Women's SUP & Yoga Adventure Retreat
Bacalar, Yucatan Peninsula
MEXICO
December 2-8, 2026
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The Vision
When I launched my paddleboard business in 2017, I carried a quiet dream in my heart - to one day offer a women's paddleboard and yoga retreat held in warm, tropical, crystal-clear waters surrounded by jungle, beauty and natural harmony. I longed for a place where women could soften, reconnect with their inner wisdom, and be held by nature in her most nurturing form. For years, I searched for the perfect location. Somewhere that held both magic and accessibility. A place that felt alive, conscious, feminine and deeply healing. When I first visited Bacalar, I knew instantly: this was the place I had been searching for. Bacalar Lagoon is unlike anywhere else on earth: warm, freshwater fed by ancient stromatolites that make the water oxygen-rich, vibrant and energetically potent. But what moved me just as deeply was the spiritual lineage of this land. The Maya understood water as a living, conscious force. A portal between worlds, a source of wisdom and a sacred element of the divine feminine. Their reverence for nature, ceremony and the unseen threads of spirit is woven into everything here. As much as this retreat is an adventure, it is equally a spiritual experience. Because, every adventure we take is rooted in the same elements the Maya honored: water, earth, sun, movement, breath and connection. After exploring Bacalar and spending two years planning, shaping and tending to every detail, I'm delighted to offer this retreat for women. A dream I've held close to my heart for a decade. My passion has always been to create experiences that empower women, to help them feel supported, seen and reconnect them with parts of themselves that modern life often quiets. Water is the feminine element - fluid, intuitive, restorative. Bacalar's lagoon holds a rare, nurturing consciousness that heals, awakens and energizes. Every moment here feeds the spirit: paddleboarding across seven shades of blue, swimming in cenotes, walking jungle paths, practicing yoga at sunrise, and sharing sisterhood under the stars. These are not just activities. They are ceremonies of remembrance. This retreat is my offering. A space where women can be held by nature, held by community and held by the living lagoon itself. |
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The Retreat Experience
Lagoon front hotel
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GLIDE paddleboards included
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Sailing excursion
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Your home for the week is a beautiful lagoon-front sanctuary - peaceful, comfortable and held by soft blues. Each morning begins with sunrise yoga, greeting the energizing morning light as it stretches across the lagoon. After practice, we enjoy a nourishing breakfast before heading out for our daily adventure on the water. This retreat includes top-of-the-line GLIDE hardboards that I provide for every woman on this retreat. These premium boards offer an exceptional experience on the lagoon - stable, smooth and responsive - allowing us to fully enjoy each paddleboard adventure with comfort and confidence. Because we'll be using my boards throughout the week, participants will simply bring them along in their travels to Bacalar, ensuring that we're able to explore the lagoon with equipment that supports confidence, comfort and a deeper connection to the water. From there, the magic unfolds: paddleboard excursions across seven shades of blue, SUP Yoga in a cenote, sailing the lagoon, and floating through natural rapids where the water moves like a gentle river. Beyond the lagoon, we'll wander jungle paths, visit a newly uncovered ancient Maya pyramid complex, and immerse ourselves in the rich cultural spirit of the region. Lunch and dinner are freshly prepared Mexican cuisine, crafted with local ingredients and the warmth of regional tradition. As the day winds down, we gather for our evening sisterhood circle - a space for connection, reflection and tending to the spirit. This gentle rhythm of movement, nourishment, adventure and community creates a retreat experience that is both grounding and transformative.
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Cenote Azul
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Pyramid Ichkabal
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Los Rapidos lazy river
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Exploring Ancient Mayan History & Culture
We’ll explore Ichkabal, a newly revealed ancient Maya city uncovered through LiDAR and opened to the public in 2025. This vast pyramid complex, once hidden beneath the jungle for over two thousand years, offers a rare chance to step directly into the world of the ancient Maya. Walking its plazas and towering structures is a true privilege, and paired with our museum visit, it gives a profound insight into the region’s history and heritage. |
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Fresh Prepared Regional Mexican Cuisine
Our meals are crafted with intention. Each day you’ll enjoy fresh, regionally inspired Mexican cuisine, prepared with local ingredients and the vibrant flavors of the Yucatan and southern Mexico. The menu has been curated specifically for this retreat - nourishing, colorful, and designed to support the flow of our days. From bright tropical fruits to handmade dishes rooted in tradition, every meal becomes a moment of connection, a gathering of sisterhood, and a delicious immersion into the region’s culinary heritage and culture. |
Accommodations & Rates
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Our hotel sits on what is truly the best stretch of shoreline in all of Bacalar. Its bohemian-style bungalows are tucked into lush jungle landscaping, creating a natural, earthy elegance that feels instantly grounding, soulful and serene. The property opens directly onto the lagoon's most breathtaking stretch of turquoise water, with hammocks, docks and quiet corners that invite you to slow down and breath. There's a warmth to this place - in the design, in the staff, in the way the light moves across the water - that makes it feel like a peaceful hideaway crafted just for moments of rest, connection and beauty.
