THE MAGIC OF IYARI
A LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDER, JON CONGDON
I first fell in love with Careyes over two decades ago. Drawn by its wild beauty and deep spirit, I returned again and again until, in 2007, I bought a small home nestled between sea and jungle. It became my refuge—a place to disconnect from the noise and reconnect with what truly matters.
Then the pandemic arrived. Like many others, my wife and I made the decision to settle in Careyes full-time, along with a growing community of families—many working remotely, others employed in local homes, hotels, and construction. But it quickly became clear: there was no longer a school for our children. And not just our children—but the children of the people who make this community what it is.
That’s how Iyari School was born.
It started with a simple, urgent question from three mothers—including my wife: Where will our kids learn? There were no easy answers. But there was a clear need—for a safe, imaginative, bilingual place for children to grow. First, the school lived in an empty hotel suite. Then, with a little vision and a lot of heart, we transformed abandoned horse stables into what is now a thriving, nature-based learning environment serving students from preschool through middle school.
From the start, Iyari was about more than just creating a school for our own children. It’s a place where fluency in Spanish and English is a goal for all; where the natural world becomes the classroom; and where a deep sense of belonging is built across backgrounds and barriers.
We’ve seen students who were once years behind now reading confidently, making best friends, and thriving academically. We’ve seen kids fall in love with learning, not out of obligation, but because it’s joyful. And we’ve seen a community form—one that values connection, imagination, and equity.
As we look ahead, our vision is bold. We want Iyari to be a school that continues to reflect the richness of this place—a place where gifted learners and underserved students learn side by side. We want to become a fully recognized bilingual institution, accredited both in Mexico and the U.S., a model for what education in nature can look like. One day, we hope to expand, and to welcome even more students into our growing circle.
But none of this is possible without you.
Whether you’re a homeowner in Careyes, a future parent, a past visitor, or simply someone who believes in the transformative power of education, we invite you to be a part of Iyari’s story. Your support helps us provide scholarships, grow our programs, and ensure that this school—a vital heartbeat of the community—is here to stay.
A community is not whole without a school. And thanks to the magic of this place and the generosity of people like you, Iyari is becoming more than a school. It’s becoming a movement.
With gratitude and hope,
Jon Congdon
Founder, Iyari School