Casa Verde Raw Yoga Hiking Retreat
Butterfly Road, Mindo Ecuador
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#2 of 20 lodges in Mindo
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Upscale Raw Food, Ashtanga Yoga, Hiking Retreats in the Cloud Forest of Ecuador. Search "Wendy Green Yoga" for more info.
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Property amenities
Free breakfast
Hiking
Airport transportation
Massage
Laundry service
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Hidden Gem
Green
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124Reviews4Q+A15Room tips
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Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
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+1
Wendy is an amazing yoga instructor and an incredible host. Sharing her knowledge in all things. Diet/exercise and most of all, REST!! All of my needs were met on this retreat and I wanted for nothing. Beautiful accommodations and the most amazing food. I have always wanted to try a Vegan diet and I feel I was very successful:) Wendy's dogs Masey, Luna and Darla were also a welcome treat and made me feel right at home! I can't say enough great things about this retreat except you MUST try it for yourself. I came out more centered, relaxed and stronger in my yoga practice. If you need peace and quiet and a slower non-city break definitely book this retreat:) Wendy - You will be a lifelong friend, I hope to return to your beautiful oasis one day:)
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
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Room Tip: When you receive the packing list. TRUST the packing list!!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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+1
What. An. Amazing. Experience. Staying at Casa Verde is something my partner and I will never forget. The nature surrounding you, the colorful flora and birds, the sound of the cloud forest. The peace. The stillness. The host! Wendy is such a beautiful spirit, who has created such a beautiful safe, sacred space. She is so attentive, caring and loving. You can tell that she wants the best for you while on vacation or your reset. She responded to any questions that we had in an extremely timely manner and went above and beyond to give recommendations. The yoga is top notch. She is a wonderful yoga instructor and meets you where you’re at! We did the half day retreat (highly recommend) and it was so rejuvenating. The food… don’t miss out on the breakfast. That’s all I can say! The attention to detail throughout Casa Verde is so special. You can truly feel the love. We can not wait to come back!!!! STAY HERE…
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
I recently had the opportunity to stay at the Casa Verde during my trip to Mindo, and I'm still awestruck by the amazing experience I had. The host, Wendy, has created much more than a place to sleep. It's a haven that envelopes you in tropical hillsides and forests while providing modern comforts and unforgettable views and experiences. Wendy is genuine in her desire for her guests to have a great time and her passion is evident in the experiences that she provides, like jungle hikes and breakfasts filled with local ingredients are excellent. I would also recommend a yoga lesson, it was my first and the way she teaches adds an extra layer of serenity and comfort to what I thought would be difficult. Mindo is a special place, a little hole-in-the-wall you're lucky to discover. You'll be even more impressed if you end up staying here, nothing but good things to say. Well, I do have one tip, bring bug spray. It is in the cloud forest after all.…
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Wendy Green, Owner at Casa Verde Raw Yoga Hiking Retreat
Responded 26 Aug 2023
Thank You Reed for your wonderful review. You and Justin were lovely guests, an absolute pleasure to host, I don’t know who loves plants more, you or me? ! I guess it’s a tie! I welcome you both back again and again!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
wonderful place, peaceful, quite. located in cloud forest. there is everything you need to comfortable stay and even more:) Wendy is a great host, very helpful, she also an experienced Yoga teacher! I reality loved it! highly recommend!!!
