What to Expect on your Sweet Retreat

We are excited to have you on the best vacation ever!  
Here is some important information you need for your retreat or residency.

Things we supply so you don’t have to:

  • Bath towel
  • Beach/Pool towel
  • Sarongs
  • Dr. Bronner’s liquid sugar soap
  • Fans
  • Meals, drinks, & snacks
  • Rosin/chalk, aerial equipment, blocks, rollers, balls, etc.

What to Bring   

  • *Passport
  • *Prepare for travel. Although covid has normalized, we are still doing our best to keep everyone safe and healthy. We take prevention seriously. We request that each of you follow extra safety guidelines for at least a week before coming.
    • Prepare your PPE.  Please wear an N95 mask during your travel to Casa Chango. Have hand sanitizer on you and use it frequently.  This will help minimize possible exposure to covid and any other colds & flus before you arrive. Nobody wants to be sick during their retreat.  
    • Please bring at least 2 home covid tests with you. (If you are coming for residency, please bring at least 4 home tests.) This will be helpful if you get any covid symptoms while you are here. Otherwise you will be required to go to a clinic for a test at your own cost.
  • *Re-useable Water Bottle  (We have filtered drinking water for fill up and do not support the use of disposable plastic water bottles.)
  • *Clothes for classes: leggings, tanks, T-shirts, short leggings, unitards, leotards, skin protectors, etc.
    • Bring enough clothes for the full week you are here.
  • Non-training clothes
  • *Cash and/or Debit Card – for personal purchases (massages, excursions, alcohol, souvenirs, extras, etc.)
    • The easiest way to get cash pesos is at ATMs which are abundant.
    • There is not a cash exchange in town, so if you want to change cash, you must do it at the airport in Mexico City.
  • Bathing Suit
  • Ear plugs and/or noise cancelling headphones if you are a light sleeper.
  • After Bite Gel or Tiger Balm – topical anti-itch medicines for mosquito bites
  • Sunglasses/Sunhat
  • Camera
  • Bio-degradable shampoo & conditioner (Here are some tips about ingredients to avoid.)
  • Eco-friendly toothpaste (Here are some tips about ingredients to avoid.)
  • Reef-Safe Sunscreen. (Here are some tips about ingredients to avoid.)
  • Bug Repellent (You can also buy this when you arrive)
  • Feminine supplies
  • Other medications that you might need
  • Remember you are traveling to a different climate. We highly suggest bringing supplements to support your immune system before and after traveling. Our immune system go-to’s are
    • *Probiotics (these are super helpful and essential to happy travel tummy)
    • Vitamins B, C, zinc
  • Re-usable cold pack that can go in the freezer. (helps with sore muscles and cools you down.)
  • If you are coming to a retreat that ends with a show, you can bring a costume and make up. (see below ‘Show’)
  • *Open mind, open heart, and readiness for magic!
  • No vaccines are required for humans in Mexico.
  • Electric outlets here are North American standard.  
  • *WhatsApp Please download WhatsApp onto your phone. This will make it very easy for you to communicate with Casa Chango management, other retreaters, new friends, and to book massages during the retreat.

*means mandatory or strongly suggested

Eco Hotel/ Solar Energy Note: Casa Chango runs on 100% solar power on a system that does not support appliances such as hair dryers. We invite you to let your hair air dry during your visit.

Residency Extras/Specifics

If you are coming to Circus Residency and/or staying for more than 2 weeks, please review the following check list in addition to the above checklist.

  • Depending on how much support your body needs for muscle recovery, you may want to consider bringing any of the following supplements to help your body adjust to the regular fitness regimen.
    • Magnesium
    • Omega oils
    • Protein powder (you can find vegan protein powder locally as well)
    • Glutamine
  • Bring athletic tape for your hands if you tend to tear or if your hands are sensitive.
  • Important! USB or mini USB flash drive– if you don’t have an apple device for airdrop, please bring a flash drive so you can have access to all of the amazing videos and artistic projects we do at residency.
  • Please bring your own ibuprofen, creams, ointments, and any other medicines you think you will need.  You can also purchase them once you get here.
  • Pack enough clothing for at least one week. Bring a few extras in case you sweat a lot. Laundry service is offered once per week and takes 24 hours to return cleaned. Please bring a bag to use as a laundry bag–a reusable shopping bag is perfect!
  • Please download WhatsApp on your phone. We use it to communicate during residency.
  • Suggested reading:

When You Need Personal Items…

There are ATM’s, shops, and pharmacies in town. We will be happy to call you a taxi for your personal errands. Taxis to town cost about $300 MXN round trip in the daytime and $500 MXN round trip at night.

