Yogaway Retreats

B E L I Z E

~THE STARS, THE SEA & THE SOUL~

A BELIZE ISLAND YOGA RETREAT

DATES: January 22-27, 2022 | TEACHER: Checka Antifonario | PRICE: $2,440-$3,450*

*prices include all in-country travel including flight from Belize City to Thatch Caye Island

this is a past retrea t- please check back soon for future dates!

In January of 2020, a group of Yogaway retreaters traveled to Thatch Caye Resort for our first-ever retreat there. That week was packed full of connection, joy, deep relaxation, and soul-level friendships at one of the best retreat centers I have yet to experience. When you are at Thatch Caye, everyone on the island feels like family. It was truly a life-affirming experience that stayed with each of us as a beacon of strength and hope throughout the hard year that followed.

Now, at long last, hope is on the horizon. It is time to make our magical island plans once again! Won't you join us?

For this five-night, six-day island retreat, we will gather in a place of phenomenal beauty, and dive deep into LIFE! We will do our best to shake free of the attachments and day-to-day stressors we all feel so we can get a little clearer on the truth of who we are - as bright as the stars, as fluid as the sea. This retreat is my most all-inclusive offering (read on for the details) to support a true feeling of retreat and remove any extra planning pressures. There will be plenty to fill up our days, but even as we adventure and explore on and around the small island, simplicity will be our beacon.

Thatch Caye Resort is a supremely comfortable, stunning, eco-conscious and ethical retreat center on a private mile-long island off the central coast of Belize. Our twice-daily yoga classes will include a variety of accessible and powerful yoga and meditation modalities. The sequence of practices will be designed to guide you deeper into inner peace and knowing as the week evolves. My hope and intention is that after our retreat, we will each step back into our daily lives feeling strong, refreshed, rested and ready to show up fully!

Thatch Caye is limited to 30 guests at a time. The company who owns this island resort, Muy'Ono, donates a portion of every reservation to local charities and is a proud member of "Pack for a Purpose", an initiative that allows travelers like us to make a lasting impact in the community at our destination. Muy'Ono is also an employer of choice in Belize, investing heavily in development and educational programs that provide opportunities for professional and personal growth. Muy’Ono is committed to preserving the beautiful, yet fragile, natural environment that is the main attraction in Belize. They focus on eliminating any potential negative environmental impact associated with their operations. The staff at Thatch Caye care deeply about their guests and work hard to ensure positive experiences for all who travel to this beautiful place. Check out their TripAdvisor reviews to read all the glowing words from guests!

So how will we fill our days at Thatch Caye? Of course we will be spending ample time in practice, with morning and afternoon yoga classes exclusive to our group held mainly at Serenity Point (covered yoga platform over the ocean) with perhaps a class or two on the beach!

We will enjoy three delicious chef prepared meals per day plus a mid-afternoon snack. Need a refreshment outside of meal times? No problem - beverages of all types are included all day and evening long. You can choose to take advantage of the kayaks, paddle boards, snorkel gear, fishing poles and other non-motorized island toys that will be available to you as part of your retreat package, and there are ten bikes available for cruising around the island as well. If it's stillness you're craving, take some time to relax in the hammock on your deck (yes, all accommodations have hammocks!). Or you can always hop on the WiFi in the Coco Lounge to check in with folks at home in between beach swims. With advance notice the resort can also arrange an add-on massage or body treatment on your rooftop or deck - imagine receiving this healing with the ocean literally a few feet away!

This year, after rave reviews from members of our last retreat group, a guided snorkeling trip to the Belize Barrier Reef (second largest barrier reef system in the world) is included in your retreat package! Snorkel amidst delicate sea fans, colorful tropical fish, and impressive corals. Your experienced guides will make sure you are comfortable in the water no matter your level of experience. That being said, if you prefer to skip this trip, you can use your excursion credit towards one of Thatch Caye's fabulous spa services instead.

If you are up for even more adventure, Thatch Caye provides a broad range of both land and water-based optional excursions to add on.

Without further ado, let's talk about where you will stay! The accommodations are the crown jewel of Thatch Caye, all recently renovated with reclaimed island materials. Bungalows are literally over the water, and cabanas boast gorgeous ocean views from their decks or roof decks. Each accommodation is a true oasis with outdoor space, air conditioning (though they suggest leaving the windows open), and more importantly, no “real world” distractions. Rooms do include filtered water, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and hair dryers. You won’t find a phone, TV, or WiFi in your room, but all are available at the Coco Lounge, if you happen to need them. I can't emphasize this enough: every room at Thatch Caye is absolutely dreamy!

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS:

PREMIERE OCEANFRONT CABANA - Beautifully located, the elegant and spacious Premier Oceanfront Cabanas have spectacular ocean views, air conditioning, en-suite baths, a king or two twin beds, window seats, easy chairs and dining tables. A 400 sq. ft. private roof patio with a hammock and lounge chairs completes your spacious home away from home. We loved hanging out under the stars on these roof tops on our last visit! You can see all of the details as well as a floor plan here.

