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Experiencing a Temazcal Ceremony (Sweat Lodge) Like a Local

Last Updated: November 3, 2021 · Mexico, Riviera Nayarit

Experiencing a temazcal ceremony (sweat lodge) was always at the top of my bucket list before leaving Mexico. And luckily so, the universe would have it that our last Friday in Mexico happened to be the last temazcal of the season hosted by friends of ours. And we got to go!

Here is everything we learned from our first experience in a Mexican temazcal ceremony with locals. My guide includes temazcal meaning and symbolism, our honest experience, beginner’s tips, and more. For those who wish to experience a temazcal, keep reading to learn the best five things to know before doing your first sweat lodge ceremony in Mexico.

A HUGE thank you to Tania who graciously re-explained all about temazcal so that I could write this post! xx

  • Temazcal Ceremony Mexico: Ultimate guide to experiencing a temazcal ceremony with locals in Mexico. #mexico #temazcal #ritual #travel #bucketlist | bucketlist bri
  • Temazcal Ceremony Mexico: Ultimate guide to experiencing a temazcal ceremony with locals in Mexico. #mexico #temazcal #ritual #travel #bucketlist | bucketlist bri

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

Table of Contents show
What Is a Temazcal?
The Meanings and Symbolism of Our Temazcal Ceremony
The Sweat Lodge
North, South, East, and West
Mitakuye Oyasin
The Aguila / Fire Chief
Medicinal Herbs
The Altar
Instruments and Chants
Our Temazcal Ceremony
My Experience VS Paul’s Experience
Entering the Temazcal
Surpassing 100°F
After the ceremony
The Benefits of Temazcal
What to Wear for a Temazcal Ceremony?
5 Best Tips for First-Timers Doing a Temazcal
Drink tons of water
Bring fruit
Take extra clothes
Sit near the entrance
Get there early
Temazcal Ceremony: A Rebirthing Experience?

What Is a Temazcal?

Temazcal is, in short, a sweat lodge or steam bath ceremony. But it’s much more than that! A temazcal ceremony combines elements of ancient Native American and Mesoamerican rituals to bring cleansing to your mind, body, and soul. Many writers and those who have experienced it, describe temazcal as a rebirthing experience.

First off, I learned that each temazcal varies in tradition. The Lakota, Navaho, and Mexica (Meshika) have different temazcal ceremony methods. Therefore different tribes will conduct temazcal ceremonies differently across regions in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Latin America. So with that in mind, our experience as I detail below might not be your experience. (Past, present, or future)!

[su_highlight background=”#95d0c7″ color=”#ffffff”]For me, the temazcal ceremony was an opportunity to let go, to purify my mind and intentions, and to manifest all that I wish for others or for myself. But to understand what all of this meant, I had to dig deeper. [/su_highlight]

So I asked Tania, our host, to explain to me the processes of the temazcal so that I could better understand the sweat lodge ceremony and its importance. Here is what she described to me.

But first, it’s good to know that in Mexico, temazcals will vary depending on the traditions that are carried over from other tribes. Tania and Sol adopted differents styles of temazcal into their own ceremonies, but they mostly incorporate Lakota tradition. What’s more, not anyone can just conduct a temazcal ceremony. Sol, Tania’s partner, first went through four vision quests and four sun dances in order to be able to host private temazcals.

The Meanings and Symbolism of Our Temazcal Ceremony

Before I jump into our raw and honest temazcal experience, here are some interesting and important things to know about the various elements of a sweat lodge or temazcal ceremony.

Temazcal Ceremony Mexico: Ultimate guide to experiencing a temazcal ceremony with locals in Mexico. #mexico #temazcal #ritual #travel #bucketlist | bucketlist bri

The Sweat Lodge

Sweat Lodge is the dome-like structure you sit inside around a hole filled with volcanic rock. Water is poured over the rocks during the ceremony to create steam. There are four main “doors” or short sessions and after each round, the doors of the temazcal are opened to release the energy and to allow air to circulate. Our sweat lodge was made from strategically-designed wood sticks that created an 8-point star in the ceiling. The star shape is meant to connect everything we say or do to the stars and the universe, as at that moment we are inside the earth we are getting unified with the elements.

