máncora, peru

June 28- July 5, 2025

for the:
anthropologist

Where the North and South Pacific Oceans meet is the small town of Máncora, Peru. It’s located on the most western point of South America and sits just below the Equator. In July, despite it being winter, the waters are warm and the whales migrate from Antarctica to birth their young. For animals and humans alike, Máncora is an oasis - a desert outpost, teeming with life.

Like many of us, Máncora’s identity is dynamic. Not one or the other, but rather living in duality. An “in-between-ness.”

In Latin American anthropology, there’s a term for she who wades in this space in-between. We call her, “La Nepantla.”

She will be our muse for self-study on this retreat - helping us to understand what makes us whole. Through cultural immersion, stillness, and lots of play, we get to honor both the shadow and the light.

retreat intention: wholeness

primary chakras: Solar Plexus

klesha: false sense of self

six (6) nights accommodation in Máncora

Pa’lante Yoga was born because of this property and it’s an absolute honor to be going back. The homeowner, Sofia Mulanovich, World Champion surfer, gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to host my first-ever retreat here in 2018. The design itself is architecturally stunning and it’s the most sought after piece of real estate on Peru’s northern coast. Jump to the beach, walk five minutes to town, or lounge poolside in your downtime.

one (1) night ACCOMMODATION in lima

Layover Support

I know that getting to South America, and especially somewhere as remote as Máncora, can be overwhelming. So I wanted to give you the option of traveling with me. And maybe have some time to explore Peru’s capital!

June 28 - Arrive in Lima. You can check into our apartment in Miraflores at ANY TIME, morning or night. I will be there to receive you. There is nothing organized on this day so you can simply rest and explore Lima.

June 29 - We will all travel to the Lima airport together. From there, we will catch our quick flights to Talara (TYL) and take shuttles to Máncora where the retreat really begins!

*Once our retreat group is confirmed, I will help everyone with flight and shuttle coordination. If you prefer to meet us in Máncora, that is totally okay, too!

Three (3) Hours of yoga/day

Working with this theme of duality, our retreat is balanced in intensity and stillness. Hatha, Vinyasa, and restorative formats will be our focus. We will play with this contrast between shadow and light, studying one through the other. Here’s what you can expect of your daily yoga practice in Máncora:

  • Ninety (90) minute morning practice

  • One (1) hour of afternoon or evening practice

  • 30-Minute Meditation

Our excursions, listed below, offer the depth that we normally extract from our specialty workshops. So we’re going outward before going inward. And we’ll round out our days with dialogue surrounding the theme.

Brunch and dinner

Normally, I encourage you guys to eat plant-based with me, in alignment with an Ayurvedic diet. But I hear the ceviche in Máncora is the “best in the world” so we’ll keep things pescatarian. Brunch and dinner everyday, served at this sweet family-style table.

*Food not included during layover in Lima.

lobitos community day

Lobitos is incredibly unsuspecting. It’s a tiny community south of Máncora, tucked into the otherwise barren hillside. But as you look closer, you see just how rich it is. The children are the heart of the community and surfing is its pulse. On our day trip down there, we will have the privilege of immersing ourselves through a program called WAVES For Development. Last time, we got to teach yoga and surf. We shall see what fun we get into this year!

*5% of retreat proceeds will go directly to WAVES

**Additionally, I bet they would also really appreciate it if we could bring some school supplies, sports gear, clothes, etc. from home. Before the trip, I’ll send out a wish list to the group so we can divide and conquer. ◡̈

stand up paddle boarding

Time on the water is my favorite. We’ll have time to paddle the coastline and play around with some yoga poses.

Temazcal Ceremony

A Temazcal sweat lodge is traditionally used for both healing and strengthening, believed to purify the body and mind. This ceremony will be performed in Spanish and then I will translate where needed. The beautiful thing about ceremony is that, no matter what language, the energy is universal.

restorative Sound healing with cacao + reiki

In Ayurveda, the five senses are known as our “inner pharmacy.” This specialty practice will utilize all five for holistic healing and deeper connection. And what’s even cooler is that Adri, my beautiful co-host for this ceremony, harvests and processes the cacao herself. So much love is infused already.

beach movie night

A private movie night for us - the ultimate sunset experience. Everything is fun in Máncora.

Sunset sail

A sunset sail is the coolest way to experience Mancora’s desert coastline. July is also the beginning of whale watching season… we might get lucky. Crossing my fingers and toes.

on-site Massage

Adri will be around all week, offering each of you a massage on-site. We’ll space these out throughout our downtime. Some pampering to look forward to!

Chakra Archetype Reading

Before we go, I’ll have everyone take an updated quiz. During our retreat, you and I will take some 1:1 time for a private reading. Details here.

Pricing

Solo traveler

women’s bunk room: SOLD OUT

double room: SOLD OUT

Private room: SOLD OUT

couples*

Private room: SOLD OUT

Availability: 0/9 spaces

*Private rooms can be reserved for a couple or two besties traveling together. Price reflects BOGO 50% off.

Not included:

  • Roundtrip Airfare + airport transfers getting home

  • Extra snacks/food in town

  • Additional fun:

    • Surf lessons + board rentals

    • Kite surfing lessons

  • Gratuities for local staff, if you’d like to give

payment:

  • Deposit of $500/person to secure your space in Perú

  • Remaining balance due on February 1, 2025

  • Debit or Credit accepted via PayPal (3% fee)

 

common questions

Q: I’m not that “spiritual.” Are the ceremonies going to be too much for me?
A: We will participate in two types of ceremony: cacao + temazcal. They are both beautiful experiences and I think rather welcoming for ceremony newbies. The temazcal is certainly the more intense of the two, as we will be in a sauna for the experience. You can always sit something out, if you don’t feel comfortable.

Q: Is Peru safe?
A: YES! We will be in Lima + Mancora, two of the most tourist-friendly places along the coast. I will ask that no one goes out at night alone, as that’s a good rule of thumb anywhere.

Q: I’m nervous about getting to the destination alone. Can you help me?
A: Of course! See above for the Lima Layover support. More details coming after our retreat group is established.

Q: Should I bring cash?
A: Yes, if you’d like extra snacks or souvenirs, it’s recommended to bring Soles with you. You can request these from your bank at home before you go.

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