(You may want to read this first before choosing a rental vehicle. You are going to need a vehicle that can handle the dirt mountain roads.)

1. From the airport, drive to the main highway, Carretera Transpeninsular #1 toward the East Cape and ‘Los Barrilles’.
2. Drive thru the little town of Santa Anita on your right.
3. Watch the kilometer markers and look for km 54.
4. At km 54, turn left onto a straight, long dirt road going inland. Coming from the south, the road has a Presa La Palma sign for the San Jose reservoir/dam.
5. You will see the sign Rastro ITF ( Matadero de vacas) on the right. Keep going, approximately 10 miles or 13 kilometers on a dirt road.
6. The dirt road will begin to curve down and around a large dry riverbed. Cross it and keep going another 20 minutes. Stay on the left, there is a shrine/altar on the left side of the road and a low dip where a normal car may drag. Cross it and keep going.
7. Keep going until you see the painted rock and a metal gate for Tsegyalgar West. Open the gate and go up the driveway to a wood cattle gate. Open it, drive thru, and please close it behind you.
8. You will see a sign on the right : Camping Showers/duchas. Drive past it and park on the roadside. Walk a few hundred feet to the palapa-covered kitchen on the left. On the way there, you will see a bell hanging from a tree, ring it, then walk to the reception area to wait.

You are asked to check in at the office with the gekod (Site Manager) when you arrive. Also please ‘check out’ upon departure.

The casitas are simple though spacious cabins located in the center of Tsegyalgar West’s campus. Towels and simple linens are provided. The casitas are not heated, so they do recommend that if you like to sleep very warm, you may also want to bring your sleeping bag or a blanket. The casitas have flush toilets and showers, but most casitas don’t have hot water in the showers. For hot showers you may have to walk 5 minutes to the camping area where there are 3 showers with hot water.

You also have the option of camping, if you bring a tent and all of your gear. No towels or linens are provided for those who choose to camp. The camping area is a cleared section of land without formal “spots”, but access to those hot showers and restrooms.

The retreat fee for Baja is partially dependent on the type of housing you select. While we do not have all of the final figures in yet, we are estimating that:
those sharing a casita will have a retreat fee of roughly $525-575 per person,
those lucky few who receive a single will probably be paying $725-775,
and the retreat costs for those who chose to camp will probably be in the neighborhood of $350-375.

These are just estimates to help you plan what type of housing to request. Prices are subject to change and exchanges rates.

The food for this retreat, as well as the others, will be vegetarian based, using local ingredients. The chef has a list of everyone’s food restrictions and allergies and is preparing a menu around them.

If your food needs change before this retreat, please let me know!

If you are willing and able to, please tip our chef. The retreat fee covers the chef’s time and the cost of food, but no more.

Tsegyalgar West is in the mountains and tends to run about 5 -10 degrees cooler than the surrounding coastal regions, with occasional dips a little cooler. Right now, predictions are indicating that it may be in the low 70s during the day and in the upper to mid-50s at night, but these numbers could change over the next few months. Please check the weather forecasts before you leave.

The wifi coverage at Tsegyalgar is limited. They have a satellite internet connection in the office (one of the casitas) which is shared by open wifi so people can connect for basic communication needs. But it is not a mainland connection and is not strong. For emails, messages and audio messages, it is ok. Uploads, downloads, and streaming services can crash the system.

The staff at Tsegyalgar kindly ask that before you arrive you disable auto-updates if you plan to bring a phone or computer.

There is no cell phone coverage in the area at all. For the closest cell coverage, you would have to drive 20-40 minutes, depending on your service.

We highly recommend using WhatsApp to communicate with friends and family while you are at Tsegyalgar.

There is an incredible swimming area composed of natural rock pools and an arroyo that runs for all of the winter season. The arroyo is a 30-45 minute walk from the main campus to the pools.

Tsegyalgar West is remote, so if you want to supplement your meals, you will need to shop in San Jose before you arrive. La Comer La Casada (a supermarket) is a good choice in San Jose. A few of the rooms have kitchens for you to store your food in.

In general, Tsegyalgar suggests that you bring:

flashlight, sun cream, sunglasses, good water bottle, swim wear, sun hat.

Clothing:  in winter, days are warm but nights will be chilly (they are in the mountains). Bring clothes appropriate to the Baja season, sturdy shoes for walking, and sandals that protect the toes.

Toiletries, including sun screen and bug spray.  Please bring ONLY biodegradable soap and shampoo to use in their showers.

Any prescription medicines, including an epipen if you have insect allergies.

A big towel (for use at the arroyos), daypack, water bottle, etc. If you have binoculars, you might want to bring them for wildlife viewing.

And if you are camping, please also bring your camping gear.

You can give your friends and family Mark’s phone number to call in case of emergencies: 415.233.3100