Terms and Conditions | Baja

Please take a moment to thoroughly read the terms and conditions for this trip.

The Art of Memoir
Crafting Compelling, Vivid, True Life Stories
May 14 - 22, 2027
lauradavis.net/baja

Because of the complexity of the travel environment and continually changing regulations, The Writer’s Journey LLC, Laura Davis, Brinn Rawles, and their agents, associates, or other cooperating agencies (hereafter "The Writer's Journey LLC" or “TWJ”) strongly recommend that you work directly with a trusted travel agent. Please refer to Travel Insurance section of this document for more information.

Payments, Cancellations and Refunds

Cost: $3,500 per person in a double-occupancy room; $4,000 for a single occupancy room with shared bathroom; $4,500 for a single occupancy room with a private bath; $5,500 for a premium single with a sitting area, kitchenette, and the best views.

Deposit: $1,000 non-refundable deposit is due for a double; $1,500 non-refundable deposit is due for a single.

Payment Schedule: The deposit is due at registration. The remaining balance will be due December 15, 2026.

Roommates: If you sign up for a double room without having a roommate in mind, we will try to pair you up with someone. If we can’t find someone, you will be automatically upgraded to a single and you will need to pay the price difference.

Size of Trip: This is an intimate vacation with a minimum of 10 travelers and total of 14.

Price Includes:

Eight nights of accommodation at Casa Verde, an intimate boutique hotel set directly on the shores of the Sea of Cortez
Exclusive use of the entire property, including indoor and outdoor workshop spaces, lush gardens, shaded palapas, oceanfront lounging areas, a private beach deck, fire pit, and traditional Mexican temazcal
All meals prepared by a Michelin-star chef
Morning smoothies, complimentary coffee, tea, filtered water, and non-alcoholic beverages throughout the retreat
A rich curriculum of writing workshops, craft lessons in a thoughtfully curated program led by 7-time author and award-winning memoir writer, Laura Davis
Morning yoga classes
A half-day snorkeling excursion to the spectacular island of Isla Cerralvo
A guided hike through the majestic Cardón cactus forest and along the dramatic ocean bluffs of Punta Gorda
A deeply restorative sound bath with a local practitioner
Private transportation for all scheduled group excursions and activities
English-speaking guide or host for all planned outings
Tips for shuttle drivers and boat crew
Round-trip airport transfers between Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) and Casa Verde at designated arrival and departure times
Extensive pre-trip information
A copy of Laura's memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars
A wonderful community of creative, adventurous fellow travelers, with multiple opportunities for deep relaxation, personal insight, intimacy, learning, adventure, and joy
Inspiring opportunities to write in beautiful natural settings throughout the retreat

Not Included:

Airfare to and from Los Cabos International Airport (SJD)
Travel and medical insurance (required)
Transfers to and from the airport if you arrive or depart outside of our designated window
Alcoholic beverages (no alcohol will be served on site, though several excellent restaurants and bars are within walking distance)
Additional snacks and private taxi transportation
Gratuities for hotel and support staff (tipping is customary in Mexico)
Cost of massages should you decide to indulge
Personal expenses, including souvenirs, phone calls, laundry service, any additional purchases, and additional gratuities made during your stay
Optional activities not included above

Cancellations and Refunds: The initial non-refundable deposit will be forfeited in all cases. Any cancellation made after December 15, 2026 will result in a total loss of all monies received and there will be no refunds. Exceptions to this cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including personal emergencies. Travel protection insurance will provide your only option for recouping your investment in the trip.

This is an intimate vacation, limited to 14 people, with a minimum of 10. If the minimum number is not met, you will receive a full refund. The Writer’s Journey LLC will not be responsible for any additional expenses incurred, such as nonrefundable airline tickets, hotel bookings, or passport fees.

Please do not purchase airline tickets until we have informed you that the minimum number of participants has been met.

There will be no refunds for leaving the retreat early or arriving late. Further, there are no refunds for any part of the program that you do not attend or participate in.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance is required for this trip. At a minimum, you need insurance to cover the standard $1,000,000 medical evacuation coverage, trip cancellation, trip interruption and trip delay coverage, $100,000 in medical coverage including hospitalization, and coverage that will cover you should you need to quarantine.

The add-on travel insurance offered when you buy your airline tickets will not be sufficient. Nor will the travel policies that may be included in your credit card benefits—these may not be adequate or provide everything you need.

It’s essential that you do your own due diligence because policy provisions vary by company, state, and depend on your age, and sometimes pre-existing conditions. You can have a travel agent arrange for your insurance or you can do your own research—but do your research.