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Bungalow - 1 Queen Bed
Amenities: * Air conditioning * Private bathroom * Safe RATES: Single Occupancy $3,295 Double Occupancy $2,485 pp Remaining Available: 1 |
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Bungalow - 2 Queen Beds
Amenities: * Air conditioning * Private bathroom * Safe RATES: Single Occupancy $3,585 Double Occupancy $2,595 pp Remaining Available: 2 |
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Standard Room - 1 Queen Bed
Amenities: * Air conditioning * Private bathroom * Safe RATES: SOLD OUT |
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Tapanco - 4 Single Beds
Amenities: * Lagoon view * Private bathroom RATES: Quadruple Occupancy $2,445 pp Available! |
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TESTIMONIALS
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I was interested in going on Christine’s yoga retreat because I’ve known her for a long time and really enjoy her personality and teaching style. Watching her offer the retreat, I knew I would do one, one day with her. I would definitely recommend the retreat to other women because I enjoyed it very much, the town was very small and cute and the area was absolutely beautiful. Getting to practice yoga twice a day was amazing for my body! Christine is truly special and put a lot into making this a rewarding experience for us all! Meeting new women, everyone at different aspects in their life but the connections were real! Fun times had by all!
~Carolyn D. The timing of this retreat was perfect as I had just retired a month or two before. I thought it would be a good time to do a rest and reset. I loved all the special events that Christine had arranged for us. All of it was well curated and much appreciated. There was just such a sweetness too the whole time spent there. I would definitely recommend this retreat to anyone who wants to take a week out of their life for some amazing self-care. I feel completely refreshed and renewed, and have energy to take on the next phase of my life!
~Teresa C. |
Christine is a talented yoga instructor, able to ease and facilitate you through your practice with touch and voice. Exploration of your own self and the feminine world is a big focus of her retreat. It’s also a great way to reconnect with your friends or make more friends, to share your story with others, and to listen to others as they tell their story. This retreat explored concepts of feminine energy, ancient culture and healing. There is plenty of time to explore on your own, if that is more to your liking. I highly recommend goin on retreat with Christine.
~Kelli D. This retreat was reaffirming that sisterhood and time with women is very important in our physical and psychological care. As a matriarch to my busy family and a leader in my employment, the permission given to just "be" for an entire week was priceless. This retreat is what you make of it and what you want to get out of it. Christine puts together a thoughtful and diverse week full of activity with zero pressure to be at every event. I got to follow my heart and enjoy not being the "trip leader" in the daily routine. Permission to breathe and not rush was pure bliss. The food was also incredible!!! I also appreciated that each yoga practice could be enjoyed at any level of experience and ability. Christine knows how to elevate the challenge and keep it at a base level at the same time.
~Patricia R. |
Please enjoy this video of the retreat experience!
Click on image to play video.
How to Get There
Fly into Cancun International Airport (CUN) on December 2nd. Please book a flight that arrives, no later than 11am (red-eye). From there, you will catch the ADO bus to the the Maya Train Station. You'll take the 3pm train for the 4 1/2 hour journey to Bacalar. Once you arrive in Bacalar, it's short taxi ride to the hotel. On your return trip, on December 8th, please book a flight that departs anytime after 5pm. You want to give yourself plenty of time to travel back to Cancun International Airport, via the Maya Train. When you book your reservation for the retreat, I will assist you in selecting your flight times and with your entire travel itinerary. I will also purchase your round trip train ticket. I want to make this process as easy as possible for you.
