4 Day Ultimate Handstand Retreat with Meditation, Strength Training, and Yoga in Ayampe, Ecuador
Yoga Handstand Retreat Ecuador
Ready to flip your world upside down, literally? Join the Ultimate Handstand Camp, an immersive four-day handstand retreat in Ecuador held at the stunning The BELL Center in Ayampe. Whether you have always dreamed of holding your first handstand or want to refine your balance and strength with expert guidance, this retreat blends focused handstand training with supportive movement practices designed to accelerate your progress. Over four days, you will explore a variety of sessions including handstand workshops, strength and mobility training, mindfulness meditation, Animal Flow, and Yin yoga, all carefully structured to prepare your body and mind for being upside down.
Meet the instructors
Highlights
- Handstand practice
- Animal Flow and Yin yoga
- Morning meditation sessions
- Guided movement and breathwork
- Opening and closing ceremonies
- Nourishing vegetarian meals
- 3 nights accommodation
Yoga styles
4 days with instruction in English
Average daily hours of activity: 7
Accommodation
Facilities
- Garden
- Yoga shala
You will be accommodated at the BELL Center, a brand new retreat center surrounded by rainforest and overlooking the ocean. Accommodations will be shared luxury dorms. Everyone will have their own bed, as well as space for privacy and to store belongings
Program
With step-by-step guidance from experienced teachers, you will practice exercises that build confidence, improve body awareness, and help you become comfortable in inversions. By the end of the retreat, you will have developed the strength, control, and understanding needed to move closer to holding a steady handstand, all while surrounded by the natural beauty of Ecuador’s Pacific coast.
Your instructor, Mario, is the ultimate handstand master! Born and raised in Ecuador, he is currently traveling throughout the country, teaching yoga, meditation, and a variety of movement practices. As a handstand master himself, he’s passionate about turning upside down and excited to accompany Handstand Camp participants on their very own journey toward doing a handstand.
Daily mindful schedule
For this retreat you have the opportunity to either stay full time at The BELL Center. You will start at 8:00 AM in the mornings with meditation, then proceed with further movement and mindfulness practices.
You will be served brunch around 11:00AM / 12:00 PM and have a chance to rest before the second part of the workshops in the afternoon. The class concludes around 3/4:00 PM.
Handstand practice
- Opening ceremony: Begin the retreat in a communal way with intention.
- Meditations in the mornings: Welcome the mornings in silence with a meditation practice.
- Guided movement and breathwork: After meditation, you will be led through mindful movement and breathwork to prepare the body and mind for the following practices of the day.
- Animal flow: Animal flow for strength and mobility.
- Yin yoga: Yin yoga elements to stretch and open the body.
- Handstand practice: Handstand practices to train and learn handstand.
- Closing ceremony with handstand: An (optional) handstand holding competition will complete the closing ceremony of this retreat.
This retreat is designed for anyone interested in learning how to do a handstand. Since the program is physically intense, it is recommended to bring a basic level of fitness and a willingness to move into this experience.
Animal Flow
Animal Flow is a ground-based movement practice that combines elements of yoga, breakdancing, and gymnastics, using dynamic, flowing movements to improve strength, flexibility, and mobility. It mimics animal movements, helping to enhance body control, coordination, and overall fitness. Head Teacher Kolin will show you some of his favorite animal moves!
Instructors
Kolin Purcell
Kolin first tried meditation 10 years ago while studying engineering at the University of Michigan, and was initially unimpressed. But he eventually decided to give it another try, so eight years of daily practice later, it became his life passion. His emphasis is on bringing the sometimes esoteric-feeling concepts of meditation to people in a relatable way. He then became the founder of a global mindfulness-based wellness program. And later, as a solo traveler on a journey around the world living in monasteries and attending retreats to better understand the ancient roots of meditation.
Mario Lemuriath
Mario Lemuriath is a yoga practitioner and movement teacher from Ecuador with a unique background shaped by over a decade of dedicated practice and teaching. As a former national b-boying champion, his path into movement began with discipline, exploration, and a deep refinement of body awareness and proprioception—elements that continue to inform his work today. With more than ten years of experience teaching flexibility, meditation, and various styles of yoga, Mario has developed a distinctive approach to handstand practice.
