"Winter Bliss" Yoga and Meditation Retreat in the Dominican Republic
A Unique Yoga Retreat Experience in the Heart of the Caribbean in Dominican Republic
FEBRUARY 26 – MARCH 2, 2024
Escape the winter blues, daily life, and anything that ails you, as you embark on a transformative yoga retreat that combines the serenity of yoga, the beauty of the beach, and the richness of culture in the Dominican Republic.
This unforgettable 6-day, yoga retreat experience is happening in the heart of the Caribbean on February 26 – March 2, 2024, and you are cordially invited to discover the perfect balance between relaxation, adventure, and personal growth.
You’ll enjoy daily yoga that combines movement, breathwork, gratitude journaling, restorative, and Yoga Nidra. Epic excursions are also part of the agenda, so you can immerse yourself in Dominican Culture. We will visit national parks, secluded beaches, and nearby towns.
And let’s not forget about free time to enjoy with your lovely self. Enjoy free time for sunbathing, swimming, massage therapy, or simply strolling along the shore or town village.
A YOGA RETREAT TO HELP YOU:
- Deepen Your Practice through daily, invigorating and calming yoga classes taught in a beautiful, oceanfront yoga deck.
- Explore the beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic, through daily access to the beach located right at the retreat center, excursions to National Parks and nearby beaches in the Samana Bay, access to paddle boards and kayaks, and more.
- Practice deep relaxation, and healing through meditation, sound baths, breath-work, and Yoga Nidra.
- Set clear intentions and set actionable goals to help you move towards something specific you’d like to achieve in life.
- Build community and long-lasting friendships.
THE LOCATION
Las Galeras is located in the eastern part of the Samana Peninsula in the Dominican Republic. The small, tucked-away town is a nature lover’s dream and home to beautiful isolated beaches, culture, and ecotourism. You will enjoy visiting Playa Rincon (named one of the most beautiful beaches in the world), mangrove forests, bird sanctuaries, waterfalls, and more.
Some of these sites are included in the yoga retreat excursions but we highly encourage you to stay longer and explore the beauty of Samana.
THE YOGA RETREAT CENTER
This yoga retreat will be hosted in an oceanfront boutique hotel in Las Galeras Samana. With magical ocean view rooms, tropical setting, and tranquility all around, you will truly find the time and space to relax and unwind.
While still private and tucked away, the hotel is close to small shops and restaurants that you can visit by foot or bike. Amenities include a private beach, outdoor swimming pool, spa services, cocktail bar, unlimited use of kayaks, bikes, and snorkeling equipment free of charge, and more.
THE FOOD
You will be served 3 nourishing meals a day on this yoga retreat. All meals are made onsite from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The menu offers a variety of international, Caribbean, Latin American, Asian, and Dominican dishes with exciting vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
THINGS TO DO
Wondering how you’ll spend six days in paradise? There are plenty of things to do. Some things will be part of the yoga retreat program and others you can do on your own time.
- Morning and evening yoga classes.
- Group breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Group excursions.
- Walk to La Playita (just a 10-minute walk from the hotel).
- Walk or bike to the nearby village where you’ll find small shops and restaurants, and get to know the locals.
- Relax by the pool.
- Enjoy the private beach (swim, kayak, stand-up paddle, and snorkel).
- Book a massage, manicure, pedicure, or facial.
- Enjoy a cocktail or smoothie by the bar, pool, or beach.
THE YOGA
You will be served two (90-minute*) classes per day. These classes are open-level and suitable to all, as you’ll be given variations that allow you to explore and customize your practice to suit your needs.
Morning classes are breath-centered and combine classical Vinyasa and hatha yoga principles. You will end the practice with gratitude journaling, guided meditation, and a sweet Savasana.
Evening classes more lunar and cooling, combining mindfulness practices with restorative and Yin poses. You will end the practice with a full Yoga Nidra Meditation for expanded consciousness and deep relaxation.
* Classes are 90 minutes unless notified otherwise.
THE EXCURSIONS
Two group excursions are included. These may include boating trips where we visit beaches around the Peninsula, a full day excursion to Los Haitises National Park where you’ll get to see mangrove forests, bird sanctuary keys, caves with pictographs and petroglyphs, group walk to La Playita, a popular beach located just ten minutes from the hotel (you can also go on your own), and more.
ROOMS & PRICES
You’ll stay in Victorian style, air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms, direct ocean views, and private balcony or terrace.
Please note: the pictures below represent one of the many rooms. You will be placed in one just like it, or similar.
Shared Room (One Person)
This option is for a solo traveler looking to share a double room with another solo traveler. We will pair you up.
Regular Price: $1,999
Private Room (Two Person)
This option is for two people traveling together. You’ll stay in a private double room with either a king-sized bed or two beds. The price is for two people, please select 1 at checkout.
Regular Price: $3,499
Private Room (One Person)
This option is for one person. You’ll have your own private room with a king-sized bed.
Regular Price: $2,399
HIT 'PLAY TO CHECK OUT SCENES FROM OUR LAST YOGA RETREAT
WHAT PAST YOGA RETREAT PARTICIPANTS SAID...
WHAT'S INCLUDED
All packages include the following:
- 5 nights in beautiful, air-conditioned ocean view rooms with private balcony or terrance.
- Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner (dinner only on the first day, and breakfast only on the last day).
- 2 yoga classes a day (there will not be a morning class on the day we have a full day excursion).
- Roundtrip group airport transfer (see “How to Get There” below for more info).
- Group excursions
- Access to bikes, kayaks, paddle boards, and snorkeling equipment free of charge.
- Private beach access and outdoor swimming pool.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Roundtrip airfare
- Massage & Spa Services
- Soft drinks, juices, Wine, cocktails, and extra snacks.
