Facilitators came back the next year.
With more people.
Palenque, Chiapas. We handle the food, the terraces, the transport, the guides, the ice, and the training. You handle the part nobody else can. And when something goes wrong, you're not calling a front desk. You're calling me.
Villas Adriana Wellness Village Palenque, Chiapas
You bring your people and your work. We handle the rest: meals, transport, local guides, excursions, temazcal, ice baths, and strength or breathwork sessions if you want them in your program.
Built for facilitators, coaches, and groups who'd rather teach than coordinate.
what people say about jose luis & apex human labs
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From the moment we arrived, the experience was incredible.
The place exudes a sense of peace and warmth from the very first moment; every corner is meticulously cared for. The rooms are very cozy and comfortable, making you feel right at home. I love how warm the lighting is in the rooms. The food is delicious; the homemade pizzas were my favorite!! But without a doubt, what makes this place even more special are its owners: they are incredibly kind and attentive. You can see the love and passion they put into every detail to ensure their guests have an unforgettable stay. Without a doubt, it's a place I would return to again and again. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking to relax, disconnect, and feel truly welcome
Lixi Marian
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AMAZING RETREAT AND STAY!!
I booked this retreat on another platform. I have never done any retreats before and I've never been to Chiapas although I've been to Mexico many times. When I booked, I did not know what to expect. And I have to say my mind has been blown by Jose Luis and his family. I was picked up at the airport right on time. The airport is about two hours away from the hotel. The hotel is boutique. I'm very simple. The rooms are clean. It is a nice pool, but the setting is absolute paradise. Every morning I walk to monkeys and birds. Jose had a routine for me every morning which includes breathing exercises, ice baths, circuit training and stretching. After that, all of my breakfast was included and excursions also
Joseph C
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I've only been training at Apex for two months, and the progress has been excellent
e instructor's technical skill is superb, and he's always attentive to correcting the details that make all the difference. I've significantly improved my guard game, and I know for sure that I want to continue practicing jiu-jitsu.
Aarón Fernánde
signature retreats
This private 5-day jungle retreat is designed as a complete reset for your body, energy, and nervous system.
Hosted in a boutique jungle wellness village, the environment supports deep rest, focus, and recovery away from crowds and distractions.
The experience balances intelligent fitness training, recovery protocols, and immersive cultural exploration.
Functional training, mobility, massage, temazcal, ice baths, breathwork, meditation, nourishing meals, and guided jungle and archaeological excursions are thoughtfully integrated to support long-term energy and vitality.
You 've been moving for weeks. A different bed every few nights, food when you can find it, decisions to make before you 've even had coffee. It was good, and now you 're tired in a way that sleep doesn 't fix.
For eight days, none of that is your problem.
Breakfast is already made when you wake up. The day is handled. Train hard if that 's what you 're craving. Sleep until noon if that 's what your body is actually asking for. You tell me on day one what you need, and the week bends around that.
• Breathwork and ice baths are real nervous system work, guided in every session
• Training that meets you where you are; beginners welcome, most of my guests are
• Three chef prepared meals a day cooked fresh in our own restaurant kitchen, built for recovery, not a buffet line
• Temazcal, massage, and long afternoons off recovery isn 't the filler here; it 's the point
• Palenque ruins and rainforest waterfalls ten minutes from your door
• Twelve rustic rooms in the Chiapas rainforest. Small groups. A coach who 's in the cold water next to you.
You 'll leave with your energy back, your head clear, and a practice you can keep doing at home and if you want to keep going, I offer remote coaching after you leave, so the week becomes a starting point instead of a peak.
You've thought about trying BJJ. Something keeps stopping you.
Maybe it's the fear of walking into a gym full of people who already know what they're doing. Maybe it's not knowing if your body can handle it. Maybe you just don't know where to start, and starting in front of strangers feels like too much.
This retreat exists for exactly that feeling.
Seven days in the Palenque jungle, learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from zero with a private coach who's in every session with you, in a group small enough that nobody gets lost, in a place where the environment makes everything feel a little more possible.
By the end of the week you'll have the fundamentals. You'll understand how your body moves on the mat. You'll know what to do when someone grabs you, and what to do when you're on the ground. And when you walk into a BJJ academy near home after this you'll walk in ready, not hoping nobody notices it's your first time.
