Entre Sueños

February 27th- March 5th, 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.

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: $2,800 USD

  • Double Occupancy Room $2,400 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.

  • 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.

  • Yes, Mexican citizens receive a 15% discount.

  • Pricing does not include airfare, alcohol (with the exception of planned mezcal tastings), or travel insurance.

  • 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.

  • Yes, the names are only to differentiate the session dates.

  • 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

  • “My retreat experience with Cosa Buena has been an apapacho a mi corazón, “a hug to my heart”. It was a gentle invitation to explore my inner landscape, while being embraced by the beauty, love, attention, and care of our wonderful hosts and guides. My heart was opened in new ways to our human connection, the offerings of mother nature, and the joy and love a smile can hold. The relationships that Cosa Buena has cultivated with the artisans are rooted in deep respect and love. It was an honor to be received with such open arms, generosity of spirit, and creativity in each home we visited. I would highly recommend this retreat with Cosa Buena, you will be guided through Oaxaca, with great care and love for the beauty she offers.”

    Christina Brown (Greensboro, North Carolina)

  • “I chose this retreat as a means of giving back to the people and lands that I have always felt so drawn to. I never imagined how held and supported I would feel throughout the process. The experiences we shared being guided by our incredible facilitators, being welcomed into family homes as they so generously shared their ancestral knowledge with us, lessons and practices that honor the Earth are unforgettable, and I am eternally grateful. The intention and curation of the Entre Sueños Retreat was a travel experience you will not have anywhere else. We arrived as strangers, and left as a family. My heart is full. Thank you Cosa Buena.”

    Aleisha Zoumaras (Melbourne, Australia)

  • “As an Australian, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived in Oaxaca for the Cosa Buena Entre Sueños Retreat, but I knew I wanted to meet local artisans and families in an authentic and respectful way, and this was absolutely the case. The deep admiration, respect, and gratitude that I gained for the local community through learning, chatting, and eating with the families we met was really an overwhelmingly beautiful experience. I left the retreat feeling really connected to them and so inspired. Ana and Raquel were phenomenal guides and really facilitated incredibly meaningful conversations and experiences. The connections forged within the group were very healing— we quickly became really close. This was an incredible introduction to Oaxaca and the Mexican/Zapotec/Mixtec culture, I will value for life!”

    Kiri Bowmer (Adelaide, Australia)

  • “The Entre Sueños retreat exceeded all my expectations. I gained everything I expected from a cultural education and experience, and so much more in terms of my personal development. I had put off visiting Oaxaca for years because the idea of planning the multiple experiences necessary to truly experience the region’s rich culture seemed daunting. Cosa Buena’s retreat was the perfect way to be introduced in a deeply connected environment. I really learned more than I could have hoped for, and can’t speak highly enough of my time in Oaxaca.”

    Carl Runge (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

  • “The full experience of Entre Sueños retreat has been a dream. I admire Cosa Buena and the work they do so much. From the beginning until the end, everything was fantastic. The activities and workshops, the people, the food, the places and all the unplanned moments shared made the trip unforgettable. I have so much admiration for the Cosa Buena team and our facilitators for everything they do, and for the passion they have to keep growing, educating, and taking care of their community in Oaxaca.”

    Diana Oscos (Mexico City, Mexico)

  • “Being a part of Cosa Buena has been a wonderful and enriching experience. Connecting with the ancient traditions and beautiful people who have opened up and shared their knowledge and awareness has fulled my heart with gratitude and faith that we can continue to live in harmony with nature and the earth’s natural cycles. The retreat was an inspiration to continue creating and supporting the artists and creators who share their gifts or products with us, made with so much love and dedication. It is a space to fall in love again with our culture, to feel proud of who we are, and an affirmation that if we are connected with our purpose in life, anything is possible. Thank you Cosa Buena for this experience and the scholarship opportunity.”

    Mairena Briones (Panama City, Panama)

  • “Cosa Buena was pure magic. I’ve never traveled in such a conscious, creative, and meaningful way. It was very emotional for me, in the best of ways. The people, families, and artists I met go about life in such an intentional way— I learned so much and am leaving feeling so inspired and full of love and gratitude. Thank you to the Cosa Buena team, my life will forever be changed. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.”

    Brynne Swearingen (San Francisco, California)

  • “When I came across Cosa Buena, I immediately had a sense that it had much more to offer than the gorgeous Instagram pictures. It turned out that my intuition was absolutely right. The retreat equipped me with a framework for a more responsible and respectful way of traveling and learning from other cultures. It gave me an unforgettable experience of reciprocity, open-heartedness, unconditional generosity, and a sense of being truly welcome. Being guided through this process by Oaxacan indigenous artisans, who have never forgotten how to walk this Earth with grace, provided me with tools and ways to remind myself how to return to that state of gracious coexistence.The 6-day experience created an inclusive and nurturing space to deepen my most important relations; those with myself, other human beings, and Mother Nature. All this wouldn’t be possible without Vera, Amber, and Kiana, three dear sisters, who held space for us with so much ease and care, which allowed us to tap into our vulnerability and true expression and let others see them. I cherished every minute of this retreat, and I’m sure you will love it too.”

    Dominika Wasilewska (Warsaw, Poland)

  • “I came to Oaxaca hoping to soak up the culture, the colors, and the artisan crafts without any other expectations. From the first day of the retreat, I realized that it was going to be much more than this. Visiting each of the artisan’s homes, workshops, kitchens, sharing space with them, I understood that this was about the connection with each individual, the communities, and the incredibly valuable work that they are doing. I met people with the biggest hearts, who were proud of their roots, their families, and their traditions. They continue to carry the essence of México and the culture. More than the art, what I take away from this experience is all the love of the people, who give everything for their families, for their lands, and for a few days they received us in their homes as if we were part of their families. Thank you Cosa Buena for reminding me what it means to be Mexican, and do everything with love.”

    Regina Martinez (Michoacán, MX)

  • “As someone who typically enjoys traveling alone, and seeking out my own experiences, I can attest to the thoughtfulness and intention behind the planned experiences offered by Cosa Buena— they carefully invite artists and healers to share very warm and real connections with participants. None of the time was forced or disconnected. It is clear that Cosa Buena seeks out meaning and love in the work that they do. I have had an unforgettable time with them, as well as made some strong connections with the other women that I will continue to nurture after the retreat. My senses are lit afire again after this, and if you are like me— in need of some inspiration and some reconnection to self— you will receive exactly what you need from your time with Cosa Buena in Oaxaca.”

    Maria Flores (Brooklyn, NY)

Apply for Entre Sueños

Corazón session Feb 27th- March 5th, 2025