Dates Hridaya Retreat is offered in Mazunte, Mexico (2012):

• 03 Feb - 12 Feb
• 02 March - 11 March
• 30 March - 08 April (semana santa)
• 18 May - 27 May ... or June 23 (continues into the advanced retreat)
(calendar)

Welcome to Hridaya Yoga Mazunte, Mexico

Hridaya Yoga Mexico is located at El Corazon Retreat Center (formerly El Neem Resort), Mazunte, Oaxaca, Mexico. We are 10 minutes from Zipolite. 25 minutes from Puerto Angel. 30 minutes from Pochutla. 75 minutes from Huatulco. 1 hour from Puerto Escondido and Huatulco airport. 6 hours from Oaxaca City. 10 hours from Acapulco. 16 hours from TAPO bus station in Mexico City. And a days travel or more to Chiapas, Tulum, Cancun, San Cristobal, Guatamala, Polenca etc.

Oaxaca - our state - has, if anything, a very positive harmonious vibe in general and in terms of safety.

Mazunte beach with nearby swimming, a hop, skip and jump from da school

We have two centers: El Corazon (formerly known as El Neem) and Tierra Verde

• El Corazon is on the main road between El Centro de las Tortugas and San Agustinillo Beach. We have one room available and camping for Yoga students.
  
  
• The second is Tierra Verde, our Meditation Retreat Center at the entrance to Punta Cometa.
  There is a narrow path from Rinconcito beach that goes directly up. The best way to find it is to go to the entrance to Punta Cometa, past the cemetery and you will see it on your right. We offer cabañas and rooms short and longer term.

For those who are joining special workshops, meditation retreats or staying in our off-site location please go directly to our Eco-retreat center, Tierra Verde, at the edge of the entrance to Punta Cometa the Sunset View point, 25 minute walk from our Yoga classes at good old Neem.

The Town and The Nature
Mazunte is a small beach town on the Pacific coast in Oaxaca, Mexico which is the Southern part of Mexico.
The ocean itself with its swimming, snorkeling and yes, even surfing opportunities (the town has its own surf teacher) is not nearly where the activities end.

Aquatic nature lovers can take a boat out for turtle, bird, dolphin and even whale sightings all of which are common.  Down the road is La Ventanilla where weekly participants can release baby turtles into the ocean through a Mexico-wide famed ecological turtle saving movement.

In the same neighborhood is an crocodile preserve and moat which boasts 300 crocodiles and is crossed through in row boats. The lovely irony is that all of the eco-tourism has come about after the banning of the turtle killing industry and many of the same people in that industry now make their living protecting the local nature.

If all of this is not enough, then one can also take a good hour or two exploring the turtle museum down the road from El neem (All but one of the types of turtles found in the world can be found in this area).  All of this turtle activity is there because the turtles actually come in hoards yearly and do some of their nesting on a nearby beach. All this said, we also recommend you plan to spend a few days around the state of Oaxaca including Oaxaca City, Oaxaca.

El Neem and our Yoga Space
The center, 'El Neem', refers to the famed Indian bitter herb tree and boasts about 40 mature neem trees around the property.  The mosquito netted Yoga hall is moderate in size and can fit 30 students or so. It looks onto the jungle and Pacific Ocean and is covered by a perfect and eye pleasing pyramid-like thatched roof. One of our first students noted it immediately upon arriving, 'you have a million dollar view', and for sure this was one of the foremost things are on our mind when we decided to make El Neem and not somewhere else a permanent Hridaya station.

The whole place in general has a glow of comfort, peace and professionalism. There are several rooms along with space for camping available (50 pesos a night in regular season, discounted in some exchange situations.). Neem lovers will find a few Neem trees outside our center too.

Tierra Verde:
In addition to our main center, El Neem, 2 kilometers away is Tierra Verde, our meditation retreat center where some of our teachers stay along with some of our students who enjoy the more rustic life style and the daily walk between the two places.

Tierra Verde was built by a group of friends with an ecological and spiritual vision.
It is a retreat center in the truest meaning. Dorms (60 or 80 pesos a night) and private rooms along with cabañas (200-300 pesos a night) are available in most seasons (Christmas and Easter, prices go up significantly).

If you don´t mind imperfect steps, doing some work around the place and the feeling of being surrounded by strong nature during your retreat vacation, Tierra Verde may be your place for your Hridaya experience with views of one of the most spectacular beaches around and lovely Copal trees around the premise.
If this area appeals to you but you prefer a more upscale place to stay seek out el copal, mazunte for a nicer, more pricey option.

Accomodation in Mazunte
The choices are many and the economic ones are more than fair by Mexican tourist standards.

For those of you who want to stay on site and have a tent, we offer a small plot of earth, use of a shared shower-room along with a fully equiped kitchen.

We have also had people stay on site in a hammock or under the stars.  In the summer months there can be some rain and so you may want to choose to rent a cabana or dorm at our eco retreat center 25 minute walk from El Neem.

