If you are looking for a week dedicated to writing in one of the most beautiful coastal villages in Nayarit, join me in Chacala for a generative poetry retreat designed to help you create new work, deepen your craft, and enjoy time in a vibrant, welcoming community. The retreat is open to all levels of poets, from beginners to experienced/published.

Hosted by Chacala Writers Group at Casa del Caballo Sonador, this inaugural, annual retreat blends focused poetry sessions with open time to explore the village, wander cobblestone streets, swim in the Pacific, and write on the terrace.

I was able to spend time in Chacala in January of 2025 and it was an incredible experience! Not only is the writing community vibrant, but my husband and I enjoyed excellent meals and margaritas nearly every evening watching the sunset and diving pelicans on the small and welcoming beach, walkable right from town.

The Retreat

Over four days of workshops, we will work through four core craft lenses: imagery, fabulism and narrative movement, persona and self portrait, and revision. We’ll read contemporary poems, write through guided exercises, and leave with a substantial set of new drafts.

Afternoons and evenings are open for exploring Chacala, resting, or continuing your writing. One full day is dedicated to an ATV adventure tour into the orchards and jungle of Riviera Nayarit, ending at the Jumurrca hot springs. The week closes with an evening poetry reading and an optional participant share.

The Instructor

Trish Hopkinson is a poet and literary arts advocate living in western Colorado. She founded and directs Rock Canyon Poets, a regional poetry collective known for its workshops, readings, and community programming, and curates widely used resources for writers at SelfishPoet.com. Trish has taught poetry workshops for the International Women’s Writing Guild, Utah Humanities, Author’s Publish, Finding the Writer Within, and other organizations, offering hands-on, craft sessions that help writers generate new work and strengthen their revision skills. Her poetry appears in several literary magazines and journals, including Poets.org’s Poem-A-Day, Sugar House Review, and The Penn Review, and her complete collection A Godless Ascends was published by Lithic Press in 2024.

Schedule Overview

• Jan 09 – Early arrival
• Jan 10 – Free day
• Jan 11 – Session 1: Imagery and the doorway into the poem; evening meet and mingle
• Jan 12 – Session 2: Fabulism and narrative movement
• Jan 13 – ATV Adventure Tour to Jumurrca Hot Springs
• Jan 14 – Session 3: Persona and self portrait
• Jan 15 – Session 4: Revision workshop
• Jan 16 – Evening poetry reading
• Jan 17 – Departure

Location

Casa del Caballo Sonador #13 Ecuador, Chacala, Nayarit, Mexico

Chacala is known for its painted panga boats, palapa rooftops, and a shoreline where pelicans fish the surf. It is an ideal place to write, rest, and reconnect with your creative practice.

Pricing 

Inaugural discounted retreat pricing starts at 1300 USD.
Eight nights included: check in Jan 9, check out Jan 17.
Extra nights are available at the hotel’s regular rate.

Included

• 8 nights lodging
• 4 half day poetry sessions
• Meet and Mingle evening
• ATV excursion and lunch
• Poetry reading evening

Reserve Your Spot

Space is limited and rooms are held on a first deposit basis. To check availability or book your room, email: info@casacaballosonador.com.

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