Metamorphosis

in michoacán, mexico

MARCH 7-14, 2026

see, hear and be with the Monarchs

Dream. Reconnect to childlike wonder. Instantly expand your soul’s horizons.

Enter the chrysalis —emerge a butterfly

Imagine what could happen if you broke free.

Relax in thermal mineral springs, ride a horse up a mountain and spread your wings with movement, chanting & monarch butterflies as teachers on this journey of a lifetime.

our retreat center

Settle into a 70-acre forest gorge nestled in the remote countryside of Jungapeo in Michoacán, Central Mexico.

Immerse your senses in Jungapeo’s tropical micro-climate with year-round average temperatures of 75°F.

Here you can soak in natural hypothermal mineral springs ~ 88°F whenever you wish, go tropical bird watching, enjoy daily yoga and mantra chanting, and hike to a waterfall and mystic cave just along the río.

Enjoy charming accommodations, amenities and a variety of activities at Agua Blanca, the top-rated place to stay in the state and home of international eco-tourism and conscious travel for over 15 years.

Our retreat center is a convenient 2-hour transfer from Mexico City International Airport and ~ 1-hour from Monarch Butterfly sanctuaries, El Rosario and Sierra Chincua.

¡Vamos!

save your space for march 2026

Rekindle your adventurous side as you visit legendary thermal springs, lush green gardens, two waterfalls, zipline, rivers and dozens of nature trails - plus, horseback riding to a Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary - or two!

“Be Realistic: Plan for a Miracle.”

- OSHO

A visit to El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary is one of the highlights of METAMORPHOSIS. Our group will take a transfer to El Rosario, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, then horseback ride up to the 10,000 ft-high fir forests where the Monarch Butterfly colonies reside.

Our local tour guide will share fascinating information about Michoacán’s ecology and butterflies. Upon arriving to the colonies, we will enter a silent meditation to not disturb the Monarchs. Be still. Watch. Wonder.

Stretch, Restore and revitalize your health

Sing, Chant and give your heart a voice

includes

  • Daily Yoga, Mantra Meditation & Kirtan Classes with Amanda, Radha and Josh

  • Excursion to El Rosario, the #1 Monarch Butterfly Reserve with Horseback Riding

  • 3 Nourishing Meals per day sourced from a local organic vegetable garden

  • On-site access and personal time to enjoy springs, caves + hammock time

  • Airport Transfers from/to Mexico City

add-on

  • Excursion to Sierra Chicua Monarch Butterfly Reserve with Horseback Riding

  • Waterfall Hike and Zipline Adventure

  • Build-Your-Own Dreamcatcher Class

  • Temazcal Traditional Sweat Lodge

  • Spa Treatments and Massages

Mexico is the only place in the world where you can actually hear butterflies' wings beating in a forest

The beauty of Monarchs is so ethereal that natives hold the Aztec belief that the souls of the dead are reborn as butterflies. At first glance, it looks like the fir trees are covered with autumn leaves. When you look up, you are surrounded by multiple thousands of Monarch butterflies - a delicate, living blanket of blacks & oranges cover the forest canopy.

meet your hosts

AMANDA TREVELINO

Amanda is our yoga teacher - ERYT-500 | C-IAYT - and international retreat guru

Amanda hosts several international retreats per year and practices yoga on + off the mat with a sense of curiosity and adventure. She is a student of the Kripalu yoga lineage and yoga therapist since 2016. With a personal interest in classical astrology, Amanda has learned that transitions and growth are part of the cyclical nature of all things, which has inspired this METAMORPHOSIS Monarch Migration Retreat.

Connect with Amanda @santosha_retreats

RADHA ROSE

Radha is our mantra meditation, singing and ceremonial guide for METAMORPHOSIS

Since 2019, Radha has hosted moon + cacao ceremonies, song circles and retreats across the Southeast. She is the founder of Chant Southeast, whose mission is to co-create a conscious community that empowers vocal freedom, personal transformation and spiritual healing for all women and men.

Connect with Radha @theradharose

DANIEL BEHN

Daniel is our local monarch and forest therapy guide in Michoacán, Mexico

Daniel has a background in environmental education, Buddhism, and Native American ways of healing. He is specialized in guiding local Monarch Butterfly tours and combines ecology, spirituality and the arts in his facilitation. Fluent in English and Spanish.

