Welcome to Yelapa!
Here is a trove of useful information about your trip to Yelapa... please read al of this information so you can prepare for an easeful and skillful arrival and departure. This page has tips for what to pack, what to do while there, and getting to, from and around Yelapa. Yelapa is a remote beach village on the west coast of Mexico, south of Puerto Vallarta. It is only accessible by water taxi, and does not have roads or cars. Everyone gets around on foot* or donkey (with an occasional four wheeler motoring through town transporting supplies or elders). Yelapa is quiet, the people are kind and gracious and the pace of life is slow and peaceful. We invite you to fully unplug, put on good walking shoes and enjoy a week of nourishing peace in beautiful Yelapa.
Getting to and from, and around Yelapa:
Getting to/from: You will fly into PVR airport in Puerto Vallarta and get a taxi or shuttle to the Los Muertos Pier where you will catch a water taxi to Yelapa. You can also take a car taxi further south to Boca Tamatlan and catch a water taxi there. Water taxis run about every hour or so and cost between 140-170 pesos depending on your departure location. To leave Yelapa, you will reverse this process. We will have someone on hand to coordinate water taxi departures.
Getting around: Getting around Yelapa is simple*. Put on a good pair of walking shoes or sandals and step out onto the village pathway. Be prepared to traverse mild hills and ascend and descend some stairs. It will never wear you out, but twill certainly be good exercise. In the event you want to take a shortcut to/from the main beach and Casa Isabel, you can hire a water taxi to take you across the small bay.
What to bring:
Here are some essential packing items for your trip to Yelapa. Keep in mind that Yelapa is very rural and will not have many amenities beyond the small village markets. If you find that you forgot something essential at home, you can get it in Puerto Vallarta before getting on the water taxi. We will also bring extra essentials like sunscreen, tampons, mosquito repellent, etc., if you forget.
What to do in Yelapa:
While we want to encourage you to unwind, unplug and deeply relax, and not feel the need to DO anything, there are still many wonderful things to do in Yelapa. We will provide you with more resoucres upon arrival, but here are some ideas to inspire you....
What to know about your trip:
Yelapa is a gem of the Mexican west coast, located south of Peurto Vallarta. The people of Yelapa are kind, warm and welcoming.
*Because of the terrain in Yelapa and at Casa Isabel (the retreat location) we are unable to accommodate those with significant physical limitations. To get to Casa Isabel and to and from the beach you are required to walk up and down mild hills and ascend/descend steps on occasion. Yelapa is a rural village that does not have accessibility accommodations for those in wheel chairs, or who use walking assistance. We recognize this does exclude some participants who would be otherwise wonderful additions to this retreat. We are looking for a retreat site for future retreats that is accessible for women of all abilities.
Getting to and from, and around Yelapa:
Getting to/from: You will fly into PVR airport in Puerto Vallarta and get a taxi or shuttle to the Los Muertos Pier where you will catch a water taxi to Yelapa. You can also take a car taxi further south to Boca Tamatlan and catch a water taxi there. Water taxis run about every hour or so and cost between 140-170 pesos depending on your departure location. To leave Yelapa, you will reverse this process. We will have someone on hand to coordinate water taxi departures.
Getting around: Getting around Yelapa is simple*. Put on a good pair of walking shoes or sandals and step out onto the village pathway. Be prepared to traverse mild hills and ascend and descend some stairs. It will never wear you out, but twill certainly be good exercise. In the event you want to take a shortcut to/from the main beach and Casa Isabel, you can hire a water taxi to take you across the small bay.
What to bring:
Here are some essential packing items for your trip to Yelapa. Keep in mind that Yelapa is very rural and will not have many amenities beyond the small village markets. If you find that you forgot something essential at home, you can get it in Puerto Vallarta before getting on the water taxi. We will also bring extra essentials like sunscreen, tampons, mosquito repellent, etc., if you forget.
- Lightweight, comfortable, and easy dry clothing (dresses, skirts, shorts, pants & tops)
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Mosquito Repellent
- Journal and a few pens
- A few pictures of yourself (this one is important), and loved ones or a teacher, mentor or spiritual seeker you admire
- Bring bandaids and Neosporin (or a mini first aid kit)
- A day back or bag for day trips and hikes.
