Women in the wilds of mexico

  _An ethically Run Retreat_   

For a moment, take a breath.

Let your mind wander as you enter the world below.

Imagine yourself in Mexico. This is a secret, mostly unknown part of Mexico. You are in the wild, colorful, life-filled, wet, green, and primal lands of southern Mexico!

Imagine yourself surrounded by a thick and affectionate air, buzzing with life.

The hair on your arms stands tall, as your skin is wrapped in the excitement of potential, of adventure!

Imagine yourself breathing in this buzz. You walk through, and breathe in the scents and energy of the markets bustling with bright neon textiles, and women dressed in indigenous garb. And within the same day, you also hear the gentle, crisp, crunch of leaves under your feet, in the fertile silence of the cacao forest. 

Imagine awe, connection, embodiment, feeling so alive, laughter, deep joy, releasing sorrow and despair, wonder, a world of newness and beauty, sensual delights, the bitter, sweet, and smooth taste of chocolate, and being held safely and truly nurtured through it all.  

Imagine yourself surrounded by a loving, inspiring, nurturing group of women, whom you truly explore and open yourself with.

Imagine taking everything within you, deeper than ever before, and reaching a place inside yourself that feels solid, secure, and simply KNOWS. 

Imagine feeling the calm, ferocity, passion, and trust in yourself and the world, that will allow you to step forward a new woman, with confidence, and the power to make the changes that you had never imagined you could make. 

Imagine the power to live life the way you have always imagined, and the inspiration, connection, and support to finally DO IT!

Welcome to 

Chiapas Chocolate Retreats!

Ava has a long-term mission to help this cacao community gain a more solid, grassroots economic infrastructure. This will effectively help preserve the culture of chocolate in this special region, for generations to come.

There is a social and economic justice element to these retreats, that you will be supporting simply through participating! A non-profit organization has already been created to help this community join the global chocolate market, while being in control of their product, from forest, bean, to bar. When you purchase your retreat, a percentage will be donated towards this non-profit.

Did you know? . . . 

At this point, most of the cacao from this region, which is the highest quality in the global cacao trade, is bought and shipped out by large corporations. Farmers and distributors thus get a relatively low amount of money for their product, for the immense amount of resources and labor they put in, while corporate cacao buyers and traders, as well as artisanal chocolate producers using their cacao product, make a very large profit. Due to this trade pattern, this cacao community has gotten progressively less profit on their product, and their communities end up seeing very little economic success.

Because cacao doesn't make the profit that it once did, due to this corporate, global trade, and is increasingly less economically viable as a career, younger generations are less and less interested in propagating cacao, and thus, the culture of chocolate in this region is disappearing.

Ava will donate a percentage of every retreat, towards this non-profit, where 100% of the money in this organization, will go towards helping accomplish these 6 community-generated goals:

1. Buy more pest-tolerant cacao varieties to plant on their farms.  

2. Develop more effective ways to naturally deal with cacao pests.

3. Build larger cacao fermentation facilities.

4. Acquire the land, building supplies, permits, and skill sets necessary to build a community-run, cooperative cacao processing and chocolate making facility. 

5. Acquire marketing and advertising skills,  to promote their superior cacao and chocolate products.  

6. Acquire international recognition as a source and provider of fair-trade, organic, high quality cacao and chocolate. 

What better way to make a difference in the lives of a large community of people, help preserve the culture of chocolate, and also have the time of your life, than participating in Chiapas Chocolate Retreats! 

“Awakening to the Self is the most empowering action one can make. If one can align within, they will watch the rest of their world change for the better, in miraculous ways. ”

Participants have the option to either stay in their own room for the entire retreat, or to share rooms with one or two other participants, for the the entirety of the 8-day period. 

You will be staying at two hotels during your retreat: a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas and a hotel in Huixtla.

In San Cristobal de Las Casas:

Your accommodations in San Cristobal are in one of the highest rated sustainable, luxury hotels, in the beautiful, artful, romantic, central area of San Cristobal de Las Casas. Las Escaleras Hotel, is a modern, Spanish colonial style building, with an artful, vibrant, stunning interior. There are several private and cozy nooks to spend time in this hotel, and an incredible open seating area for guests. It hosts a restaurant that is a local favorite for both visitors and tourists. Las Escaleras Hotel is a short walk from the bustling and breathtakingly beautiful andador, which is San Cristobal's pedestrian path. This hotel is also a few blocks from the central cathedral of San Cristobal. Additionally, Las Escaleras is one of the few hotels that hosts a temazcal (spiritual, Mayan sweat lodge), and a visiting shaman. Participants have the option to schedule a private group temazcal, at the end of their trip, at no extra cost to them! 

When each participant arrives to their room, they receive a beautifully crafted gift-basket, with food and goods, as well as with wine. Rooms are cleaned very well, and room service brings a special gift each morning. The hosts at Las Escaleras are extremely attentive and caring, and are known for incredible service and accommodation. And, to finish off your time at Las Escaleras, you receive a beautiful candle-lit dinner on the terrace, witnessing the city of San Cristobal.  

Click here to see their accommodations.

Participants have the option of sharing a room with two or three beds, or having a room entirely to their self. 

Or, watch the video below to get an overall sense of the design of each room, and the hotel. 

In Huixtla:

Your accommodation in Huixtla, where you will be staying when going into the cacao forests, is called Hotel Real Jardin. This hotel hosts several restaurants and bars, that both locals and visitors enjoy. 

A personal message, to you, from Ava. 

I deeply appreciate your interest in Chiapas Chocolate Retreats! I hope you have enjoyed exploring this website. I encourage you to share this site with anyone whom is just as passionate about chocolate as you are!

I find deep meaning and purpose in the wildly transformative experience I offer you here, as well as also in helping to preserve the culture of chocolate, and improving the lives of so many people, in this region of Mexico. 

I invite you to reach out to me to discuss any questions, concerns, or ideas, and I will gladly make time for you!

To schedule an appointment for a one-time, free, 30-minute phone call, please follow the link provided below.

Ava's Online Scheduler.

May your days be filled with meaning, purpose, love, passion, wildness, sensuality, happiness, and most of all, empowerment!

With a fire in my soul,

Ava