JOSH KLEIN

Josh is our percussionist, team member and candid iPhone photographer

Josh contributes the rhythmic heartbeat for our kirtans + musical journeys. His lifelong musical background, combined with his spiritual path shared with Radha, guided him to Bhakti, Mantra and Kirtan. Driven by the transformative power of music, Josh seeks to imbue each note with intention, elevating personal and collective awareness.

your investment

  • Double Garden View Room (double beds, private bath)

    $2500 per person

  • Single Garden View Room (king bed, private bath)

    $2900 per person

  • Garden View Suite (2 double bed rooms, en-suite bath)

    $2900 per person

You are encouraged to secure a roommate if booking a double room. We will do our best to place roommates as participants enroll. However, should a roommate not be available, you must upgrade to single occupancy. All reservations are final, but transferable with no exceptions. Excludes international airfare, travel insurance (required), optional activities + excursions, spa services and adult beverages

A $500 deposit secures your space. Your first payment is due July 1; Final payment due December 1. Late payments will incur a 5% fee.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1 - Saturday, March 7

Arrive Unhurried | Soak in Thermal Springs

2:00 PM | Lunch

Spa Treatment - Hot Stone or Bamboo Massage, Mud Mask Therapy & Reiki (add-on)

5:00 PM | Welcome Ceremony

7:00 PM l Dinner

Day 2 - Sunday, March 8

7:30 AM | Yogic Practice

9:00 AM | Breakfast

10:00 AM | Waterfall & Forest Bathing

2:00 PM | Lunch

4:00 PM | Voice Activation + Yoga Nidra

7:00 PM | Dinner


Day 3 - Monday, March 9

7:30 AM | Yoga + Mantra Meditation

9:00 AM | Breakfast

10:00 AM | Monarch Butterfly Excursion & Horseback Riding at El Rosario Sanctuary

2:00 PM | Boxed Lunch at El Rosario

5:00 PM | Drum Circle + Bonfire

7:00 PM l Dinner

Day 4 - Tuesday, March 10

7:30 AM l Yogic Practice

9:00 AM | Breakfast

10:00 AM | Dream Catcher Workshop (add-on)

2:00 PM | Lunch

4:00 PM Ecstatic Kirtan

7:00 PM | Dinner

Day 5 - Wednesday, March 11

7:30 AM | Yoga + Mantra Meditation

9:00 AM | Breakfast

10:00 AM | Monarch Butterfly Excursion & Horseback Riding at Sierra Chincua (add-on)

2:00 PM | Lunch

5:00 PM | Restorative Mantra Music

7:00 PM | Dinner

Day 6 - Thursday, March 12

7:30 AM | Yogic Practice

9:00 AM | Breakfast

10:00 AM | “Take Flight” Zipline & Waterfall Hike (add-on)

2:00 PM | Lunch

5:00 PM l Yoga + Mantra Music on the Lawn

7 :00 PM | Dinner


Day 7 - Friday, March 13

7:30 AM | Yoga + Mantra Meditation

9:00 AM | Breakfast

Free Day for Integration | Temazcal (add-on)

2:00 PM | Lunch

5:00 PM l Closing Ceremony

7:00 PM | Dinner

Day 8 - Saturday, March 14

7:30 AM | Guided Meditation

9:30 AM | Breakfast

12:00 PM | Checkout | Transfer to the Airport

trust yourself —

take flight

March 7-14, 2026

  • Guests are responsible for air travel to and from Mexico City.

    A week of twice daily kirtan/yoga/mantra meditation is included along with organic meals and a Monarch excursion. Other excursions are optional at a cost. Additionally guests can choose to book their own private experiences such as a massage directly with the property.

  • Travel insurance is required, particularly given that all sales are final once deposit has been submitted. We suggest AllianzTravel but there are a number of insurance companies. Costs will likely range from $125-$250.

  • Because Santosha is required to book the resort property in advance, there is no cancellation option. All payments are final; however payments are transferrable to a friend or family member. Also. we do require travel insurance to protect your investment in the retreat should an unforeseen conflict arise.

  • Aqua Blanca Hotel is located in the mountains of Michochan, Mexico. Flights can be booked through your preferred carrier to Mexico City where a shuttle service is coordinated by the retreat host to the property. Drive time is approximately 3.5 hours from the airport.

