January 22-29
AKUMAL, MEXICO 2024
Welcome the first Full Moon of the New Year with a
Sacred Journey and Regenerative Retreat
in one of the most magical areas in the Riviera Maya!
Welcome to Akumal
Located in the heart of the Riviera Maya, Akumal is a lesser known beach town boasting pristine white sandy beaches that lead into the clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. The name “Akumal” means “Place of the Turtles” in Mayan, reflecting its significance as a vital nesting site for endangered sea turtles. The area is renowned for its vibrant marine life and coral reefs, and its landscape is adorned with lush coastal vegetation, including palm trees, mangroves, and other tropical flora.
Originally inhabited by the Mayans, the area was a significant trading post and a stop along the coastal trade routes. The ruins of Tulum, a nearby archaeological site, stand as a testament to the Mayan civilization’s presence. In the mid-20th century, Akumal transformed from a small fishing village to a destination of interest for those seeking tranquility and natural beauty. Influenced by the ecological movement of the 1960s, the region embraced sustainable development practices, preserving its pristine coastline and fragile ecosystems.
Over time, Akumal evolved into a renowned ecotourism hotspot, celebrated for its sea turtle conservation efforts and its commitment to maintaining a delicate balance between tourism and environmental preservation. The history of Akumal is one of cultural heritage merging with contemporary conservation ideals, resulting in a unique destination that honors its past while inviting visitors to experience its natural wonders responsibly.
Our Facilities
Casa Caleta is a unique Luxurious Villa located in an exclusive gated community in Akumal, surrounded by jungle setting and on the shores of the stunning Yalku Lagoon which is a unique natural aquarium. By day, its rooftop deck with pergola provides beautiful views of the Caribbean, the lagoon and soothing jungle. At night, your gaze will move upwards to the full moon and the starry sky. From the moment you arrive to this retreat you are welcomed with warm Mexican hospitality. Every whim and desire is satisfied.
The interior of the home spans nearly 10,000 square feet of living space and recreational area. Upon entering, the expansive open plan living area - decorated in creams and whites with natural stone and wooden accents - greets you, along with a flat-screen TV and surround sound stereo., There are 4 bedrooms with a total of 15 beds, indoor/outdoor jacuzzi tubs and showers, large gathering and dining spaces, a fully equipped kitchen with high-end appliances, and a glass air-conditioned atrium leading to each bedroom, bringing the feel of tropical gardens inside without compromising comfort.
While the interior of this home is gorgeous and made for groups, the outdoor areas are what will keep our guests entertained! An impressive palapa covers the terrace with a massive circular dining table. Step into the large blue-tiled pool surrounded by tropical foliage or lounge poolside while enjoying your favorite beach read. The gas BBQ grill with a bar is the ideal place to hang out with a margarita while freshly caught seafood is being grilled by our private chef! The large green lawn can be set up with games such as volleyball, soccer, football, and many more.
When you are ready to snorkel and swim, walk the groomed path to Yalku Lagoon. As you will have direct access, you can experience snorkeling just after sunrise. An unforgettable experience!
The best-kept secret about the property is that it has its very own “private in-ground cenote” in the backyard to swim whenever you want. And for work-out enthusiasts, you'll find a fully stocked "jungle gym" next to the cenote for all your exercise needs!
Continuing upward, you will reach the rooftop terrace. This is a place with awe-inspiring 360° views of the Yalku Lagoon and the jungle. It is a spot where you can admire the sky full of stars in the evening or relax. Our concierge can also arrange a relaxing massage of your choice.
Our Itinerary
This retreat has been carefully curated to allow for a full range of meaningful scheduled gatherings and events, balanced with plenty of free time for you to explore the area as you wish, connect with other guests, and spend time alone to rest and reflect.
Each morning, there will be a Sunrise Ceremony to greet the Sun and welcome the new day, followed by a yoga practice. By then, our private chef will have breakfast ready for us, after which we will settle into our morning activities. These will include rituals and ceremonies to bless the land and waters, clarifying our intentions for the retreat and the year ahead, receiving teachings on emotional and physical regenerative health topics, womb work, group breathwork, and more.
Every afternoon has been left intentionally open and free! You might choose to spend the day at the beach or lounge by the pool, schedule a massage, receive a private health consultation from Summer, arrange a plactica (heart-to-heart talk) with Emily, or explore activities in the nearby area (we will provide an extensive list of adventures with details on how to make arrangements).
Later in the afternoon, we will return to Casa Caleta in time for our catered dinner, and then experience our evening activities which include teachings on Mayan feminine archetypes, dreamwork, song circles, and plenty of time to unwind together.
The BIG night will be the Full Moon on Thursday! We have a beautiful ritual planned, along with a Mexica obsidian pipe ceremony from the Moondance tradition. This will be an opportunity to fortify your dreams, visions, plans and intentions for the year ahead.
We also have two excursions planned: a temazcal (sweat lodge) ceremony at Casa Mama Yemi, followed by an afternoon of visiting nearby Playa del Carmen for beach club, shopping, and exploring;
AND an afternoon in Tulum, where we plan to take you to some amazing sites for incredible photo opportunities, followed by our Last Supper together at the end of our retreat!
