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About this trip
The all-women's Yoga Paddling Adventure offers 8 days and 7 nights packed full with activities including daily morning paddle outings straight off our ocean front lodging. Daily yoga, meditation, Chakra talk and more blended with several excursions around the beautiful island of Puerto Rico.
This exciting fully hosted trip gives you more than just the highlights of Puerto Rico, we also get into some really cool local places. Every day includes paddling, Yoga and some sort of adventure, sightseeing, excursion. This program is especially unique in that we run it in a small, intimate format with no more than 5 participants and two hosts.
The food at the villa and our picnic lunches is vegan, loosely following the wfpb, whole foods, plant based menu and included in the package. We shop primarily fresh and organic. We do have a few meals out that you can choose to step out of the non-meat, non-dairy menu. The program is an all-round feel good week incorporating mind. body and soul... head to toe.
This is an active trip with daily paddling generally ranging from 2 to 5 miles, one or 2 yoga sessions a day and most of our activities require a good bit of walking, climbing, hiking, swimming... general movement. It's a grand idea to be ready for this rather than uncomfortable. Book early, then take the rest of the year to get prepared for it. Make this trip your motivation to improve your health!
About the Lodging: Villa Del Mar
The Villa is located on the ocean in the center of the Gastronimica Routa, a restaurant rich area along the coast Salinas, Puerto Rico. There are two houses on the property, the smaller one bedroom casita and the larger 3 bedrooms and 2 bath casa.
There is direct access to the ocean from the house, for swimming, paddling and SUP Yoga.. There is a laundry building and a big courtyard for outdoor Yoga sessions. The large house has a marvelous porch with good cross breezes from the ocean. Meals are shared here. The smaller house has a comfortable private deck, dining area and superb ocean and seasonal sunset views.
With this program all meals at the villa are included and anyone with an inkling and a good recipe is welcome to take on preparing a dinner for the group. The kitchen is comfortable with all the standard amenities including a ninja for smoothies. We will always have coffee and tea available, you are on your own for any specialty beverages. Meals at home base are vegan, generally plant based, whole foods in nature using fresh and often organic ingredients. Plan on low salt, low or no added sugar, low gluten, light oils. Think healthy!
The three bedrooms are set up in a traditional island layout, two with separate doors to the porch and all flowing through each other. The largest bedroom is reached through the double and has it's own bath, dressing area and closet.
This program is intimate in size with a minimum of 5 participants and a maximum of 8 plus 2 instructor/hosts making it truly a one of a kind experience.
Your Hosts
Your host for this trip include the organizer, Lynn Upthagrove who is currently in training for her yoga teacher's certificate and an intense SUP Paddler. Lynn and her husband own the Villa we are staying at and enjoy opening their property to folks who love what they do.... yoga, paddling and Puerto Rico. When not in PR, Lynn lives in St. Germain, Wisconsin where she is kept busy with Cedaroma Lodge, an 11 cabin resort and her passion business: YogaPaddler with weekly paddle outings, night paddles, private SUP yoga classes for groups, equipment rentals and more.
Our guest instructor is Melody Ashling. an RYT200 instructor since 2015 and AFAA Certified with a BS in Biology and a minor in Community Health. Melody has spent many years with a focus on Iyangar yoga and is recently returned to school to earn her Respiratory Therapist credentials. Melody is alignment and safety oriented and has taken many Continuing Education courses over the course of these last few years bringing a rich set of skills to our program.
These annual retreats are a natural extension of what Melody and Lynn are passionate about in life and it shows in their attention to detail on their trips.
Deposit & Cancellation Policy
A 25% deposit is required to hold your space in this program.
December 1st the next payment is due bringing the deposit up to deposit 50%. We must have our minimum of 5 people with 50% paid at this point to move the program forward. If we have less than than 5, you will receive a 100% refund of all moneys paid. Please do not purchase your flight before we confirm to you that we have met the minimum number of participants.
The final payment is due January 19th.