Note:  It is best to bring all the items you need (especially for the first few days) so you don’t have to spend your vacation time searching for things in town.

Please read our COVID Policy here.

Your Arrival

Upon your arrival at the airport in Mexico City, you will need to go through immigration, pick up any checked baggage, go through customs, and then re-check your baggage at your connecting airline desk.  Then you must go through security checkpoint at that airport.

If you did not check any baggage, you still have to go through immigration and customs, and then you must go through security again.  If you have purchased any liquids in the airport, remember that you must check that baggage before going through security.

Mexico Immigration

There is no entrance fee for Mexico.
When you go through immigration in Mexico, the immigration officers might ask you why you are coming to Mexico. Just tell them you are on holiday to the beach. The immigration officer may ask you how long you are staying in Mexico. Be as specific as you can about the amount of time you are staying.

Note about customs:  If they ask what you have in your bags, just say ‘personal items’.

Mexico City Airport  
MEX is a large, busy and sometimes very confusing airport.  Make sure to leave plenty of time for check in (long lines) and security (long lines) as well as looking for your gate (very few signs).  Don’t be alarmed. You will be fine. You will find where you need to go. It is just a little more unorganized than most airports I have been in.  

Layovers in MEX:  If you are changing airlines in MEX, you will probably have to go to the check in counter to re-check in after you have gone through customs.  If MEX is your first destination in Mexico, make sure you have at least 2-3 hours layover between flights.

Taxi from the airport in Puerto Escondido (PXM)

We will send you an email with your arrival taxi info 1 week before the retreat begins.  Look for emails from SweetRetreatsMexico@gmail.com and CasaChangoMexico@gmail.com.  

Changing Money

Most everyone will want/need some cash in Mexican pesos. There are cash exchanges and ATM’s in the airport in Mexico City.  We recommend you to go to the ATM at the airport in Mexico City (if you have time) to make it easier. There are no cash exchanges in Puerto Escondido, so ATM card is important!  Most stores DO NOT take credit cards.   If you cannot get money in Mexico City, there are ATM’s in Puerto Escondido to use. Remember to let your bank know that you will be traveling to Mexico and using ATM’s here.   There can be up to a $5-6 charge for international ATM use (some banks waive this charge).

How much money should I take out of the ATM?

Since most ATM’s charge an international fee, it is better to get all the money you will need in one trip to the ATM (ideally the ATM in the Mexico City airport).  Here is a general list of things you may want to purchase on your trip.

  • Massage – $500-$1000 pesos for 1 hour
  • Gifts – $500+ pesos
  • Beer/cocktails  – average beer is $45 pesos, average cocktail is $100 pesos
  • Adventure to bioluminescent lagoon – $500-$700 pesos
  • Extras (taxi rides for personal adventures/errands, etc) – $150+ pesos
  • Tips for our hard working service staff -Suggested Tip is $1000 pesos for a week-long retreat.

Get more pesos than you think you will need. If you have pesos left over at the end of your stay, you can leave them as a tip for our staff.  Also Mexico is full of fun trinkets and beautiful textiles, so you might want to bring some color home with you!

Internet / Wifi

We have Starlink WiFi onsite.   If you are working online while you are here, our internet should be all you need to get your work done without problems or delays. If you prefer, you can bring a data plan to use as a backup personal hotspot.

Eco Friendly Bath & Beauty Products Only

Casa Chango is an eco friendly space, and all of our gray water goes into watering the gardens. Please only bring eco friendly bath and beauty products. We supply natural soap for the week you are here. We are doing our part to live in reciprocity with our beautiful planet.

Laundry

Please pack enough clothing for at least one week. Since you will probably sweat a lot, you might want to change your clothes during the day too. Laundry service is offered once per week and takes 24 hours to return cleaned. Please bring a bag to use as a laundry bag–a reusable shopping bag is perfect! You can also do your own hand washing.

FOOD

All meals will be made from fresh, local produce, grains, nuts, eggs, fish and meat.  We believe in feeding the body simple, healthy and delicious foods. We work with the fitness and training schedule to make meals easy to digest and satisfying for the hard working body.  

We try to accommodate your needs as much as we can.  Please make sure you tell us in advance if you have any food restrictions and/or allergies.  

Breakfast

Each morning we will have a continental breakfast from 7:30-9:30 am.  Our community kitchen will be stocked with everything you need to make a simple (pre-workout) breakfast including toast, yogurt, eggs, oatmeal, granola, fruit, and peanut butter.

