Nearly 150 years ago four families founded this secluded little fishing village near Puerto Vallarta and today they hope to share it with you.   

Yelapa, takes people back in time enhancing the feeling of “getting away from it all” and invites participants to remember the simple life. Pura Vida Retreat Center offers a sacred space deeply connected to nature for yogi’s to enjoy. Enjoy beautiful views of  the ocean from the venue each day. Please visit  https://www.puravidaecoretreat.com/  to see more information and photos of your beautiful retreat center.

https://www.yelapa.info/

Nestled in the southernmost cove of the world's 7th largest bay, lies the peaceful village of Yelapa, Jalisco, Mexico. Although there is a road which leads to the pueblo, it is most easily accessible by boat. Yelapa's tranquillity is ideal for a laid-back vacation. The beach is covered in a blanket of golden sand, and is a superb place to swim or parasail.  Or simply relax in one of the numerous beach chairs, and soak up the sun. 

Yelapa/ Pura Vida Retreat Schedule 2022

Orientation Sat night in Puerto Vallarta- We meet at the beach in front of the restaurant at 6 pm for an orientation. You will receive luggage tags at the orientation that will identify which room to which your luggage is delivered. 

Dinner is at 6:15 pm at Si Senor  Please be at Si Senor restaurant by 6:15 for the group dinner. It is a set price of $31 and includes appetizer, 2 drinks, entre (four choices) and dessert. It does include gratuity. Please let make that payment directly to Jennifer Venmo by Feb 1. Venmo is preferred. If you need to pay via another option please let us know.  It is important that you attend this dinner as this is when we will verify all the details for meeting the next morning to take the water taxi. It is an important start to the retreat.  

SUNDAY -Transitioning From Hotel to Boat: Please arrive on time!

We will meet at Dee’s Bakery by the pier at 9:15 am and start boarding the boat at approximately 9:45 am. There is time for great coffee and fabulous muffins at Dee’s. 

Boat to Yelapa:

The boat will take about 50 minutes to reach Yelapa from PV. 

If you need to arrive later than the group or leave earlier than the group, you will need to pay for your boat taxi ticket.  Our group private boat is included in the price of your retreat. 

Our Arrival in Yelapa:  

The water taxi takes us to the pier in the center of the village. Water taxi goes on to drop off the luggage which will be transported to your lodging at Pura Vida.

We will be met by our guide on the village pier for a tour of the village. There will be plenty of time for lunch, yoga, and settling in that afternoon.

Sunday: 

11 -12 am Arrive in Yelapa & Tour

12:30- Lunch at Pura Vida 

3-5:30 pm Welcome Yoga Class

6 pm  Dinner at Pura Vida 

Monday: 

7:30 am  Breakfast

9:00-12:00 Yoga

12 pm   Lunch at Pura Vida

1-4:30 Beach-Explore-Free Time

5-6:15 pm Yoga  

6:30 pm Dinner at Pura Vida

Tuesday – 

7:30 am  Breakfast

9:00-12 Yoga or Back Country Tour

12- 5 pm Lunch at Pura Vida

5- 6:15 pm Yoga  

6:30   Walk to Group Dinner at Yacht Club 

Wednesday

7:30 am  Breakfast

9:00-12   Yoga

Boat Trip optional – means you will miss yoga

12-5 pm  Lunch in Village or Beach on your own

5-6:15 pm  Yoga  

6:30   Dinner at Pura Vida

Thursday: 

7:30 am  Breakfast

8:30-10 am Yoga

11:30-4 pm Waterfall Hike packed lunch 

5-6:15 pm Yoga 

6:30 pm   Walk to Group Dinner at Eclipse Garden Cafe

Friday: 

7:30 am  Breakfast

9:00-12 pm  Yoga

12 pm    Lunch in Village or Beach on your own

4:30-6 pm Yoga  

6:30   Dinner at Pura Vida

Saturday 

7:30 am Breakfast

9 am Boat To PV

Please do not book your return flight to leave earlier than 1 pm

Note: Saturday is a wonderful Farmer’s Market/Craft Fair in Vallarta. We can store our luggage in PV so there is time to explore. We recommend later flights (after 2pm) so you can enjoy this wonderful market.