Daily BJJ sessions: fundamentals only, no experience required
Small group rarely more than four or five people, never a crowd
A private coach in every session on the mat with you, not watching from the side
Ice bath and breathwork recovery and nervous system work built into the week
Temazcal ceremony traditional Mayan sweat lodge, one of the most memorable nights of the week
Palenque ruins, jungle trails and waterfalls the cultural and natural context that makes this more than a training camp
Three chef-prepared meals daily cooked fresh, built for recovery
90 days of remote coaching after you leave so the week becomes the beginning, not the peak
Seven days. Zero experience needed. One coach who's been waiting for you to start.
Your nervous system has been running on high alert for months. Maybe years.
This week, you learn to turn it off on purpose.
Not through rest alone rest helps, but it doesn't rewire anything. Through breathwork: the only tool that gives you direct, conscious control over your own physiology. The same system I taught divers to use underwater when their body was in full panic. Now applied on land, in the Palenque jungle, in cold water, in extreme heat, and in the silence of a Mayan rainforest at 6am.
Breathwork sessions daily different techniques for activation, recovery, and mental priming
Ice bath with breathwork preparation we build up to the cold; we don't jump into it
Temazcal ceremony traditional Mayan sweat lodge, prepared with breathwork, remembered for years
Jungle trail and outdoor sessions the rainforest as a living classroom
Natural waterfalls Roberto Barrios or Misol-Ha, used as nervous system reset in the wild
Palenque ruins the cultural close of the week, when the internal work is already done
No fixed schedule. No group of thirty. A coach in every session.
The week is built around you on arrival day your body, your history, your intention. You leave with a practice that travels with you, and 90 days of remote coaching to make sure it does.
Seven days in the jungle. One tool. Everything changes.
Ready to reclaim your energy, purpose, and power?
Small, private, and built around you.
You get the explanation, not just the instruction.
Most breathwork sessions tell you what to do. This one tells you what's happening in your body while you do it: why the retention phase creates resilience, why cold exposure after breathwork compounds the effect, why the temazcal works differently than the ice bath even though both are extreme environments. You leave understanding the tool, not just having used it.
Every challenge is prepared, not just experienced.
We don't walk up to the ice bath and get in. We don't enter the temazcal cold. Every difficult experience this week cold, heat, physical exertion, emotional release is preceded by a breathwork session designed specifically for what's coming. That preparation is the methodology. It's the difference between an experience and a practice.
The jungle is part of the curriculum, not the scenery.
nervous system regulation
Your nervous system isn't broken. It's exhausted from being right.
Years of deadlines, decisions, notifications, and the low-level hum of never fully switching off. Your body learned to stay ready, and now it doesn't know how to stop. That's not weakness; it's adaptation. But adaptation has a cost, and you're paying it.
This week is the repayment plan.
The tool
Breathwork is the only voluntary control you have over your autonomic nervous system.
Everything else heart rate, digestion, cortisol, inflammation happens without your permission. The breath is the bridge between what you can control and what you can't. Learn to use it deliberately, and you gain access to a system most people never touch.
That's not a wellness concept. It's physiology. And it's what we build this week around.
RETREAT
BJJ From Fear to Confidence Palenque, Mexico
Most people who want to try BJJ never start.
Not because they're not athletic enough. Not because they're too old or too out of shape. Because the barrier to walking into a gym cold, not knowing anyone, not knowing the language of the sport, not knowing what's going to happen to your body is higher than most people admit.
This retreat removes that barrier entirely.
Seven days, from zero, in the jungle. With a coach who has been teaching people to stay calm under pressure for over twenty years, first underwater, now on the mat.
What you actually learn
BJJ is not about strength. It is about leverage, timing, and understanding how bodies move in relation to each other. A smaller person can control a larger one. A calmer person almost always beats a panicked one. That's the art, and it's also why it works for beginners in a way that striking arts don't. You don't need to be fast. You don't need to be strong. You need to learn the principles, and then let your body start to understand them.
Accommodation:
Enjoy Private luxury room or villa
The accommodation features spacious, elegantly designed rooms with large private terraces that open up to breathtaking garden views.
These terraces serve as your oasis, perfect for unwinding and soaking in the natural surroundings. Inside, every room is equipped with modern amenities to ensure a comfortable stay. Enjoy the convenience of air conditioning, a private bathroom, and free high-speed WiFi.
Begin your mornings with a sunrise Ice Bath and meditation sessions, invigorating your body and mind, overlooking the majestic Mayan Jungle of Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico. Follow this with a nutritious breakfast featuring precision macro-based meals designed for metabolic activation to energize you
Your Days in Palenque
START STRONG, RISE RESILIENT, LEAD WITH POWER
Wake with the jungle and reconnect with your fire.