Do not purchase your airline tickets until we inform you that we've reached the minimum number for this trip.

We encourage you to book your flights with our recommended travel agent, Linda Schwedock, so arrival times, departure times, and ground transportation can be coordinated. Linda can also help you if you want to arrive sooner, leave later, or add other destinations into your itinerary. If you need assistance, she will be able to help you purchase the required travel insurance for this trip.

Linda Schwedock
Pacific Harbor Travel
Santa Cruz, CA
1-800-435-9463
linda@pacificharbortravel.com

Linda is in her office on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. (She’s on Pacific Time.) If she is not available, one of her colleagues will be able to help you.

These are some of the questions you’ll want ask regarding travel insurance:

Under what circumstances can I cancel my trip and have it be fully refunded?
(If 70 or older) Do you cover travelers 70 and older?
What about my pre-existing conditions? What do I need to know?
Will the insurer refund the full cost of my trip and all travel costs if I have come down with a communicable disease before I embark? What documentation and evidence are necessary to claim this benefit?
What if I get a communicable disease on the trip and need to leave the trip or pay for additional lodging or other costs? What will and won’t be covered?
What if a country I am traveling to, through, or from changes their communicable disease policies immediately before or during my trip?

Also, important to note:

In most instances, insurance MUST be purchased within 14 days of your first booking date if you want the pre-existing exclusion to be waived.
Your initial deposit for this trip is not refundable. After December 15, 2026, the only refunds offered for this trip will be through travel insurance. Trip protection insurance is the best way to protect your investment. Be sure you understand what your insurance will and won’t cover.
Be sure to remain flexible with your travel arrangements. You should have the ability to change or cancel your hotel and airline reservations if needed. Special internet deals, promotional airfares, or reservations from discounted online travel engines will not be appropriate.
Cancel-for-any-reason or interrupt-for-any-reason insurance is also available, but is significantly more expensive.

Force Majeure

“Force Majeure” means any event or circumstance beyond The Writer's Journey LLC's (“TWJ”) reasonable control that prevents, hinders, or makes inadvisable the safe or planned operation of the retreat, including but not limited to: war, invasion, act of foreign enemies, hostilities (declared or not), terrorism or threat of terrorism, civil unrest, riot, or insurrection; natural disaster, earthquake, volcanic eruption, tsunami, flood, fire, or severe weather; epidemic, pandemic, or other public health emergency; government action, including travel advisories, border closures, entry restrictions, quarantine requirements, or denial or revocation of permits; failure or unavailability of transportation, accommodations, or other third-party suppliers; and any other event of a similar nature outside TWJ's reasonable control.

If TWJ cancels before departure due to Force Majeure: TWJ may cancel, postpone, relocate, or modify the retreat in its sole discretion. In that case, TWJ will refund you, in cash, the amount you paid to TWJ, less your pro-rata share of Retreat Costs.

“Retreat Costs” means all amounts TWJ has paid, or is contractually obligated to pay, to venues, hotels, retreat partners, guides, ground transportation providers, insurers, advertising vendors, and staff or assistants in connection with the retreat — regardless of whether those amounts have already been invoiced or paid, and regardless of when payment is due. This includes non-refundable deposits, minimum attendee or room-night guarantees, attrition fees, and cancellation penalties that TWJ remains obligated to pay under its vendor agreements even though the retreat did not take place.

Your pro-rata share is calculated by dividing total Retreat Costs by the number of registered participants. In no event will your pro-rata share exceed the total amount you paid to TWJ.

TWJ will provide you with a written accounting of Retreat Costs along with your refund. If the final amount TWJ owes a vendor is not yet known at the time of cancellation (for example, because an attrition fee won't be finalized until later), TWJ will issue a good-faith estimated refund first and true up — issuing any additional refund due, or, in TWJ's discretion, allocating the same pro-rata principle to any later-finalized cost — once the final figure is known. If TWJ later recovers any portion of these costs from a vendor, TWJ will pass along your pro-rata share of that recovery within a reasonable time.

If a Force Majeure event occurs after departure: TWJ may alter the itinerary, relocate activities, shorten the program, or take any other action TWJ reasonably believes necessary to protect participant safety. No refund will be due for any unused portion of the retreat affected by a Force Majeure event occurring after departure, except at TWJ's sole discretion.

Limitation of liability: TWJ will not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under this agreement, nor for any loss, damage, delay, additional expense, or inconvenience caused directly or indirectly by a Force Majeure event. This provision is in addition to, and does not limit, the Release of Liability and Assumption of All Risks provisions elsewhere in this agreement.

