
Entre Sueños
Tierra Session June 27th- July 3rd, 2025
Cielo Session, September 9-15, 2025
Join us for an intimate retreat exploring the vibrant culture and traditions of Oaxaca’s Central Valleys. We will participate in hands-on ancestral craft workshops while nourishing our body, mind and spirit.
For those seeking an educational and immersive travel experience, we offer a unique opportunity to connect with, learn from, and share with locals in Oaxaca’s artisan communities.






What’s Included
Lodging, Meals, & Transportation
Accommodation (5 days, 6 nights)
3 meals daily, with the exception of two, so you may explore
Transfer to and from Xoxocotlán (OAX) International Airport during the scheduled retreat (iIf you arrive early or leave late we can help you organize transportation to/from the airport)
Private in-country transportation
Workshops & Experiences
Learn from the masters as we venture into communities that continue to practice ancient, traditional art forms. We visit the homes of local artisans for hands-on, interactive workshops including natural dyeing, pottery, cooking, and the art of mezcal distillation. We connect with local families, sharing meals and stories around the table in their home. We will also spend a day visiting Zapotec ruins and traditional market.
Reflection & Conversation
We believe reflection deepens learning and strengthens community. Reflecting on our shared experiences creates pathways for rich and inspiring dialogue and exchange. We invite you to participate in individual and group reflections, journal prompts, sharing circles, and movement and meditation offerings during our time together.
Itinerary
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The first day is considered a travel day. Participants who arrive in Oaxaca City on this day may take the private transportation to Grana BnB. There is a welcome dinner this evening for those who can make it, but the official orientation and start to the retreat is the following morning, once all participants have arrived.
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We begin our retreat with our opening circle and breakfast in Oaxaca City. We spend the remainder of the morning on a walking tour through the city. In the afternoon we learn about Oaxaca’s world-renowned cuisine through a hands-on culinary workshop in the city. We conclude our day with a group dinner.
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After morning movement and breakfast, we visit the Zapotec weaving village of Teotitlán Del Valle. In Teotitlán, we spend the day with a local family of master natural-dyers and weavers learning about traditional Zapotec dyes and wool textiles. You will dye your own piece during this hands-on workshop, and share a meal with the family in their home. In the late afternoon we return to Oaxaca City, dinner is free so you may explore.
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After breakfast, we travel to the Tlacolula Valley to visit the ancient archaeological site of Yagul. After Yagul we spend the afternoon exploring the Mercado de Tlacolula, the largest traditional market in Oaxaca, taking in all the sights and smells, a sensory experience. After lunch, we return to the city where you have the rest of the afternoon to explore on your own.
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After morning movement and breakfast, we travel south to the Valley of Ocotlán to visit a beautiful ranch that belongs to a fifth generation mezcalero’s. We will learn about the varieties of maguey (agave), their medicinal properties, and the mezcal distillation process and environmental projects of the palenque (distillery). We finish our time at the palenque with a mezcal tasting.
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We begin our morning with an intimate ceremony with a local healer from the Sierra Sur. After the ceremony, we travel to the traditional pottery village of Santa María Atzompa where we will experience a hands-on clay workshop with a family of local potters. We will learn their family history, the pottery traditions of the community which date back nearly 1,500 years, and finish our day sharing a meal with the family in their home. After lunch, we return to Oaxaca City, we will conclude our retreat that evening witth our closing circle and final dinner.
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The last day is considered a travel day. Participants who plan to leave Oaxaca on this day may take the private transportation to the airport for their departing flights. Breakfast will be served at the BnB for those who are able to attend.
Guiding Principles
Educational Immersion
We believe in experiential education and purposeful reflection. Our retreat facilitates an exploration of the cultural depth and traditions of this region in a thoughtful and respectful manner. The experience includes opportunities to engage with local academics, artists, and community leaders, encouraging mutual respect and understanding across borders.
Community
Community is at the heart of everything we do. We collaborate with local leaders and activists who are working hard to preserve their craft, culture, and identity. We have worked with the same families, cooperatives, and communities for several years to create inclusive, long-term relationships.
Cultural Exchange
We encourage the exchange of ideas and experiences that respect and nurture local cultures and communities. We believe that in order for true exchange to occur, we must also consider what we can contribute and share with the local community. Reciprocity is essential to an equitable exchange.
Regenerative Tourism
We practice regenerative tourism by reinvesting 10% of all profits from our retreats into community-based projects and educational programs in the areas we visit. These initiatives are self-determined by the communities we work within, and carried out by our 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, The Cosa Buena Foundation.
Pricing
Pricing is per person and includes 6 nights of accommodation, 5 days of workshops and experiences, 3 daily meals (with two exceptions so you may explore), mezcal tastings, airport transfers, and in-country transportation during your retreat.
Single Occupancy Room: $3,300 USD
Double Occupancy Room $2,900 USD
A $500 USD non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot. The remaining total for the retreat must be paid in full one month prior to the retreat start date either in a single payment or three installments.
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Yes! Cosa Buena is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness. Our scholarship programs provide financial assistance to attend our retreats in Oaxaca.
Scholarship recipients are selected not only for their need, but also for their demonstrated commitment to equitable, respectful cultural exchange and cultivating community through their participation in our retreats. Please indicate in your application if you are interested in being considered for a scholarship.
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Yes, Mexican citizens receive a 15% discount.
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Pricing does not include airfare, alcohol (with the exception of planned mezcal tastings), or travel insurance.
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We require that prior to departure, all participants must have proof of travel insurance that covers personal injury, medical expenses, loss of or damage to luggage, repatriation expenses, and a minimum coverage of $200,000 USD emergency evacuation expenses. Insurance typically costs $60 - $100 USD. We recommend World Nomads, USI, or Allianz.
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Yes, the names are only to differentiate the session dates.
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Visit our general travel FAQ for more information.
Accommodations
We will be staying at a quaint, private B&B in the heart of the city. This beautiful home is decorated in traditional folk art, and features charming colonial architecture and a gorgeous garden. Double-occupancy rooms can be arranged with one king or two twin beds based on your preference. All rooms have private bathrooms.
Social Impact
Your participation in the Entre Sueños Retreat supports the following social impact programs.
Ser Mujer
Ser Mujer aims to address gender inequality and remove barriers that prevent women from realizing their rights and full potential. Our intention is to raise awareness about gender equality and violence against women while generating tools, resources, and support for those who have encountered violence.
Talleres Comunitarios
Talleres Comunitarios is a series of workshops for children from the community of Teotitlán Del Valle. These workshops have included instruction in native plants, natural dyeing, weaving with agave fiber, and making natural pigment watercolors. We are very grateful to partner with the Centro Cultural Comunitario in Teotitlán Del Valle in this endeavor.
CreSer
CreSer provides innovative environmental and arts programming for children who have limited access to educational resources. Our program encourages youth to explore their creativity in the visual and performing arts, developing their powers of self-expression, instilling self-confidence, and fueling their interest in learning.
Testimonials
Apply for Entre Sueños
Tierra session June 27th- July 3rd, 2025
Cielo session September 9-15, 2025