3-Day Wellness Escape: Yoga, Sacred Springs & Kirtan in Michoacán's Tropical Canyon

The retreat kicks off Friday evening after dinner with a kirtan — a call-and-response sing-along of chants and mantras that sets a warm, communal tone for the weekend. No experience needed; Daniel leads it in his calm, humorous style that one guest described as 'chicken soup for your soul.'

Saturday is the fullest day. It starts with yoga, then a nature therapy hike of about two hours to a waterfall, with time to swim and sit by the water. Afterward there's the hot springs — the mineral pools that have been the heart of this place for centuries — and in the evening, a traditional sweat lodge ceremony. This is a genuine Temazcal experience, guided with care and respect for the indigenous tradition, and it's likely the most memorable part of the weekend for most guests.

Sunday begins with yoga again, this time combined with birding — the canyon is full of birdlife, and Daniel points out species along the way. The weekend closes with a Janzu water massage, a session where you float in a warm pool while a therapist moves your body through gentle, supported movements. It's deeply relaxing and a fitting end to a weekend centered on water.

Daniel Behn, the host, is a deep ecologist with a background in environmental education, Buddhism, and Native American healing ways. He's also a certified nature guide specializing in Monarch butterflies — Michoacán is famous for the monarch sanctuaries higher in the mountains — and he brings that ecological understanding into everything he does. He's less a yoga teacher in the traditional sense and more a guide to the natural and spiritual dimensions of the place, weaving together yoga, local customs, and direct experience of the land. The retreat is small and intimate, capped at twenty guests, so you'll get personal attention and a real sense of community.

What's included

- 2 nights accommodation - 3 daily delicious and nutritious meals - Daily yoga classes - Daily meditation classes - Nature hikes with a trusted guide - Wifi connection

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flights costs - Visa fee - Travel insurance - Additional treatments - Transportation from Mexico City