Insurance: Participants are strongly encouraged to obtain “Cancel for Any Reason” travel insurance, as described in the Travel Insurance section. This clause governs only TWJ's obligations to you; it does not protect your non-TWJ costs (airfare, visas, etc.), and the refund described above, net of TWJ's costs, is not a substitute for your own travel insurance.

Authorization and Release for the Use of Photographic Images and Video

I hereby grant to The Writer’s Journey LLC and its agents, officials, representatives, or assigned agencies, including officers, employees, or related personnel both individually and collectively (the “Released Party”) the absolute and irrevocable right and unrestricted permission in respect of photographic portraits, videos or pictures that the Released Party had taken of me (the “Photographic Images”), whether individually or together with one another and/or other individuals and the content of any verbal or written statements made by me and used in connection with such Photographic Images, in the name of the Released Party or otherwise.

I further grant to Released Party the absolute and irrevocable right to use, re-use, publish and re-publish the Photographic Images in whole or in part, individually or in conjunction with other photographic images, and in art, editorials, advertising and trade, or any other purpose whatsoever including, without limitation, the promotion of any websites or brands owned or operated by the Released Party without restriction as to alteration; by any medium or channel including but not limited to television, radio, newspaper or other periodical, Internet, or any other means whether electronic or otherwise; and to use my name, location, profession, and/or any other identifying or potentially identifying information in connection therewith if the Released Party so chooses.

I hereby release and discharge the Released Party from any and all claims and demands arising out of or in connection with the use of the Photographic Images, including without limitation any and all claims for libel, invasion of privacy, or false light, and from any and all liability for damages of whatever kind, which may, at any time, result to me, my heirs, legal representatives, and assigns because of compliance with this Authorization and Release.

This Authorization and Release shall also inure to the benefit of the heirs, legal representatives, licensees, and assigns of the Photographer, as well as the persons for whom s/he took the Photographic Images.

I have read the foregoing and fully understand the contents thereof. This Authorization and Release shall be binding upon me, my heirs, legal representatives, and assigns.

Assumption of All Risks

You acknowledge that you have voluntarily applied to participate in the retreat designated above. You are voluntarily participating in the retreat with knowledge that travel involves numerous risks and dangers including, but not limited to, a risk of illness, injury or death, which may be caused by: forces of nature, civil unrest, terrorism, road conditions, injuries inflicted by animals, insects, reptiles or plants, trails, hotels, vehicles, boats or other means of conveyance; high altitude accident, accident or illness without access to means of rapid evacuation or the availability of medical supplies; and the lack of adequacy of medical attention once provided. You assume the risk of negligence on the part of The Writer’s Journey, Laura Davis, Brinn Rawles, their affiliated organizations and their employees, teachers, volunteers or other agencies in connection with said retreat.

Release of Liability

AS LAWFUL CONSIDERATION for being permitted by The Writer’s Journey LLC, Laura Davis, and Danu Enterprise, to participate in such retreat and accompanying activities, I hereby agree that I, my heirs, legal representatives or any member of my family will not make a claim against or sue The Writer’s Journey LLC, Laura Davis, Danu Enterprise, or any of their affiliated agents, employees, teachers or volunteers, for bodily injury, death, emotional trauma or property damage resulting from my participation in the retreat.

The Writer’s Journey LLC and Danu Enterprise shall not be liable, directly or indirectly, for bodily injury or property damage for any reason whatsoever, including, but not limited to the following causes: acts of God, pandemics, epidemics, detention, annoyance, weather, quarantines, strikes, civil disturbance, theft, negligence including negligence of Laura Davis, default, changes in government regulations, terrorism, war or failure of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled.

I therefore release and discharge The Writer’s Journey LLC, Laura Davis, Brinn Rawles, and their agents, employees, teachers and volunteers from and against any and all liability arising from my participation in the retreat even though that liability may arise out of negligence or carelessness on the part of The Writer’s Journey, Laura Davis, or their affiliate agents, employees, teachers or volunteers.

If any portion of this agreement is unenforceable, the remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect. Under no circumstances shall The Writer’s Journey LLC and its agents be liable to any retreat participant for more than the land cost of the retreat applied for on this document. I waive any charge-back rights and, in the event of dispute, requests for a refund will be made using the procedures described under the “Cancellation and Refunds” section above. All applications are subject to acceptance by The Writer’s Journey LLC. Upon acceptance of my application, this agreement shall be deemed to have been entered into at Santa Cruz, California and shall be construed according to the laws of the State of California. In the unlikely event a legal dispute should arise involving any subject matter whatsoever, I agree that the exclusive venue for any legal action shall be Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, California.

By registering for this trip, you hereby accept the above terms and conditions.

Dated July 1, 2026