For those ready to come ALIVE in Paradise
are you …
a giver WHO'S ready to have everything handled for you with care?
overwhelmed by screens and the news?
craving something real, human & alive?
Drawn to travel beyond tourist traps, to connect with locals & culture?
craving adventure that expands you without exhausting you?
ready to EXPLORE & SLEEP amid natural wonders?
open for new friendships, new life list moments, and a wider sense of yourself?
alive is …
An intentionally guided small-group journey through Colombia’s city, mountains, and coast, designed for people who want real connection, cultural immersion, and the magic of travel without having to figure anything out themselves..
Hola, I’m Mandolin.
Colombia has been my 2nd home for over a decade. I’ve spent years living, working, and building relationships with local families, guides, and communities across the coast, mountains, and jungle.
Because of these relationships, you’re welcomed into places, experiences, and ways of life that aren’t accessible through typical travel.
together we will explore…
The world’s tallest coastal mountains, turquoise caribbean beaches and a quaint coastal city known as “the pearl” of the caribbean.
Imagine landing here, in coastal Colombia, where the warm caribbean breeze smells like mangoes. You’re greeted at the airport with your name on a sign and a trusted driver waiting for you. It’s the softest landing, with personal transport to our venu in the mountains. There’s no stress or confusion, just ease and care from the moment you arrive.
arrive at our stunning mountain venue
a cocoon in the sierra nevada jungle
In 2013, while living in Colombia, I became friends with some great people who dreamed of opening this place, just as I dreamed of my retreat business. They were among the first guests and always make our stays very special. casa viejas is one of my favorite places on earth. it’s a hidden paradise: an eco-lodge nestled among tropical mountains, snow peaks, and caribbean seas.
Here everything moves at a different pace: sunrises among clouds, afternoons by a glacial waterfall and nights beneath an endless sky of stars. Casas Viejas is the perfect place to unplug in the heart of the Sierra Nevada, with views that take your breath away and an infectious energy. Enjoy the infinity pool over the jungle, follow trails that lead to hidden waterfalls, and feel at home in a welcoming atmosphere ideal for relaxing and meeting people. Explore, let go of stress, and surrender to the moment. Here everything flows in harmony with nature and the good vibes are always present.
mountain stay INCLUDES:
✅ 2 nights accommodation
✅ All fresh and delicious breakfasts
✅ private hot tub opening circle
✅ Daily yoga + meditation (optional)
✅ free high speed wifi & work/art area overlooking the rainforest
✅ on site restaurant and bar with delicious locally sourced meals starting at $4
✅ infinity pool overlooking jungle, mountains and the caribbean sea
✅ laundry services
✅ massage services on site
✅ FRIENDLY bilingual local staff
“I don’t speak Spanish well enough to travel like this on my own.
The places we went, the activities open to us and the people we met wouldn’t have been accessible without someone who speaks the language and already has relationships there. That’s part of what made it feel so rare.”
Rob, California
Not Just a Retreat…
A Local Experience!
on our 3rd day, trusted local drivers pick us up and take us from the mountains to the sea!
arrive at our stunning beach venue
fun & adventure between TURQUOISE sea and jungle
Just outside Tayrona Park, surrounded by lush rainforest and with direct access to the Caribbean beaches, discover our Beach Club!
Jungle, sea, and pure good vibes. Masaya Tayrona is the perfect escape to disconnect without losing your flow. Comfortable beach cabins, hammocks under palm trees, and a pool overlooking the sea… Days slip by with limonada de coco, music, and breathtaking sunsets. From here, explore hidden beaches, hike through the jungle, or spend the day listening to the sound of the waves as you get a massage. Here, everything is experienced at a relaxed pace, with the Caribbean as your backdrop and the best energy always present.
beach stay INCLUDES:
✅ 2 nights accommodation
✅ fresh and delicious breakfasts
✅ 1 family Celebration dinner
✅ Daily yoga (optional)
✅ optional daily activities like surfing, river tubing, & secret waterfall adventures
✅ Private transport between locations
✅ free high speed wifi + nature lounges
✅ on site restaurant and bar: delicious locally sourced meals starting at $4
✅ private pool overlooking the caribbean sea
✅ laundry services
✅ massage services on site
“i want beauty and nature, but i don’t want to be pushed to the edge on vacation.
