Discover Haramara
By Ben Crosky, SolYoga Trips
Check out our trip in April: Mantras, Mudras and Mango Salsa
“Coming to Haramara is like coming home. My body returns to the earth, my mind mesmerized by the rhythms of the ocean and my spirit flies in this magical place. Yoga is a way of life and Haramara Retreat is where we can re-educate ourselves to live in balance.” – Rodney Yee
One of my favorite treats in life is the moment I discover a new and unique paradise. This time we are bringing you to the Haramara Retreat center in Sayulita, Mexico. You can choose from twenty different yoga retreats every week of the year in Mexico, but they are definitely not all created equal, not when a place like Haramara exists.
What do I look for in a new home away from home? It has to be sensational. It has to be unique. It has to leave people feeling like they’ve been let in on a little secret yet wanting to share that secret with the world.
Seeing that it was described as the place “where Robinson Crusoe meets Architectural Digest,” was enough for me to perk up and unravel what makes this place so special.
Intentional design:
These days hotels and retreat centers pop up in months in a place that took thousands of years to grow into what it was. There’s a difference between those places and places like Haramara, that organically grow with as much respect as possible to the precious earth that it lives with.
Check out the design: Haramara Accommodations
Personal attention:
Yoga travelers are not your typical tourists. Anything but authentic care for our guests is completely transparent. We only spend time at places where the owners and staff truly want you to have the best time of your life. Haramara is no exception and sets an example for retreat centers around the world on how to treat your visitors. We can tell when the staff are happy and treated well and won’t take our travelers anywhere else.
Extraordinary food:
It’s clear at Haramara that the culinary experience is the driving force behind all that goes on at the center. As it should be. Perhaps no where else in the world does a retreat center care so much about how you are nourished at every meal than Haramara does. Be nourished, be healthy, look forward to unwrapping every meal with new friends and old ones.
Check out the restaurant here: Haramara Restaurant
Sleep:
You work hard. You need to rest. We want you to sleep deeply. We want you to wake up with fullness. Haramara is built for a good night’s sleep. There’s nothing quite like sleeping in the trees with the sweet air all around you and the ocean off in the distance. On our last trip someone told me, “I haven’t slept that deeply in 2 years”. Come sleep deeply.
Respect for the culture and land:
Often retreat centers have an ego about them. You have everything you need so why open up to anything else right? Well if that were the case, you didn’t need to travel. We visit places that can’t stop telling us about their amazing earth and that love to share the land, culture and activities that surround them. Go whale watching, mountain biking, visit nearby towns, sunset sailing, horseback riding and more!
Check out the activities: Activities
Unbeatable setting:
There are certain places in the world where you wake up in the morning and know you don’t need anything else. That when you see for the first time, you know you’ve “arrived”. That after a few days you feel catch yourself saying “I feel good, really good”. This is that place.
Safety, care and access:
We only travel to places that are really safe and we only participate in activities that are well guided with experienced guides. Haramara is located just north of a small fishing village called Sayulita and far away from the danger that we’ve been seeing in the news about Mexico. Drug trafficking, and the danger that comes from it, happens north of Mexico City and toward the border of the USA or in the bigger cities. Although you need to be on guard for the usual dangers of travels in Mexico and other similar countries, there is no reason to expect any extra danger from what we’ve been seeing in the news.
Playfulness:
Your yoga retreat should be seriously enlightening but just as importantly filled with playfulness! Haramara holds the perfect space for you to take your yoga as seriously as you want while feeling like a kid again. Playing in tree forts. Walking around barefoot, swimming to cool off, laughing and laughing and laughing.
Check out our trip in April:Mantras, Mudras and Mango Salsa
“I have visited Haramara Retreat twice with Marianne Wells Yoga School Retreat. This place is paradise! We flew into Puerto Vallarta, it was an easy 45 minute ride to Haramara. My first stay was in a private bungalow with my huband – very romantic – we had a front porch with table and chairs with an unbelievable view above the pacific ocean. The private shower was outside and also overlooked the ocean – very cool! The bungalow was immacuate and the bed was very comfortable. On my second trip I stayed in the dorm. This is bungalow that sleeps six very comfortably. There is a large bathroom on each end. Our daily yoga practices were held in a meditation space with evening sunset views over the Pacific. Marianne did an amazing job of coordinating and organizing a group of people from all over the world. She was able to meet each of our individual needs. Marianne has more knowledge, passion and dedication to her practice than anyone I have ever met. We learned so much on a physical, mental and spiritual level. Practicing yoga in such a beautiful place with Marianne Wells was truely a gift of a lifetime. Our group had local activities including canopy tour, horseback riding, surf lessons, and a visit to a secluded beach that is one of the most beautiful in the area. Almost every day, we walked into the town of Sayulita. It was a fun 20 minute hike along the beach and we felt very safe. I would highly recommend taking the time to visit this cute little town. Taxi’s are available for those that don’t want to walk. Or, just below Haramara Retreat is a secluded and beautuful beach where you can sit and relax. If you are there at the right time, you may see a whale in the distance. Although the beach is somewhat rocky, we still had fun surfing in the waves. The food was very healthy and good. We often had fresh seafood and each day we were treated in the afternoon to a tropical snack. The staff was extremely friendly, and prompt. This is a very safe destination as many Americans live there in the winter and have businesses in the area. This is one of the most amazing places in all of Mexico.” – Deb Smith