North, South, East, and West

Four Directions North, South, East, and West. The meanings of the four directions again change depending on tribe tradition.

  • In our ceremony, the East represents consciousness, awakening, light, and knowledge.
  • South represents the will, intentions, manifestation, and strength to make things happen.
  • The West is where the sun sets and thus represents darkness and the dark side to everything.
  • Finally, the North represents our elders, ancestors, traditions, and the air to symbolize stories.

Everything is aligned east and west. So as the light comes in by the east it passes in the direction of the west. As such, sitting in these spots inside the temazcal results in a powerful channel of energy which can be felt when you sit there. All cleansing and letting go will pass in that direction.

Mitakuye Oyasin

“Mitakuye Oyasin” is what participants say before entering into the temazcal. It’s Lakota for “for all my relationships” (todas mis relaciones in Spanish) because everything we do, say, or pray in the sweat lodge affects not only us but also all of our relationships on earth. That goes for our relationships with our families, animals, and all beings.

The Aguila / Fire Chief

Fire and the águila de fuego (fire eagle) are crucial to temazcal ceremonies. The fire is how the volcanic rocks are heated. There is a fire chief (águila) to help transfer the rocks to the ground inside the temazcal. The more rocks you add, the hotter the temazcal! So it’s common that after each door is opened, the fire chief will bring in more rocks. By the end, everyone is soaked in their own sweat and even mucus secretions. (Noses often drip heavily and it is a common bodily reaction).

Temazcal Ceremony Mexico: Ultimate guide to experiencing a temazcal ceremony with locals in Mexico. #mexico #temazcal #ritual #travel #bucketlist | bucketlist bri

The volcanic rocks are heated by fire before slowly adding them into the temazcal

Temazcal Ceremony Mexico: Ultimate guide to experiencing a temazcal ceremony with locals in Mexico. #mexico #temazcal #ritual #travel #bucketlist | bucketlist bri

 

Medicinal Herbs

Herbs and plants are thrown into the fire and sprinkled over the volcanic rocks to release fragrant aromas, meant to cleanse the mind and body. Native Americans believed plants had spirits. As such, the smoke from sage, sweetgrass, or copal (commonly used in Mexico), is used to communicate with the spirit world. They are used as medicinal purposes. In Mexico, cedar and sage are popularly used medicinal herbs for ceremonies, along with others like rosemary, chamomile, and lavender.

The Altar

Altars are critical in temazcal ceremonies because they are used to connect us with the fire and with the temazcal. Traditionally, they are located in between the fire and the sweat lodge so that every element can connect us together with the fire. Sometimes a pipe is used, and you are not meant to cross this space so as to not interfere with the prayers and intentions that are going east. Tania also explained to me that altars are commonly built up with the soil from the dug-out hole inside the temazcal, giving even more connection and meaning to it as the soil represents the earth and all life that it sustains.

Instruments and Chants

Not every temazcal will incorporate music and chanting into its ceremony. However, that was the case for our sweat lodge experience. Tania and Sol use instruments such as an air drum, or water drum from the Navaho tradition, along with a rattle. In addition to instrumental music, chanting or singing in temazcal ceremonies is common. Some traditions, for example, the Native Americans in the U.S. and Canada have specific sweat lodge songs, while other traditions use a mixture of songs. The songs aren’t just for entertainment though. Most of these songs tell stories! Singing and chanting are how the meaning is shared with people and with spirits. Tania and Sol sing almost any kind of chant, like Spanish songs that are kept in the Mexican contemporary tradition.

There are many other symbols and meanings behind a temazcal sweat lodge ceremony. Loads more than I am able to describe here. But already, I hope you can better understand what a temazcal ceremony is.

But what is it really like inside?

Temazcal Ceremony Mexico: Ultimate guide to experiencing a temazcal ceremony with locals in Mexico. #mexico #temazcal #ritual #travel #bucketlist | bucketlist bri

Mats for participants to sit on around the hole where the rocks will be placed

Our Temazcal Ceremony 

Our temazcal ceremony took place in the backyard of our host’s home, in a small neighboring community from where we lived in San Pancho. Tania and Sol were extremely courteous and welcoming. I had met Tania through aerial silk classes and had heard about her last temazcal of the season via a mutual friend.

