TRAVEL
Go somewhere that changes you.
I take small groups to places that matter —
curated, carefully planned, and led by someone who knows the terrain inside and out.
Every morning starts with a fitness class tailored to that day's adventures, with a focus on posture and alignment so your body is balanced and ready to walk, climb and carry.
Every day is designed to go deeper than a tourist would ever get.
I promise it will be worth the squats.
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE
Right now, my heart is in Mexico.
Specifically: San Miguel de Allende — a UNESCO World Heritage city
made of cobblestone streets, baroque architecture, extraordinary artisans,
and, if the season is right, millions of monarch butterflies in the forest nearby.
The cobblestone streets of San Miguel de Allende.
The quiet forest where millions of monarch butterflies come to rest.
The lake towns of Michoacán that most people have never heard of.
Over 60 million monarch butterflies overwinter in the fir forests of Michoacán.
I've stood in that forest.
I know what it does to people.
It's the kind of experience that changes your relationship with nature,
with movement, with your own smallness in the most beautiful possible way.
This trip combines San Miguel with a day at the butterfly sanctuary. We'll train each morning for the hike at altitude. We'll be ready. You'll never forget it.
San Miguel de Allende - First Look
Your introduction to one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
San Miguel de Allende is a UNESCO World Heritage city in Mexico's Central Highlands — and it is exactly as extraordinary as everyone says it is.
Baroque churches. Cobblestone streets. An art scene that attracts people from all over the world.
Food that surprises you.
A pace that immediately tells your nervous system to slow down.
On this trip, we find our rhythm together.
Morning fitness class every day — gentle, purposeful, and calibrated to what we're doing that day.
Then we walk.
We explore the Centro Histórico.
We visit artisan workshops and the markets that locals actually shop.
We find the restaurants that don't need to advertise.
We sit in the jardín at dusk and watch the city do what it does.
I've made all the mistakes in San Miguel so you don't have to.
I know which neighborhoods to walk at which hour, where the best tacos are at 9am, and which shops are worth your time.
That's what having me as your concierge actually means.
Small group. Morning fitness every day. Me as your guide, your coach, and the person who makes sure you come home having actually seen the place.
San Miguel de Allende — Deeper In
For those who've been once and know they need to go back.
You've been to San Miguel.
You know what it does to you.
You've been thinking about going back.
This trip is for you.
We skip the orientation entirely and go straight to the parts that take longer to find
— the artisan studios that don't announce themselves,
the day trips to smaller towns that most tourists never reach,
the private cooking experiences, the architecture walks that go well beyond the Parroquia.
The conversations that only happen when a place starts to feel like yours.
Morning fitness class every day, calibrated to the pace we're setting.
Then we go somewhere most people don't.
San Miguel rewards repetition.
Every time I go back, I find something I missed. On this trip, we go back — together.
Small group. Morning fitness every day. SMA like you've never quite seen it before.
Already Coming to Mexico?
Add San Miguel.
Many guests on the Michoacán retreat ask: can I see San Miguel while I'm here?
The answer is — come on!
San Miguel de Allende is the natural home base for all my Mexico trips. I
t's where I spend significant time each year, and I know it the way you know your own city —
the good parts, the hidden parts, and the parts worth sharing.
Lodging and activities in San Miguel are on your own,
but I'm happy to recommend where to stay, what to do, and what to skip.
Arrive a few days early, stay a few days after, or both — the city will reward every hour you give it.
MONARCH MIGRATION TRIP — MICHOACÁN
The Monarch Migration — A 4-Day Retreat in Michoacán, Mexico
Pátzcuaro & Michoacán ·
February 4–7, 2027 (FULL) or February 24–27, 2027 · 9 guests maximum
Over 60 million monarch butterflies overwinter in the oyamel fir forests of Michoacán, Mexico.
I’ve stood in that forest.
I know what it does to people.
It's the kind of experience that stops your breath
— not just from the altitude, but from the sheer improbability of what you're witnessing.
Millions of wings.
The sound of them.
The way the light comes through the trees when they rise.
It changes your relationship with nature, with movement, with your own beautiful smallness in the world.
I built this trip around that moment.
Four days of slow travel, connection, culture, and daily movement — anchored by the journey to El Rosario Sanctuary on horseback.
Come with me. Small group, big experience.
