6 Day Yoga, Hiking, and Music Retreat in Santa Maria, Azores
6 Day Yoga, Hiking, and Music Retreat in Santa Maria, Azores
Vila do Porto, Azores, Portugal
Up to 12 in group
July 17 - 22, 2025
Retreat Highlights
- THREE PARTS OF YOUR RETREAT: YOGA, HIKING AND BLUES MUSIC FESTIVAL: Our time together will be unforgettable and full of fun! I have organised and planned your retreat to make sure it nourishes your heart, mind and soul. I have carefully planned the retreat schedule to take you away from the routine and into a dream holiday. This retreat is a unique hiking and music adventure combined with daily yoga and meditation.
- YOGA AND MEDITATION PRACTICE: We will practise yoga and meditation twice a day: before and after hiking. Every day starts with setting an intention followed by a Vinyasa-style yoga class. After the hiking of the day is finished and we arrive back home, you will have time for some relaxation and we will finish the day with restorative yoga practice before dinner.
- JAW-DROPPING HIKES AND BEACHES: The Portuguese Azores are unknown to the regular tourists. Hiking is the best way to explore the island: dramatic volcanic landscape, lush forests, greenest fields, spectacular waterfalls, stunning rainbows, and even a desert! You will enjoy the unique nature, the quaint traditional architecture, and the fascinating history. After hiking, I will bring you to the stunning beaches to soak in the sun, swim and chill out.
- SANTA MARIA BLUES FESTIVAL: As part of this retreat, you are invited to attend the yearly Santa Maria Blues Festival which lasts 3 nights. The festival originates back to 2014 and focuses on the quality of the venue, music and the surrounding environment. It's top-notch music and great organisation. Hint - this is my previous guests and I in the crowd in the picture having great fun!
About this Retreat
Your Guides
Irina is a certified yoga teacher with 1000 hours of teaching experience. She offers the most in-depth and nurturing luxury retreats in unique locations around the world. She loves the Azores. She came there for two weeks and ended up staying for six months. It is a highlight of her career to take a group of like-minded people to breathtaking destinations to go deeper into their practice, really nourish themselves, and reconnect to nature.
Details of this retreat
Your unique hiking and music adventure is combined with daily yoga and meditation. The hidden gem of the Atlantic, Santa Maria island, is one of those last remaining places on earth where pure nature dominates the landscape and where time seems to stand still.
If you're a curious traveler seeking a meaningful getaway in a stunning yet accessible destination and are ready to refresh your spirit with adventure and relaxation, then join us for this immersive retreat in the magical Azores, where you'll hike breathtaking landscapes, deepen your yoga practice, chill out on gorgeous beaches, and soak in the vibrant energy of the Blues Music Festival so you can return home feeling inspired and enriched.
IMAGINE CONNECTING WITH YOURSELF, NATURE AND LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE
This retreat gives you the space you need. Space to breathe, to move, to rest, to have fun.
You are surrounded by the ocean, cliffs, green fields, waterfalls. The kind of nature that doesn’t need filters.
This is not a retreat to escape life. It’s a pause to return to it - rested and recharged.
If you're a curious traveler seeking a meaningful getaway in a stunning yet accessible destination and are ready to refresh your spirit with adventure and relaxation, then join us for this immersive retreat in the magical Azores, where you'll hike breathtaking landscapes, deepen your yoga practice, chill out on gorgeous beaches, and soak in the vibrant energy of the Blues Music Festival so you can return home feeling inspired and enriched.
IMAGINE CONNECTING WITH YOURSELF, NATURE AND LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE
This retreat gives you the space you need. Space to breathe, to move, to rest, to have fun.
You are surrounded by the ocean, cliffs, green fields, waterfalls. The kind of nature that doesn’t need filters.
This is not a retreat to escape life. It’s a pause to return to it - rested and recharged.
Schedule
RE-CONNECT TO YOURSELF WITH THE ENERGY OF 5 ELEMENTS
All the retreat activities are guided by the energy of the 5 elements: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood. The signature program of our retreat, structured with the Yoga Shape methodology, will take you on the journey to yourself: from releasing whatever does not serve you to feeling relaxed, restored, and full of amazing memories of your Azorean adventures.