 Get your passport EARLY. If you do have a passport DOUBLE CHECK the EXPIRATION DATE

Please plan to arrive in Puerto Vallarta no later than 2 pm. It can take a bit to get through immigration and customs. We will have transportation for you to downtown Puerto Vallarta. We will provide very specific instructions on making your way to your transportation.  Please book a hotel for the Saturday night stay. We have some rooms reserved and can also make recommendations. 

On Sunday-  

Boat To Yelapa:

Your private boat to Yelapa will arrive at the pier in PV and your group leader will guide you to the pier. The boat will take about 50 minutes to reach Yelapa from PV. 

Your Arrival in Yelapa: 

You will arrive in Yelapa at the pier in the center of the village. Your luggage will be dropped off by the boat at a beach closer to your lodgings. Your leader will help you mark your luggage so we can appropriately drop off all luggage at the right location. 

You will walk through the village and out to your lodgings. Your luggage will arrive and be brought to your room. Then you can unpack, become familiar with your entire lodgings and settle into the schedule for your group on arrival day. 

We will depart Yelapa Saturday morning, Feb 19,  approximately 9 am. Schedule your return flight after 1 pm. There is a fabulous Saturday market that you will enjoy should you like to spend some time in town. We will arrange for luggage storage. 

 https://www.facebook.com/olasaltasfarmersmarket/  link to Famers Market

Your PV Hotel: Please try to choose a hotel close to Los Arcos Pier.  This expense is not covered by your retreat payment.

Dinner -Saturday night.  We will have a group sunset beach dinner and orientation. This expense is not covered by your retreat payment. We will be meeting at 6 pm.

Meals:

Be sure to let us know about your dietary needs in another form.  in Yelapa, two lunches during our week will be a time for you to go out in smaller groups to places of your choice. These two meals are not included in the vacation fee. By that time you will know the village and easily choose where you want to eat. All our past participants have requested this chance to explore a bit on their own and in small groups. 

Dietary Requests:

The meals in Yelapa will be healthy and delicious. Our cooks have years of experience cooking for retreats and our groups have enjoyed their cooking. Yelapa is on the coast and not near a big city. Also, obviously, the choices in foods in this country do not match the abundance in the states. If you have specific dietary needs we want to know and can acommodate.

 Many more details (packing list, banking, ect)  will be provided after registration.  

Back Country Tour:

A fabulous side trip that many visitors have loved is an SUV guided tour into the mountain villages surrounding Yelapa. My friend Brad has put together a tour unlike most others.. He takes people to the homes, ranches, and villages where the people of Yelapa originally came from. This tour takes you back in time and is a heart to heart visit with many interesting people. This is a 1 day tour. You can see photos and learn more at  https://fotomente.smugmug.com/Backroad
 He only takes 4 to 5 people at a time. It’s $125 for the day. Many who have visited said this tour was their highlight. Brad, is a phenomenal guide. You'll experience the culture in a way most tourists never imagined. $125

Pura Vida offers these experiences:

1. Boat trip to Majahuitas Beach - great snorkeling, walk and rest on a pristine beach or hike to the waterfall- approximately 2-3  hour trip - $30 per person, snorkeling gear provided.

2. Marietas Islands - great snorkeling, swim to Lovers Beach, ceviche on the boat, - 4 hour trip, $80 per person, 4 persons minimum

3. Temazcal (native Mexican sweat lodge ceremony) with a local shaman - $25 per person.

These hotels are listed as suggestions for your PV stay. Please be sure to book far in advance since you are staying one night only on a weekend, they may not be available closer to the date. You can try booking through hotels.com for the best rate.   We have experience with all three. There are many more available. 

Hotel Eloisa: 10 minute walk to pierhttps://www.hoteleloisa.com/en least expensive

Hotel Rio Malecon: 15 minute walk or take a taxi for $5 http://www.hotelrio.com.mx/#

Los Arcos is the closest, 2 minute walk

https://www.playalosarcos.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw07qDBhBxEiwA6pPbHi6Aq_XSIy2XuAwsxb3XGUx8zDOZpqG2FZc48RnNm4yXk1JQlJy2RhoCC2gQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds most expensive

We will gather on the beach for a welcome dinner and an orientation.