In all our 13 Moons Retreats, we trust you to tune into your own inner guidance and intuition - taking advantage of as many of the activities as you like, and having the freedom to follow your own fancy, as you see fit. We are here to help you have a personal experience in a communal setting that leaves you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and restored.
what's included in this retreat
Accommodations
You will enjoy all of the amenities Casa Caleta has to offer! Each participant will have their own bed in shared accommodations, assigned on a first-come/first-serve basis. (Priority will be given to elders and those with specific physical needs.)
Nourishing Cuisine
Savor delicious meals crafted with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Our chefs create nutritious and flavorful dishes for all dietary needs. Breakfast and dinner will be provided Monday-Saturday.
Rituals and Teachings
Your hosts have a variety of workshops and ritual activities planned focused on wellness, personal and spiritual growth, and exploring the wisdom and traditions of the Mayan culture, including: sunrise ceremonies, daily yoga, blessing of the land, clarifying intentions, water ceremony, releasing stuck emotions, breath work, cacao ceremony, full moon rituals, pipe ceremony, sacred songs, and more!
Relax and Rejuvenate
In addition to ample free time each day to tend to your personal needs and desires, your hosts can help arrange massage and spa treatments, offer private health consultations, and schedule time for placticas (heart-to-heart talks).
Outdoor Adventures
For those who want to explore all that the Riviera Maya has to offer, we will furnish an extensive list of nearby sites and activities, and provide guidance for scheduling, transportation and other logistical considerations.
Excursions
We have a few excursions planned for you, including: snorkeling in the Yal Ku Lagoon; a temazcal (sweat lodge) ceremony at Casa Mama Yemi; an afternoon in nearby Playa del Carmen; and we'll also head south to magical Tulum, where we will have some amazing photo ops and enjoy our final dinner together.
MEET YOUR HOSTS
Emily Colay
Emily is the Creatrix and Guide of 13 Moons Circles, a pipe and staff carrier in the Mexica Moondance tradition, a master vocalist who serves as the Vocal Music Director and choral conductor at Heartbeat Performing Arts Center, a trained priestess and curandera who has been practicing in these ways for over 20 years, a medicine woman, a visionary, a teacher, and most importantly, a mother to a darling 10-year-old son.
Emily's spiritual and professional paths were firmly established and rooted in her early 20s, when she lived in the Yucatan for nearly five years. During that time, she served as a teacher for expat children, established herself as a premiere vocalist in the Riviera Maya, and dove deeply into indigenous spiritual traditions, embodying the Divine Feminine as she embraced her intuitive callings.
These years she spent in Mexico not only influenced her life path and work, but she has always carried a profound love for this land and sea which truly gave her form. Emily is a fluent Spanish speaker, is incredibly connected to the communities of the area, and has continued to visit every year since returning to the States.
Emily has been facilitating women's Circles for over 30 years, starting way back when she was a teen. She has offered a multitude of rituals and ceremonies, workshops, healings, teachings, and various programs over these many decades. In the last 5 years alone, she has personally hosted nearly 400 women's Circles and gatherings. Her experience is evident from the first moment you meet her.
Emily specializes in crafting and carrying spiritual containers for others which feel safe, comfortable and inviting, encouraging women to always show up "exactly as they are." She blends formal ceremony with informal ease, meeting participants wherever they are at on their unique spiritual journey. She shares her accumulated wisdom in ways which honor and acknowledge the teachers and traditions which came before her - fusing ancient knowledge with contemporary understanding, creating new traditions and templates for the future generations.
Summer kopfmann
Summer is a Certified Regenerative Practitioner and Iridologist, as well as a Certified Holistic Health Coach. Her approach is focused on uncovering the root causes of symptoms and diseases.
She is also a certified yoga teacher with a focus on training from Yoga Medicine. For over 20 years, she's been crafting and running therapeutic yoga programs in clinics, hospitals and schools.
Regenerative Health empowers individuals to address underlying imbalances through detoxification, herbalism, nutrition, and kinesiology. Summer firmly believes in the body’s innate power to regenerate, and views disease as a state of dis-ease within the body.
Summer was fortunate to have grown up in a family who wholeheartedly embraced the natural foods movement when she was a child, and primarily focused on holistic health. By the age of 16, she had already witnessed the power of holistic medicine. After countless Western Medicine professionals had failed to solve her own chronic health problems, a Homeopathic practitioner was able to help her heal her body by finding the underlying condition and treating the root cause. These experiences instilled a fervent curiosity and passion to continue to explore the many modalities and benefits of holistic health.
Summer's family also has deep connections to the Yucatan, as they started vacationing there in the 1980s and built their own home there in the late 90s. Like Emily, Summer lived in the Riviera Maya for several years in her early 20s, which is when their friendship truly bloomed. Both women speak fluent Spanish, have considerable knowledge about the area and the culture, and have many well-established friendships and connections which they continue to nurture.
As the mother of two boys, implementing a holistic lifestyle in the home has always been of the utmost importance to Summer. She is positively hooked on the idea of healing through natural remedies whenever possible! She brings wealth of information and wisdom to all her clients, and is committed to bringing health and healing to those in need, in any capacity and in most any setting.
SECURE YOUR SPOT TODAY!
$500.00
To reserve your spot please send your deposit to the link above.
Include your full name and email address when registering.
Your non-refundable deposit will be applied to the total cost, and will secure your place in our Akumal 2024 retreat!
Please see Pricing above for details, specials, and payment due dates.