Oaxaca 2025 Gathering
Spend a meaningful week in Oaxaca immersed in nature, culture, Spanish language learning, and connection. Set in the serene village of San Lorenzo Cacaotepec, this experience centers around our guiding theme: FLOURISH — a journey of curiosity and action. Highlights include hiking in the Sierra Norte, Spanish language lessons and immersion, hands-on regenerative farming, a Temazcal experience, exploring a local artisan village, and space for reflection and rest. This immersive gathering, limited to 15 spots, invites you to connect to yourself, others, and the land.
Oaxaca 2025 Gathering: Nature, Culture & Connection
Gathering
Meet, explore, and connect with others in inspiring locations while immersing yourself in local culture, language, cuisine, and traditions. These gatherings provide a blend of structured connection and individual exploration, allowing you to build lifelong bonds while having the freedom to discover at your own pace. Whether you’re sharing a meaningful experience, engaging in a local tradition, or venturing out solo, these gatherings encourage authentic and enriching travel experiences that align with Create Joy’s values.
About this Gathering
Highlights Include:
Hiking in the Sierra Norte Daily Spanish language lessons and language immersion opportunities Hands-on regenerative farming experience A Temazcal sweat lodge ceremony Exploring a local artisan village Daily physical movement opportunities Guided walking or jogging (your choice) tour in traditional Oaxacan neighborhoods Traditional healthy Oaxacan dishes Group challenges and activities Optional visit to Monte Alban Space for reflection and restAbout the Facilitators
Get to know the passionate leaders who will guide your journey through Oaxaca—each bringing unique expertise, cultural insight, and a deep commitment to creating a meaningful, impactful experience.
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Heather Morse
Role and Skills: As the founder of Create Joy, Heather integrates comprehensive knowledge in behavioral change, experiential design, sustainability, travel, and organizational methods into the program.
Mentorship: Heather will help you design your journey as you explore the community, helping you embrace intentional living, set meaningful goals, and use travel as a way to connect with yourself and others. Through immersive experiences in both your everyday life and within the community, she guides you in cultivating self-efficacy—empowering you to believe in yourself, your abilities, and your full personal potential. -
Kacie Merchand
Role and Skills: With over 20 years of travel experience, including extensive work in clinical oncology, nutrition, sociology, and business, Kacie brings a broad perspective to the team.
Mentorship: Kacie helps you assess your physical and mental readiness for impactful, immersive, and authentic travel. She can advise you on using travel as a catalyst for personal growth and integrate lessons learned into your daily life for long-term positive change. -
Constanza Calva
Constanza Calva is a communication and language enthusiast with a background in Journalism and a Master’s in Applied Linguistics, she thrives on blending creativity with strategy—designing engaging online courses, teaching English and Spanish, and crafting meaningful content. Outside of her professional work, she channels her creativity into handmade bookbinding (featured on Instagram @ipseidad_bookbinding), calligraphy, ebru painting, and scuba diving—pursuits that reflect her curious, hands-on, and adventurous spirit.
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Teresa Macías
Teresa Macías (Tess) has helped people learn Spanish for over a decade, not just as a set of rules, but as a way to express themselves and build real-world connections. With a background in applied linguistics, she designs flexible, conversation-driven lessons that adapt to each learner’s unique rhythm and goals. When she’s not teaching, you’ll likely find her making art or music—creative languages she loves just as much as Spanish.
Why Participate
This immersive 7-day Oaxaca gathering invites participants to step away from the everyday and reconnect—with nature, community, culture, and themselves. Through language lessons, hikes, cultural exploration, discussions, and hands-on activities, participants will gain new perspectives, deepen personal insight, and leave feeling grounded, inspired, and reenergized. This gathering is ideal for individuals who:- Are interested in developing or improving their Spanish language skills (all levels welcome)
- Appreciate immersive, hands-on learning—from regenerative farming and culinary traditions to a traditional Temazcal sweat lodge experience
- Enjoy group-based challenges and shared reflection
- Seek daily opportunities for movement and wellness
- Are open to trying new things and stepping outside their comfort zone
- Are committed to ongoing personal growth and meaningful self-exploration
What's Included
- 6 nights accommodations in a beautiful casa in San Lorenzo Cacaotepec; shared room (single room may be available at additional cost)
- Meals; please let us know in advance any food restrictions or allergies
- Activities listed in itinerary, including
- A Temazcal sweat lodge
- Regenerative organic farming experience
- 5 Spanish language lessons
- Guided walk or jog tour through Oaxaca city
- Hiking in Sierra Norte
- Visit to Monte Alban
- Transportation between the casa and activities offered
- Create Joy facilitators throughout
- Create Joy Spanish educators throughout
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Visas, if applicable
- Travel & Medical Insurance (Required)
- Optional activities not included in the program that you may book yourself, souvenirs, food and beverages you would like to purchase beyond what is offered
- Transportation you would like to use during free time/outside of group activities
- Transportation to and from the Casa on arrival and departure dates. *One shuttle will be offered as a courtesy on the departure day from the casa to the airport departing at 11am. Ride sharing with other participants from and to the airport on arrival and departure days is an option.