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
UPDATED REVIEW: Less than one week after posting my review Wendy messaged me directly trying to negotiate me taking down my post. After some serious consideration, I decided that while I would definitely appreciate the additional $600.00 refund she was offering, it was more important to have my honest experience available to those considering traveling internationally for this retreat. Wendy followed up with me directly in WhatsApp after she read the review. Initially, she didn’t offer a refund or an apology, she started a fight with me and said it was my fault I didn’t have a good experience. After 30 minutes of her continuing to message me, despite me asking her to stop more than once, she offered to pay me a refund amount that I thought would be fair to take it down. Original review is below: While I think this retreat could be the right pick for some, it was not the right fit for me. I live an active lifestyle with a healthy diet, so weight loss wasn’t the draw for me. I will note that I had been caring for my father with severe dementia for about a year and some of my better cooking and dieting habits had fallen to the wayside and my yoga practices had become more sporadic. I was looking for a digital and city detox that would be centered around hiking and yoga with some healthy delicious food. I was the only one booked for the 8-day retreat and I booked the Orchid Cabin (separate from the main house.) I left after the third night/fourth day. Here's what went well: - The food and smoothies were delicious and healthy! - The nature and property were perfect and well thought out. - Cannot stress how lovely the amenities are. So well done. - The dogs are adorable. - Wendy’s housekeeper is super sweet. - The yoga area is out of this world gorgeous. - Wendy gave me some good recommendations for activities, hiking, hostels and helped arrange for my return to Quito even after I left. Here’s what didn’t go so well: - I think there are very poor boundaries operating here. I constantly felt like I had to reinforce mine. Before I even arrived to Casa Verde, Wendy asked that I bring her some personal products she couldn’t obtain in Ecuador. I thought this was a little unprofessional, but I understand living abroad and want to support women, small businesses and be helpful to anyone hosting me, so I agreed and stuck this stuff into my one carryon bag I packed for the week. - Before I got to Ecuador, Wendy said she realized I would need access to my phone for my dad. I thanked her for understanding and told her I didn't plan on being online for emails or any social media, but that yes, I would need to be reachable for my dad. No one else cares for him and I am not married. I had to hire a caretaker while I was away. When I arrived, I asked for the Wi-Fi, and Wendy said, can you really not make it 24 hours? Again- boundaries here. No! I can't. If something happens to him, I need to know. Why is this coming into question??? - The yoga practice/teaching situation wasn’t consistent. - When someone local wasn’t joining our sessions, Wendy would set up her mat next to mine (not in front of) and would practice an Ashtanga-type series next to me, often not cuing what was next. The problem with this is, I wanted to get private instruction in Ashtanga and when I arrived, I didn’t have the series memorized. - Further, Wendy doesn’t teach a strict, by-the-book Ashtanga series practice, so even without my memorization of the book practice, you can see how a lack of visual or verbal cues might hinder one. - When I confronted her about this and asked her to cue me, she told me she was ‘just testing me’ and felt like I knew the stuff well enough to do it without cues. I asserted that I would appreciate cuing since I was paying for private instruction, and she became frustrated with me, saying that in Ashtanga, you were only allowed to go as far in the series as you could remember. Well, if that’s the case, I guess I should have studied before arriving! I wasn’t instructed to do so. Wendy told me I should be a better student which really confused me and hurt my feelings. I have been taking classes for over 10 years and some of my closest friends have been teachers of mine. - The classes weren’t always private, sometimes a local would join and we would accommodate their schedule and/or difficulty levels. - She oscillates between being hardcore about Ashtanga and then saying instead she just picks and chooses what is good and what isn’t. During one of my ‘classes’ she asked me to stand on one leg with my eyes closed to see how long I could stay there. She then did it for much longer than me and commented that I should be able to do it longer than her because of my age. I had to remind her that I broke that leg earlier in the year and was still rehabbing. - There’s a nickel and diming vibe going on here. Wendy insists you can’t pay her driver directly but that you must pay her, and she will give him a portion. A load of laundry (think carry-on only packing) cost 15.00 to have done at Wendy’s, which I ultimately didn’t end up