After a sunrise yoga, we will head to the main pier to board a small fishing panga that will take our group and naturalist guides into a marine protected area for whale sharks.  We will encounter the largest fish species alive today, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in this special half-day boat trip.  Every year, juvenile whale sharks arrive in La Paz bay to feed on the abundant plankton in the winter months. 

Our group supports the non-profit research organization: Whale Shark Mexico which is focused on the conservation, education, and sustainable management of this endangered species.  Our naturalist guide will explain how your trip contributes to important population monitoring and distribution of this species in the Gulf of California. 

La Paz Bay and the adjacent surrounding region is one of the few places in the world where both juveniles and pregnant females can be found.  

Thanks to responsible yogis, more than 10 years of research have contributed to establishing La Paz Bay as critical habitat for the species.

On this day, you will enjoy an early morning yoga session followed by breakfast. Lunch will be on your own as you will have time to enjoy exploring downtown La Paz and maybe a stroll along the 6 mile boardwalk.   We will provide snacks, munchies, and purified water to refill your reusable water bottles.  

La Paz town is home to fine dining, beachfront shops and restaurants, and great shopping.  Enjoy museums and art galleries, or meditate under the old-growth trees,  in the large central plaza with a picturesque gazebo, across the street from the historic catholic mission cathedral.    

You will travel by private van from the La Paz to La Duna Ecology Center (about a 40 min drive)  settle into your casitas, afternoon yoga and dinner with staff introductions and orientation.

While at the Ecology Center, your private chef will serve delicious gourmet and healthy meals using as many ingredients as we can find within a 100km radius.  In this way, our meals support local farms and ranches.  

While we honor plant-based diets, we know that some people like to have free-range chicken eggs for breakfast with their Mexican sweet bread and organic Mexican teas and coffees.  We also realize that some people like to feast on sustainable seafood while in Mexico. 

The plant-based menu includes optional wild Gulf of California seafood, responsibly caught by fishermen on our research team.  Seafood lovers can help us protect sea turtles as we build our Community-Supported Fishery with the fishers in exchange for research data. 

As you hike mindfully through dry river beds of the Sierra Gigante Mountain range, you are invited to focus on the breath, exchanging air with the surrounding plants, engaging in a deep presence with the mountain, while finding attunement to one’s body and to nature. 

Shifting your body movement from lower body to upper body, engage your water element (and your core!) as you kayak along the coast of the  beautiful Bay of La Paz.  

Once back at La Duna afternoon Yoga followed by a Cooking Class & Salsa Dance lesson!

In yoga, the lunar energy and the left side of the body are considered feminine. Feminine energy represents slow, cool, relaxing, and more flowing.  Full Moons are a time to embrace more feminine energy for both men and women. 

The Full Moon is the time to let go of what no longer serves you physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.  In this ceremony we honor the  (god &) goddess within with a meditation and bonfire in the coastal desert. You are invited to set an intention that you can carry with you as you return home. 

Enjoy a full-day excursion to the gorgeous Jacques Cousteau island, officially named, "Isla Cerralvo". This extensive uninhabited island is 18 miles long with pristine stretches of white sandy beach leading into clear blue-green ocean waters with an abundance of colorful reef fish.  As the ninth-largest island in Mexico and located close to where the Gulf of California meets the Pacific Ocean the biologically diverse marine life makes this an extraordinary snorkeling experience. 

The currents and underwater topography (bathymetry) of the island and the adjacent canal make the island an important migratory corridor for marine life. Our naturalist guide will point out the stunning geology and wildlife above and below this pristine island.   

During our boat trip, keep an eye out for pods of playing dolphins, basking California sea lions, and pygmy manta rays.  We may even spot a pair of orcas or a solitary humpback whale.  Underwater, our naturalist guide will lead us through beautiful reefs with schools of colorful reef fish, bottom-dwelling sting rays, and even an occasional green sea turtle.  

On this day, we will depart from the ecology center early to catch the boat before the seasonal winds start to blow and the kiteboarders head out to catch some wind gusts.  We will either have a light continental breakfast or breakfast to go and lunch on the island, all included.  

After our island excursion, we may extend our snorkel time on a coastal reef wall and maybe indulge in a beach yoga session or cruise back to the ecology center to round out this amazing day with yoga under the palapa.  

Journey to the Pacific Coast of the Baja Peninsula where grey whales arrive each winter to mate and give birth.  After our morning yoga session and healthy breakfast, our naturalist guide will drive us 2 1/2 hours to Magdalena Bay. Traversing from the Gulf of California to the Pacific Ocean, we will stop for lunch at a traditional Mexican restaurant with safe, healthy options then continue on to arrive at the Port of San Carlos.  Check into your beachfront hotel, and enjoy a little downtime and beach exploration followed by sunset yoga! Dinner will consist of the freshest seafood  & Mexican Specialties.  After dinner, enjoy the night sky full of stars above the Pacific Ocean and watch as the full moon rises over Mama Ocean.   

Next morning, after an early yoga session and fisherman's (hardy) breakfast, we will head out in search of the grey whales. Along the boat ride, keep an eye out for flocks of ocean birds and maybe even spot a pod of dolphins!  Back on dry land, we will have lunch and cruise back to La Paz.   

Once we arrive in La Paz, we will check in to the hotel then dress up and head to dinner in downtown La Paz.  This will be our celebratory farewell dinner and a chance to share our favorite memories from the retreat.  

If you feel rested, renewed, and rejuvenated, ready to get back home, we can help you get back to the airport in the morning after the breakfast of your choice. 

However, if you are not yet ready to go, we invite you to extend your stay one more night.  Enjoy breakfast on your own from our list of recommended favorite downtown spots, then join us as we take a 45 min van ride to explore the historic, quaint town of Todos Santos. 

A vibrant village, one of the oldest and most charming settlements in Baja, Todos Santos is renowned for its picturesque beauty. Dive into the culture and historical heritage of the area while you explore the historic town center full of exotic and boutique shops, art galleries, or people-watch in the town square. 

Enjoy a visit to the famous Hotel California located in the heart of the town center, the historic mission cathedral, and the surrounding cultural ambiance.  We will meet up in the afternoon and our naturalist guide will take us to a beautiful beach nestled in a palm oasis or surf break to enjoy Yoga with Lorraine on the beach and an included catered lunch!  

Returning to La Paz at our hotel, you will have time to enjoy a relaxing dinner on your own along the boardwalk.   

Jon Kabat Zinn, the father of mindfulness, states that "Wherever you go, there you are". As you venture on from our retreat, you will carry with you new inner wisdom as well as lasting memories.