- Special alcoholic beverages (cocktails, premium wines) beyond the house wine, beer, or juice included with meals
Intensity
This gathering includes a variety of physical and mental activities such as a 5.5-mile hike at elevation, cultural walking or jogging tour (optional), group discussions, farming practices, hands-on learning, and structured language lessons, balanced with time for rest and personal reflection. The “moderate” rating reflects the mix of physical movement and mental engagement, making it well-suited for participants with a range of energy levels and interests.
Itinerary
In the weeks leading up to our journey, we will be sharing a series of short, meaningful communications designed to help you feel prepared, connected, and inspired. Our goal is to support you in getting the most out of your experience—mindfully and with intention.
Six weeks prior to departure, you’ll have the option to schedule a 30-minute one-on-one session with Heather to help you prepare and ask any questions. This will provide an opportunity to think about what you hope to gain from the gathering—both in Spanish language skills and any other areas of personal growth. Additionally, for those interested in the 10K guided run through Oaxaca City (Day 4), a recommended training program will also be made available.
Over the course of this week and next, our Spanish teachers will meet one-on-one with each participant for a brief language assessment. This will help us better understand your current skill level and tailor the lessons to best support your learning.
During this week we will continue to offer Spanish language assessment meetings. We’ll send a reminder of what to bring, including essentials like warm-weather clothing, hiking shoes, and travel insurance. You will also receive a few fun extras from our Spanish educators, like useful Spanish vocabulary and other resources.
We’ll gather for our first group meeting and share a cultural film and resources that capture the vibrant spirit of Oaxaca—along with reflection questions to help you connect more deeply with the region before you arrive.
You’ll receive guided prompts to help you reflect on your intentions for the trip—what you hope to experience, learn, and carry forward from your time in Oaxaca.
In our final group meet-up before departure, you’ll have a chance to connect with fellow travelers, ask last-minute questions, and review key arrival details—including getting to the casa and an opportunity to coordinate rides for those who wish. Our Spanish teachers will provide helpful resources and tips for learning essential phrases for local travel, especially for navigating taxis. We’ll also show you where to access your itinerary, trip resources, and how to stay connected with your facilitators and the group.
Settle into your home for the week, Casa El Encuentro, a peaceful space tucked in the hills outside Oaxaca by 4pm. Connect with your group, meet your Spanish educators and CJ facilitators and enjoy a welcome dinner featuring traditional Mexican dishes. We’ll set the tone for the week with circle time and shared intentions.
Our first Spanish lessons will take place in the morning followed by a hike through the majestic Sierra Norte forest on a nature walk that weaves in Spanish vocabulary and mindful communication. Pause for lunch in the mountains and finish the day with a shared meal at a local Oaxacan eatery.
Step into the rhythm of rural life with a visit to an organic regenerative farm. Sow, plant, and harvest while learning how sustainable methods connect us to the earth and each other. In the evening, cook a communal meal using ingredients you gathered—language lessons today help build vocabulary around food and culture.
Choose your own pace with a guided traditional neighborhood run or cultural walking tour through Oaxaca City. Return to the casa for rest and reflection, then experience a traditional Temazcal sweat lodge ceremony to reset your body and spirit.
Take a quiet morning to reflect, journal, or explore the ancient city of Monte Albán. Then return for a creative workshop designed to help you envision the next chapter of your personal journey. We’ll be sure to move our bodies during the day with yoga and mindful movement, guided by a local instructor.
Practice your Spanish in action during a visit to Teotitlán del Valle, a Zapotec weaving village known for its rich textile traditions. Watch artisans at work, explore the markets, and gather for a celebratory final dinner followed by a lively dance session.
We close with a final circle in the morning to reflect on the journey, share takeaways, and say farewell. A complimentary shuttle to the airport will be offered at 11am.
Just because the trip ends does not mean the experience is over. In fact, some of the most meaningful growth often happens after we return home. That’s why we’ve created a post-travel experience designed to help you reflect on your journey, integrate what you’ve learned, and carry it forward into your everyday life.
After the trip, we’ll support your return home with opportunities to reflect, reconnect, and continue growing. This includes:
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Two relaxed online gatherings each month (for the first two months) to reconnect with fellow travelers and share how you’re integrating the journey.
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A follow-up session with a Create Joy facilitator to revisit your goals and next steps.
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A shared space to post and enjoy trip photos.
