Mornings on the Caribbean
Playa del Carmen, minutes from the beach, with nothing on the schedule but the water.
Coming soonPlaya Del Carmen
Mexico: The Return to Water
Where every road leads back to the water.
March 21 – 27, 20276 nights10 spots
The journey
About this journey
Six nights spent in the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico. Ceremony with a Maya family, fresh food with private chefs, and afternoons soaking in the water, jungle, and caribbean lifestyle.
Six nights on the Yucatán peninsula, moving from the Caribbean coast inland to the cenotes of Akumal, where the limestone opens into fresh water that the Mayan traditions understood as the doorway to the underworld.
We will cook a meal led by a local chef in Playa del Carmen, burying cochinita in the pib and eating what comes out of the ground. We sit in two temazcals with Chief Juan and his family, who have carried this work for generations. We relax on the beach, walk the serene ruins of Muyil, and float the canals of Sian Ka'an, cut by Maya hands more than a thousand years ago. And one night, for those who choose it, we stay up with the fire until morning.
The days here are unhurried on purpose. There are afternoons with nothing in them, a private chef throughout, a rest day, cenotes on-site, and the beach only minutes away.
The moments
Highlights
Making a feast for yourself
A hands-on Yucatecan class with Chef Ale Kauachi, then one long table of everything we made.
Two Mayan Temazcals
Chief Juan and his family introduce family prayers, directions, and dances amongst the sweat lodge experience.
Wixárika Fire Prayer Ceremony
Optional, with or without peyote, taking in the wisdom of the fire from sunset to sunrise.
Swim the cenotes at Balam-Ha
A fresh water cenote on-site to swim in at anytime.
Muyil Ruins and Sian Ka'an Lazy River
Quiet ruins almost no one visits, then a float down the canals with no paddling required.
Private Chef
With the exception of one dinner and Tulum and the dinner that we make - every meal is made for us by Chef Mos with the utmost quality, precision, and care.
The giveback
Five percent of the profit from this trip goes to a sea turtle conservation nonprofit in Mexico.
Where you'll stay
Balam-Ha Villas
Six houses spread through the jungle off the Cancún-Tulum highway, built around two private cenotes. Each house has its own kitchen, terrace, and hammocks, and there's a shala that seats twenty and a temazcal on the property. Spider monkeys move through the canopy overhead and toh birds nest in the cenote walls. Akumal Bay is five minutes away, where sea turtles feed close enough to shore that you can swim out to them. Tulum is about twenty-five minutes south
What you'll do
Cook a full Yucatecan meal from scratch
Not a demonstration. You press the tortillas, build the sopa de lima, and work the recado into the pork, then sit down to a table of everything you made.
Sit in a traditional sweat lodge, twice.
A low stone dome, total darkness, heat that builds in rounds. You go in, you sweat, and you come out into cold air and fresh water.
Staying up around the fire.
The ceremony runs from dark until sunrise: traditional song, prayer, and the wisdom of the elder who leads it. The fire is the primary teacher, and tending your attention to it is the work of the night. Peyote is offered but it is optional. Once the circle opens you stay until it closes.
Caribbean Swimming and Shopping
Two unhurried days on the coast before the rest begins. Our hotel sits three minutes from the sand and a block from the center of town, so the beach and the shops are both on foot. You can enjoy a swim in the morning and spend the afternoon browsing artisan work from across the peninsula.
Walk Muyil, then float Sian Ka'an
A small site in the jungle, usually near empty, without the crowds or vendors of the larger ruins. From there you get into the water at the top of the canal and the current carries you through the reserve. Mangrove on both sides, no paddling, no effort.
Who takes you
Meet your host
Founder, MA Studies · C-IAYT
Kristin Bird
Kristin Bird is a board certified yoga therapist with a Masters of Arts degree in Yoga Studies. Following the footsteps of her grandfather, Kristin carries his legacy of world travel through immersive lineage study around the globe since 2016. She has been leading groups to extraordinary places around the world for six years and the part she cares about most is what happens when travelers and the people who host them end up at the same table.
La Familia Ancestral
Juan, Tzucum, Andrés, Rubí, Ángel.
Some people talk about tradition. Others live it. More than 20 years on this path have taught this family that a sacred ceremony doesn’t begin when the copal is lit. It begins with a lifetime of learning, respect, and commitment.
Every step, every word, and every symbol carries meaning. It’s not about performing a culture, it’s about honoring it.
With our family, every ceremony is rooted in experience and in a deep respect for the ancestral wisdom of Mexico.
Because what is sacred is never improvised. It is a path that is walked.
In pictures
Gallery
Be first to hear
Dates and prices are on their way. Leave your email and you hear before anyone else.
What to pack
- Passport, valid at least six months past travel
- Travel insurance confirmation (required)
- Pesos in cash for artisan shopping, additional tips, and small vendors
- Credit/Debit Cards (Bank Notified)
- Comfortable daytime attire (light, loose, prepped for humidity)
- Sleepwear
- Undergarments
- A swimsuit or a loose cotton wrap you can sweat in
- Ceremony attire (long skirt/dress for women, no sleeveless shirts)
- Water bottle
- Reef-safe, biodegradable sunscreen
- Water shoes or sturdy sandals that stay on
- Hats/Sunglasses
- Dry bag for phone
- Closed-toe shoes for Muyil
- Insect repellent
- Medications
- Toiletries
- Electrolytes
- Journal + Pen
- Laundry Bag
Questions
Do I need a visa?
US Citizens do not require a visa for Mexico.
If you are from another country, please contact Kristin.
Do I need any vaccines?
No vaccines are required for Mexico.
Typhoid is optional.
Is there laundry available?
Yes, laundry is available at both locations for an additional cost.
Do I have to do everything?
While all activities are encouraged, nothing is ever required of you.
Will I have wifi or phone service?
Yes, wifi is available at both of our accommodation properties.
Is there AC / Hot Water?
Hot Water is available at both locations.
We will have air conditioning in Playa Del Carmen with ceiling fans in use at the Balam-Ha villas.
What happens if I get sick?
In the case of minor sickness, Kristin and the hosting properties are prepared for basic first-aid, indigestion, travelers sickness, etc.
In the case of a major event, local hospitals are nearby. We will share all local hospital information to you in advance for you.
What is the weather like at the time of the trip?
We will be in a dry and hot season. Expect warmer temperatures and humidity. Luckily, we have water nearby everywhere we go!
Can you tell me more about the Fire Prayer Ceremony?
Participation is first, not required. You may opt out at the beginning but you may not leave the container once we begin - this is for your safety.
Peyote is served by a trained family and is not required. Peyote has been used in Indigenous North American and Mexican spiritual practices for thousands of years.
Prior to participation, every individual will have a 1:1 consultation with Kristin for screening and information exchange on diet preparation, contraindications, and managing expectations.
Which airport do I fly into?
You will fly into Cancun International Airport.