We arrived early, at 4 pm, in time to see the preparation of the ceremonial fire which heats the volcanic rocks that are used inside the temazcal structure. We have seen Mayan temazcal structures in Yucatan and Quintana Roo made from stone and hard mud. But this temazcal was fashioned together using strategically-designed sticks.

In the middle was a small dug-out hole, where the volcanic rocks would be placed. As Sol and Tania would later describe, the structure of this temazcal was well-thought-out. The roof was in the shape of an 8-point star. The star shape in the ceiling represents and connects us to the stars and the universe.

Temazcal Ceremony Mexico: Ultimate guide to experiencing a temazcal ceremony with locals in Mexico. #mexico #temazcal #ritual #travel #bucketlist | bucketlist bri

Tania and Sol’s temazcal was made with wooden sticks and covered with thick blankets. 

My Experience VS Paul’s Experience

If you asked my partner Paul, our temazcal experiences were completely different! While I had a positive one, Paul’s was rather frustrating. It’s hard to know what to expect, even if people tell you about their own experiences.

A couple of days before the ceremony, I asked Tania for beginner’s tips. Out of all of them, she highlighted to drink lots and lots and LOTS of water the day before and the day of the ceremony. While I took this seriously and was drinking water almost constantly, Paul drank about the same as usual. What’s more, he chose to have two cups of coffee on the day of the ceremony.

For most first-timers, a temazcal is a mental test. And for some people, it can be too challenging. Especially if you do not like cramped, dark spaces, which Paul does not. And this particular ceremony was jam-packed with people. We were around 30 people to fit into this tent. I’m still not sure how that managed to work.

Paul was able to experience the first door or session of the temazcal ceremony. The heat was extremely overpowering. Even Tania later told us it was too hot for beginners. Paul needed to exit the ceremony after the first door was opened. After that, he couldn’t make himself come back inside after that.

As for me, I stayed inside the temazcal because, despite the sense of claustrophobia, I knew I could make it through if I just focused on my breathing. The second round was tougher than the first, and I started to believe I wasn’t going to make it. But once I got out to breathe at the second door, I felt a sense of energy that grounded me and calmed me.

I was able to stay inside for sessions three and four without exiting.

Temazcal Ceremony Mexico: Ultimate guide to experiencing a temazcal ceremony with locals in Mexico. #mexico #temazcal #ritual #travel #bucketlist | bucketlist bri

Once inside, the aguila closes the door and the ceremony starts (Paul’s photo after exiting)

Entering the Temazcal

We lined up one by one to kneel at the entrance of the temazcal, acknowledge the earth and say “Mitakuya oyasin y por todas mis relaciones.” They say if you are a beginner to stay near the door, but the way we had lined up didn’t give us that option. Instead, we shuffled to the very back of the temazcal, which some people call the “Buffalo” position. Tania said she doesn’t know why the Buffalo is considered the strongest, but that it is likely because the energy is passing through that direction (west).

They closed the door to the temazcal and our hearts raced. Paul and I were squeezing each other’s hands so hard. The ceremony began with Sol speaking in Spanish, which we could understand more or less of. But not fully being able to understand the story and meaning behind what he was saying made us not as “in tune” as we could have been, I think.

Then we heard the first ladle of water being splashed onto the heated volcanic rocks, which had been burning for a couple of hours now. The hot vapor and the steam hit us like a brick wall in the face. It was pretty overwhelming to take that first breath in with all the aromas in the steam!

I tried my best to stay comfortable, with my knees up to my chest. I could feel the sweat forming. Soon, I was wiping the sweat from entering my eyes and mouth. Soon after that, there wasn’t a dry bit of dress left to soak up the extra. Every ounce of sweat now just seeped into the earth.