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Excursions done on your own.
- Gratuities
- Anything not listed on the inclusion list above.
GETTING THERE
- Book your flight to Las Americas International Airport (SDQ).
- The yoga retreat center is approximately a 3.5 hour drive from SDQ.
- Hotel check in is at 2pm and the yoga retreat will officially start around 5pm.
- On February 26, 2024 (arrival), the free shuttle departs from Santo Domingo at 10am, so we highly recommend arriving on August 6 or before.
- On March 2, 2024 (departure), the free shuttle departs from the yoga retreat center at 10am.
- If you need to arrive/depart at a different time, we will happily schedule a private taxi for you. This is not included in your retreat package.
- We will set-up a group chat so that you can connect with others on travel times and such.
PAYMENT DETAILS
- A non-refundable deposit of $500, which is deducted from your total balance, is required to hold your space.
- The remaining balance is due January 19, 2024.
- Payment plans are available at no extra cost. After securing your deposit, the remaining balance can be split up in 2-4 payments. All payments must be made by January 19, 2024.
- The retreat is refundable (minus deposit) if cancelled on or before November 26, 2023.
We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance to cover your costs in case you need to cancel, either due to COVID-19 or any other reason.
TESTIMONIALS
“This was an awesome experience. Our yoga instructor was professional and supportive. The lodgings were gorgeous with a wonderful staff. In addition we were a group of diverse travelers from different parts of the world who came together for the yoga experience and fun!!!”
DENISE
Dominican Republic Retreat JANUARY 2023
Absolutely amazing (again). Great choice of location, wonderful yoga (accompanied by sea sounds), a generous and fun group, and outstanding organization and caretaking by Argentina (and Sara). I hope my memories of all the different shades of blue and swimming in warm Caribbean water will get me through the rest of this winter…”
CLAUDIA
Dominican Republic Retreat, JANUARY 2023
“This retreat exceeded my expectations! The resort and staff were wonderful, the views were incredible, the experience of yoga daily was well-balanced, healing and entirely what I needed. I highly recommend this trip with Argentina and Brenda to anyone!”
Retreat guest
colombia Retreat, 2019
“The Spring Awakening Panama retreat was my first yoga retreat, and I couldn’t have picked a better one. The inclusive atmosphere, flexible schedule (lots of yoga, fun outings and activities, free time to rest, go to the beach, and relax), experience of a few different areas within Panama, and quickly-formed community of awesome yogis was an unforgettable experience. I loved the wide range of yoga classes (headstand workshop to vigorous flows, to yoga nidra and restorative), and the whole experience at Istmo retreat center was exactly what I was hoping for. Thank you, Brenda and Argentina, can’t wait for the next one!”
Retreat guest
PANAMA Retreat, 2019
“I think that this retreat helped to deepen my personal relationship with yoga and I really appreciated that opportunity. I feel I was able to spend enough time by myself to relax and focus on my personal experience, while also getting to feel like I was surrounded by other wonderful yogis. I like the diversity of people who attended and that none were stereotypical yogis.”
Retreat guest
NICARAGUA Retreat, 2018
QUESTIONS?
Most frequent questions and answers
No. The early bird discount is for anyone who reserves their spot with a deposit before October 31, 2023. The remaining balance is due January 19, 2024.
Yes! Once you register, the remaining balance can be split up into 2-4 payments. You’ll just need to have everything paid by January 19, 2024.
Yes. Airport transfer is included in your retreat package. On February 26, 2024 (arrival), the free shuttle departs from Santo Domingo at 10am, so we highly recommend arriving on February 25 or before. On March 2, 2024 (departure), the free shuttle departs from the yoga retreat center at 10am.
Yes. If you need to arrive/depart at a different time, we will happily book a private taxi for you (it’s $190 U.S. dollars one way and not included in your retreat package.)
The Dominican Republic is warm all year round, with highs in the upper 80s and nineties (F). The months of December through March are considered high season, with comfortable, less humid temperatures and very little rain.
Most retreat goers actually go alone, and you’ll find plenty of things to do, whether you want to be alone, with a fellow retreater, or the group. You will also get a chance to connect with other participants so you can coordinate travel if you’d like.
No. Everything listed on the agenda is 100% optional. So if one day you don’t want to get up early for yoga, you don’t have to. If you’re not into excursions, you don’t have to…
When we are closer to the yoga retreat date, you’ll get a packing list with recommendations on what to bring.
Not at all. I pride myself in teaching well-balanced, all-levels yoga. Morning classes won’t be necessarily gentle, that’s for sure, but it will definitely be suitable for all levels of practitioners. The evening classes will be restorative and cooling for the body and mind (perfect after a fun day on the beach).
YOUR HOST
Hey, I’m Argentina
I started practicing yoga and meditation when I was in high school. I was stressed, overwhelmed, and highly anxious due to the many changes that were happening in my life at the time.
I was a teenager back then, and yoga became my sanctuary. It changed the way I handled everything that was going on. It changed my life. I practiced at home because I was too anxious to go to a group class. And actually, when I practiced, I used to put up a sign on my bedroom door that said “do not disturb.” Geeky, I know. But that’s how serious I was. Now I’m a full-time instructor and coach with a mission to share this powerful, healing practice with as many people as I can.
Come join me!
Wait, you probably want to know about my qualifications and stuff. Right? So here you go.
I’m a 500-hour “Yoga Alliance-School” Certified teacher, and I’ve been teaching yoga and meditation for 7+ years. My “specialties” are breath-work, meditation, and Yoga Nidra to help students manage chronic anxiety and stress. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology, and a Masters degree in Business Strategy and Leadership. Before I became a yoga teacher, I worked in the pharmaceutical industry where I helped manage clinical trials for new drug development.