needing since I left. I paid 4.00 in town for same-day wash/dry/fold. Wendy will ask you to look at her jewelry she has for sale and offer for a paid massage by her. Any activities she plans for you she will ask that you cover the cost of the taxi for the both of you. Wouldn’t it make more sense to just roll all this into the bulk cost? Just felt weird. Also, I would have loved to have been offered a free load of laundry for bringing her personal products in my small luggage especially since she admitted it costs 165.00 to ship a credit card to her location. - One of our activities was swimming in a pool near the river, but we weren’t officially allowed to be swimming there by the owner. Wendy knew the maintenance guy who was okay with it. The owner came while we were swimming, and this was extremely uncomfortable for me. - The food prep was often awkward. Wendy invites you to come help for dinner to learn methods and recipes. I was excited for this part; I love cooking and learning kitchen stuff. The first dinner together, Wendy made a pretty rude comment that took me aback. She was teaching me to spiralize zucchini and telling me the importance of fresh ingredients when she said “oh I know, you’re always too busy to manage the 15 minutes it takes to nourish yourself” in a very blasé mocking tone as she rolled her eyes. I corrected her that I had spent the last year of my life working full time, going to school, and being the primary caregiver of my demented and dying father. Bad start. She apologized and backed off a bit here. - You aren’t allowed in the kitchen, either, even when you’re helping. There are gates everywhere surrounding the kitchen that read STAFF ONLY. (Wendy and her housekeeper are the only staff) and you are asked to help prep things on this awkward peninsula that has an incline underneath it on the floor, making it difficult to chop or use the spiralizer close enough to the counter. - Wendy believes drinking during meals hinders digestion so you will need to wait an hour after meals to drink. Wendy also has some beliefs around proper chewing so you will be corrected several times during each meal. Additionally, you will have to ingest all smoothies/juices with a tiny spoon instead of straw, to slow the ingestion process. I didn’t care for these practices and don’t believe them to be science based at all, though I do agree slowing down ingestion is beneficial. One night the Vitamix stopped working while Wendy was preparing dinner and she said ‘she would have to blame the housekeeper for this because people in Ecuador didn’t appreciate how to handle expensive appliances.’ Eventually, the Vitamix got back to working - The hiking was beautiful but not as much a part of the retreat as I was hoping. It was about an hour a day and there were two options to join Wendy or her housekeeper to walk the dogs in the mornings and afternoons along a dirt road. Wendy leads the daily hike which is typically on her property and will ask you to step certain ways to avoid degrading her trails. She will tell you how much money she has put into them ($65,000.00) several times on these hikes. She will also tell you how much she recently spent to acquire the adjoining property. Much of the hike is devoted to talking about how the property was acquired and what goes into maintaining it. There were some nature tidbits. Overall, it just felt stressful and noisy. I would have preferred to hike alone in quiet without correction and instruction on how and where to walk. On the afternoon dog walks, Wendy asked me to help harness the pups, which is fine, but also doesn’t feel like a retreat, it feels more like going on a walk with a friend who is bossy. - Wendy is living the ECO life to a beyond-respectable degree. I would consider her to be radicalized to the cause and I say this in a positive way. This makes normal conversation difficult though. Making casual conversation is hard when someone is staunchly devoted to an alternative lifestyle because really any benign or banal thing, I tried to offer up was met with some level of disapproval (such as being a part of car culture.) This led to me ultimately shutting down and not wanting to talk about anything except for caring for my dad as that seemed to be the safest topic where no criticism could come. - I love running and was told I shouldn’t/couldn’t run during my time there. Running for health was criticized up and down by Wendy and I kept having to respectfully push back telling her that running was a huge passion and love of mine and it brought a lot of joy and benefit to my life. - There is a movie night type thing each evening that I found strange/not enjoyable. After dinner you can make tea and Wendy will select a few videos for you to watch alone. Some are about diets, or physical capabilities and yoga. Most are anecdotal and would be considered pseudoscience or junk science, IE The China Study which has been heavily debunked. My intent with this retreat was to relax and look inward and I expressed that I would rather use that time for reading or crafting. The video info wasn’t anything I found to be