Dates: February 4–7, 2027 (FULL) | February 24–27, 2027
Location: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico (with optional San Miguel de Allende extension)
Group size: 9 guests maximum + local guide + Lisa
Fitness: Gentle daily movement classes with Lisa — joint-friendly and energizing
Fly into: León/Guanajuato (BJX), Querétaro (QRO), or Mexico City (MEX)
Price: $1,467 US dollars per person, double occupancy
A 50% non-refundable deposit of $733 US dollars holds your spot. RSVP and place your deposit on or before November 29, 2026.
Day 1
The Monarchs
We leave SMA by 7am, share breakfast snacks on the bus, and head to El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary. A horseback ride and short hike bring us to the colonies at nearly 10,000 feet — quiet time under the oyamel firs, butterflies cascading through the trees. Then we drive to Pátzcuaro for dinner at the hotel.
Day 2
Pátzcuaro
Morning mobility class with me (30 minutes: gentle, energizing, joint-friendly), then a boat ride out to Janitzio Island, where we hope to catch the Dance of the Old Men. The afternoon takes us through Plaza Vasco de Quiroga, a textile demonstration where you can watch artisans work their looms from raw wool to finished rug, and a mask demo, and then lunch. Dinner is yours to explore.
Day 3
Lake Zirahuén
Morning fitness, breakfast, then 30 minutes to the most pristine lake in Michoacán. You choose your included adventure: zip line and suspension bridges, kayak, paddle, boat ride, horseback riding, or ATVs. Not into adventure? Stay at the hotel or ask Alfredo about cooking classes or jewelry workshops.
Day 4
Kapula & Morelia
Morning class, breakfast, and then we make our way to Kapula — famous for its extraordinary Catrina figurines — and on to the colonial grandeur of Morelia for a trolley tour through one of Mexico's most beautifully preserved UNESCO heritage cities. We head back to SMA late afternoon, arriving home in the evening.
[NOTE: You'll stay the night before in San Miguel de Allende (my home base in Mexico), and I strongly encourage you to add days on the front or back end — or both. SMA deserves more than a night.]
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Pre-trip Zoom: Journey of the Monarchs
Lodging with breakfast (3 nights, double occupancy — single rooms available for an additional fee, contact Lisa)
Daily fitness with Lisa
Lunch each day
EASY horseback ride to El Rosario Sanctuary (there will be a platform for you to get on and off the horse, and a guide will be walking up the hill with you)
Entrance fees to museums & parks
One adventure activity at Zirahuén
Tips (except dinner)
Local guide with English & Spanish support
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Flights & airport transfers
Dinners & personal snacks
Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
Dinner and tip
Optional spa, shopping, or add-ons
Additional nights in San Miguel de Allende
Upgrade to single room: $60 US per night
Getting Prepared
Getting There
Fly into León/Guanajuato (BJX), Querétaro (QRO), or Mexico City (MEX).
Bajío Shuttle Service offers direct transfers to San Miguel de Allende — WhatsApp: +52-415-185-8665.
Money
Download the Wise app for international payments (like Zelle, but it works globally).
Units Plus for real-time currency conversion.
A 50% non-refundable deposit is due by November 29, 2026 — payment details provided upon registration.
Communication
Download WhatsApp before you travel — it's how we coordinate.
Message Lisa at 1-404-780-8310.
Our local guide Alfredo can be reached at +52-415-153-2359.
Fitness Level
All daily classes are gentle, energizing, and joint-friendly — accessible to all fitness levels.
The horseback ride to El Rosario does involve a short uphill hike at altitude.
We train for this in our regular classes — one more reason to be consistent before you go.
Travel Insurance
Recommended. Your regular health insurance likely doesn't cover you internationally.
A basic travel insurance policy is inexpensive and worth it
This isn't just a trip. It's about sharing time together.
Travel with friends, family, and new companions who move through the world the same way you do — curious, open, and ready for something that genuinely changes them.
You'll leave with a body that moved every day. A mind that's genuinely quieter. A phone full of photos you'll actually look at.
And a group of people you'll want to travel with again.
Small group. Nine people maximum. This fills quickly.
The monarchs return in 2028.
February 16–19, 2028
Reserve your spot now with a $733 deposit. Sign up before March 1, 2027 and keep the 2027 price: $1,467 per person. A 4-day small-group retreat in Michoacán with gentle daily movement and a local guide.
To learn more about me and how I travel,
check out my blog!
Have questions before you commit?
I offer free 20-minute discovery calls for anyone considering a trip.
We'll talk about what you're looking for, whether this is the right fit, and what to expect.
No pressure, no pitch — just a real conversation.