OVERWATER BUNGALOW - Perched high above the sea, these are the most spacious overwater bungalows at Thatch Caye. They comfortably accommodate two adults in a king or twin beds. The three overwater bungalows each have their own entry walkway and share a large deck with hammocks swaying in the sea breeze. Each bungalow has an en-suite bathroom with shower and air-conditioning. Our group loved these bungalows last year! You can see all of the details as well as a floor plan here.

GETTING TO THATCH CAYE / CURRENT TRAVEL POLICIES:

Your travel will consist of a few steps to get you to this special place.

Please fly into Belize International Airport in Belize City (airport code: BZE) on Saturday, January 22, landing no later than 3:45 pm. It is a small airport that provides excellent signage to help travelers get through customs and transfer to your in-country flight to Dangriga. At the point of entry, a passport and proof of return or onward ticket are required. Again, when booking your international flight, please be aware of your landing time. You must arrive to Belize City no later than 3:45 pm, as the last flight to Dangriga (the closest airport to our destination) departs at 5:00 pm. The resort staff will book your connecting flight to Dangriga (this $195 flight is included in your retreat cost), a beautiful 15 minute flight down the coast of Belize. A staff member will be waiting at Dangriga to pick you up and take you on a brief drive to a dock for your 25-minute, 9 mile boat ride to the island.

For departure on Thursday, January 27, please schedule your flight departure from Belize City in the afternoon or later, so the we can be sure to get you there on time.

POLICY TO ENTER BELIZE: All travelers, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, entering Belize through the Philip Goldson International Airport from other countries will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test. A negative result of a Covid-19 PCR test taken within 96 hours of arrival or a negative result from any approved Antigen Rapid Test taken within 48 hours of arrival is required. If no test is presented, a COVID-19 test will be administered at the airport for a fee of USD $50 cash per passenger. (Please note, relying on in-airport testing is not recommended as it may delay you or cause other complications).

This is the most up-to-date info available as of 1/3/22. Please check here any time for the most current policy updates: https://www.travelbelize.org/health-safety/

POLICY TO RETURN TO U.S.: Air travelers aged two and older, regardless of nationality or vaccination status, are required to show documentation of a negative viral test result taken within one day of the flight’s departure to the United States before boarding. You must show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight. That includes all travelers – U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), and foreign nationals. If you recently recovered from COVID-19, you may instead travel with documentation of recovery from COVID-19 (i.e., your positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country, and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel).

This is the most up-to-date info available as of 1/3/22. Please check here any time for the most current policy updates here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/requirements-for-air-travelers-to-the-us.html

INCLUDED IN RETREAT:

- 5 nights lodging in bungalow or cabana
- 9 yoga classes (daily active morning vinyasa and a gentler / more meditative offering in the afternoon)

- barrier reef snorkeling trip
- three chef-prepared meals plus afternoon snack each day (dietary restrictions can be accommodated)
- beverages at all times (non-alcoholic and alcoholic)
- roundtrip in-Belize flights between Belize City and Dangriga Airport ($195 value)
- roundtrip auto and boat transfer between Dangriga and Thatch Caye
- marine fee and access to kayaks, paddle boards, fishing poles, snorkel gear and bikes on the island
- taxes and gratuities

NOT INCLUDED IN RETREAT:

- your international flight
- spa treatments
- additional excursions outside of included barrier reef snorkeling trip
- travel insurance

IMPORTANT INFO:

- Please check that your passport is valid six months beyond the retreat.

- Purchasing trip insurance is recommended for ALL retreats.

- Deposits and subsequent balance payments are non-refundable. Please reach out in the instance of emergency.

- Please be aware of any current travel restrictions and policies in Belize as well as your home country and state.

REGISTRATION, PRICING AND ROOM CHOICE:

Early Bird Pricing ($100 increase after September 30, 2021):

$2,440 per person for double occupancy

$3,450 for single occupancy

Room choice is first come first served - but don't worry, because you really can't go wrong with accommodations at Thatch Caye! If you would like to have a roommate but are traveling solo, you are welcome to book a double occupancy spot for yourself and I will pair you with a roommate.

A non-refundable deposit of $500 will secure your spot. Balance payments will be due October 15, 2021. Payments are non-refundable aside from legitimate Covid-19 related reasons as described below.

To register, please email me at info@yogawayretreats.com with your room request. I will respond to confirm availability, send you a deposit invoice, and your spot will be secured with payment!

COVID CANCELATION POLICY (FOR REGISTERED INDIVIDUALS):

Fully refundable up to 30 days prior, only for legitimate COVID-19-related cancelations.

If canceled within the 30 day window, a credit in one of the following amounts can be used for a future trip, up through 12/15/2022.