Mexico has long been a popular vacation spot due to its easy access to its northern neighbors. It is also now one of the top destinations among Canadians and Americans for yoga retreats.
During the winter months, the weather stays warm in most of Mexico with sunny days and pleasant nights. That makes the country an ideal place to get away from the cold and rest on the beach, in a desert hacienda, in a jungle lodge or in a historic colonial city.
Many resorts and group vacations offer activities other than yoga, so your partner can keep busy with surfing, fishing, golf, or relaxing in a hammock if they’re not interested in joining you for yoga.
There are several ways to participate in a yoga retreat in Mexico. You can visit a yoga retreat center in Mexico on your own, join a group for a yoga vacation, or design your own yoga getaway.
Visit to the Yoga Retreat Center in Mexico
There are now dozens of retreat centers in Mexico catering to the yoga crowd. You’ll find centers in Baja California, and along the Pacific Ocean beaches from Mazatlan to the Oaxaca coast. You’ll find yoga at restored haciendas in Mexico’s wine country and at wellness retreats outside colonial cities like Cuernavaca and San Miguel de Allende. There are also centers in the Mayan highlands of Chiapas and in the jungle of Veracruz.
On the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, there are retreat centers in the city of Izamal, where most of the buildings are painted a beautiful Vatican yellow. There are island retreats on Isla Holbox and Isla Mujeres, and beachside retreats in the Riviera Maya from Cancun and Tulum to Lake Bacalar.
These are places you can visit almost any time of year on your own, and many are near airports with direct flights from the United States. Accommodations range from rustic to luxurious, and prices vary accordingly. You can count on delicious vegetarian meals as well as meat options. Prices range from $50 to $200 or more per night.
Join a yoga tour
Another way to enjoy a yoga retreat in Mexico is to join a group. Many yoga teachers now take their students on package holidays, where all the details are already arranged, including transportation, meals, accommodation, and specialized classes.
One-week retreats tend to cost $800 to $2,000 or more, depending on location and amenities, not including airfare.
The advantage of joining a group is that you can simply mark your calendar, book a flight, and the rest is done, quite possibly, by a yoga teacher whose classes you already know you’ll enjoy.
Design a Do-It-Yourself Yoga Retreat in Mexico
To design your own yoga retreat, all you really need is a place to sleep, a place to eat, and a place to practice. Many resorts, hotels, and bed and breakfasts have rooftops or gardens ideal for self-guided practice. Some may offer yoga classes for guests.
As yoga has become more popular among Mexico’s middle class and expats, many communities now have yoga studios with daily classes, just like home yoga centers. Freelance teachers also offer classes, sometimes on a donation basis, on the beach, in a park, or at a local community center.
Designing your own retreat may be the least expensive option. There are still places in Mexico where you can find a beachfront cabana for $20 a night. This also gives you more options as to which parts of Mexico you will visit. But it also requires more work, as you will need to look for places to stay, places to eat, and places that offer yoga classes.
Whether you design your own trip, join a group, or visit a retreat center, your Mexico yoga retreat will be a time to remember, away from the winter chill.