Mexico has a long history of drawing tourists to its sweeping azure coastlines, exquisite architecture, Mayan ruins, delicious cuisine, and great climate. But what offers a sense of enlightenment and serenity to Mexico lovers and travelers is its diverse range of stylish yoga retreats.
If you’ve been considering a silent meditation retreat in Mexico, it’s time you get started with Hridaya yoga in Mazunte Oaxaca. This yoga retreat Mexico spot holds daily meditation, yoga classes, and events such as ecstatic dance and drum circles.
What occurred to me as a surprise is that the classes last two hours long, and most people still manage to make the most of the allocated time. Nevertheless, the sessions here are excellent at providing a lengthy savasana followed by a deep sequence of opening postures to get you warmed up and closing postures to calm you down.
Before beginning your journey of self-discovery and transformation with one of the best yoga retreats Mexico has to offer, it’s important you get the facts right.
This guide explores just as much to get you all set for a yoga retreat Mexico, including Mazunte Oaxaca’s location, how to get there, the best hotels to stay near the retreat center, and the ultimate packing list for your yoga retreat.
Let’s get started…
Where is Mazunte, Oaxaca?
Mazunte is a beach town on the Pacific coast of Mexico, in Oaxaca state. This sleepy little beach town and its neighbors Zipolite and San Agustinillo, are frequently overlooked because of their proximity to the larger beach resorts of Huatulco and Puerto Escondido.
If you have time for a relaxing getaway, consider starting in Puerto Escondido and traveling down the coast’s beaches one at a time. Or if you have limited time and don’t want to deal with crowds, spend time at Mazunte, then head to Zipolite and San Agustinillo for a day to vacate the food scenes and beach there.
How Can I Get to Mazunte, Mexico?
There are two options to get there; either by road or by flight.
By road, you can get there from Oaxaca City, which is around six hours drive. Or from one of Oaxaca’s main beaches towns: Huatulco and Puerto Escondido.
Unfortunately, there is no airport in Mazunte, so getting to this place directly from the major cities is quite difficult. In that case, the best way to get there is through the closest airports to Mazunte, which include Puerto Escondido Airport or Huatulco International Airport. Plus, the drive time from both airports is almost the same.
Get to this link for an approximate cost depending on your preferred route. In the meantime, here’s a breakdown of the entire journey.
From Oaxaca City to Mazunte by Bus
One of the best ways to get to Mazunte is by bus. This is especially ideal for travelers on a budget.
The trip is, however, long and tiresome. It takes about 7 hours, and the cost is about 600 pesos.
To catch one of the buses to Mazunte, you must head to Oaxaca de Juarez bus terminal, where you’ll find a couple of buses, most of which run multiple times on a daily basis. The bus will get you to San Pedro Pochutla, Oaxaca, where you shall board a cab or Colectivo to Mazunte town.
Driving From Oaxaca City to Mazunte
The drive from Oaxaca city is safe, but you’ll drive to a curvy mountain that’s not so well-lit or maintained in many areas. However, this is basically a straight-shot drive on one road for most part of the trip.
The distance is about 274 km (171 miles) and lasts approximately 6 hours in usual traffic.
Take the Oaxaca de Juarez – Puerto Angel highway. The minute you arrive at Pochutla, take the diversion to Mazunte beach.
From Puerto Escondido Airport to Mazunte
From Puerto Escondido, you either rent a car, take a taxi, or a bus.
Renting is so far one of the best and most practical alternatives since you can travel at your own comfort and the duration will be slightly over an hour.
The cost of gas per trip is about 150 – 190 pesos.
If you opt for a cab from Puerto Escondido to Mazunte, you can take one in town. But make sure to board the car after agreeing on the price. Depending on your negotiation skills, this might cost you around $40. Also, note that there is no Uber in Puerto Escondido and Oaxaca state.
And finally, if you must travel by bus to Pochutla, the best way is to take the bus marked “Pochutla” and alight at Crucero de San Antonio. From there, take a colectivo, camioneta, or taxi to Mazunte. The entire trip should cost you around 100 pesos or less.
From Huatulco International Airport to Mazunte
If you are coming from Oaxaca or Mexico City by plane, it’s relatively easy to get to Mazunte from Huatulco International Airport.
A trip by bus will cost you about 100 pesos lasting around one hour. Board the bus written “Pochutla” and alight at Crucero de San Antonio. Once there, take a camioneta, colectivo, or taxi to Mazunte. The best option, if you are on a budget, would be the colectivo. The taxi will charge you around 100 pesos.
If you love traveling in your own comfort, the taxi would be the best alternative. You can choose between the local taxi or the airport taxi. I usually prefer local taxis when heading to Mazunte because they are more affordable than airport taxis. While the airport taxi will charge you 1,050 pesos, a local taxi costs 600 pesos for a similar trip.
However, an airport taxi comes with slightly better comfort than local taxis. They provide authorized drivers with air-conditioned vehicles that will hardly make stops en route and will comfortably accommodate all your luggage. Local taxis, on the other hand, are ideal for passengers with little luggage or those who can speak Spanish.
Driving is the best option as it gives you the flexibility to travel in your own comfort. I recommend using DiscoverCars to book your trip as they are very reputable. You can get to Mazunte and return to Huatulco at your preferred time. To get to Mazunte, take the Santiago Pinotepa Nacional – Salina Cruz road.