Each day begins with meditation, breathwork, ice baths, and strength training designed to reset your nervous system, clear mental fog, and ignite your drive.
These aren´t just morning routines, they are daily rituals to sharpen your edge, break old patterns, and reconnect you to your discipline, energy, and personal power.
Throughout the day, you´ll engage in a powerful flow of the Apex Metabolic Priming protocols, Landmine Strength & Conditioning training, and macro-based nutrition guidelines, all designed to help you burn fat, build muscle, and rebuild identity from the inside out
You´ll also dive into Apex Elite Mindset sessions, leadership development, and focused reflection to align your physical transformation with clarity and purpose.
Held at Villas Adriana Palenque Wellness Villas, surrounded by the mystical energy of the Mayan jungle, this retreat is more than a holiday vacation is a reset.
It´s a rite of passage for the man who´s ready to rise
This is where you disconnect from the noise, reconnect with your mission, and build the next evolution of who you are meant to be, stronger, leaner, resilient, and fully activated.
This is Apex. This is your moment
Apex Human Labs
Workshops and experiences included
Daily meditation practice
Daily Breathwork and Ice bath sessions
Metabolic Priming Nutrition Workshops
Functional, HIIT, Landmine University training
Metabolic Conditioning training
Trail Running & Nature hikes with a trusted guide
Apex Leadership, NLP workshops
Combat Sports Workshops Jiujitsu & Kickboxing
Tours, excursions, activities, and adventure
Mobility Workshops
Mindfulness and journaling activities
Temazcal ceremony & Massages
Rebuild your new self-identity workshop
Apex Human non-negotiable tasks
90-day post-retreat integration coaching
Intro to self-defense
Forever grateful for your guidance, José Luis. This retreat was unlike anything I’ve ever done. The Apex system is truly bulletproof. It challenged me physically, educated me mentally, and reconnected me spiritually, all in one place. The way you teach with purpose, clarity, and intensity made me feel prepared, not just for the workouts, but for life itself. You don’t just coach physical and mental strength; you forge men and leaders.
If you’re looking for a surface-level getaway, this isn’t for you.
But if you’re ready to evolve, this experience will change everything.
Rooms 10.0
Service 10.0
Location 9.0
Hotel highlights: Great view ·Fantastic Food · Quiet · Great value. RoomsClean, spacious, and uniquely designed. Extremely safe.
Highly recommended but only for those ready to rise.
Thank you, Jose L.
JOBANI L.
8-Day Jungle Fitness & Ice Bath Reset in Palenque, Mexico:
OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND
7 days (6 nights) accommodation in a beautiful Villas Adriana Palenque Wellness venue, Chiapas, Mexico
Own private room with bathroom & terrace
5 daily delicious and nutritious meals & snacks
Water, tea, and coffee are served throughout the day
Daily Ice Bath and Breathwork Sessions
Temazcal Ceremony, Massage & spa session
Welcome gift on arrival
Daily morning meditation
Metabolic Nutrition workshops
Daily mobility sessions
Full use of all facilities
Swimming pool access
Tours & adventure activities at a set time/day
10 minutes away from local markets and cultural hotspots such as the Palenque Mayan Ruins Temple
Airport Transfers and Shuttles
90-day integration group Zoom calls for guidance & follow-up sessions
Accountability non-negotiables task after the retreat
RESERVE YOUR SPACE
$490 USD
Secure your spot and then pay the remaining 40 days before the retreat
PAY IN FULL
$1,998 USD
Pay in full and get a private coaching session valued at 280 USD
*TOTAL PACKAGE PRICE including lodging, all meals, fitness & training, sightseeing tours, and all activities mentioned on the retreat program.
Got questions?
YOUR HOST, Mentor & Guide:
JOSE LUIS SAENZ: Apex Coach for Holistic Development
I'm José Luis I run Villas Adriana Wellness Village in the Palenque jungle, and I'm the coach who works with you while you're here.
I spent over 20 years underwater. I trained divers, then I trained the instructors who train divers. Cave diving, technical diving, Mexico to Egypt. That world taught me something I still use every day: how people behave under pressure, and how to build someone's capacity so they don't fall apart when it counts.
