Location & Accommodations

Get your flights into and out of Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa International Airport (ZIH), which is served by over 50 direct flights per week —half from Mexico City and the remaining flights from major North American airports including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Denver, and Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Ground transport to and from ZIH is provided by Playa Viva as part of your stay.

Ground Transportation

On the day the retreat starts and ends, ground transportation to and from ZIH airport to Playa Viva will be arranged by TOOER and is included with your reservation. A few months prior to the start of the retreat, a TOOER Committee member will reach out to you to collect your travel details and let you know what to expect in terms of ground transportation.

US and Canadian citizens need a valid passport when traveling between the United States and Mexico. For travelers from other countries, please check for rules related to visa and passport requirements.

In addition to clothes, toiletries, medication and other things you would normally pack, we recommend you bring: flip flops, bathing suit, light sweaters or wraps for cool nights, closed toe shoes (if hiking or running), light long sleeve shirt and pants to protect yourself from mosquitoes, portable flash light for seeing at night, ear plugs (as you are close to the ocean and it can get loud), hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent (Playa Viva recommends Repel brand lemon eucalyptus mosquito repellent).

Electronics (computer, iPad, phone,…) batteries, chargers and cables. camera.

Community altar: Please bring any small item that represent an aspect of your health & creativity that you want to nurture, embody, honor or explore during (and after) TOOER. Note: These items will return home with you.

The hotel has informed us that they will try to accommodate guest requests as much as they can. Please email Playa Viva direct at info@playaviva.com  if you would like extra nights.

Meals can best be described as farm-to-table, “healthy Mexican with an international flair.” We see ‘Food as Medicine’ and take organic sourcing seriously. The majority of our produce comes from our 20- acre permaculture farm, our Women’s Cooperative, or from local producers, ranchers & fishermen we have developed relationships with as part of our efforts to regenerate the watershed. Special orders don’t upset us and we pride ourselves in catering to a variety of dietary requests including vegetarian, vegan, sugar-free, glutenfree, and kosher, as well as adapting to specific food allergies. description

The Internet is ONLY available in specific areas and not in your rooms or conference rooms.

Each room has a room safe. Laundry service is available for a fee. Line drying.

There is NO room service and food is not allowed in the rooms due to insects and animals. Give food items to the kitchen staff for safe keeping.

No air Conditioning.

Water at Playa Viva comes from a well on site. Water used in the kitchen for washing and treating food is filtered using an ultraviolet light system. We also use bottled water for all drinking water. Ice is purchased from reputable ice vendors who sell a sanitary product. Water used in showers and room sinks is NOT filtered so we recommend NOT drinking this water. We provide a jug of filtered water in each room by the bathroom sink.

The good news is that you will find no mosquitos on the beach during daytime hours or during windy evening hours. However, Playa Viva has mosquitoes. They have protective mosquito netting on all beds to protect you while you sleep, if necessary. The ocean breeze provides the best defense against mosquitoes but in early evening hours when the breeze fades, mosquitoes have more of a fighting chance. They recommend you wear a long-sleeve shirt and pants during dusk hours. They recommend you bring repellent, they provide non-deet based repellent that is quite effective for those who do not bring their own.

WARNING: They do have sand flees so DO NOT stand, sit or lay in dry sand for extended periods, you will be bitten, so use a towel or stay in the wet sand.

• They accept Mexican pesos or American dollars.

• No ATM The best ATM is at the airport when you arrive.

• Playa Viva accepts credit cards: (Visa and MasterCard ONLY, They do not accept American Express). Smaller vendors in town do not accept credit cards. You can charge all incidentals to your credit card – Bar, Boutique, Spa and Excursions even Tips to staff. US Dollars and Mexican Pesos are accepted.

• Is it ok to bargain with vendors in Mexico? The town of Juluchuca has a few vendors that sell local goods, mostly coconut candies, tamarind candies and salt. Prices are low and fixed. You can go to the market in Zihuatanejo and bargain to your heart’s content.

• Tipping: A Tip is included in your room rate already. You are fee to tip an additional amount to specific team members, the entire team or outside vendor/excursion provider. Tips are pooled and distributed to team members every two weeks (with their normal pay). Tips are distributed to EVERY team member, even those you do not see on a regular basis including permaculture/gardens, security, maintenance, etc. Thank you for tipping the team, it is most appreciated.

• Transportation to and from ZIH airport

• 3 gourmet meals a day + snacks prepared by Playa Viva chefs

• All non-alcoholic and non-blended drinks

• Ocean-side morning yoga 7 days a week

• Wi-Fi in common areas

• TOOER CME Program

• Closing Beach Dinner

• Cacao Heart Opening Ceremony

• Playa Viva Farm Demonstration

Also included in your Reservations

• 20% Tax: 16% VAT, 4% Local Occupancy Tax

• 10% Tip

• 2% Regenerative Trust Fee

• Airfare

• Bar beverages, smoothies, soft drinks and coconuts

• Massages and Spa Treatments

• Resort Excursions or Resort activities not purchased by TOOER

• Purchases at the boutique

• Additional Nights*

*make arrangements with Playa Viva directly

• Tips for all group meals, classes and activities are included in your registration price so no need to tip separately after group meals, classes or activities. Feel free to tip any support staff that you believe have gone above and beyond your expectations and at your discretion.

• NOTE: Transportation to and from the Resort is not included. Please bring 5-10 dollars for tipping them.