As mentioned, we have great views and are situated on a hill 3 minute walk from the sea and have the advantage of a certain coziness and holding of energy which might get dispersed in town.

Camping on site at El Neem generally is priced 50 Pesos per night(and can be discounted in some exchanges) and requires some small tasks around the center.

Please note that our accommodation options are only available if you are attending one of our yoga classes or retreats and that no alcohol, cigarettes, recreational drugs, fish or meat are allowed on the school premises (egg and dairy okay).

And on site private room is sometimes available at 300 pesos per day or 5000 pesos ($450USD) per month (1 person).

This price subject to change by season. It includes 1 or 2 beds, private bathroom, fan, wooden furniture, cleaning 3-4 times a week, shared kitchen-fridge and some Hridaya charm. There is talk of turning it into a dorm for greater use and affordability from summer 2011 so check in about that although it will still be able to be offered privately (first come first serve).

Other Options:
Many people choose to stay in one of the nearby towns of Mazunte and San Agustinillo, a 5 - 10 minute walk away. With the exception of the high season in Christmas and Easter, accommodation can be found as follows:

If you would like us to reserve a room which is quiet, safe, cozy and with some kitchen facilities, we canarrange this for $300 to $400 pesos a night (long term stay discounted).

Beautiful high end accommodations on the beach from $50-$125 USD per night.

Basic rooms for around $7 to $25US dollars / 70-300 Pesos night.

Some rooms have been found for about $120US a month

Unless you want the comfort of staying at the school or you are arriving at Christmas or Easter, you may prefer not to book in advance, but just turn up & take a look around before deciding where to stay.

There are plenty of options, so don't worry. If however you prefer to know where you will stay and would like to book in advance, google around or write us with your specific needs and budget.

If you are planning on staying for several weeks, be sure to shop around and negotiate as you may well be able to get a substantial discount. Except for the holiday season, 200 pesos per night for a short stay and economy room should be sufficient.

We have a 15% booking fee if you go through us, with a maximum 750 pesos.

Getting to Mazunte
From Mexico City: By plane: To Huatulco or Puerto Escondido which will be from $60 to $120USD one way in the non holiday season. Flights can be bought from www.interjet.com
Note that Mexicana is sadly no longer in business. As of June 2011 we are not offering to pick people up although that may change.

By bus from Mexico City: Go to south bus station Tasqueña, take either a route to Oaxaca City-Pochutla and then a collectivo taxi to Mazunte, which is 13-16 hours total, or a direct route to Pochutla (14 hours, Estrella Blanca buses).

Mini buses can be very inexpensive and one can probably make it from Mexico City to Mazunte for $25USD.
The mini bus from Oaxaca City to Pochutla is 120 pesos. The latter is a coast route that goes through the Guerrero state (passing by Acapulco) then makes a stop in Puerto Escondido, and finally arrives in Pochutla.

Note that the easier mountain drive is NOT via Puerto Escondido and is Oaxaca to Pochutla

From Oaxaca City: Get a Bus to Pochutla (7 hours approximately). From Pochutla either get a taxi (around $8 USD or 100 pesos) or take a "collectivo" to Mazunte (around $1 USD or 10 pesos per person). These custom-made vans departure every half hour or so. Pochutla is about 20-30 minutes from Mazunte.
If you arrive in Pochtuta at the bus station you can usually take a private taxi for 100 pesos up to but no more than 150 pesos. Mazunte is about 1 hour from Puerto Escondido airport and 1 hour from Huatulco airport, from both places you can take a taxi or a "collectivo".

From Puerto Escondido: You can take a bus for about 40 pesos, they are leaving near the Super Che supermarket, not from the bus station, although there is a more expensive bus there. Ask the driver to drop you off at Las Cruces de San Antonio.  From here you can take taxi or collectivo (trucks with blue tarp roofing over back) for 5 pesos.

From Huatulco airport: take a private taxi directly or a shared taxi to Pochutla and transfer for Mazunte again from there. For the private taxi, we recommend that you walk the 200 meters to the road as they are significantly cheaper. With good bargaining you can pay around 300 pesos. On reaching the street, the direction would be to your right. The bus to Pochutla also passes that way.

Another option is to fly into Acapulco and take the bus down the coast. People coming from Europe may look into flying to Cancun (especially cheap from Belgium) and then taking an 18 hour bus ride.

Getting to Hridaya Yoga Mexico at El Corazon Retreat Center (formerly El Neem)

Any transport to Mazunte should know the Yoga school ("Agama") to drop you off right at the entrance, but if you are walking from the center of Mazunte village, first find Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga (the turtle refuge and museum, anyone knows it). From there, walk 5 minutes east towards San Agustinillo beach up the hill. You will see El Neem and Hridaya Yoga Mexico on your right. Once you start going back down the hill you know you have gone too far.

If you are coming from Puerto Angel, go about 25 minutes west (along the road from the coastal highway and Pochutla), passing through Zipolite and San Agustinillo and all the restaurants and guest houses. Go up the hill and you will see it on your left. The taxi from Huatulco sometimes goes by way of Puerto Angel.