For the last decade I've put that into strength, conditioning and jiu-jitsu. I'm a purple belt under Professor Mark Stables, I compete in CrossFit, and I train and coach every day not as a former athlete talking about it, but as someone still in it.
What I actually do is simple. Most people who come here aren't broken. They're depleted. They've been running on stress for years, they've lost the thread with their own body, and they need a week where someone else handles everything so they can rebuild.
Most of that work is nervous system work, even when it doesn't look like it. Breathwork to shift your state on purpose instead of waiting for it to pass. Cold exposure to practice staying calm while your body screams at you the same skill I taught divers, just on land. Training that builds capacity without adding more stress to a system that's already full. Meditation and real sleep to let the repair actually happen. That's the thread through all of it: teaching your body it's safe to come down from high alert, and giving it the strength to handle what comes next.
I'll be honest about what this isn't. It's not a luxury resort. It's 12 rustic rooms in the jungle, three kilometers from the Palenque ruins from some rooms you can see the Temple of King Pakal. There are birds at 5am, humidity, and real jungle outside your door. What you get instead is a small group, direct attention, and a coach who's in every session with you.
You don't need to arrive fit. Beginners are welcome, and most of the people I work with are.
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Business Leadership
Breathwork/Meditation
Landmine University Training System
Strenght Training
Metabolic Conditioning
Martial ArtsAerobic Capacity
Professional Scuba Diving
Technical Cave Diving
Nutrition: Metabolic Priming
Jiujitsu / Grappling
Kickboxing
WeightLifting
Yoga/Mobility
Mental toughness
Sel-awareness
Retreat Summary
Got questions?
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Our retreat package includes accommodation, daily fitness and wellness activities (such as yoga, meditation, and personal training), nutritionally balanced meals, and access to all our wellness facilities. Special workshops and local excursions are also part of the experience.6 nights accommodation
3 daily delicious and nutritious meals
Water, tea, and coffee served throughout the day
Welcome drink
Daily yoga classes
Daily meditation classes
Massage
Specialized workshops
Group excursions/activities
Free excursions to sites of interest
Nature hikes with a trusted guide
Pre and post-retreat support from our team
Wifi connection
Airport pick-up and drop-off
Transportation during the retreat
Parking
Luggage storage
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06:30 Morning meditation and breathwork
07:15 Ice bath therapy
08:00 Yoga
09:15 Breakfast
10:00 Mobility, HIIT, and CrossFit training
11:30 Cool down and post-workout snack
12:00 Relaxing massage
14:00 Lunch
15:00 Break digestion
16:00 Nutrition/mobility workshop
17:00 Mental toughness coaching session
17:30 Snack 2
18:00 Temazcal
19:00 Dinner
20:30 Gratitude journaling and intention meditation
21:00 Snack 3
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Travel Insurance
Flights costs
Visa fee
Outside Dinners
Plant Medicine Ceremonies
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We recommend bringing comfortable workout clothes, a swimsuit, personal hygiene products, a water bottle, sunscreen, and any personal medications. We provide yoga mats and other fitness equipment.
All Fitness Levels Welcome
Sweat Wear Clothes
Swimwear
Training Shoes
Sandals
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Fly into Villahermosa International Airport (VSA).
The airport is located about 2 hours from our retreat center. We will provide transportation from and to our center on the first and last day of our retreat.
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The best time to visit is from April, May & June.
The rainy season is from June to October.
The temperature is about 27-32 °C all year round.
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This retreat is designed for 40+ men, entrepreneurs, leaders, and professionals who feel like they’re losing themselves in the process of entering the midlife or 40´s. It’s for the man who’s tired of the mental fog, the physical decline, the routines that drain instead of fuel.
It’s for the one who wants to reclaim his edge, rebuild his identity, and become a stronger, sharper, more disciplined version of himself in body, mind, and mission.
If you’re ready to step out of the chaos and into the Lab…
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Our retreat caters to a wide range of fitness levels, from beginners to more experienced individuals. Our trainers personalize workout plans to suit your specific fitness needs and goals.
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Absolutely! We offer a variety of meal plans and can cater to various dietary needs including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and any allergies. Please inform us in advance so we can prepare accordingly.
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Our standard retreat is 7 days, but we also offer shorter and longer stays. Please contact us for information on flexible dates and duration.
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We understand that plans can change. Our cancellation policy allows for a full refund if you cancel at least 30 days before your scheduled arrival. Cancellations made closer to the date may be subject to a partial refund or credit towards a future stay.