Retreat location
The Ultimate Handstand Camp takes place at The BELL Center, a beautiful mindfulness, yoga and surf retreat center located on the Pacific coast of Ecuador in the peaceful coastal village of Ayampe. Set amidst lush jungle with stunning views over the ocean, this location offers a serene and inspiring natural environment that supports both mindful practice and physical training. Participants enjoy tropical surroundings, ocean breezes and the laid-back charm of Ayampe while engaging in four days of handstand skill development, movement workshops and mindfulness sessions.
The BELL Center is located in a remote location, quite shielded from the happenings in the country. Airport transfer can be arranged from Guayaquil to make sure you arrive at the center safe and sound. General safety measures for traveling are always recommended. This includes:
- Not traveling at night.
- Arranging transport beforehand or using a safe taxi transport service.
- Not traveling with excessive valuables.
As long as you exercise basic caution while traveling, Ecuador is still a relatively safe place to visit.
This Yoga Retreat is vegetarian-friendly
Click to see more vegetarian-friendly Yoga Retreats
Food
There will be a nourishing vegetarian brunch every day around noon for the retreat participants. If you stay at the center, a light breakfast is also included before the start of the first session. Enjoy a mindful cup of tea twice a day during tea breaks or with any meal.
All the meals will be healthy, delicious, and vegetarian. But if you have other dietary requirements, just let the organizer know after you book.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
What's included
- 3 nights accommodation
- 4 nourishing vegetarian meals
- Unlimited access to water and a variety of tea
- Equipment
- Handstand shirt
- Small community vibes
- Opening ceremony
- Meditations in the mornings
- Guided movement and breathwork
- Animal Flow and Yin yoga
- Handstand practices
- Closing ceremony with handstand
What's not included
- Travel costs
- Airport transfer
- Travel insurance
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer not provided
José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport
115 km away from your destination
Transfer not provided
Eloy Alfaro International Airport
82 km away from your destination
Transfer not provided
Mariscal Sucre International Airport
322 km away from your destination
Arrival by car
Traveling by car from Guayaquil to Ayampe is straightforward and takes roughly 3.5 to 4 hours along Ecuador’s coastal highway. If you would like to navigate directly to the center, you can simply use Google Maps and follow the route to The BELL Center.
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Guayaquil International Airport (GYE) in Guayaquil, Ecuador. From the airport, you can continue your journey to Ayampe by bus or private taxi.
Guayaquil has been known for safety hazards, which is why it's recommended to arrive during the day or arrange transport straight to your accommodation in Guayaquil, if you are spending the night there. Transport can be arranged for the participants to the center, but travel is not recommended during the night, which is why you might have to spent the night in Guayaquil.
The closest airport to Ayampe is Manta, which is only 2 hours away. This is a smaller airport and only covers a few international airports. However, you can get an inland flight here from Quito or Guayaquil.
The 3rd option is to fly into Quito, the Capital of Ecuador. Please note though that this airport is over 9 hours away from Ayampe and you have to organize your own transport from there. Connecting flight to Manta is recommended.
Arrival by bus
From Guayaquil International Airport (GYE), walk or take a short taxi ride to the Terminal Terrestre bus terminal.
At the terminal, find the Cooperativa Libertad Peninsular ticket office and purchase a ticket to Olon. These buses are modern, comfortable, air-conditioned, and typically depart about once every hour. The ticket costs approximately 7 USD.
Once you arrive in Olon, continue to Ayampe by:
- Taxi (approximately 15 USD), or
- Any bus heading north to Ayampe (less than 2 USD).
The journey from Olon to Ayampe takes around 30 minutes.
Arrival by taxi
You can hire a private taxi from Guayaquil International Airport (GYE) directly to Ayampe. The trip costs approximately 100 USD. Once you reach Ayampe, contact the center and the team will arrange to pick you up.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 100% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
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