Temazcal Ceremony Mexico: Ultimate guide to experiencing a temazcal ceremony with locals in Mexico. #mexico #temazcal #ritual #travel #bucketlist | bucketlist bri
Temazcal Ceremony Mexico: Ultimate guide to experiencing a temazcal ceremony with locals in Mexico. #mexico #temazcal #ritual #travel #bucketlist | bucketlist bri

“Drenched” doesn’t even do it justice

Surpassing 100°F

The temazcal became hotter, and hotter, and hotter. We easily surpassed over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Paul said we were inside the temazcal for at least 45 minutes to an hour. And that’s after he left the first session. For me, it seemed to go by in just 15 minutes or so. Due to the intensity of the temazcal, people can lose track of time. And I think that’s definitely what happened to me!

After each session or door, the group would focus our intentions and prayers in another direction (N, S, E, W). I don’t remember much from the chants and stories, but I remember the fourth door or our last session quite well. It was about focusing on our relationships; our families and everything we prayed and manifested for was for them. I remember focusing my attention on each one of my family members. Their problems, health, and aspirations. And I also thought about my grandpa, who passed away earlier this year. It was a powerful way to end the ceremony for me.

After the ceremony

At the end of the ceremony, we opened up the temazcal. Everyone took a 15-30 minute resting period. Some of us stayed inside the temazcal and we went around the circle to say a few words. I shared how grateful I was for the opportunity and for everyone’s support. The period after temazcal is also important. Lots of people laid down with their backs on the ground. This further connects one to feel the earth and be thankful.

We all came out of there drenched with purply red faces. We all hugged each other and shared fruit and homemade pozole (a Mexican soupy dish) together. There was a strong sense of community and mutual understanding that we won’t forget. For us, experiencing a temazcal with locals and people we knew was very humbling and special!

If you ever get the chance to participate in one of the Mexican sweat lodge ceremonies, you should do so with an open mind and heart.

Sharing homemade pozole and fruit after the ceremony

The Benefits of Temazcal

There are so many benefits of temazcal. But the most prominent is of course purification of the mind and body. Some might even say it’s a spiritual cleansing as well!

The high-intensity heat (+ duration) allows your body to purge itself of toxins. Since you sweat so much in temazcal, it makes sense that you’re ridding your body of some blockages. It’s not uncommon for your mucosal glands to drain (like your nose).

Temazcal also helps to cleanse your mind. Whether you’re healing from past trauma, want to rid yourself of negative energy, or simply want to redirect your intentions, temazcal is good for that.

Temazcal benefits vary from person to person, however. The cleansing and purification from the ritual are rather subjective depending on your unique temazcal experience.

Temazcal Ceremony Mexico: Ultimate guide to experiencing a temazcal ceremony with locals in Mexico. #mexico #temazcal #ritual #travel #bucketlist | bucketlist bri

Hard to imagine there being 30 people inside that temazcal, right? A cute boy waits for his mom

What to Wear for a Temazcal Ceremony?

What to wear to a temazcal ceremony is a common question. So I asked each one of my friends who had previously been to temazcal ceremonies for their thoughts on the matter.

Almost unanimously they said to wear a long skirt or light dress and a bathing suit. For men, it was swim trunks or shorts and a light shirt.

Apparently, it’s also common for women to remove their underwear underneath their skirts in order to have a better connection with the earth inside the temazcal. But if you are new to temazcal it is completely fine to wear a bathing suit underneath, which is what I did under my cotton dress.

In general, you want to avoid wearing anything synthetic. In temazcal, you will sweat ungodly amounts! Trust me, you won’t believe it until you experience it. Wearing light linen skirts or organic cotton dresses or loose skirts is the best clothing to wear to a temazcal ceremony.


5 Best Tips for First-Timers Doing a Temazcal

Here are some beginner’s tips I put together in case you add temazcal to your Mexico bucket list!

Drink tons of water

1. Drink water constantly the day before and day of and day after the ceremony. If you read about Paul’s experience, I think he felt unwell not only because it was crowded, but I don’t think he drank enough water. He had two cups of coffee that day as well, which makes your heart race anyway. As for me, I drank water almost every 30 minutes for two days straight and it definitely made me feel more comfortable going into the ceremony. Especially because I am known to pass out when I get overheated.

