A sanctuary with a larger vision
Casa Tortuga is more than a retreat space.
It is part of an evolving vision rooted in stewardship, healing, reciprocity, and the creation of spaces where people and communities can reconnect with what sustains them.
From virtual village to living sanctuary
What began years ago as a virtual community supporting families seeking more liberatory ways of learning, healing, and relating has continued to evolve.
The call is no longer only digital.
It has become grounded in land.
Casa Tortuga is part of that evolution: a living sanctuary where healing, meaningful gathering, and community-rooted transformation can unfold in relationship with place.
Why this place matters
For Chemay, this vision is deeply personal.
As a Nuyorican with family roots in Puerto Rico, stewarding land here is not simply a business decision—it is a relationship with ancestry, belonging, healing, and responsibility.
At a time when Puerto Rican communities face growing displacement and outside extraction, the intention is to steward this space in a way that remains rooted in reciprocity, local relationship, and care.
This is not ownership as acquisition.
It is stewardship as responsibility.
What Casa Tortuga is becoming
Beyond retreat hosting, the long-term vision includes:
a community-rooted healing sanctuary
collaborations with local healers, chefs, farmers, and practitioners
land-based learning and herbal / medicinal gardens
accessible gatherings for local community members
scholarship opportunities for facilitators and organizers
a space where restoration and social transformation remain connected
Become part of the founding circle
As Casa Tortuga moves into its next chapter, a small founding circle is being invited to help steward this vision into reality.
This is for those who feel aligned not only with the space itself, but with the values and long-term vision it represents.
Join the Founding Circle