Fly into Cancun International Airport (CUN) on December 2nd. Please book a flight that arrives, no later than 11am (red-eye). From there, you will catch the ADO bus to the the Maya Train Station. You'll take the 3pm train for the 4 1/2 hour journey to Bacalar. Once you arrive in Bacalar, it's short taxi ride to the hotel. On your return trip, on December 8th, please book a flight that departs anytime after 5pm. You want to give yourself plenty of time to travel back to Cancun International Airport, via the Maya Train. When you book your reservation for the retreat, I will assist you in selecting your flight times and with your entire travel itinerary. I will also purchase your round trip train ticket. I want to make this process as easy as possible for you.
Travel Advisory
U.S. Citizens do not need a visa to enter Mexico. Mexico requires that your passport be valid at time of entry and for the duration of your trip, and that you have a return flight booked. Generally, it is highly recommend that your passport be valid for at least 6 months after your return date. I require all of my guests to obtain travel insurance. Most airlines provide the option to buy travel insurance when booking your flight.
After booking your reservation for this retreat, I will give you complete information you need to prepare. You will not need much cash but it is a good idea to have Mexican pesos.
U.S. Citizens do not need a visa to enter Mexico. Mexico requires that your passport be valid at time of entry and for the duration of your trip, and that you have a return flight booked. Generally, it is highly recommend that your passport be valid for at least 6 months after your return date. I require all of my guests to obtain travel insurance. Most airlines provide the option to buy travel insurance when booking your flight.
After booking your reservation for this retreat, I will give you complete information you need to prepare. You will not need much cash but it is a good idea to have Mexican pesos.
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About Me
I'm Christine Malmborg, the owner and creator of Dragonfly Paddle Yoga, and the guide behind the retreats and experiences I offer for women. For nearly a decade, I've been blending my love of paddleboarding, yoga and the healing elements of nature to create spaces where women can reconnect with their strength, softness and inner wisdom.
My work is rooted in the belief that nature is medicine - especially water, the element of the divine feminine. Whether I'm teaching paddleboard yoga on my home lake in Colorado Springs, or leading women through sacred waters in Mexico, my intention is always the same: to help women feel supported, empowered and deeply nourished.
I choose locations with great care, listening for places that feel alive, conscious and feminine. My retreats are crafted to be immersive and transformative - weaving together movement, adventure, rest, sisterhood, and the healing powers of water. I lead with intuition, warmth and a deep reverence for the natural world.
My purpose is simple and sacred: to support women in rediscovering their inner light and to rise from that place with grace and power.
I'm Christine Malmborg, the owner and creator of Dragonfly Paddle Yoga, and the guide behind the retreats and experiences I offer for women. For nearly a decade, I've been blending my love of paddleboarding, yoga and the healing elements of nature to create spaces where women can reconnect with their strength, softness and inner wisdom.
My work is rooted in the belief that nature is medicine - especially water, the element of the divine feminine. Whether I'm teaching paddleboard yoga on my home lake in Colorado Springs, or leading women through sacred waters in Mexico, my intention is always the same: to help women feel supported, empowered and deeply nourished.
I choose locations with great care, listening for places that feel alive, conscious and feminine. My retreats are crafted to be immersive and transformative - weaving together movement, adventure, rest, sisterhood, and the healing powers of water. I lead with intuition, warmth and a deep reverence for the natural world.
My purpose is simple and sacred: to support women in rediscovering their inner light and to rise from that place with grace and power.
Cancellation Policy
In the event of a cancellation, $500 of your payment is non-refundable (deposit). If you cancel less than 60 days prior to the retreat start date, I will do my best to fill your spot otherwise, your full payment is non-refundable and may be applied as credit towards a future retreat. The credit is valid for 18 months from the date of cancellation, and is non-transferable. Only one reschedule is allowed. If cancellation is made less than 45 days prior to the retreat start date, I will do my best to fill your spot otherwise, your full payment is non-refundable. In case of instances beyond my control, during the retreat dates, you will be issued a refund minus your deposit. Your deposit may be applied towards a future retreat.
In the event of a cancellation, $500 of your payment is non-refundable (deposit). If you cancel less than 60 days prior to the retreat start date, I will do my best to fill your spot otherwise, your full payment is non-refundable and may be applied as credit towards a future retreat. The credit is valid for 18 months from the date of cancellation, and is non-transferable. Only one reschedule is allowed. If cancellation is made less than 45 days prior to the retreat start date, I will do my best to fill your spot otherwise, your full payment is non-refundable. In case of instances beyond my control, during the retreat dates, you will be issued a refund minus your deposit. Your deposit may be applied towards a future retreat.