Lunch and Dinner

Lunches and dinners will be prepared in our community kitchen.   
Lunch is at 1pm and dinner is at 7pm.
Dessert is served most nights.

Special Food needs

We do our best to accommodate everyone’s food needs and allergies.  Meals will have vegetarian and vegan options. If you have food limitations, and are concerned if you will get what you need, you might consider bringing supplemental foods from home such as protein powders, bars, etc.   We provide meat or fish and vegetarian protein daily. The training regimen might make you crave more protein than usual. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

If you have extreme food allergies, please contact us to clarify your needs.  

Important! If you are on (or just finished) antibiotics, make sure to bring probiotic supplements (take one with each meal) to help your gut adjust.

Animal Protein / Meat

We support a sustainable and balanced lifestyle that supports your health, well-being, and the health of our planet. Our meals are filled with fresh, local produce, grains and beans. We offer animal protein once per day, and always have a vegetarian protein option of beans/rice, tofu or eggs. If you require more protein, we suggest bringing protein supplements.

Snacks

Ice coffee and treats will be available each day at 3:30pm. You can also bring your own snacks if you like.

Puerto Escondido

Casa Chango is located just 3 miles outside of Puerto Escondido “Hidden Port” which located in southwest Mexico in the state of Oaxaca on the pacific coast.   It is safe, far from drug cartels, and very easy to get around on foot and in taxis.

Surf lessons are available in La Punta.  Just a few miles down the beach is Playa Zicatela where you can find bars, restaurants, discos, nightlife, and plenty of surf shops to buy Mexican trinkets, beach garb, and anything else you might need.  Puerto Escondido is a safe and welcoming town. For information about weather in Puerto Escondido, click here.

Excursions

Here are some of the day trips we recommend doing during your stay here at Casa Chango Mexico.

  • Beaches – There are several beaches in town to explore.
  • Bioluminescence Lagoon 
  • Night Market – locally known as the Adoquin where you can buy all kinds of things
  • Sunset Horseback Ride on the Beach
  • Trip to the River (seasonal)
  • Hot Springs (seasonal)
  • Playa Agua Blanca
  • Playa Carrizalillo
  • Zipline Adventure
  • Surfing – Zicatela beach has one of the best surf breaks in the world.
  • Lagoon Bird Watching Tour
  • Dolphin Boat Tour
  • Walking Tour of Puerto Escondido

We will have one evening adventure after dinner to a local lagoon where you go on a boat and see and swim with the bioluminescent water.  It is truly magical! The cost of this adventure is $500-$800 MXN per person. Please pay with cash pesos.

Nightlife

There are a few bars and discos with DJ’s, live music and dancing.  Please be responsible and take care of yourselves and each other.

Safety

  • Only drink bottled water.  Brushing teeth with tap water is ok.
  • Bring supplements to support. your health in a different environment – probiotics, vitamins, medicines, immune support, etc.
  • Covid prevention- Please wear your N95 mask while traveling and inside of buildings and taxis.
  • Do not walk on the beach at night.
  • Swim with a buddy in the daytime.
  • Sunscreen and mosquito repellent are recommended.
  • Puerto Escondido is a tourist friendly town.
  • Be street wise.  Respect and greet the locals. It is common and polite to say ‘hola’ to strangers on the street here. Use your senses when going out at night.

Drugs, Medicines & Alcohol

Our Sweet Retreats promote celebration, expression and community.   People who enjoy drinking beer and/or cocktails, and legal substances are welcome to do so.  Please be respectful that not everyone will choose to participate. If you are sensitive to being around alcohol, please feel free to let us know in advance, so we can help to create a safe environment for you.

Sweet Retreats does not tolerate the abuse of any drugs or medicines (legal or not). If a participant breaks this drugs & alcohol policy, they will be required to leave without refund or credit.

All participants are required to inform us if they take any medications, the names of the medications being taken, and whether they are prescribed by a physician or someone else.

More details about this policy here.

MENTAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH

More details here.
At Sweet Retreats, we cohabitate, encourage healthy lifestyles, and create a community in which we are able to support each other. We do not tolerate shaming or judgement in any way.

It can be extremely beneficial to engage in regular therapy sessions to support mental and emotional health. We recommend the Better Help app to receive online support at home and while traveling. More details about the app here.

Donations

Check out our Social Circus Program for local children.

If you would like to bring books and/or clothing donations, we will happily distribute them to local charities.  

Links for more information   

Please read our COVID Policy here.

Please feel free to email us at SweetRetreatsMexico@gmail.com with any specific questions.