Jardín de Palabras

A Literary Translation Retreat

San Andrés Huayapam, Oaxaca, Mexico

13–20 June 2027

Immerse yourself in literature and the Spanish language on this week-long literary translation retreat with translator Ellen Jones in the beautiful foothills of the Sierra Juárez. 

This retreat is aimed at prose translators at different stages in their careers. Perhaps you have just finished your degree and want to get started in literary translation, perhaps you are an established interpreter or a translator of legal texts looking to move into the literary sphere, or perhaps you are an experienced literary translator and simply need some time away to immerse yourself in Spanish and receive feedback on an ongoing project.

The retreat will be held in the picturesque village of San Andrés Huayapam, just twenty minutes from the historical centre of Oaxaca de Juárez. Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Juárez, Huayapam has wonderful access to nature as well as a thriving gastronomical scene - the village is famous for its tejate, a refreshing prehispanic drink made with cacao, corn, and mamey fruit stones. In addition to daily translation workshops, during your week here you will learn about the area’s linguistic diversity, get to know the local literary scene, and take part in cultural activities, such as learning to use a printing press. We can also help arrange optional activities such as coffee and mezcal tastings, hikes and biking excursions.

The retreat will take place during Oaxaca’s low season, which means the weather will be pleasantly warm with rain possible in the afternoons.  

A typical day on the retreat will look as follows:

• Group breakfast (the most important meal of the day for Oaxacans!) at Balbina Café y Cocina in the centre of Huayapam

• Translation masterclass

• Refreshments

• Group workshop session

• Break for lunch

• Private transport into the centro histórico for a scheduled literary activity, or

• second group workshop session

• Evening at your own disposal

The Workshop Leader

Ellen Jones is a writer, editor, and literary translator from Spanish with a PhD from Queen Mary University of London. Her forthcoming translations include The Guardian of All Things by Rosario Castellanos (Pushkin 2027), San Fernando: Last Stop by Marcela Turati (Seven Stories 2027), and Personal Effects by Marina Mariasch (Selkies House). Her translations have been shortlisted for the Cercador Prize, the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation, and the Oxford-Weidenfeld Prize. Her monograph, Literature in Motion: Translating Multilingualism Across the Americas is published by Columbia University Press (2022). Her short fiction has appeared in Litro Magazine, Slug and The London Magazine. She has taught literature and translation at Queen Mary University of London, Goldsmiths, University of London, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

The Translation Workshops

The retreat includes seven and a half hours of translation masterclasses, focussing on literary prose (short stories, novels, personal essay, memoir) written in Spanish. Masterclasses will require no preparation. They will cover challenging translation topics such as dialogue, slang, and dialect writing, as well as practical aspects of the work of literary translation, such as pitching and contract negotiating. We will look at a range of writing from across Latin America, and the sessions will be adapted to the experience level and interests of group members.

There will also be up to twelve hours of group workshop sessions focussing on participants’ own translation projects (the group is limited to a maximum of eight participants). Participants will read their peers’ draft translations in advance and then we will discuss them in detail as a group.

All sessions are designed to encourage collaboration and peer learning. You’ll receive the encouragement, support and fellowship of the whole group while being led by a seasoned literary translator and teacher.

 The Workshop Space

Balbina Café y Cocina is a family-run business located in gorgeous sub-tropical garden in the centre of Huayapam, five minutes walk from your accommodation. It combines speciality coffee (roasted on site) with traditional Oaxacan home cooking. You will eat breakfast here every morning and the space will be available to you all day, every day, with coffee, tea, and juice included in the price of the retreat.

The Accommodation

Your home for the week will be Huayapam Yuu Lodge, a rustic hotel with a pool and gorgeous views of the mountains. We will have the entire hotel to ourselves for the week. Each participant will have their own private ensuite room with a desk, and there is a communal lounge that can also be used for working and relaxing. Spa facilities are available for an extra cost. If you are interested in sharing a room with travelling companions who are not taking part in the retreat, please let us know. We can help arrange childcare during the workshop hours for a small extra fee. We can also arrange for you to extend your stay at the hotel at a preferential rate (if booked before 31 April 2027).

The Cost

The retreat is priced on a sliding scale from 23500 MXN–29500 MXN (around 1025 GBP–1285 GBP or 1370–1720 USD depending on the exchange rate). You decide the cost based on your own self-assessed ability to pay. Those who choose to pay over the minimum rate will help fund two partial bursaries for participants who for financial reasons would be otherwise unable to attend.

Bursary places are priced at 50% of the median cost, ie. 13250 MXN (around 580 GBP or 770 USD, depending on the exchange rate).

The cost includes:

• 7 nights’ accommodation in a private ensuite room

• 7.5 hours of translation masterclasses

• Up to 12 hours of group workshop sessions (depending on number of participants)

• Three course welcome dinner at Balbina Café y Cocina

• Breakfast every day at Balbina Café y Cocina

• Writing space, coffee, tea, and juice at Balbina Café y Cocina, all day every day

• At least two literary activities (eg. private tour of library collections, printing workshop, or talk, to be confirmed)

• Private transport to scheduled literary activities

Not included:

• Flights to and from Oaxaca

• Transport to and from the airport

• Lunches and dinners (except for dinner the first night)

• Optional non-literary excursions and activities (eg. bike ride, mezcal tasting)

• Tips 

If you are accepted, a 50% deposit will be due on 1 February 2027, with the rest of your fee payable on 1 June, shortly before the retreat begins.

Cancellation Policy

Deposit is 50% refundable if you cancel between 1 February and 1 March 2026. If someone from the waiting list takes your place, your deposit is 90% refundable.

There is no refund if you cancel (for any reason) on or after 1 March 2026, unless someone takes your place from the waiting list, in which case we will refund you 90% of what you have paid.

To apply, please send a brief cover letter by clicking on the button above, outlining what your literary translation experience is so far to date and what you hope to gain from attending the retreat. You should also attach a sample translation (no longer than 500 words, plus the source text) of a prose work from Spanish into English. Please indicate whether you would like to apply for a bursary and if so, briefly explain your circumstances.

Applications are welcome until 31 December 2027. Feel free to get in touch via jardin [dot] huayapam [at] gmail [dot] com with any queries.

Remember you can follow us on Instagram @jardin_retreat.

Testimonials

"A wonderful week of creativity and great company, which managed to be both relaxing and energising. Beautiful setting, amazing food, and inspiring workshops. Ellen was a generous and extremely well-organised host – I can’t recommend Jardín de Palabras highly enough." —Beth, retreat participant 2026

“Jardín de Palabras was an intimate and inspiring experience that allowed me to deepen my understanding of translation, hone my craft, and connect with a wonderful community of fellow translators, all while staying in a beautiful, vibrant part of Oaxaca. The food was amazing, the hotel gorgeous, and Ellen was so kind and wonderful. Would absolutely recommend!” —Lía, retreat participant 2026

“¡Mil gracias Ellen, I had the most wonderful week! The translation workshops and networking opportunities were invaluable, and our diverse interests and varying levels of experience made for an enriching group dynamic. I came away feeling so inspired, motivated and excited to apply everything I learnt.” —Emily, retreat participant 2026

“I really enjoyed my time at Jardín de Palabras. Throughout my week there, I had the opportunity to participate in translation sessions, a masterclass, and cultural activities to get a taste of the surrounding area. Each part of the week gave me something new to appreciate and enjoy. I highly recommend this retreat!” —Alannah, retreat participant 2026