Bring fruit

2. Bring fruit or water to share after the temazcal ceremony. It’s common (and polite) to bring fresh fruit to a ceremony so that you can share it with everyone after the ceremony has ended. Eating fresh fruits and sometimes drinking agua fresca is meant to replenish your body after the temazcal purification.

Take extra clothes

3. Take an extra change of clothes and wear only light, breathable natural fabrics. The more light and breathable your clothes, the better. Natural and organic fabrics are the best thing to wear in a sweat lodge so your body can release its toxins properly. Wear only loose clothing as you’ll likely be sitting cross-legged inside. After the ceremony, you can rinse off and change into dry clothes.

Sit near the entrance

4. Ask to sit near the entrance door inside the temazcal if you are worried about the heat or space. If it’s your first time and you don’t like small spaces, you can ask to be next to the door so you get a nice breeze after each session. Being here also places you in a good position to exit quickly in case you get sick.

Get there early

5. Get there early to help build the fire, ask questions, and relax before the ceremony begins. I think arriving early and getting to understand temazcal better helped me better appreciate the experience. It gave me time to speak with the hosts and learn about the sweat lodge practices before entering into the temazcal.

Temazcal Ceremony Mexico: Ultimate guide to experiencing a temazcal ceremony with locals in Mexico. #mexico #temazcal #ritual #travel #bucketlist | bucketlist bri
We were there early enough to help cover the temazcal with blankets and learn more about the ritual

Temazcal Ceremony: A Rebirthing Experience?

A temazcal is typically described as a rebirthing experience because the lodge often represents the womb of a mother or the womb of the earth. It’s as if you were going back into the womb. So when you come back out, you go through a rebirthing experience. It can be extremely powerful, but it depends on your intentions and experience.

Not everyone will come out feeling like their lives have changed. For me, it definitely aided me in realigning myself and my intentions, while letting go of negative mental energy.

You can do temazcal once a week and many people do. For others, it’s a one-time experience. It all depends on you!

So what do you think? Would you try a Mexican sweat lodge? Drop your thoughts and comments below!

  • Temazcal Ceremony Mexico: Ultimate guide to experiencing a temazcal ceremony with locals in Mexico. #mexico #temazcal #ritual #travel #bucketlist | bucketlist bri
  • Temazcal Ceremony Mexico: Ultimate guide to experiencing a temazcal ceremony with locals in Mexico. #mexico #temazcal #ritual #travel #bucketlist | bucketlist bri
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By: Bri · In: Mexico, Riviera Nayarit

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Comments

  1. Brandi Carman says

    December 28, 2022 at 6:30 pm

    Yes I’m actually doing one too night. My first time so I am so glad to come across your article l. It has been very helpful and I’m not so blind going into this.. now I’ll be wearing the correct attire and be hydrated for the event. Thank you o much !! I’m really looking forward to tonight

    Reply
    • Bri says

      December 30, 2022 at 4:15 pm

      Aww, I hope you had a wonderful experience! I would love to hear back to see what you think!

      Reply
  2. Robert Cooprider says

    May 17, 2022 at 1:17 pm

    Sounds wonderful and healing.

    Would you please send contact info for the people who did the ceremony?

    Reply
    • Bri says

      May 30, 2022 at 12:49 pm

      Hey Robert – sure! Could you shoot me an email? It’s hello@bucketlistbri(dot)com. Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Susan says

    December 21, 2021 at 11:08 pm

    Can you send information on the contacts and where for this ceremony? I’ve done many Lakota sweat lodges and would love to do this in Tulum when I visit in February.

    Reply
    • Bri says

      December 22, 2021 at 3:46 am

      Hi Susan! That sounds wonderful. FYI, we weren’t in Tulum at the time, this experience took place in Lo De Marcos, in the state of Nayarit. x

      Reply
  4. Rachael says

    December 8, 2019 at 2:10 pm

    I’ve never heard of this until now, but what a great experience to have!

