Yelapa convergence 2026 - you're invited!

what's happening?

We're aiming for the best of both worlds: you do whatever you want to do (or just relax) on your vacation; we provide some bonus meals and entertainment to choose from; and there are other cool people to do things with if you like.

Two shared hangout spaces have been reserved for an entire week, plus the weekends on either end, for all guests to use. One has a pool, and the other one is right by the cove, closer to the town pier and restaurants. Both houses are centrally located with great views, and both will be stocked with coffee, tea, some snacks, seltzer, beer, and margarita ingredients, as well as a few games. If you feel like it during the day you can go to either place to meet up with people before a meal or activity, or to dip in the pool or play a round of Fluxx or just enjoy a change of scenery. 



These shared houses feature some sleeping quarters that we are offering to guests at a steeply discounted sliding-scale flat rate - some of them starting as low as zero dollars. If you are open to sharing common areas with other guests, one of these might be perfect for you.

• There are a handful of king bedrooms with a/c, ceiling fans, and ocean views, and
• there are also a few semi-private loft-style or suite-style sleeping areas with queen beds.

If you'd like to know more about the rooms we've set aside for guests, get in touch and we can send you photos and more information.



There'll be at least one optional activity or gathering every day we're there, as well as an optional suggested place to meet up for dinner and/or brunch. Join in those if you're in the mood for it, or do your own thing.  And if you or other guests want to invite the rest of us to meet up for a swim or walk or kayaking or yoga or whatever, or host a sunset toast or jam session or games night at your place or one of the shared hangout spaces, we can help with getting the word out.



We'll host a festive dinner on the main celebration weekend, and will treat everyone who's around on the previous weekend to a meal as well.  Depending on what people are interested in, we'll arrange for some other entertainment too, possibly a boat trip with whale watching or snorkeling opportunities, or whatever else seems most appealing.



Again, it's all optional. We'll only ask for firm RSVPs in advance for events and places that cost us a non-trivial sum to provide (e.g. catered meals, entertainment that involves hiring a boat or buying tickets in advance, or housing we have reserved) or that significantly affect other guests' plans (e.g. claiming one of the subsidized bedrooms we set aside for guests).

• who's coming?

where's the party?

Yelapa, Jalisco, Mexico, is a rustic car-free village about 30-40 minutes from Puerto Vallarta by boat. To get there, fly to PVR, take a cab or bus to Los Muertos pier or Boca de Tomatlán, and catch a water taxi to Yelapa. Once you're in Yelapa, everything is in walking distance, though there are ATV taxis if you're in a hurry or not inclined to walk.

For nature and wildlife lovers, Yelapa is fantastic, especially in the spring, with amazing birds and flowers all over, and sometimes even sightings of whales, dolphins, and manta rays from shore, or enlivening the water taxi ride from Vallarta. It would take too long for us to list all the species we regularly see there, but we can send you a list or a link if you're interested, and there will be more information on a website later.

Yelapa is part of a land grant comunidad indigena, collectively owned by five indigenous families for many generations, so while foreigners and people from other parts of Mexico may hold long-term leases to operate businesses in Yelapa, all of the land in Yelapa is under the stewardship of native Yelapenses. The local culture is an interesting blend, heavily influenced by those five founding families and a sprinkling of bohemian expats from the west coast of the U.S. and Canada.

Mexico in general is a feast for the senses, especially the taste buds, and for a small town, Yelapa has more than its share of decent restaurants. If you like Mexican food or seafood you will have a great abundance of places to choose from, and there are also plenty of vegetarian and vegan meal options as well as a variety of non-Mexican cuisine.

High temperatures in March usually reach the mid-80s F during the day and lows at night tend to be in the 60s with a breeze. The water in the bay is usually warm enough for swimming year-round, and most of the town is on the north-facing side of the cove so it's easy to limit sun exposure if desired.

Popular activities include hiking, swimming, snorkeling, paragliding, parasailing, kayaking, boat excursions on the bay, yoga classes, Spanish language classes, writers' groups, massage, singalongs and jam sessions, and dancing, among other things. Or if those sound too intense, there's always the option to chill in a hammock and read a book, or just listen to the ocean.

Yelapa is not everyone's cup of tea - it's rustic, there's a lot of walking, there aren't a lot of cultural sites to visit or nightlife opportunities (though March is high season), and the beach is perfectly fine for sunning and swimming but not pristine white sand.  But we love it there, as do a growing number of our friends, and if you decide to check it out we hope you will too.

• when?

why?

We love hanging out with you.

We love Yelapa.

We'd especially love hanging out with you (again) in Yelapa.

When we held a party for our 10th anniversary and S's 50th birthday in 2020, just in the nick of time before lockdown began, we thought it was a once-per-decade thing, but we had so much fun that by popular demand we did another one in 2022 - with shorter notice and a few more logistical challenges due to COVID-19 uncertainties. Everyone at that one agreed we should do it again in 2024, and this time we're able to provide more advance notice as well as a 2nd hangout space and more bedrooms. 

We've really enjoyed seeing friends who met at the 2020 Full Moon Fiesta and the 2022 Convergence hit it off and stay in touch, and look forward to more new connections forming and old friendships deepening at the 2024 convergence.

• FAQ / particulars