Whether you’re with a group of friends on a surf adventure or a yoga practitioner on a personal journey, these five retreats are as close to paradise as you can get
It’s no surprise that yoga and surfing complement each other: not only do they use many of the same muscles, they both require a good sense of balance, flexibility and concentration. Holidays encompassing both are becoming increasingly popular and are often set in idyllic locations, so here’s our pick of the best, ranging from simple to luxurious.
Varkala, Kerala
Soul and Surf offers surfing, yoga and wellness holidays with a distinctly easy-going ethos – the emphasis here is on relaxation with like-minded people as much as improving your surfing or yoga techniques. Set among lush gardens in a cliff-top location overlooking a quiet beach, the retreat offers simple yet stylish accommodation in a modern garden block or in the main building, a 150-year old traditional Keralan house. Breakfasts are communal, and evening activities include BBQ and pizza nights as well as surf movie screenings and impromptu music gigs. Sunset free-flow vinyasa yoga sessions take place every evening and morning sessions are offered three times a week, surf lessons take place every morning. The retreat is open from May to October, but Soul and Surf run a year-round programme in Ahangama, Sri Lanka, that’s also worth checking out. Click the Kerala beach guide for more information about this beautiful place.
Beautiful Varkala, Kerala, IndiaPikoso.kz / Shutterstock
Algarve, Portugal
Set in a secluded valley on the Atlantic Coast, the off-the-grid Tipi Valley Algarve Eco Surf &; Yoga Retreat relies on solar power and has a focus on simplicity and sustainability. Surrounded in a cork oak forest, the glamping-style tents have comfy beds and proper linens and shared outdoor showers. The retreat is open from May to October, and you can choose from five- or seven-day packages. These include three meals, sourced mainly from the retreat’s organic vegetable garden, plus all drinks and snacks, and transfers to and from the nearest town, Aljezur. The surfing and yoga is included too and consists of two one-hour Hatha-based yoga sessions (morning and afternoon) with sessions on the beach if the weather allows it. Every morning there’s a 1.5 hour morning surfing lesson using licensed and insured instructors from a nearby surf school, and in the afternoon transport is provided to nearby beaches with great surf.
Agadir, Morocco
Guests return again and again to Surf Star Morocco, for the friendly, welcoming atmosphere as much as the excellent instructors. The location is pretty special too, with famous surf spots like Anchor Point, Killer Point and Boilers within easy reach, and instruction is tailored to specific abilities whether you’re a beginner or an elite. The camp itself has three terraces with spectacular views of the sea and the Atlas Mountains, and facilities include simply furnished rooms, a guest kitchen and generous and varied breakfast and dinner buffets. Sunrise and sunset yoga sessions (which include vinyasa flow sequences, Hatha poses and Ashtanga) take place on the rooftop, and guest instructors regularly conduct retreats for a set number of days. Check out the Agadir beach guide for more information.
Landscape of Agadir, towards TaghazoutJacques Vanni / Shutterstock
Cambutal, Panama
Sansara Surf and Yoga Resort really does offer a slice of paradise, with a lush tropical setting on the Pacific Coast and accommodation in beachfront cabanas with hard wood floors and private patios overlooking the sea. Here, you can choose yoga only, surf only, or yoga and surf packages; in addition, there are regular hosted yoga or meditation retreats with international guest instructors. Yoga classes take place in a thatch-roof beachfront pavilion next to the ocean, and certified surf instructors offer two, three, four or five day packages. To top this off, there’s a gorgeous saltwater swimming pool, a restaurant and an on-site spa. Click to read the Panama Travel Guide before your trip.
Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
The popular beach town of Santa Teresa offers activities such as snorkelling, fishing, horseback riding, zip-lining and kayaking. A newly-built boutique hotel set a couple of miles outside town, Pranamar Oceanfront Villas and Yoga Retreat has luxurious, spacious air-conditioned villas either set around the swimming pool or on the beachfront; there’s also a large house for larger groups. Santa Teresa beach offers year-round surf and the hotel will hook you up with instruction and equipment, and yoga classes with highly qualified instructors are on offer at the hotel daily. A full-service spa offers a full range of wellness treatments. For more information, see the Costa Rica Travel Guide.
Santa Teresa, Costa RicaRonnybas / Shutterstock
