Wild Heart Writing Retreat 

Questions? 

Below we share helpful information as you plan this exciting adventure!

How can I best prepare for our time together?

-Book your travel (details below)

-Get travel insurance (see more below)

-Complete the Wild Heart Writing Retreat Questionnaire

-Gather your money for tips (see more below)

-Create a plan for getting Mexican Pesos (we suggest simply doing an ATM withdrawal at the airport when you land).

-Pack :)

We will send everyone a retreat waiver to sign and additional forms depending on preferred transportation method to Rancho Encantado and room arrangements.

How do I travel to Mexico?

Getting there is half the fun. To arrive at the beautiful refuge of Rancho Encantado, you have a few options.

We recommend booking your flights into Chetumal airport. Most flights into Chetumal fly through Mexico City and Chetumal is about an hour taxi ride from Bacalar.  Most flights through Mexico City require an overnight stay and we suggest sleeping at the airport hotel for ease. Rancho Encantado can arrange a taxi from the Chetumal airport to your accommodation.

The other option would be to fly into Cancun and arrange for transportation for the 4 hour drive.  You could rent a car or there is a bus from Cancun to Bacalar. You might be able to arrange with other participants to book a shuttle from Cancun to Bacalar. 

There is a new airport in Tulum which could be possible although we have not yet done it ourselves.

A friendly reminder: Participants are responsible for paying for transportation services to Rancho Encantado (see below for additional expenses).

What do I need to bring?

PACKING LIST

-Passport

-Writing materials of choice

-Attire for Shabbat ceremony (we like to dress up for God) and an outfit for our final salon evening

-An altar item that is sacred to you that you can bring back with you

-Water bottle

-Container for hot drinks 

-Sun hat

-Swimsuit

-UV sunscreen

-Bug repellent

-Electrolytes

-Flashlight or headlamp

-Toiletries

-Variety of clothing. (Winter weather in the Yucatan is warm and gentle.  Temperatures average in the upper 70s and lower 80s, with occasional rain showers.  A light shawl or long sleeved shirt for evenings is usually sufficient.) 

-Good shoes (Pack a pair of sturdy shoes for our expedition to the pyramids, and shoes you can easily slip off and on at the door of our gathering space.) 

Can I stay longer at Rancho Encantado?

Yes! We highly reccommend you extend your stay. Email Nelly at [email protected] to coordinate.

What is the seating situation like?

You will have an option of sitting on the floor with a cushion or a chair in our large meeting area.

What will the days be like?

Days flow gently from morning Body Temple practices to enriching writing sessions and spacious afternoons.

Evenings gather us for soulful chanting, weaving a rhythm of deep connection and reflective pauses. 

Schedule details to come.

What kind of food will we eat?

There is a gourmet restaurant at Rancho Encantado called Los Hechizos that consists of delicious regional cuisine prepared by a renowned chef. Vegetarian and pescetarian options will be available and all meals (breakfast, a 2 course lunch and 3 course dinner) are included in your retreat registration. 

What currency is used in Mexico? Do I need cash?

The currency of Mexico is the peso. $1 in the United States is about 20 pesos. We suggest visiting the ATM at the airport to withdraw some cash for your time in Mexico. Some places in Mexico prefer cash and you might find it handy to have some extra cash for the journey.

Yes, please plan to bring cash for the additional expenses in the next question.

Are there additional expenses I need to plan for?

Yes, please plan for the following additional expenses:

-Tips for hotel and restaurant staff: $350-$400 United States Dollar

-Tips for our tour guide: $20-$40 United States Dollar

-Transportation to/from Rancho Encantado

-Travel insurance

The registration cost includes:

-Three specialty meals per day

-Accommodation at the beautiful Rancho Encantado

-A day excursion to the pyramids with a local guide

-Retreat tuition

Will there be Wi-Fi or internet access? What is your policy around technology use during the retreat?

Rancho Encantado will have wifi access, but please consider this retreat to be a refuge from the tyranny of tasks.  Plan to keep electronic communications to a minimum.  

How will I communicate? Will my cell phone work in Mexico?

If you live in the US and have the phone carrier Verizon, your phone plan should work in Mexico at no extra charge, how simple! For all others, the app “Whatsapp” uses wifi to make phone calls and is a wonderful way to stay in touch with your friends and family back home.

Do I need travel insurance?

To ensure the safety and well-being of everyone attending our international retreat, we are requiring all participants to purchase travel insurance.  

This insurance should cover potential losses sustained due to trip cancellations, medical emergencies, accidents, or illnesses.  

We recommend using a reputable provider like "Insure My Trip," though you are free to choose any insurance provider that meets your needs.

Is this gathering for people of all genders?

Yes, we warmly invite people of all genders to join us in this transformational writing experience.

Will the retreat include free time?

Yes! We value giving you space to relax, write and integrate. Each afternoon you will have a couple of hours of free time to time do whatever feels best. While we value having you present at each offering, the retreat sessions are optional and you are encouraged to care for your needs at all times.

What is the weather like at Rancho Encantado in February?

Winter weather in the Yucatan is warm and gentle.  Temperatures average in the upper 70s and lower 80s, with occasional rain showers.  A light shawl or long sleeved shirt for evenings is usually sufficient.  Pack a pair of sturdy shoes for our expedition to the pyramids, and shoes you can easily slip off and on at the door of our gathering space.  Bring something festive for our Friday night Shabbat ceremony, and comfy clothes for morning movement practice.

