This “WITHIN Around The World” adventure begins in beautiful Mérida, the vibrant capital of the Mexican state of Yucatán, which has a rich Mayan and colonial heritage. The city’s focal point is Plaza de la Independencia, bordered by the fortresslike Mérida Cathedral and white limestone Iglesia de la Tercera Orden, both colonial-era churches built using relics from ancient Mayan temples.  A driver will pick you up from the airport and the shuttle will bring us all to our hotel.  We will have time to meet and connect, visit the local artisan market for some shopping, see some sights, and then we’ll enjoy our welcome dinner at the hotel.  We will come together for a relaxing evening meditation, then get some rest after travel.  We will spend the first night here.  

Today we will be shuttled to Okaan, a beautiful resort located in the middle of the jungle. Make sure to check out the sky deck once we arrive. You can see a sneak peak of Chichen Itza (Mayan ruins) on a clear day. On our way to Okaan we will make sure to take a quick pit stop in the beautiful town of Izamal for lunch and have the opportunity to explore the ruins and architecture there. Upon your arrival to Okaan you will have time to settle into your space, meet your retreat roommate if you have one, explore the resort, relax and unwind. We’ll come together in the evening for our welcome dinner where we will discuss the itinerary and details about the incredible week ahead. Each participant will have a one-on-one with Devon. 

After dinner we will have our welcome circle ceremony where we’ll discuss the meaning of retreat, share our intentions, and meditate together in paradise. 

Our first full retreat day will consist of morning meditation and a traditional cacao ceremony. 

After breakfast we will invigorate and integrate ourselves by swimming in a breathtaking off the beaten path Cenote “swimming caves” hugged by deep green and lush foliage of the jungle.  Here we will all take time to pause and meditate inside the beauty of the earth around us. Take time to relax, swim and be one with nature.

Following our cenote adventure you will have the unique opportunity to learn how to make traditional Mayan inspired dishes during our private cooking class inside a local home! Here we will learn how to make dishes such as: Salbutes, Pinochos and then enjoy our culinary creations together before heading back to Okaan Resort.

Upon returning from the day’s adventures you will have time to decompress, relax, journal and reflect on your experiences and explorations.  After gathering to enjoy another yummy, freshly prepared dinner, we will have our evening circle, where we will chant, meditate, and have satsang (sharing the knowledge of truth) before we go to bed.

After a nourishing breakfast, we will head off to explore and swim at the Yokdzonot cenote, where we will again all take time to pause and meditate inside the beauty of the earth around us. Devon will guide our morning meditation here as we take time to relax, float, and be one with nature.  After returning to Okaan, there will be plenty of free time.  Each participant will have the option of receiving a private tarot card reading from Devon. Make sure that you remember to drink plenty of water throughout the day because this evening we are going to embark on a spiritual journey via the Mayan ritual “Temazcal”. The Temazcal is a sweat lodge that takes place in a mud hut where lava rocks are brought into the space over the course of a couple hours. This tradition is held to enable you to not only purify your body, but also purify your mind, soul and spirit from the inside out.  After the ritual, we will meet briefly in the circle to share our observations before going to bed.

By now, we’ve done enough and seen enough to be ready to let go of the world and turn within.  After a morning meditation, we’ll share a silent breakfast, and then we will all gather together to learn the structure of the day-long meditation retreat and to set gentle intentions. 

We will start the day with a nourishing breakfast, and after that, prepare a day pack equipped with water/snacks/camera/bathing suit/towel etc, put on comfortable footwear, and get ready to explore the ancient ruins of the historical Mayan city, Chichen Itza. Here we will walk and explore the grounds extensively, learning about one of the most iconic civilizations from the past, filled with architectural marvels, expansive history and deep ancient secrets. Fun Fact: In July 2007, Chichen Itza gained recognition as one of the “New 7 Wonders of the World” and is now one of the most highly visited archeological sites in Mexico today. Some notable highlights that we will visit within the grounds of Chichen Itza include but are not limited to:

• Temple of Kukulkan
• Tomb of the High Priest
• La Iglesia
• Casa Colorada
• Court of the Thousand Columns

After Chichen Itza, we will visit another local Cenote to cool off from the hot sun.  At the cenote, you can choose to meditate by yourself, join a guided meditation led by Devon, or just explore the surrounding area.

When we return to Okaan Resort,  the rest of the day is yours to relax, reflect and do as you please- you may choose to spend time journaling, hanging by the pool, reading in a hammock, connecting to your personal practice, or consider visiting the spa located on the grounds to unwind even more. (Spa services such as sauna, facials, massage and more are available at an additional cost). 

After another group dinner, we will close the day with our evening fire circle.

After our morning meditation, our last meal will be a large brunch to celebrate all that we’ve been changed by over the retreat, then we will gather after that for one last circle for a closing ceremony where we’ll say our goodbyes.  After that, we’ll pack up, and we will all be leaving the resort around noon.