SirenSeason
And this is you.
Everyone you know is scraping ice off a windshield in the dark. You? You wake up in an open-air treehouse with jungle mist in your hair, flow through sunrise yoga in a bamboo dome, and spend an afternoon on Samaná Bay while humpback whales sing beneath your feet. Actual whales. Actually singing.
Shelley and Sam co-lead this one — and when the two of us hold space together, the magic gets loud. We bring it to the wellspring of DDY Travels: a hidden jungle treehouse village strung together with rope bridges, where we hold a container for magic, renewal, and the kind of laughter that echoes through a canopy.
The whales are the sirens.
So are we.
Every January, thousands of humpback whales return to Samaná Bay to sing, birth, and be loud about it. Sound familiar? We will be on the water for the first days of whale season — and our closing water ceremony at the ocean’s edge is timed to their arrival. You will come home with their song in your body.
Everyone is welcome here. The matriarchy is simply in charge.
The Itinerary
Every day braids practice, ceremony and adventure — with generous space to swim, hammock, and simply be.
Day 1 — Arrive + Ignite
Land in Santo Domingo, ride together into the jungle, claim your treehouse, and gather for the opening fire ceremony. The container is set.
Day 2 — Earth + Air
Sunrise practice in the jungle dome, cacao ceremony amongst the cacao trees, and an afternoon to swim, rest, or fly the highest-rated zipline in the Dominican Republic.
Day 3 — Water
A boat on Samaná Bay among the humpbacks, beach time on sand most tourists never find, and fresh fish cooked over fire.
Day 4 — Integration
Slow morning practice, free hours to wander or do gloriously little, and our water ceremony at the edge of the ocean as the sun drops.
Day 5 — Carry It Home
One last sunrise in the canopy, closing circle, and the ride back to Santo Domingo — louder than you arrived.
Shelley + Sam
Shelley Carroll has taught yoga since 2010 — across six continents, hundreds of teacher trainings, and rooms that range from Atlanta studios to desert camps and Croatian yachts. Her teaching weaves the five elements through everything: strong practice, honest ritual, and a firm belief that yoga and liberation are the same work. Samaná is where her retreat story began.
Sam Kim teaches an alignment-focused practice built for all bodies — mindful movement matched to breath, with options for every student to meet themselves exactly where they are. A dancer and lifelong lover of myth, she makes room for archetypes, the ethereal divine, and a little magic. Her classes are rooted in compassion, inclusivity, and joy.
Together, we hold rooms that are equal parts depth and delight. Two teachers means someone is always reading the room — and someone is always stoking the fire.
Sleep in the canopy
Open-air treehouses in a hidden jungle village, connected by rope bridges, cooled by ceiling fans and jungle night air. Birdsong replaces your alarm. We trade wifi for whale song, on purpose.
Rooms for every budget — solo nests, shared doubles, and one triple for a trio of brave hearts. Live availability and pricing are in the booking window below.
What’s included
- 4 nights in an open-air jungle treehouse
- Daily yoga + meditation with Shelley & Sam
- Opening fire ceremony · cacao ceremony · water ceremony
- Whale-watching boat on Samaná Bay
- The highest-rated zipline in the DR
- Every meal, cooked with love
- Round-trip group transport from SDQ airport
Plan for
- Flights to Santo Domingo (SDQ) — arrive by 3pm Jan 14
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Tips + treasures from local makers
- An open heart and a loud laugh
Claim your room
Early bird pricing ends October 31 — every room rises $200 on November 1. Eight rooms. That is the whole retreat.
- You have been craving warmth in the dead of winter
- You want ritual with teeth — from teachers who are pro-woman, queer-celebrating, and allergic to wellness-industry beige
- You would rather wake to birdsong than notifications
- You are coming solo and plan to leave with chosen family
Questions, answered
How do I get there?
Fly into Santo Domingo (SDQ) and arrive by 3:00pm on January 14. Round-trip group transport between SDQ and the retreat is included — you land, we handle the rest.
Do I need to be “good at yoga”?
All bodies, all levels, always. Every practice offers options, and Sam is famous for making alignment feel like an invitation instead of a test.
I’m coming solo — is that normal?
Most of our travelers come solo. You will arrive as a stranger and leave with chosen family — it is kind of our whole thing.
What are the rooms like?
Open-air treehouses with ceiling fans, mosquito nets, and the jungle as your soundtrack. Choose a solo nest, a shared double, or the triple. Live availability is in the booking window above.
Is there a payment plan?
Yes — reserve with a $500 deposit and pay the balance in installments through WeTravel. Final payment is due December 15, 2026.
What if I need to cancel?
Our full cancellation policy is in the booking terms you sign at checkout. We strongly recommend travel insurance for the what-ifs.
Is this retreat queer-friendly?
Emphatically yes. DDY Travels is unapologetically feminist and queer-celebrating. Everyone is welcome here — the matriarchy is simply in charge.
Will I have wifi?
We trade wifi for whale song, on purpose. There is enough signal to check in with home — and enough jungle to forget you wanted to.
Siren Season
The sirens are calling. Answer.
Jan 14–18, 2027 // Samaná, Dominican Republic // 4 nights // 8 rooms