    Reply
  5. Justine Jenkins says

    December 8, 2019 at 3:59 am

    Oh wow! What an incredible experience! I’m like Paul in that I could get claustrophobic but it would still be an incredible experience to try one day. Thanks for the tips too – I wouldn’t have known about bringing fresh fruit 🙂

    Reply
  6. Albi says

    December 8, 2019 at 3:14 am

    Looks like an awesome experience, I’m planning to go to Mexico in February, now I know what to try!

    Reply
  7. Elsa says

    December 8, 2019 at 3:10 am

    Great learning. You are lucky, you had the temazcal experience. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  8. Amanda says

    December 7, 2019 at 5:25 pm

    Such an interesting post! I have actually never heard of this before but it must have been such a unique experience!

    Reply
  9. Erin says

    December 7, 2019 at 4:37 pm

    Sounds like an incredible experience. Thanks for this thorough post – learned alot. I’m going to keep a sweat lodge in mind for next time I’m in Mexico.

    Reply
  10. Christine Wheeler says

    December 7, 2019 at 3:06 pm

    What an experience! I think it would be tough for me since I don’t like small dark spaces, but it would definitely be a unique experience to try.

    Reply

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Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨ 💻 WORKIN Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨

💻 WORKING ONLINE
While not all nomads/remote workers have online-specific jobs, it’s the easiest way to sustain an income for full-time or long-term travel. Here are some jobs you can do as a digital nomad!

• Blogging (This is what I do full-time!)
• Content Creation / Brand Sponsorship
• Virtual Assisting
• Social Media Management
• YouTube or Podcasting
• Graphic / Web Design
• Coding / Development
• Photography / Videography
• Freelance Writing (How I started)
• Marketing / Amazon FBA / Ecommerce

📍PICKING YOUR DIGITAL NOMAD DESTINATION
There are many countries out there offering digital nomad visas, but you don’t even need one to just travel as a tourist and stay in-country for 30, 60, 90, or 180 days. Nomads go everywhere as long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection, some countries you may consider are Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, Croatia, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Brazil, and beyond! Even lesser-known places such as Namibia are starting to offer nomad visas to entice long-term travelers to visit.

🏡 FINDING HOUSING ABROAD
Read my blog post for the full guide on this, but basically, check local Facebook groups for renting local housing for extended stays and then use Airbnbs for shorter stays or to negotiate longer contracts with the owner. There are even more “nomad rental websites” these days to make finding accommodation even easier. Don’t overlook co-living/working spaces too like Selina where the digital nomad community tends to congregate.

💛 EXPLORING LOCALLY/RESPONSIBLY
As always, be mindful and respectful when you visit these communities. Many small towns are struggling with rapid growth and overdevelopment so be mindful of your choices of where you stay, how you spend your money, and who you support.

My best advice + detailed guides are all on the blog, free for you to use! Let me know if you have any questions about digital nomad life! 

Lastly, don’t overthink it. Moving countries isn’t as intimidating as you may think! It’s become second nature for us now after several years! 🐈‍⬛💃🌎✨
I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover t I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover this incredible country beyond the resorts and beaches, having lived temporarily in 5 out of the 32 Mexican states (Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Oaxaca, and now Baja California Sur) as a digital nomad who’s been slow traveling/living in and out of Mexico since 2018. 

There is so, so much cultural and natural beauty in Mexico — I wish more people could experience this country for themselves and not through the eyes of the media.

***Please visit Mexico as a digital nomad (or tourist in general) responsibly and mindfully. Stay local, eat local, drink local, shop local, support local. Leave No Trace and be conscious of your choices and impact!*** 

Here are the cities/towns we’ve slow traveled/lived in for extended stays.

• Oaxaca City — a colorful, historic open museum rich in indigenous culture and gastronomy 
• San Cristóbal de las Casas — an endearing pueblo mágico in the Chiapas Highlands
• La Paz — the capital city of BCS teeming with marine life, diving, fish tacos, and desert vibes
• San Pancho — an eco-conscious town in Nayarit famous for its sunsets and community
• Tulum — no introduction needed (and I wouldn’t go back here as a nomad due to overdevelopment)

Other great cities/towns/destinations for digital nomads are:

• Guadalajara (state of Jalisco)
• Santiago de Querétaro (state of Querétaro)
• San Miguel de Allende or Guanajuato City (state of Guanajuato)
• Playa del Carmen (state of Quintana Roo)
• Valladolid or Mérida (state of Yucatán)
• México City/CDMX (state of México)
• Sayulita (state of Nayarit)
• Puerto Vallarta (state of Jalisco)
• Puerto Escondido (state of Oaxaca)

I’d love to know what you think about Mexico and where you’ve been in the comments! 🇲🇽💛

And for the detailed guide of 13 places to live/visit, read my blog @bucketlistbri .com (just type in “places to live mexico” in the quick search bar if you can’t find the post under my “Mexico” category).

