Welcome to Casa Chango Mexico!
We are so excited to host you here! Please read this page carefully, as it will help you
prepare for your trip and give you important information about your stay with us.
Casa Chango Eco Retreat Center
Casa Chango is off grid which means we run on solar power and well water. We are dedicated to doing our best to live in harmony with the natural world around us. We have both flushing toilets and composting toilets, so be prepared to learn some things about where your poop goes ;). Our gray water feeds our plants, so please only bring natural and chemical free shampoo/conditioner and toothpaste with you on your retreat. The trees and gardens really appreciate it!! We will also ask you to conserve water while you are here.
Preparing for Your Trip
This is your to do list prior to your arrival!
- Please fill out this ITINERARY FORM as soon as possible so we can arrange for your airport transport when you arrive in Puerto Escondido. Once we have everyone’s itineraries we will send you more information about your shuttle taxi from the airport in Puerto Escondido.
- Please fill out this waiver. Everyone must fill one out before attending any classes or retreat activities.
- Check out this Info Packet which has all the information you will need for the retreat.
- Please read the What to Expect on a Sweet Retreat page. It will be helpful for packing and preparing for your trip.
- Join our Chat!
- Download WhatsApp and join our chat. Once you have downloaded, please add Eli (Casa Chango manager) +52-954-205-3983 as a contact and send a WhatsApp message saying ‘My name is [your name] and I am coming to the [name and dates of retreat you are attending]. Please add me to the group chat.’ If you can’t figure out how to do it, just reply to this email with your whatsapp number, and I will add you to the group. We use the whatsapp chat to organize excursions and outings and prepare for our retreat.\
- Follow @SweetRetreatsMX on Instagram.
- Follow @CasaChangoMexico on Instagram.
Read this part 1 week before your retreat begins!
Meal service begins with a light lunch on the day you arrive and ends with breakfast on the day you depart. We will have breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily as well as an afternoon snack and iced coffee/tea and desserts.
We don’t have a laundry service on site, so please bring enough clothes for the whole week.
Money
If you need to get Mexican pesos, the best way is to go to an ATM at the airport in Mexico City if you have time. There are no cash exchanges in Puerto Escondido, but there are ATM’s. We recommend getting around $2000-$5000 pesos ($100-$250 USD) especially if you plan to get some massages and/or buy alcoholic beverages and/or gifts. If you have too many pesos at the end of the trip, you can leave a tip for our amazing staff. Make sure to let your bank know you will be using your card in Mexico so they don’t block it.
Mexico Immigration
There is no entrance fee for Mexico.
When you go through immigration in Mexico, the immigration officers might ask you why you are coming to Mexico. Just tell them you are on holiday to the beach. The immigration officer may ask you how long you are staying in Mexico. Be as specific as you can about the amount of time you are staying.
Note about customs: If they ask what you have in your bags, just say ‘personal items’.
Mexico City Airport
MEX is a large, busy and sometimes very confusing airport. Make sure to leave plenty of time for check in (long lines) and security (long lines) as well as looking for your gate (very few signs). Don’t be alarmed. You will be fine. You will find where you need to go. It is just a little more unorganized than most airports I have been in.
Layovers in MEX: If you are changing airlines in MEX, you might have to go to the check in counter to re-check in after you have gone through customs. If MEX is your first destination in Mexico, make sure you have at least 2-3 hours layover between flights.
Your Arrival & Taxi Shuttle Info
Eli, Casa Chango’s general manager, will send you a separate email from CasaChangoMexico@gmail.com with arrival and airport pick up information. It is important that you read that email and confirm that your arrival information is correct.
Please be on the lookout for this email. If you don’t receive it in the next few days, look in your spam and trash folders. If you still don’t see your taxi email, let me know.
Daily Schedule Sample:
- 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. – Tea, Coffee and Breakfast
- 9:45 a.m.-12:45pm – Warm Up, Morning Class
- 1:00 p.m. – Lunch
- 2:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. – Free time (pool, hammocks, massages, naps)
- 3:30 p.m. – Afternoon snack and beverage
- 4:30 – 6:30p.m. – Afternoon Class
- 6-7pm – Sunset photos (in the gym and by the infinity pool)
- 7:00 p.m. – Dinner
- 8:00 p.m. – Free time, jacuzzi, and evening activities
Questions? Email us at SweetRetreatsMexico@gmail.com
*Food service begins with a snack and dinner on arrival day, and ends with breakfast on departure day. All meals are provided. The food is amazing! ** Your taxi to/from the PXM airport is included if you arrive/depart on designated days. Click here for info about getting to Puerto Escondido.
Cancellation Policy:
- No Refunds.
- Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
- Cancel more than 60 days before 1st day of retreat: 50% of your tuition paid can transfer toward a future Sweet Retreat within 18 months of cancellation.
- Cancel 30-60 days before the 1st day of retreat: 25% of your tuition paid can transfer toward a future Sweet Retreat within 18 months of cancellation.
- Cancellations up to 30 days before the 1st day of the retreat will not be credited or refunded for any reason.
- At the time of payment for your retreat, we strongly advise purchasing a travel insurance policy. Make sure your policy covers the full cost of the retreat fee, as well as unexpected cancellation, trip delay, losses and other risks. Also, consider protection for canceled or delayed flights, lost luggage, medical needs while traveling. Please bring the policy with you in case of emergency. Click here for IM Global Insurance. Click here for WanderWell Insurance.