What languages will be spoken during the retreat?

The retreat will be offered in English. Depending on how many participants wish to write in Spanish, we may have some small groups to share in Spanish as well.

Are there any cultural considerations I should be aware of?

Mexico is a beautiful and welcoming country. The culture is very warm and relaxed and we are confident you will feel right at home. 

Are there any special requirements for participating in the day excursion to the pyramids?

One day of our retreat, we will visit a spectacular but little-known Mayan archeological site where we will write at the pyramids, followed by a traditional lunch served by our indigenous friends in a small village nearby.  It promises to be a highlight of our time together and no further preparation is required by you. We will arrange transportation and please plan to tip our amazing local guide $20-40.

Will there be transportation provided from the airport to Rancho Encantado?  

Transportation is not included to and from Rancho Encantado.

We recommend booking your flights into Chetumal airport. Most flights into Chetumal fly through Mexico City and Chetumal is about an hour taxi ride from Bacalar.  Rancho Encantado can arrange a taxi from the airport to your accommodation.

The other option would be to fly into Cancun and arrange for transportation for the 4 hour drive.  You could rent a car or there is a bus from Cancun to Bacalar. You might be able to arrange with other participants to book a shuttle from Cancun to Bacalar. 

There is a new airport in Tulum which could be possible although we have not yet done it ourselves.

A friendly reminder: Participants are responsible for paying for transportation services to Rancho Encantado (see below for additional expenses).

What is the policy for substance use?

This retreat will be substance free. A wine list is available at dinner at your own cost and there will be a bottle of wine for the Shabbat ritual.

When do we arrive February 11th?

Retreat check in will begin at 3pm on February 11th.

Note: You are welcome to book time at Rancho Encantado before or after our retreat to give yourself a more spacious travel.

What time is checkout February 16th? 

Check out will be at noon on February 16th. 

Note: You are welcome to book time at Rancho Encantado before or after our retreat to give yourself a more spacious travel.

What is the cancellation policy?

Due to the arrangements necessary to make this retreat possible, we do not offer refunds.

To ensure the safety and well-being of everyone attending our international retreat, we are requiring all participants to purchase travel insurance.  

This insurance should cover potential losses sustained due to trip cancellations, medical emergencies, accidents, or illnesses.  

We recommend using a reputable provider like "Insure My Trip," though you are free to choose any insurance provider that meets your needs.

Can I share my experience on social media?

Absolutely! We love when friends share their experiences far and wide. For privacy, all participants will be asked if they consent to their photos being used and only those who do will have their image shared. We appreciate you spreading the love.

 Meet Mirabai 

Mirabai Starr is an award-winning author, internationally acclaimed speaker, and interspiritual teacher. Drawing from 20 years of teaching Philosophy and World Religions and a lifetime of practice, Mirabai shares her wisdom worldwide on contemplative living, writing as a spiritual practice, and the transformational power of grief and loss.

She has authored over a dozen books including Wild Mercy, Caravan of No Despair, and renowned translations of sacred literature. Her most recent book, Ordinary Mysticism, has been praised by Anne Lamott as "a gorgeous, transformative, welcoming book is for anyone who longs to feel more present, more alive, more joyful and aware of the holiness of daily life". She lives with her extended family in the mountains of northern New Mexico.

"It's the perfect place to feel safe enough to write vulnerably."

— Caroline, Wild Heart Writing Retreat Participant

 Our Retreat Team 

 Body Temple Movement with Adriana Rizzolo 

Adriana will share her Body Temple Dance practices to help us integrate and celebrate. She will hold space for somatic healing, body tending and awakening our creativity. She has experience working with transforming trauma into purpose and has a strong space for both deep rest as well as energy activation. Through mantra, breath, movement and exploring the imagination, together we will deepen in soul love while embodying our humanness more fully. Adriana guides others in taking their role as leaders in the feminine healing arts, in which Mirabai has been a massive inspiration and teacher.

"Body Temple! Broke me open."

— Pat F., Wild Heart Writing Retreat Participant

"Let's get more guys to the dance floor so they can help their women change the world."

— Dave C., Wild Heart Writing Retreat Participant

"I really loved the soft approach. Body Temple was so awesome—did a good job easing us into our bodies. Same with the community aspect! Never felt forced."

— Kaitlin, Wild Heart Writing Retreat Participant

 Sacred Song with Willow Brook 

Willow will weave chanting and song from a multitude of sacred traditions into our retreat, offering a space of profound beauty. An earth loving educator, seeker, artist and friend on fire for love, truth and embodied liberation, Willow is the co-founder of Wild Heart and has led retreats with Mirabai since 2021. With a lifetime of experience on an interspiritual path and a decade of experience teaching in classrooms across the world, Willow brings devotional song and prayer into everything she does.

"There were a lot of layers cornering what I was hoping to write and there was never a push to get anywhere. Offers of song, dance, tea, rest, writing, community allowed the story to emerge when it was ready, when it felt safe."

— Anne Woods, Wild Heart Writing Retreat Participant

"It's going to crack you open to a new way of being! Also boys, don't be shy, this work is needed and goes beyond gender. Take a walk on the wild (heart) side."

— Manny F., Wild Heart Writing Retreat Participant