#mexicomagico #digitalnomad #visitmexico #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #mexicotravel #mexicodestinations #nomadadigital #nomada #mexicomaravilloso #slowtravelling #mindfultravel
PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will f PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will follow you around the world until you face them no matter how much you travel or move countries 🙃 

I know I’m not the only one that feels restless at times and idolizes moving to a new region/country/continent to shake my feelings of anxiety or self-doubt or fear! (Also, I tend to think about moving to another country even when I just moved to a new one 😅)

I know because I have lived abroad for 8+ years. I used to try to drown out my icky feelings and past traumas with lots of alcohol but now I carry them with me like I do my mismatched socks — they add to the quirkiness and remind me I don’t have to be, and am not, perfect. 

And that life is more interesting that way, anyway. 

Anddd that most importantly, whenever I get lost, I can and will be found again — I just may look and think differently after new adventures but I am still loved and never lost forever 🧦 ✨💛 

In sum, whether you travel full-time or not, take care of yourself ✨💛

#nomadness #nomadlife #lifeofadventure #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #offbeattravel #remoteworklife #homeawayfromhome #slowtravelstories #mentalhealthawarness
The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri: 💛 P The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri:

💛 Paul
😻 Yoda
🌍 Traveling & adventuring
👩🏼‍💻 Blogging & writing

Among other things like nature, photography, reading, animals, journaling, art, playing Zelda/games, dancing/music, culture/languages, enjoying rly good food and drinks! 😋 

What about you? What recharges you?? 

#rechargemysoul #blogging #adventures #writing #soulfulliving #mindfulliving #mindfultravel #nomadcouple #creativeliving
1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨ 🌋 ARENA 1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨

🌋 ARENAL // LA FORTUNA (2 days)
- Hike in the Arenal Volcano National Park
- Indulge in a local chocolate/coffee tour (s/o to @northfieldscafe)
- Go on a wildlife safari float (s/o to Raúl for pura vida vibes!)
- Lounge in natural hot springs (highly recommend the budget-friendly Relax Termalitas in Fortuna)
- Visit La Fortuna waterfall
- Check out the Butterfly Conservatory

🦥 QUEPOS // MANUEL ANTONIO (2-3 days)
- Take a guided or DIY tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
- Chill out on the Espadilla beach
- Explore the cute towns
- Watch for wildlife in the trees!

🌿 MONTEVERDE // SANTA ELENA (2 days)
- Visit/hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
- Go ziplining
- Birdwatching on a canopy tour
- Monteverde coffee tour
- Do a nature night walk

My sister and I surprised our mom with this bucket list trip on her birthday, and we had a blast! 🥹

Send this itinerary to someone you know who has always wanted to go to Costa Rica 🦋💛✨🌿🦜🐒

#costarica #bucketlisttrip #puravida #costaricaitinerary #lafortuna #manuelantonio #monteverde #ecotourism
Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a q Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a quite a humbling experience, and one that’s been at the top of my bucket list for ages! 🥺

Right now is prime whale shark season in La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico, so Paul and I made sure to go before we jetted off to see family for the holidays! I’m still in awe of these gentle giants and the fact that we got to swim alongside them!

Read all about the best whale shake tours in La Paz + ethical whale shark tourism in my latest blog post! Link in bio 💛

Send this to a friend who loves whale sharks! 🐳🦈

#whalesharks #lapaz #bajacaliforniasur #ethicaltravel #responsibletravel #ecotourism #golapaz #mexicotravel #bucketlist #seaofcortez
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adventures await x

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