If you cancel 60 or more days before the program starts, all but $100 will be refunded.
If you cancel 30-60 days before the March 19th, you forfeit your 50% deposit.
If you cancel less than 30 days before the start of the program you owe 100% of the program cost unless we find a replacement person for your slot.
If you ever have to cancel and are able to send us a substitute participant, there will be no cancellation fee. We will transfer your reservation to their name. They will take on all future payments with us and the two of you can work out all earlier payments between yourselves.
What’s included
- 12 Yoga SessionsWe will explore some of the different styles yoga has to offer. Sessions may include Vinyasa Flow, Restorative, Yin, Chakras, Chair yoga, SUP yoga and Yoga Nidra
- Meditation SessionsMeditation series with 3 break out sessions helping you to further your meditation practice. Including an introduction into the Transcendental, Mindfulness and Loving Kindness styles of mediation.
- Daily Paddle OutingA rare and unique opportunity allows for daily paddles around the harbor and island-park. Mornings are the best times to spot manatees, dolphins, nurse sharks, star fish, sting rays and other sea life
- Recreation EquipmentStand Up Paddle Boards, Kayaks, Snorkel Gear, Boogie Boards, Paddles, Life Jackets and Yoga Mats are included at no additional charge.
- 7x BreakfastsThese are self-served at the Villa.
- 5x LunchesLunches at our home port are always included. This adventure also includes outing lunches for Gilligan's Island and our travel day picnic at the coffee tour. We travel with our cooler and snacks.
- 5x DinnersAll meals at the Villa are included in this package. Participants are welcome to taste the local fare on their own any night. We are in the middle of a restaurant route and dozens of options.
- Coffee Plantation StopHigh in the mountains on our way to Aguadilla. We will tour the plantation and taste their delicious coffee. Also custom chocolates with coffee! YUM!
- National Park Entry FeesThese fees get you into the historic forts in Old San Juan
- Bicycle RentalPart of our north shore itinerary to the Aguadilla with super views, paved trail
- 4 ExcursionsSee detailed itineraries for more information
- All Lodging`Including 6 nights at Villa Del Mar and one Night in Aguadilla
- Airport TransfersWhen flights arrive & depart within an hour of 2pm transfers included. If outside this time you will need to make private arrangements.
- TransportationIncludes transportation, gas & tolls to and from all of our planned activities
- Facebook GroupParticipants are invited to share photos, notes, memories, and more on a private Facebook group page
- WiFi Internet
What’s not included
- AirfarePlan on arriving/departing mid-afternoon for included transfers
- Sunscreen
- Most BeveragesOnly Tea & Coffee are included
- Optional Surf LessonsThere are two opportunities for surf lessons, these are optional and additional at ~$80
- Optional Horseback RideWe ride in the late afternoon on Tuesday on our North Shore excursion. The trail is across the beach for miles and just lovely!
- Airport TransfersIf you are NOT arriving or departing between 1 and 4 pm then transfers are not included. Let me know your schedule and I can help you make private arrangements, fee applies.
Available Packages
This is a perfect little room for those on a budget., cozy with just enough space. This room has a closet and dresser and your own air-conditioner. Bright & colorful, this room is accessed off the living room and shares the main bathroom with the double bedded room. Book one of the beds or join with a friend and take this whole room!
Rate is for one Person, you can add a second person for $950.
This room has one double bed and shares a bath with the bunk room. This room has direct access from the porch to get to the rest of the house. The Double-Double room access is through this room.
Price listed is for 2 people, one person per bed. You can add up to 2 additional people for $950 each.
This is the largest of the guest rooms with two double beds, a closet and a private bath. You can share this room with 2, 3 or 4 people. The base rate is for 2 people. Add $950 for each additional person in this room
Available options
Itinerary
While each day is nicely configured, the order they may be experienced could change as we negotiate with our vendors for the best packages. This year we found many of our favorite things to do don't always happen on the day we want to do them... so we many need to change our days around.