Creation & Transformation in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
Led by Alejandro Durán
April 25 - May 2, 2026
This seven-day immersive retreat takes place within the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve along Mexico’s Caribbean coast, and is led by artist Alejandro Durán. Participants will engage directly with his long-term project, Washed Up, and the Museo de la Basura, developed over more than fifteen years through site-based work in this landscape.
Centered on the creative act, the retreat invites participants to work alongside Durán through hands-on processes, including building, arranging, photographing, and writing. Working with materials found on site, including marine debris carried by ocean currents, participants will create temporary works in dialogue with their surroundings while helping leave the beach cleaner than they found it.
Through guided sessions and group conversation, participants will explore different ways of working with materials, scale, composition, and color, while gaining insight into Durán’s approach to making within this environment. Projects may be developed individually or collaboratively, including the potential for larger-scale, site-based works within the landscape.
As part of the experience, participants will take part in a guided boat excursion through the reserve’s lagoons and waterways, offering a broader view of the ecosystems, birdlife, and marine life that shape this unique landscape.
The experience culminates in a series of temporary installations and shared documentation of the work within the landscape.
No prior experience is required. This retreat is open to artists, non-artists, and anyone interested in engaging with the natural world and environmental issues through making and observation.
Retreat Center & Accommodations
Xo Ki’in is an off-grid, solar-powered retreat space located within the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. The setting is simple, open, and directly connected to the surrounding landscape, offering a rare opportunity to live and work within a protected coastal environment.
Accommodations are shared and designed to support a small, collective experience:
Shared rooms
Simple, nature-based living conditions
Meals are prepared daily using fresh ingredients. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.
The space operates in close relationship with the surrounding environment—rainwater is collected and used for daily needs such as bathing and washing, and energy is solar-powered.
Living at Xo Ki’in means being in close contact with the elements. This experience is best suited for those who are comfortable with warm weather, insects, and composting toilets. WiFi is available, though the retreat is designed to support a more focused and intentional relationship with technology.
Transportation
Transportation from Tulum to Xo Ki’in will be coordinated for all participants and includes a van transfer followed by a 40 minute boat ride into the reserve. The journey is part of the experience of entering this protected landscape.
Participants should plan to arrive in Tulum by late morning on the first day of the retreat and can expect to return to Tulum by midday on the final day. Exact travel details will be shared in advance.
Meet the Instructor
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Alejandro Durán
Alejandro is a Mexican American multidisciplinary artist, photographer, and filmmaker whose work explores ecology, consumption, and global systems through long-term, place-based practice. He is the founder of Washed Up, a project he has worked on for over fifteen years along Mexico’s Caribbean coast, within the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Working with plastic debris collected from the shoreline, Durán creates site-responsive installations that transform found materials into visually striking compositions embedded within the landscape. His work engages plastic debris as both evidence of global systems and a material for making, revealing how even remote environments are shaped by human consumption.
Durán’s practice bridges art, documentary, and education. He has led workshops and taught at institutions including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the International Center of Photography (ICP), and is currently developing field-based programs that connect creative practice with environmental awareness.
Through hands-on workshops and programs in museums, schools, and community spaces, he invites participants to engage directly with materials, place, and process. His work has been exhibited internationally and featured in books, magazines, and media platforms worldwide.
Accommodations & Rates
Spaces are limited. To join the retreat, please complete the application form.
Accepted participants will receive a confirmation email with next steps and payment instructions.
Pricing
Tuition: $2,300 USD
This retreat is offered at a single price that reflects the full cost of the experience, including accommodation, meals, transportation within the reserve, and all program activities.
A limited number of scholarships and partial scholarships are available. If cost is a barrier, you are welcome to share what you are able to contribute and any context you would like us to consider as part of your application.
What’s Included
7 nights accommodation (shared rooms)
All meals at Xo Ki’in Retreat Center
Transportation from Tulum (van + boat)
Boat excursion within the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
Instruction and all program activities
Payment & Cancellation Policy
A $500 USD deposit is required to reserve your place. The remaining balance is due 14 days prior to the retreat.
Deposits are non-refundable.
If you need to cancel:
Cancellations made more than 14 days before the retreat: you will not be charged the remaining balance.
Cancellations made within 14 days of the retreat: the full tuition is non-refundable.
If you are unable to attend, your spot may be transferred to another participant.
We understand that plans can change. Outside of this policy, exceptions are not guaranteed.
Questions
If you have any questions about the retreat or logistics, please contact:
studio@alejandroduran.com