The entire journey should last about 50 minutes. You can also book your trip below through DiscoverCars.
Yoga Retreat Mexico: What is the Difference Between Hridaya Yoga and Vipassana?
Even though both yoga retreats follow similar schedules, these three pointers differentiate the two:
- Hridaya encourages Who AM I? mantra to be used throughout the entire retreat period, whereas in Vipassana, there’s no use of mantra throughout your ten days of silence.
- Hridaya experience has two silent retreats- the 3-day and 10-day silent retreats, while Vipassana only offers a 10-day silent meditation retreat.
- Vipassana is entirely donation-based, while Hridaya charges a fee.
If you’re still yearning for a yoga retreat Mexico and are looking for the best place to stay in Mazunte, you don’t want to stop here. The following section offers a lot more of that.
Where to Stay in Mazunte Mexico
There are many options to choose from, including hostels, hotels, and Airbnb.
If you go the hostel way, most of them lack an online presence, so you’ll be fine to arrive without a reservation. There are plenty of them down the main road.
But if you opt for a hotel, Mazunte’s range of hotels isn’t that extensive. However, there are enough to suit most comfort and budget levels. I highly recommend booking a hotel in advance since they tend to get busy, especially during public holidays and peak season.
Some Mazunte hotels I highly recommend that are near Hridaya Yoga Mexico include:
Casa la Ola San Agustinillo
Casa la Ola is a stunning hotel with a swimming pool, onsite bar and restaurant, and a rooftop terrace with astonishing views of the Pacific Ocean.
Zoa Hotel
When it comes to luxury, Zoa Mazunte is the one go-to place.
Besides stunning amenities like a private beach, theatre, and lounge, this adult-only, eco-friendly hotel features eight private suites tucked in an elegant seaside hideaway.
Hotel Paraiso del Pescador
Hotel Paraiso is a solid budget choice with a bar and restaurant and nice ocean views from the property.
Casa Dewachen
Casa Dewachen is a private room in the home of a Buddhist woman. The room is on the first floor and offers spectacular views over the beach, including the Hridaya Yoga and the National Mexican Turtle Center.
What Should I Pack for My Yoga Retreat
When preparing for a trip to Mexico, simplicity is key. Besides the usual spiritual retreat, Mazunte town is pretty hot all year round. The average temperature is approximately 30⁰C with minimal fluctuation. Therefore, make sure to carry a water bottle to keep you hydrated and an additional water filtration level to prevent you from getting sick.
Below are other things to carry with you on your yoga retreat trip to Mazunte.
- Slip-on sandals
- Premium Filtering Water Bottle
- General clothing, including sports bras, tops, and pants
- A pen and a journal
- Hair wraps or headbands
- Meditation pillow. Pillows are given on a first come first serve basis. But to avoid missing out, you better bring your own.
- Yoga mat
- Mat cover
- Anti-mosquito bracelet
- Eco-friendly insect repellant
- Travel laundry detergent
- Meds (particularly headache meds and antidiarrheals)
- A scarf or a sleep mask to place over your head in a bid to eliminate sensory distraction.
- Non-perishable snacks
- General toiletries, including face scrub, face wash, body wash, conditioner, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, lotion, and deodorant.
The Hridaya Yoga Mexico Retreat: What’s the Experience Like?
After knowing where to stay in Mazunte and what to carry with you, it’s also essential to have a feel of the actual Yoga experience even before getting there. Follow along as I walk you through what you’ll probably experience when you get there. At the time of writing this is correct but remember to always confirm because things can change!
Pre-Retreat Orientation
You’ll get a welcome reception and orientation the night before the retreat. Since this is the last time someone from the town will speak to you, I think it is crucial that you attend. You can also learn more about the area and ask any queries you may have.
While this isn’t usually the case, the spiritual leader known as Sahajananda, often leads the retreat. He goes over the specifics of the retreat, such as noting that the meditation room is segregated by sex and that the meditation sessions will last up to three hours.
Hridaya Yoga Mexico Retreat Schedule
The retreat lasts the entire day from 7 am to 9 pm with two and a half hours break for lunch. Here’s a breakdown of the yoga class’s daily program.
- Meditation
- Breakfast
- Lecture from Sahajananda covering different spiritual topics each day
- Meditation
- Hatha yoga (lasts 90 minutes)
- Lunch break
- Meditation
- Dinner
- Lecture and Q&A session. Members write down questions and submit them to Sahajanda, who then answers during this time.
- Meditation
After a 10-day retreat session, the entire retreat silence can feel completely overwhelming. But generally, I’d say the experience is a blend of greatness, awfulness, enlightenment, and frustration. It may or may not be for you depending on your love of yoga.
Pricing varies according to your preferred module. Visit their website to learn more about the available modules, pricing, and registration.
That’s it for now! If you are really into a low-key vacation full of a unique healing yoga retreat in Mexico, hurry up and book a trip to Mazunte. But if you are interested in travelling and doing your own yoga teacher training on the go then this article might be for you.
Next: Mazunte: The Best Place to Unwind and Chill for a Week
Hi I’m Shannon!
Hi, I’m Shannon and I’m a Canadian who fell in love with Mexico on my first trip to Puerto Vallarta when I was a young adult.
That started a 30 year love affair with this country which led to marrying my Mexican husband and building a home in Mexico. And now I have even a stronger connection to this gorgeous and complex country.