ALIVE gave me the best kind of adventure. It was so cool to experience the mountains, coast, and city, but with breathing room. I didn’t crash at the end of each day. I felt expanded and connected at the same time. It was the first trip in a long time where I came home with more energy than I left with..
Meredith, California
on our 5th day, trusted local drivers will pick us up and take us from the sea to the city!
arrive at our stunning city venue
a cultural boutique hotel in the coastal city of santa marta. adorable fact: santa marta is known as ‘The pearl of the CARIBBEAN!”
Located in the heart of Santa Marta's Historic Center, Masaya Santa Marta captures the Caribbean’s essence in a blend of history, culture, and the tropics.
Here, the concept is simple: pools, amazing food, good vibes, and pure Caribbean flavor. Located in the historic center of the Pearl of the Caribbean, just three blocks from the sea, and 20 mins from the airport, Masaya is the perfect spot to end our retreat. It’s a meeting point for travelers and locals to enjoy live music and rooftop pools while still getting a quiet night’s sleep. With the Sierra Nevada mountains as a backdrop and crystal-clear beaches just steps away, our final night feels magical.
city stay INCLUDES:
✅ 1 night accommodation
✅ fresh and delicious breakfast
✅ group transport from the beach to hotel
✅ optional daily activities like ARTISANAL shopping, zip lining, salsa
✅ Private taxi drop off between hotel and the airport
✅ free high speed wifi
✅ on site restaurant and bar with delicious locally sourced meals starting at $4
✅ 3 pools overlooking the city & caribbean sea
✅ laundry services
✅ massage services on site
“I feel completely reinvigorated and inspired!
I had been stuck in my head for months and on this journey, something softened. The colors, ocean air, mountains, music and conversations opened me. I started writing again without trying. I took photos I actually love. I remembered that joy is not frivolous, it is fuel. I came home with a spark I thought I lost. Colombia wasn’t even on my radar, but now I’m in tears w gratitude and plotting my return!”
- Melissa M
What Makes ALIVE Unique?
everything is handled for you
Think once in a lifetime travel meets ethical wellness & culture retreat. Every logistical detail is handled for you, with room to choose your own adventure & get into the community on your own. You have the opportunity to relax by the pool, explore the area with a friend, or partake in as many activities as you like. Getaway combines real eco tourism with pampering and a completely dialed in local guide + liaison to make your ideal retreat come true.
trip blessed by Indigenous elders who gave us permission to visit this land.
Meet Haba Teresa, who is a Matriarchal Mamo (healer) for the local Kogi Tribe. Spanish is both our second language and our relationship was built over many years while I lived with a local woman on land sacred to her people. I learned over time how to offer these retreats with guidance from mentors like her.
SACRED NATURE vortex: mountains, sea & jungle
Our home for retreat is known as ‘The Heart Of The Universe’ to Indigenous People. Nestled in the the tallest coastal mountains on earth, we can see Carribean seas and snow peaks from our retreat center. The air smells like mangoes, the jungle is alive with parrots and monkeys, and the air is so clean you will never want to leave. There are 15 ecosystems on this one mountain! There are more endemic (from here and only here) plants and animals per capita than anywhere else on Earth! Just coming and staying in this Nature alone is life changing.
All the best local secrets
By choosing this retreat you are given access to all the best local secrets that you can not book or find online. Just like anywhere, the big tourist traps are worth checking out but they aren’t what makes a place truly special. It’s the hole in the wall restaurants that will blow your mind, the secret waterfalls only a few locals know of, or the old witchy woman in the jungle whose healing massage feels like a spiritual experience. These are just a few of the experiences that await you in this paradise.
“I made new friends from across the world who opened my mind to new ways of life.
