A Yelapa yoga retreat means practice on an open-air deck above the Pacific, a car-free village down the beach, and a boat ride instead of a highway. This small fishing village on the south shore of Banderas Bay draws visiting teachers every winter. This guide covers both sides of the mat: students choosing a retreat for the 2026 to 2027 season, and teachers planning a small retreat of their own. Facts are as of October 19, 2026, with a link to each source.
Yelapa yoga retreat dates for the 2026 to 2027 season
Most retreats here run in the dry winter months. These dates are posted by the organizers as of today:
| Retreat | Dates | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Transformation and holistic healing | November 15 to 21, 2026 | Pura Vida |
| Big River Yoga annual Yelapa retreat | January 24 to 30, 2027 | Pura Vida |
| Baxter Bell Yoga retreat | January 30 to February 6, 2027 | Pura Vida |
| Rest, Naturally with Justine | February 24 to 28, 2027 | Verana |
| Personal Transformation and holistic healing | May 16 to 22, 2027 | Pura Vida |
Dates and open spots change, so confirm on each organizer's page before you book flights. Booking sites such as BookRetreats also list Yelapa programs.
Joining a retreat: what to look for
- Style and level. Baxter Bell's page describes yoga twice a day for all levels, beginners included. Other programs lean toward healing work, ceremony, or rest, so read the daily schedule before you pick.
- What's included. Packages differ. Ask whether meals, water taxis, and tips are part of the price or extra.
- Your free time. Most retreats leave afternoons open. Our things to do in Yelapa guide covers the waterfall, beaches, and day trips.
- Classes without a retreat. If you'd rather drop in than commit to a week, our guide to yoga, massage, and retreats in Yelapa covers the village studio and spa options.
Leading a small retreat in Yelapa
If you teach and want to bring a group, the main venue built for it is Pura Vida Wellness Retreat Center, on the beach a short walk from the village. Its host a retreat page lists:
- Room for groups of up to 30 people, with all rooms on site
- An open-air yoga deck with mats, meditation chairs, and props, plus an indoor gathering room
- Mostly plant-based buffet meals, with fish or chicken add-ons on request
- Ocean-water pools, on-site healing treatments, and a temazcal (traditional sweat lodge)
- Discounted rates in the low season
The same page says the first three months of the year usually book more than a year ahead, so a January to March retreat means asking well over a year out; other months have some openings. Verana, a boutique hotel built into the hillside, also hosts visiting teachers, like the February 2027 retreat above, so ask the hotel directly about group dates.
A few planning notes for leaders:
- Plan arrivals in daylight. Boats between Puerto Vallarta and Yelapa run in the daytime. If your students land late, book them a night in Puerto Vallarta and gather everyone for a morning boat. Our guide on how to get to Yelapa from Puerto Vallarta by boat explains the piers, and go2yelapa lists the current water taxi times.
- Tell everyone to bring cash pesos. Yelapa has no ATMs, and many small places take cash only.
- Plan one group outing. A retreat leader quoted on Pura Vida's page names a guided waterfall hike, snorkeling at Majahuitas, and temazcal ceremonies as highlights of her group's week.
- Pick your month with the weather in mind. Our best time to visit Yelapa guide covers each month, whale season included.
Before or after the retreat week
Many people add a few quiet days on either side of a retreat, and teachers often arrive early to settle in. A private house suits that well: your own kitchen, your own schedule, and space to keep up your practice. Our guide to where to stay in Yelapa compares the beach, the village, and the hillsides.
Casa Gratitud is a three-level, ocean-view home in the jungle above the bay, with two king bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. It sleeps 6 comfortably and up to 8 with rollaway beds, so a few friends can plan their own slow yoga week together. Three levels of terraces face the bay, with room to roll out a mat at sunrise. Our host family meets you at the pier and helps with anything you need during your stay.
Plan your stay
Whether you're joining a retreat, leading one, or making your own week of yoga and ocean air, Casa Gratitud is a calm home base in Yelapa. It rents October through April, right in retreat season. Check dates and rates and book direct at yelapacasagratitud.com.