    Upon confirmation and receipt of deposit, the host property and/or retreat host will make recommendations to guests upon request.

  • If you are coming from the US, you only need a valid passport. A Visa is not required, nor are special vaccinations.

  • PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: Moderate / Difficult

    Visiting the butterfly sanctuaries requires walking through the forest for approximately 3 to 4 miles round-trip, at altitudes that could reach up to 11,000 feet. Because the location of the butterflies within the sanctuaries changes throughout the season and from year to year, exact hiking distances on each departure can vary. At times, the terrain can be rough and rocky, and we will have to traverse uneven ground and step over or around sticks and branches. Uneven, steep inclines may require us to maintain balance as we watch the butterflies. The effects of altitude should not be underestimated. The physical exertion involved can be considered strenuous for people who are less active and not accustomed to hiking at altitude.

    The entrance to El Rosario butterfly sanctuary can only be accessed via a 30-minute, open-bed truck ride over cobblestone roads, which can make for a somewhat bumpy ride and may be considered uncomfortable for travelers with back or neck issues. Once inside the sanctuaries, horses are available to ride uphill to reach the butterfly colonies, but not down. When riding the horses, we will be led by a local guide through trails that can, at times, be narrow and rugged, so riders must be alert and maintain balance. Travelers should expect to spend 30-45 minutes on horseback at a time. Due to the diminutive stature of the local horses, the maximum rider weight each horse can carry is 260 pounds.

    It is important to note that even with the option to ride horses, there will still be some hiking involved while going up to the colonies, as the horses cannot travel the entire length of the trail. After dismounting, travelers will be required to walk a final 1/4 to 2 miles up a steep slope to reach the butterfly colonies. Depending on where the butterflies are located, this final slope can be less steep at times. Anyone who opts not to ride horses will have an approximately 3-mile uphill hike with roughly 1,000 ft. elevation gain. All travelers must hike downhill back to the sanctuary entrance, descending at least 600 steps over approximately 3 miles, with an elevation change of about 1,000 feet

  • Essential Gear:
    - Reusable water bottle
    - Lightweight, waterproof rain jacket (Rain is always possible.)
    - Windproof fleece
    - Lightweight, water-resistant hiking shoes. (Make sure your shoes/boots have good tread and are broken-in ahead of time to prevent blisters.)
    - Comfortable second pair of shoes
    - Warm sleepwear
    - Socks (Look for wool or other moisture-wicking material.)
    - Hat & gloves (Mornings can be chilly.) Comfortable clothes for movement (yoga)
    - Water resistant daypack for hikes
    - Reliable alarm clock, head lamp or phone

 FAQs

  • This was the best retreat since my week at the ashram in 2008. I made new friends, and deepened my connection to souls I had only been acquainted with before. I supported a fellow catholic who was new to mantra and kirtan (the rosary is mantra and the monks chant). If you are grounded in your faith, experiencing other forms of devotion can deepen your relationship with the Divine. I can't wait for the next one!

    Seva Jackson - CHANT FOR LOVE ‘25

  • "I cannot begin to put into words what this trip has been for me... Magical, healing, enlightening, surreal, spiritual, epic, manifestation at its best, living the dream, connectedness, and the greatest gratitude imaginable."

    Sabrina Vizzari - IMMERSE Greece ‘23

  • "Radha is an amazing facilitator who holds sacred space like no other. She has the incredible ability to see and feel the deepest parts of you while holding space for it all with infinite grace, compassion and unconditional love."

    Melba Payan - SACRED SPACE ‘24

  • "The variety of yoga classes were insightful, inspiring, and exactly what my body needed. We experienced the perfect mix of active options, exploring, and relaxing downtime. At the end of the retreat I felt rejuvenated, inspired and at peace. This was an incredible gift.”

    Amber Monson, IMMERSE Greece ‘23

  • "Radha creates a group environment where every person feels seen, heard and valued with ample downtime for personal reflection. She encouraged me to explore my innermost self and foster a genuine sense of community. She is an exceptional retreat leader."

    Tati Mark - SACRED SPACE ‘24

  • “I went with Santosha to Nepal. It was a life-changing journey where I had time to process a challenging transition in my own life. We had deep conversations while being continually astounded by this remote part of the world. As a group, we supported one another through personal growth and laughed so much. This trip changed my perspective!" -

    Pause Boden - ELEVATE Nepal ‘22