Spring Equinox Spiritual Transformation Retreat
on the Riviera Maya in Mexico
March 17th-24th, 2009

I have been taking people to this amazing place for several years in a row, and it is incredibly fun and magical. I love my special time in Mexico, and I imagine you will too. There are already some wonderful people signed up to come this year, and I hope you'll join us. We will have between 30-40 participants from all over the world to attend. Some people will be coming with friends or partners, and some people will be coming on their own.

Every day will have a different focus, depending on the energy of the day. We determine the energy of the day by following the  guidance of the T'zol kin Mayan calendar. According to the Maya, each day has a different vibrational quality. The afternoon and evenings programs change accordingly. One you sign up, you will receive more information about the calendar, and will also receive a Mayan astrological reading.   Basic Daily Schedule: Morning yoga and meditation 8:00am Breakfast 9:00am Free time Lunch 12:30pm Afternoon activity (climb the seven step pyramid on the Spring Equinox, go to a sacred cenote (jungle pool), and participant in a temazcal (Mayan sweat lodge), amazing snorkeling and beach playtime, group breath work, Receive optional readings and healing from Curendera Maria, receive optional massage from Mayan Healers, or take a  trip to the Mayan Ruins on Tulum or to Playa del Carmen to shop and be immersed in the friendly Mayan culture. Dinner 6:00 pm 7:00 -10pm evening session, ceremonies, healings, meditations and teachings on energy healing, shamanism, and tantric shamanism. Drumming, dancing and singing on the beach.

The trip fee  covers your lodging, Food at the retreat center, the trip to the cenote and the temazcal, entry fee and interpreter into the Mayan ruins in Coba, all teachings, and activities we do together, all ground travel including rides to and from the airport (providing you arrive and leave on the 17th and 24th of March.)

The only things you will need to pay for are:
Your airfare (I'm happy to help you find cheap tickets to make the trip as affordable as possible.)
$75-$100 for tips for the staff.
$20 if you'd like to receive an egg cleansing healing session from curendera Maria de Tulum.
$80 if you'd like to receive a healing session from a Massage therapist from our highly skilled staff.
We'll also be eating out for two meals in town, each one should run you @ $12
Shopping money for Mexican goods. (Blankets, art, hammocks, jewelry, clothing are all very reasonably priced.. if you've got the stomach for bargaining.. I rather enjoy doing it.) you might want to bring a little extra money... just in case. I usually bring some cash, and get some traveler's cheques. You can also use your credit card to get money, or it can be used for some purchases, though most places will not be that sophisticated. It's a better idea to not bring a lot of cash.

Here are some details you might want to think about in preparation for the trip:

We will be flying into the Cancun airport. If you find a really cheap flight into Cozumel, we might be able to work that out too... but Cancun will be easier. Please be sure to speak with me BEFORE booking flights, as I need people to arrive and leave in certain windows of time so that we can caravan down to Tulum together in the vans. If you are adding days before or after to the trip, you will need to find your own transportation to or from t he airport.

You will need a passport, or a photo id (gov't issued) and a birth certificate. If you do not have a passport, you will need to get one.

To bring list: Passport Ticket or E ticket Print-out Some Travelers Checks $30-$50 cash, some in small bills (you can bring more, but you need this at a minimum for the airport etc...) Debit card Copy your passport, Credit card, and ticket info and leave a copy with family or friends Snorkel Sunscreen UV lip cover sun glasses Sunhat Bathing suit ( for the cenote... at least) Pocket Raincoat Journal or notebook Walking shoes or sandals (no need for heavy hiking boots) Thin cotton long-sleeved shirt and pants (to get out of sun)

White clothes Drums, rattles (if you like) Ritual/Healing Items (if you like) Backpack/ water bottle carrier/fanny pack (any combination of these things) Medicines and personal toiletries A medium to light sweater or jacket Several short sleeved shirts Shorts and or Skirts sarongs if ya got them one pair, long pants (not jeans or other thick pants) If you think you might buy some Mexican items,   be sure to leave some spare room in your suitcase for fuller packing on the return The rest is up to you. Keep in mind that most normal toiletries and such can be purchased there if need be, as we will not be too far away from "civilization."

The weather in the Riviera Maya in March ranges from 89 degrees to 67 degrees. On the beach, we have steady breeze which makes it pretty comfortable.  March is the dry season with a monthly average of a 1/3 of an inch of rain for the month. Between it being the dry season and the sea breezes, the mosquitoes are likely to not be so bad.  

Cesiak has hot water in teh bathhouse, but uses candlelight in the rooms. The cabana's are right on the beach, so the sea breeze will keep us cool in the night. This is not luxury accommodations... it definitely has an "outback" kind of feel... so if you want electricity, cable TV, the ability to use your blow dryer and such.. this is not the trip for you... however, if you want peace, solitude, extreme beauty, the option of jumping in the waves without a stitch on, great food, and great company, this is the perfect trip!

Below, is a little information regarding the trip gleaned from some Q and A from last year's trip.

Do you know the money conversion rate?

The rate is currently $1.00 United States Dollars = 10.70 Mexico Pesos .. which works out nicely for us.

What about getting Mexican currency?

You can do that once you get there. We can go to an exchange place (called a "cambio" in Spanish). If you want money right away, there are exchange places right in the airport. In a pinch, you can use US dollars anywhere, but the rate will be lousy. We will get some pesos either way, and all will be fine. Besides, I will be handling all the travel arrangements in advance, so you won't have a huge need for those pesos right away.

Is it just a myth about the water being unsafe or is this something we need to consider?

In the place we will be staying, they keep things very clean and will give us water that will not make us sick. When we are out and about, you will want to use bottled water only. This is easily accessible everywhere. Some people say it is best not to eat raw vegetables and fruits. Partially, that is because it might have been washed with unfiltered water. At our retreat place, they are conscientious about it, so you can pretty much eat and drink without fear. When I am out and about, I am a little more cautious about what I eat. Generally, peeled fruit is OK. I would be more leery of salads. Just in case, some people like to take grapefruit seed extract as a precautionary measure against parasites. I leave that up to your discretion.

My office mate was in Mexico 1 hour south of Cancun in May. She said that it was very beautiful and also very muggy and very hot. Will it be muggy in March?

The weather on the beach is very comfortable. once you get inland it can get a bit hot. You will find it can sometimes be warm in your cabana at night, but it's really not too bad with the sea breeze blowing.

You mentioned bug spray. What kind of bugs are there?

There are a few mosquitoes. You won't have much trouble with them, because the sea breeze blows them away. At night, we sleep under mosquito netting ,and they give you incense/repellant coils to light, if you are so inclined. Taking B6 before and during the trip is a very helpful way to deter the mosquitoes.

Should we bring water shoes to avoid stepping on sea urchins?

It is pretty sandy where we will be, but some people like to wear water shoes. I never did. It's up to you. I have never had a problem.. I never even saw a sea urchin on the beach where we are.

Is it dangerous in Mexico?

One might ask the same question about New York City. Probably, NYC is more dangerous. People often feel like there is more to worry about in a new country.. really, that's just xenophobia for the most part. Like anywhere, it just requires common sense. probably a woman taking a long walk on the beach alone after dark is not the best idea. Since we will be doing a lot of group activities, there is very little to worry about. Tulum is pretty safe... especially in the area we will be in. Most of the difficult types prefer a different stretch of beach our beach is quite safe. I've been going down there almost every year since 1998, and I've never had a problem.

 

Kind regards,

Sylvia Brallier
Director of the Tantric Shamanism Institute
http://www.tantricshamanism.com
(831)338-2454