Empowering Your Journey
Resources to help you get the most of your experience
The following list of resources have been cultivated from you by Dr. Gertrude and her team to help you embrace your retreat experience fully and continue to draw upon your experiences long after you depart.
Readings, meditations, music, and a deeper understanding of our experiences together. All of this and more awaits you below. As we determine more resources, some that are specific to your retreat, we will add more resource pages for your benefit.
Retreat Resources: Deepen Your Journey
Welcome to MAREA & Playa Blanca
Our retreat takes place within the beautiful MAREA community in Playa Blanca, just outside Zihuatanejo. MAREA is a thoughtfully designed coastal sanctuary that includes private homes and condos, a reception area, public pools, a natural telescope, a sweat lodge, lagoon and nature preserve, a Beach Club, Ola! Restaurant and Coffee Shop, and a gym.
Retreat guests will be staying at our partner hotel within the MAREA community.
As you move between spaces, we ask that you do so with awareness and respect for the land and for one another. Watch your step, pick up after yourself, and leave each space better than you found it.
The Natural Environment
MAREA is intentionally immersed in nature. Wildlife is part of the experience. You may see dolphins or whales offshore, and you will likely encounter ants, mosquitos, wasps, spiders, crabs, bats, and other native creatures. Fumigation does occur, but this is still a tropical, oceanfront ecosystem.
The sun here is strong. Please use sunscreen, hydrate often, and be mindful of heat exposure.
If walking along the beach or swimming in the ocean, always use caution. There are riptides and undertows, and there are no lifeguards. If you enter the ocean, do so carefully and preferably with a buddy. Shuffle your feet to avoid surprising stingrays.
We encourage you to let someone know where you are going if you head out for a beach walk, swim, run, or bike ride.
Your Hotel Stay
If using A/C, please keep doors closed to preserve energy and comfort.
Housekeeping services are provided through the hotel and include bed-making, fresh towels, bathroom cleaning, and general tidying.
Tap water is filtered for showering and brushing teeth but is not recommended for drinking. Please use the filtered or bottled drinking water provided by the hotel.
Gatherings at Lyons Garden
Throughout the retreat, we will gather at Lyons Garden for meals, circles, rituals, and community time.
When visiting the home, please treat it with care and reverence.
The WiFi at Lyons Garden is:
Network: Casa G Marea
Password: casag12345
Safety & Emergencies
In case of medical emergency:
MAREA Front Desk / Reception
+52 755 130 7597
Hospital de Especialidades Zihuatanejo
Av. La Parota Esq. Los Hujes Col. El
40880 Zihuatanejo, Gro.
+52 755 554-6808
U.S. Consular Agency, Ixtapa
Hotel Fontan, Blvd. Ixtapa s/n
40880 Ixtapa, Gro.
+52 755 553-2100
U.S. Embassy, Mexico City
Paseo de la Reforma 305
Col. Cuauhtémoc, 06500 Mexico, D.F.
(01 55) 5080-2000 (dial extension 0 after hours)