- Meaningful items to add to our retreat altar
- Ziplock plastic bags to store any food items
- Art supplies: crayons, markers, water colors, paper, etc. We will also have extra supplies on hand.
- Walking shoes & sandals
- Bathing suit
- Lightweight towel and sarong for the beach.
- Passport...don't leave this one at home!
- US Dollars. It can sometimes be easier to bring USDollars and have them changed in Puerto Vallarta.
- Cell phone... keep in mind, you will be charged international rates.
- Small flashlight
- Earplugs! There are a few village roosters who get up very early!!!
- A good book for a restful afternoon on the beach.
- Snacks for the airplane ride
What to do in Yelapa:
While we want to encourage you to unwind, unplug and deeply relax, and not feel the need to DO anything, there are still many wonderful things to do in Yelapa. We will provide you with more resoucres upon arrival, but here are some ideas to inspire you....
- Get a message
- Get a Watsu session... Watsu is aquatic body work (and really amazing).
- Hike to any of the various waterfalls
- Swim at the main beach
- Snorkel off of Isabel's beach
- Take a water taxi ride around the point or elsewhere to explore
- Spanish lessons
- Horseback riding
- Parasailing (Stacy did this last time we were there... it was great!)
- Take a private yoga class
What to know about your trip:
Yelapa is a gem of the Mexican west coast, located south of Peurto Vallarta. The people of Yelapa are kind, warm and welcoming.
- Yelapa is surrounded by mountains and a lush tropical forest.
- Weather in Yelapa, during our retreat: Warm and Sunny
- We suggest you buy your plane ticket soon about 1-2 months before. Flights to Peurto Vallarta (PVR) are frequent, and usually affordable. Often the sooner you buy them the cheaper they will be!
- You may consider getting travel insurance. It can be helpful in the event of lost passports, missed/cancelled flights or any other situation that might arise.
- You do not need to get a visa prior to entering Mexico. Though, you do need your passport for entry. A USA drivers license will not be sufficient.
- We suggest that you change money after exiting customs. You will see money changing stations as you exit the PVR airport.
- The Mexican currency is the peso, but some establishments occasionally accept American dollars. The exchange rate is about 16 pesos to one dollar.
- Note that some bank cards don't always process in Mexican ATMs. We suggest you to bring a few different cards and cash just in case.
- We suggest you contact your banks and credit cards to let them know you will be in Mexico so that fraud prevention does not freeze your cards.
- Do not drink the tap water. When brushing your teeth, you can run your toothbrush under the water, but dint drink it. . Most restaurants (all the ones we recommend) wash their veggies and use ice that is from clean water. If you ask for water in a restaurant, you can order bottled water.
- Bring "GSE" to Mexico. Grapefruit seed extract is a great remedy for upset stomach or diarrhea. We highly suggest you bring this potent extract. The moment you feel your belly grumbling (which can happen, it is Indonesia), simply drop 15 drops of extract into a glass of water. Repeat 3 times a day until you feel better.
- Vaccines for Mexico: Contact your doctor about the most up to date information on vaccines/shots for Mexico. Zika virus has been found in Mexico so if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, contact your doctor first.
- Safety in Yelapa: The Yelapa people are kind, caring and in our experience, very trustworthy. They highly value family and community. We do not perceive and threat to our safety or belongings, but please do as you feel comfortable. As you would in your own life, lock your doors, keep your valuables in safe and be smart with your belongings. No need to be overly cautious, just be smart. In our experience, Mexico is extremely safe... when walking around at night or during the day.
- Budgeting for Yelapa: I like to budget $250/each per week (not including lodging). In the end, his may be a lot more than you actually need, but better to have extra on hand if you want an extra Watsu session or massage.
- Staying Connected: There is internet access and decent cell reception at Casa Isabel and throughout town.
*Because of the terrain in Yelapa and at Casa Isabel (the retreat location) we are unable to accommodate those with significant physical limitations. To get to Casa Isabel and to and from the beach you are required to walk up and down mild hills and ascend/descend steps on occasion. Yelapa is a rural village that does not have accessibility accommodations for those in wheel chairs, or who use walking assistance. We recognize this does exclude some participants who would be otherwise wonderful additions to this retreat. We are looking for a retreat site for future retreats that is accessible for women of all abilities.