I was able to see a Colombia I never would have if it wasn’t for Mandolin.”
- Matt L
what to expect
A Bilingual Retreat Staff At Your Service
Our venues hire entirely local Colombians who can speak English. Myself and our team will be at your service to support you with everything you need to have a comfy, fun, and memorable retreat.
Locally Sourced Meals
Coastal Colombian food from all the best restaurants and local chefs. The food is healthy, delicious and sourced from local farmers wherever possible.
Optional Yoga & Meditation
Your invitation to start your day with some juicy movement and guided meditation with rotating local teachers!
Incredible Nature Walks
There is more endemic flora and fauna per capita on this mountain than anywhere else in the world! You will be picking avocados off trees to the sound of thrumming life as you explore.
Nourishing Free Time
This retreat won’t leave you packed with activities and overwhelmed. You’ll have plenty of time to chill, integrate, and let your body come into a flow state.
Mind Body Soul Massage
You have the opportunity for private massage healing sessions that words cannot express.
New friends from around the world
Connect with inspiring people while you travel sustainably, uplift local communities and have the adventure of a lifetime.
So Many Waterfalls
There are 3 glacial fed waterfalls near our retreat venue. A day trip to one of these local secrets is going to leave you in awe.
Tickets from $1,650 with extended payment plans at no additional charge
One of my intentions with this retreat was to make the medicinal, freeing, invorating magic of this experience available to more people. Send us a private message about payment plans and we will work with you.
Choose from local activities like:
massages with cacao treatments, river tubing, day trips to Tayrona National Park, horseback rides, yoga classes, and meditation sessions, among others.
You receive a complete list of all the best local activities. We organize your choices and connect you with trusted local guides for your ideal adventure in Colombia. Are you looking for outdoor thrills, beach getaways, or cultural experiences? We have options for every taste: discover hidden spots, meet local people, and travel worry-free to enjoy the moment. Fall in love with the trip through truly personalized experiences.
check out your rooms!
Or team dorms?
Are you on Team private rooms?
“we signed up because we wanted a reset,
but we didn’t want a retreat where we had to perform vulnerability or be locked in a group schedule. This was just real life, in an extraordinary place, with care woven into every detail and our activities catered to us. We had moments of awe, moments of play, and long conversations we had not made space for in years. We came back closer, lighter, and genuinely inspired about how we want to live.”
Doug & Annie, Washington
What about the food?
Everyday you will be served a delicious breakfast as part of your stay. Lunch is served from 12:30-3 and Dinner is served 7:30-8pm with a variety of delectable options. We have low-key bars open until 10pm serving up everything from fresh squeezed juices to local harvested pina coladas.
“there was a moment i cried, in the best way.
I wasn’t sad, I just felt so present. We were in a place I never would have found on my own, with people I never would have met, and it didn’t feel staged. It felt real and magical. I remember thinking, this is why I travel in the first place. ALIVE gave me that back, plus the safety and care I didn’t know I needed.”
Eva, Netherlands
diversity, equity and inclusion
inclusive by nature
Mundo Adventures is a melting pot, where difference makes us stronger and connection makes us whole. To us, diversity means more than race or culture. It includes visible and invisible disabilities, neurotypes, gender, sexuality, age, beliefs, and backgrounds.
As a TBI survivor who’s often felt on the edges of belonging, I design our retreats with sensitivity and care so more of us can blend together to experience feeling seen, supported, and part of something greater.
— Mandolin Badger, Founder
FAQ
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We fly in and out of Santa Marta, Colombia. (SMR) A private car will escort you on the 1 hour drive between the airport and retreat center. Arrival and deparure is included!
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Yes. You will be in a very peaceful, nature based region surrounded by locals very appreciative for you to be there. Crime exists in Colombia just like everywhere, but we will not be close to areas of poverty in cities where crime exists.
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No. There are no vaccines suggested for this region of Colombia.
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A private car will collect you at the airport and deliver you to our retreat center. Upon departure a private car will return you to the airport for your flight.
