save the date!

February 24 - 28, 2027

Lake Pátzcuaro | michoacán, México

registration opens June 1st

How about escaping the cold this February to study mandolin in the mountains of Mexico?

Do you like eating fresh locally-grown fruits and vegetables, as well as authentic Mexican cuisine? What about sitting around a chimenea sipping locally-made mezcal, gazing at the stars and jamming tunes on your mandolin? If you answered yes to these questions, read on.

On February 24th, 2027 we will be holding the fourth annual Mexico Mandolin Retreat at one of the most beautiful places I have come across in my travels, a lakeside vacation lodge called La Gloria de Los Ángeles in the mountains outside of the town of Pátzcuaro. There is space for 15 mandolin students (and 10 guests) who want an immersive musical and cultural experience that combines the joy of music, language, nature and food in what will be a truly unforgettable experience.

As you may know, in addition to my passion for mandolin, I started down a path years ago learning the Spanish language and discovering Latin American culture. My experiences traveling in the Spanish-speaking world, be it Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico or my year living in Spain, were inexorably intertwined with my journey learning to play the mandolin, which led to me also getting really interested in latin music.

That’s why in 2024 I put together the first Mexico Mandolin Retreat, a destination mandolin camp in Latin America, where I could share this unique combination of passions for art, language and hispanic culture with my mandolin students.

La Gloria de Los Ángeles

A more perfect setting for a music retreat in Mexico would be hard to come by. I first went to this lodge, La Gloria de Los Ángeles, in 2017 while interpreting Spanish for the Hummingbird Music Festival and quickly became friends with the owners, Hugo and Susy. If you can’t tell from the photos, this place is magical. The lodging and service that Hugo and Susy provide are top notch, not to mention being surrounded by nature with gorgeous views of Lake Pátzcuaro.

Mandolin Workshops

The mandolin workshops will cover a variety of styles such as bluegrass, jazz, theory, technique, and even latin music. The beauty of this type of event is that you can ask questions at any time even when we’re jamming around the chiminea.

Spanish Classes

In addition to studying mandolin, we will also have a daily Spanish class. Regardless of your level or familiarity with the language, you will have fun learning some basic words and phrases that will come in handy.

Sight-seeing

Apart from the time spent at the lodge, we will take several trips into town and around the lake as a group to see the area. Down the road is a pueblo mágico or “magical town” called Tzintzúntzan with pre-colonial archeological sites and Spanish colonial architecture. The bigger town in the area is called Pátzcuaro (also a pueblo mágico) where we will hang Saturday night.

On Friday we do a tour of a local mezcal distillery on the other side of the lake and taste some of their products.

Lodging and Food

The hotel has both private rooms and shared rooms. The private rooms are assigned to couples on a first-come first-served basis. You can see in the photos examples of the bedrooms, dining hall, and communal spaces, with several outdoor courtyard and patio areas.

Three meals a day are included in the package- traditional Mexican food prepared on site with local ingredients. The lodge also offers a vegetarian meal plan.

Pricing and registration

The retreat price is $1550, which includes lodging, food, classes, and transportation to/from the airport and during our excursions. If you sign up during the first month of registration (June) you get the “Early Bird” price of $1450.

Registration opens June 1, 2026. To reserve a spot, you simply pay a non-refundable deposit of $500 per person. See “Register Now” button at top for details on Venmo, PayPal and Zelle.

The retreat starts Wednesday Feb. 24th, 2027 with a meet-and-greet dinner. The retreat concludes with breakfast on Sunday Feb. 28th.

Guest spots - a limited number of guest spots are available for $1300. The “Early Bird” price is $1200.

Any pair of registrants (student-student or student-guest) can reserve a private room while availability lasts.

Lake Pátzcuaro and Michoacán, México

Lake Pátzcuaro is a magical place with tons of natural beauty. The mountains surrounding the lake attract the migration of monarch butterflies and hummingbirds every year, and the whole area is rich in native fruits and vegetables such as avocados and limes.

There is a strong presence of Purépecha people, an indigenous population that speaks the Purépecha language. On previous trips we have played with musicians in the area that sing in this language.

As visitors, it is our highest priority to respect the locals and the land.

safety

Sometimes you hear about violence in México and even Michoacán makes it in the news. I have never encountered any violence or threatening people in this area of Mexico, which I have been to many times. Honestly, you will encounter nothing but nice people, and you should feel safe knowing that you have a destination where you’ll be traveling in our group. You will be in good hands with my wife and I interpreting Spanish and guiding you through this new cultural environment! Furthermore, our host (the owner of La Gloria), is the fire chief of nearby Quiroga and is very respected and well-connected in the community.

Travel to Lake Pátzcuaro

All students are responsible for getting to Morelia, the capital of Michoacán. We have shuttles on arrival day pick you up and get you to the hotel, which is about an hour and a half drive. The most common flight itinerary is from Dallas to Morelia. Another great option is to fly to Mexico City and take a bus to Morelia. (Flights to Mexico City can be a lot cheaper, and the bus ride costs around $50 and is 4 hours of beautiful Mexican countryside.)

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