I've already got 2026 pretty much locked up for travel. In January I'm going to a yoga retreat in Mexico, hosted by my fave yoga instructor. In June HWD and I are going to Maui with his daughters and his parents - their treat as a celebration for younger daughter's HS graduation (hopefully haha!). Then in August I'm going on safari in Kenya and Tanzania!
So I'm starting to firm up plans for the yoga retreat, I thought I should go ahead and look into a plane ticket. Then I had the idea of maybe I stay an extra week somewhere else, as long as I'm flying all that way. And a second week of warm weather in January is going to be appealing, for sure.
The yoga retreat place is in Troncones, which is a sleepy little town about 35 miles up the coast from Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo. So I'll be flying to Ixtapa. I was thinking about spending a second week in Ixtapa, but none of the resorts are really ringing my chimes. There are some big all-inclusive places. I'm not wild about spending a week at a crowded resort with mediocre food (which seemed to be the common complaint about all of them).
There is a small hotel in Troncones with only 10 rooms that looks really nice, but they quoted me $338 a night. 
This is a long shot, but anyone who's been to Ixtapa and has a recommendation?
Another option I just thought of, would be to fly to Mexico City after my yoga week, do some cultural stuff there and then fly home. Hmmmm.
Some photos from the yoga retreat place...
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16 comments
Oh wow, that looks so good... I've always enjoyed these retreats, the spiritual community with the others... but never so luxurious... Yoga is a simple life, the conscious existence, but everyone should decide that for themselves... when I've attended a retreat, I've always spent a week or two traveling around the area in a group or alone... the most exciting trip was Tibet... I wish you a good time
it was often very simple
From the photos, it looks like that was quite a trip! I wish you happy future travels.
@smartasswoman Yes, it was a very exciting trip... and I'm glad I was able to do it at that time. The Chinese are in the process of wiping out the Tibetan people and culture. The Chinese want to touch the water of the Himalayas before it flows to Nepal and India... they are sacred rivers in those countries... I think there will be trouble there in the future.
Retreat place looks wonderful.
I’ve heard good things from the other students - many come back year after year - so I’m hopeful.
So jealous! Have fun it is beautiful out there
Nude yoga is much better
To each their own, I don't like the feeling of bits and bobs flying around uncontrollably. 😂
Looking forward to hearing all about your travels! ðŸ˜
Sounds like a great itinerary... I envy your being able to plan that far out! I'm struggling lately with planning a few months out! (I'm no help on Mexico, sorry!)
The safari was an absolute necessity to book way in advance - the travel company I use only sets aside a certain number of slots for solo travelers so you have to jump on them early before they get filled.
I have a little bit of leeway in terms of firming up Mexico plans but wanted to at least start thinking about options.
It's several years since I was there, but Mexico City is fabulous. So much to see and do. My highlights were city centre, Casa Azul (Khalo), Xochimilco, Teotihuacan, and a couple of villages in the surrounding mountains. We stayed in Hotel Canada just off the Zocalo, doubt it's still there though.
It's not exactly a relaxing stop-over after your yoga retreat though so you might prefer Oaxaca or Puerto Escondido? Latter is a beautiful wee beach town kinda off the beaten track if you just want a beachy chill.
It's a nice dilemma to have!!
Interesting suggestions - I'm afraid Puerto Escondido would be out - looks like there isn't any straightforward way to fly there from Ixtapa.
Nothing is set in stone at this point so I could always go to Mexico City before the yoga retreat. You make a good point that it would be less relaxing.
I've spent a couple of weeks in Mexico - Monterrey, Mexico City and Cancun (just as it was taking off). Obviously I can't speak of Ixtapa. But I recommend Mexico City - a very interesting city. Its Zona Rosa is good for alternative nightlife and there's a museum dedicated to Leon Trotsky - he was assassinated on the orders of Joseph Stalin in Mexico City. The city has an excellent subway system and some impressive Spanish colonial architecture - the city was built over an Aztec city and is slowly sinking.
Also rather than Cancun now probably over-run with tourists, I'd recommend Merida also on the Yucatan peninsula. it's a Spanish colonial-style city near the Mayan ruined city of Chichen Itza, which is well worth a visit.
Ixtapa is on the Pacific coast so I definitely wouldn't go to Cancun (I've been there a couple of times, long ago). I'm leaning more towards Mexico City at this point unless I can find a cute small hotel in Ixtapa.
Each pit stop on your schedule sounds like a great adventure.
Nice pics. 🤗
I'm particularly excited about the safari trip (although a little apprehensive about the flights it will take to get there).
@smartasswoman
"Lions and tigers and bears..." 😲
It's really no help/no applicable but one of the neatest places I've every stayed was a small (30 room) hotel in a small town about 40 miles east of San Juan. Breakfast was included, and plenty of little restaurants around for lunch and dinner. I went there for the beach. Knew about it from visiting it 40 years earlier.
The little places are great. I found a B&B in Rincon, PR that was just five rooms. Right on the beach, really delicious breakfast every morning. Someplace like that would be ideal.
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