Kolaval × Permatours

Bioconstruction & Community-Weaving Immersion
Chiapas, México - February 2026

Location: Kolaval Retreat Center, south of San Cristóbal de las Casas
Altitude: ~2.5 km above sea level
Landscape: Forested mountainside with sweeping valley views, terraced gardens, rain-catch water systems, and ongoing regenerative projects

Overview

In February 2026, Permatours will travel to Chiapas to co-create a bioconstruction workshop at Kolaval, a community and retreat center dedicated to earth-based living, cultural respect, wellness practices, and collective creativity. Over 10 days, participants will build a new structure using natural materials, share skills, and cultivate community on Indigenous land with deep care and reciprocity.

This immersion blends hands-on building, land-based learning, ceremony, wellness practices, creativity, and shared daily life. It’s designed for people who feel called to regenerate land, relationships, and inner life through embodied practice and collaborative creation.

Dates: Feb 18- 28

• Feb 12 – Setup crew arrives

• Feb 16 – Participants arrive

• Feb 17 – Opening + initiatory eclipse ceremony; begin the build

• Feb 18–28 – Building, workshops, teachings, surprises, celebrations, and community practices

• Feb 28 – Closing ceremony

• Mar 1 – Most participants return home

• Mar 1–3 – Cleanup crew

• Mar 3 – Lunar eclipse gratitude ceremony

• Mar 4–5 – Final completion & departures

Capacity: ~20 participants, with flexibility for people who coordinate in advance to come and go as appropriate.

The Build

Participants will help construct a new bioconstructed building guided by a Permatours-selected instructor and by Luz Elena, who brings more than 40 years of experience working with groups and a feng-shui–informed approach to design, landscaping, and architecture.

Materials:
Wood, on-site clay, sand, lime, pigment, straw, stone, and other natural or locally sourced materials. 

Workshops, Practices & Community Life

Alongside the bioconstruction training, people will engage in:

• Gratitude gatherings and community-building sessions

• Sound healing circles and rhythm journeys

• Sharing life stories, cultural exchange, art making, singing, and dance

• Qigong and wellness practices

• Talks from seasoned creators (1.5–2 hours each) on bioconstruction, creativity, community, and regenerative living

Kolaval’s ongoing projects will also be part of the learning environment: terraced gardens, water-flow design, water filtration, food-growing systems, path creation, and early visions for a sound temple, a dance temple, and future earth-based structures.

Food & Water

• Meals are vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free, with space for dietary needs submitted in advance.

• Participants are welcome to bring special foods and supplements.

• Drinking water is brought in from San Cristóbal.

• Bathing water is limited; bucket showers and solar/wood-heated water are available.

• Optional field trips to sauna, hot spring, or river sites (extra cost).

Health & Well-Being

Kolaval sits at high altitude, so cardiovascular readiness and personal wellness preparation are essential.
A community-care approach will be held throughout the immersion:

• Respecting each person’s health choices

• Encouraging strong immune support through rest, hydration, herbs, and good nutrition

• Offering space if someone becomes unwell

• Avoiding unsolicited advice while sharing knowledge in consent-based ways

Land, Culture & Respect

Kolaval is located on Indigenous land. Participants are asked to:

• Dress modestly in alignment with local norms (skirts or long pants are best)

• Avoid nudity or anything that may be disrespectful to neighboring communities

• Refrain from publicly sharing the exact location online

• Practice reciprocity and cultural humility

• Leave no trace: bring out what you bring in

Local people often use lard and meat in their cooking, and are generally open to vegan alternatives when shared with kindness and respect.

Logistics & Access

• Nearest airport: Tuxtla Gutiérrez

• From Tuxtla → shared van to San Cristóbal → caravan or pickup to Kolaval

• No Wi-Fi; cell service is intermittent but usually workable for calls

• Solar electricity is limited; solar phone chargers recommended

• 3 km from the nearest small store

• ~40 minutes from San Cristóbal’s gas station