Our group of eight stayed at Tailwind in February 2016 for a six-day yin/yang yoga retreat, and I'm already making reservations for 2017. The setting is wonderful -- lush and rustic enough to help your nervous system quickly go "off-grid;" but with enough amenities to make you feel comfortable and cared for. We loved the thoughtfulness that went into the design of both private and common spaces, the use of natural, local materials married with a beautiful and simple artistic sensibility. You can hear the ocean from anywhere on the property (the trees block the view from all but a few places) and it's a 20 minute walk through jungle paths to a sweet beach where you can cover yourself in mud bath and lay down like a lazy iguana until it dries off. (This is more of a dipping beach -- the waves and tide are a force to be reckoned with; there are other beaches a bit further away where swimming is possible.) Our group was not particularly adventurous, but in good physical shape which you need to be to get around the property's trails and steep stairs. We did go kayaking/paddleboarding one morning, and took a beautiful five-mile loop hike through jungle roads another. And we loved being indulgent: one afternoon we brought in two masseuses who worked on us in pairs on the yoga platform (divine), and afternoons often found us lounging in hammocks and reading novels while dipping our feet in the cooling pool. We did go to San Pancho for a tour of EntreAmigos, a gorgeous educational/environmental NGO in town that we were WOW'd by; next year, we'll make it an afternoon volunteer option. And several of us went shopping in nearby San Pancho (a quaint town full of North American retirees) and the busier Sayulita. Tamara was an amazing host and we spent our last night on the roof of her house above the canopy watching the sun set over the Pacific. And we loved Nectar Health Foods -- totally outdid expectations Flor and Alex provided two delicious and superfoods-full meals a day that were authentically Mexican with a raw/vegan/life affirming twist. Rooms range from enclosed with kitchenettes and full bathrooms to more "glamping" style tents with king beds, electricity, small fridge and burners, outdoor showers (hot!) and composting toilets -- so choose according to temperament. As a retreat leader who hadn't been to Tailwind previously, I was delighted that getting there from the PVR airport takes about an hour and is straightforward. While this might not be the right setting for everyone (it's not a resort and I can't imagine anyone with mobility issues or fear of bugs doing ok here), it's perfect for those of us who live in urban settings and need to detox and unwind and feel nurtured by the natural environment. I plan on bringing more groups here in the future, and continuing to explore the jungle and the coast! Thank you to the Jacobi family for making us feel like part of the family!