all that revolutionary or interesting and Wendy herself wasn’t even in the room with me to discuss the content, so what’s the big deal? - My biggest reason for departure was that I didn’t really feel considered personally. My circumstances, wishes, lifestyle, and preferences didn’t feel regarded at all. This became evident with some bug issues that arose. On the first day in yoga, there was a huge horsefly and I kept trying to evade it. Wendy insisted that none of the bugs would hurt me and to just keep doing yoga. Well, it bit me, hard! Then she corrected herself and killed it. The first night I went to shower I encountered a large spider party, and I had just left Wendy in the main house after movie night. I texted her to see if I could shower in the main house. She said she would come over. She got rid of the spider and told me, ‘she couldn’t promise there weren’t any spiders in her bathrooms.’ Okay, fine. The third night I discovered a tear in the screen in my bedroom after getting pretty chewed up by mosquitos. I then noticed a swarm of tiny bugs that were all over the ceilings. These hadn’t been present the other nights. I messaged Wendy to say that I would be sleeping in the upstairs part of the cabin due to these issues and just wanted to let her know about the screen so she could work to get it repaired the next day. She came right over and insisted that she had just repaired this very screen and how upsetting this was! She also told me I would be totally fine if I just turned off all the lights- that is what was attracting the bugs. She said she probably had them in her house too. Sure, maybe the small ones but I didn’t want to fight off mosquitos in bed all night. I told her I would be sleeping on the futon upstairs. She never offered to let me come into one of the THREE empty bedrooms that didn’t have compromised screens. I slept 2 hours tops that night and booked a hostel in town. I just felt so dismissed and invalidated the entire time. Not cared for, not safe, not relaxed, instead always on guard. - On my last day, Wendy told me she ‘knew I tried my best’ and that I ultimately couldn’t surrender. Here’s the deal- I can’t/won’t surrender to anyone or anything who continually proves to not consider my needs or feelings. Wendy did make some financial concessions with my departure despite her strict no refund policy. I appreciate this, but I think she could have been a lot fairer with the amount. I don’t make a lot of money and I have to incur a lot of extra costs with my dad’s care these days. It was very hard for me to financially justify this trip and I still can’t believe I paid 2300.00 directly to Wendy for this experience, that’s after what she was willing to reimburse me for, ($400.00 plus covering the driver to and from Quito with a small tour on the way back.) Airfare was $1000.00 and the hotel in Quito due to airline travel times was another $200.00 the cost of my remaining non-Wendy days (hostel/food/hiking, being around $350.00) So, after her discount it’s still $4050 for this week. I don’t regret the trip and I am still glad I went. I spent the rest of my time doing local hikes around waterfalls and in wildlife refuge areas which I LOVED. I think if you’re someone just setting out on your wellness journey, this might be a good starting point to become educated. You also must be able to let things roll off your back as a lot of insensitive comments are made about fatness and the American lifestyle. She isn’t delicate at all about her opinions. This feels more like a bootcamp, so if that’s what you want, I say go all in! I wanted MORE physical exertion and less proselytizing. It felt like being on eggshells and I felt caged. Overall, I felt like I had zero say in what my retreat should entail, and I felt like I was simply along the ride for the Wendy show, and I was there to bring her things, help with the dogs, and validate her life choices while disowning my values, beliefs and sense of comfort. …
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
My husband and I spent an absolutely wonderful day with Wendy in Mindo. She is an excellent yoga teacher, and her stunning property was the perfect place to hike waterfalls, explore the cloud forest, and relax. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a serene experience in Mindo!
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
I stayed at Casa Verde Raw Yoga Hiking Retreat in April, during the rainy season. I just want to say that I left there feeling refreshed, healthy, and rested. Wendy's property is a masterpiece of a natural refuge. She has around 13 acres of pristine cloud forest with hiking trails and private waterfalls. You fall asleep to the rain at night and have many bright sunny days this time of year. Her property is full of wildlife and gorgeous flowers. I saw large troupes of monkeys three times, hummingbirds, butterflies and the bird-watching rivels with the area birding reserves. I highly recommend visiting Wendy's retreat and nature reserve to get in touch with nature, breathe fresh air and do something truly healthy and healing for yourself.
