A Dark Room Retreat is not guided—you will be able to create your own schedule and manage your own practice. As you will be completely alone during the retreat, it’s important that you already have a steady meditation practice.

If this is your first Dark Room Retreat, we recommend you start with a minimum of 3 nights and a maximum of 10 nights. Once you build experience, you may be inspired to do longer retreats

Rooms approximately 15 sqm. with no windows and small door. Air-conditioned and specially designed to be fully dark.

They have a bathroom and shower, bed, air extractor, and a sealed box through which we can deliver meals without allowing light to enter the room. We provide water, toilet paper and yoga props as a chair, cushions, and a mat.

No, the focus lies in isolation to light. The dark rooms are below other accommodation rooms. You might sense, or hear steps or furniture moving occasionally. 

Although it's very unlikely that you get disturbed by any of those possible noises. Since the sound of the AC and/or air extractor creates a monotonous background noise, that you can use to dissolve into it.

Participating in a retreat that takes place in complete darkness offers a profoundly distinct experience compared to a retreat conducted in light. In the solitude of darkness, you are in the company of only your thoughts, with no external distractions.

For those without a regular practice, the experience can become challenging, potentially leading to boredom or idle daydreaming. On the other hand, for individuals with a solid foundation in meditation seeking to delve deeper, a dark retreat provides an extraordinary environment for profound exploration.

The feedback we have received from our guests, who have spent anywhere from three days to three months in our dark retreat, has been consistently remarkable and noteworthy.

The Dark Retreat is open to meditators from various backgrounds, yet due to its intensity, it is best suited for those with some experience in meditation and prior retreat participation. Ideally, participants should have a solid foundation in daily meditation practice, particularly for retreats extending beyond three days.

This immersive experience is intended for individuals ready to engage in deep, undisturbed meditation over multiple days.

However, we advise caution and generally do not recommend this retreat for those with a significant history of mental illness, addiction, or chronic physical illness. Our goal is to ensure a safe and enriching experience for every participant.

Check-in is 3pm and check-out is 10am. On your last day, we will knock on your door just before sunrise, to support you in easing your transition out of the Dark Room.

Food is not included.

On request, we can provide two vegan meals per day (breakfast and dinner) for a cost of 180 pesos (MXN) each.

Meals are provided in coordination with our neighbor, Hridaya Yoga, and must be arranged with us in advance. Meals are nonrefundable and nontransferable. This is the only food option we provide,

NOTE: Hridaya does not cater to specific dietary requirements, allergies, or food intolerances. We serve simple, fresh, vegan meals. If you have specific needs, we strongly recommend you arrange your own food

You may also fast or bring your own food (non-perishables only, as there is no refrigerator). Other arrangements must be made on your own.

Meals are available 1- 3 times a day and delivered through the light isolated box on the wall.

The cost of the retreat will depend on your length of stay. Visit our website for current pricing information and availability: www.arigalan.com/booking

At times, guests may feel the inclination to conclude their Dark Retreat earlier than initially planned. This decision might arise for various reasons: a sense of having fulfilled the retreat's purpose, the intensity of the experience exceeding expectations, or perhaps an overly ambitious initial booking that exceeds personal limits, among other factors.

While it's not common for participants to exit their retreat prematurely, it does occur. The retreat rooms are secured from the inside, allowing guests the freedom to leave whenever they choose. Should you decide to end your dark retreat ahead of schedule, we offer the option to stay in one of our alternative accommodations for the remaining days at an additional cost. Please note, however, that we do not provide refunds or compensation for the unused portion of your dark retreat.

We have a policy that prohibits fasting for more than three days within the retreat, and this applies even to those who are experienced in fasting.

Feedback from guests who have attempted fasting during their stay has consistently indicated that fasting in the dark, devoid of distractions, is significantly more challenging than a typical fast in a regular environment.