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
I just stumbled across my little notebook from my retreat at Casa Verde. In it I had written some goals for when I would return home: do more yoga, eat raw food, speak more Spanish and be less critical. It has been several months since I returned home from my retreat and after a quick assessment I realized that I have been going to a Mysore class 5 days/week and a led primary series class one day/week. I have been eating raw food for 2 meals/day, smoothies for breakfast and power salads for lunch (even my husband loves the food and says he is less hungry than our previously healthy diet). I have been meeting with a native speaker by zoom weekly to practice Spanish. I'm still working on being less critical :-) I learned so much from Wendy and I'm so happy the retreat has had lasting effects on my lifestyle. I think this is an excellent retreat for anyone who wants to either start or deepen an existing ashtanga practice, change their diet and detox from technology. I enjoyed the quiet time in the afternoons, I'm usually running around during the day when I'm home, so to have the time alone with my thoughts to either just sit and enjoy nature, nap, color or read was very relaxing. The area has so much to offer nature lovers and the hummingbirds were a particular highlight for me, just magical. I am so grateful for the experience and thankful to Wendy for educating me and helping me make these changes which I expect to last a lifetime. …
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
There are so many good things to say about this retreat! Wendy curates the entire experience from beginning to end. She's a passionate teacher, and an amazing wealth of knowledge on many topics. The morning Ashtanga yoga practice is beautifully led, and for all levels of expertise. The food is a broad variety of smoothies and different types of raw food dishes, many of which she provides lessons on how to prepare. The property, yoga studio and accommodations are beautifully designed and well kept, and the additional activities offered are so much fun! I left inspired to continue a regular yoga practice, and to incorporate raw food into my diet, along with tons of other bits of knowledge. I highly recommend it!
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Date of stay: February 2023
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Room Tip: The private cabin is adjacent to the main building. Beautiful and well worth the upgrade.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Wendy Green, Owner at Casa Verde Raw Yoga Hiking Retreat
Responded 28 Feb 2023
Thanks so much Kristen for taking the time to write such a lovely review! It was my pleasure to take care of you this week and I look forward to seeing you again, next time 2 weeks? 🤗
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
One of my favourite yoga classes ever. It was so informative and personally tailored, but most importantly, so fun! I feel so inspired after just one class. I would have loved to have been able to spend longer here, so much to learn in such a gorgeous part of the world. Thanks Wendy🌿😊
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Wendy Green, Owner at Casa Verde Raw Yoga Hiking Retreat
Responded 26 Feb 2023
Thank you Emily!!! Wishing you all the best!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LOCATION
EcuadorPichincha ProvinceMindo
NUMBER OF ROOMS
3
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Claim Your ListingCASA VERDE RAW YOGA HIKING RETREAT: 2023 Reviews (Mindo, Ecuador) - Photos of Lodge - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Casa Verde Raw Yoga Hiking Retreat
Which popular attractions are close to Casa Verde Raw Yoga Hiking Retreat?
Nearby attractions include Nambilla Cascadas (0.9 km), Mindo Nambillo Cloud Forest Reserve (3.6 km), and Las Tangaras Reserve (Reserva las Tangaras) (2.3 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Casa Verde Raw Yoga Hiking Retreat?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, airport transportation, and laundry service.
What food & drink options are available at Casa Verde Raw Yoga Hiking Retreat?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Casa Verde Raw Yoga Hiking Retreat?
Conveniently located restaurants include Mishqui Quinde - Sweet Hummingbird, Persian House Resturante, and El Quetzal de Mindo.
Does Casa Verde Raw Yoga Hiking Retreat have airport transportation?
Yes, Casa Verde Raw Yoga Hiking Retreat offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.