Every day of your retreat starts with setting an intention followed by an energetic Vinyasa-style yoga class. After that, breakfast awaits you to nourish your body after which we embark on a hiking adventure in a fascinatingly diverse landscape. Coming back to the accommodation, you will have time for some relaxation and me-time. We will finish the day with restorative yoga practice before dinner, and then head over to the Blues Music Festival in the evening.
Day 1 - 17 July - Fire element - Start
Initiation with letting go and setting your intention.
Transfer to the accommodation, welcome, tea/coffee and snacks, opening information session, free time, opening ceremony, yoga, dinner, Blues Music Festival.
You arrive in the wild embrace of Santa Maria, the ocean breeze greeting you like an old friend. With a warm welcome, your first yoga session creates a quiet spark. Laughter and blues music under the stars finish the day - an initiation into something that feels deeply alive.
Your inner journey: Today you set your intention. You begin the SHAPE cycle with Start, letting go of old layers and opening space for what’s to come.
Day 2 - 18 July - Earth element - Honesty
Grounding and understanding where you are.
Yoga, breakfast, hike to see the red desert, picnic lunch, free time on the beach, yoga, dinner, Blues Music Festival.
Your feet meet the land as you hike the red desert. You feel held by the earth - steady, calm, and strong. Your body softens during restorative yoga. Your breath deepens. Salt on your skin, sand between your toes, the rhythm of life slows as you gaze into the Atlantic.
Your inner journey: Today you step into Honesty - noticing how you feel in your body, acknowledging where you truly are in your life.
Day 3 - 19 July - Metal element - Aim
Getting clarity about where you want to go.
Yoga, breakfast, hike to see the highest point on the volcanic island, picnic lunch, free time on the beach, yoga, dinner, Blues Music Festival.
Climbing to the highest peak of the Santa Maria Island, above the clouds and into the sky, your vision expands. The vastness mirrors your own mind clearing. Each breath feels intentional. Moments of stillness on the beach invite reflection, and your evening practice draws you closer to what you truly desire.
Your inner journey: You enter Aim - defining what matters most, clarifying your goals, and choosing where your energy will flow next.
Day 4 - 20 July - Water element - Practice
Embracing the fluidity and choosing your path.
Yoga, breakfast, hike to see the waterfall, picnic lunch, free time on the beach, yoga, dinner.
Today is a song of flow. The trail winds to a gorgeous waterfall overlooking the ocean. Water carves its path with ease - and so do you. Yoga stretches into fluid movement, nothing is rushed. You feel more present, more attuned. The ocean invites you to simply be.
Your inner journey: You are in the heart of Practice - translating intention into action through breath, and mindful movement.
Day 5 - 21 July - Wood element - Evolution
Growth to the next step of your journey.
Yoga, breakfast, hike in the forest, picnic lunch, free time on the beach, yoga, celebration dinner.
The forest welcomes you with the scent of pine and possibility. You move with strength and grace, rooted yet reaching forward. Evening brings celebration - a shared meal, glowing faces, the sense that something inside has changed.
Your inner journey: This is Evolution - you witness your growth, your unfolding, and you prepare to bring it home.
Day 6 - 22 July - Centre - Integration
Coming back to centre and integrating the cycle of inner work.
Yoga, breakfast, closing circle, transfer to the airport.
The final morning greets you with golden light and stillness. Your mat becomes a place of honour - for all you’ve felt, discovered, and remembered. You leave with sand in your shoes and clarity in your heart.
Your inner journey: In this closing of the SHAPE cycle, you return to your Centre - integrated, grounded, and ready to live from your deeper truth.
All the retreat activities are guided by the energy of the 5 elements: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood. The signature program of our retreat, structured with the Yoga Shape methodology, will take you on the journey to yourself: from releasing whatever does not serve you to feeling relaxed, restored, and full of amazing memories of your Azorean adventures.
Every day of your retreat starts with setting an intention followed by an energetic Vinyasa-style yoga class. After that, breakfast awaits you to nourish your body after which we embark on a hiking adventure in a fascinatingly diverse landscape. Coming back to the accommodation, you will have time for some relaxation and me-time. We will finish the day with restorative yoga practice before dinner, and then head over to the Blues Music Festival in the evening.
Day 1 - 17 July - Fire element - Start
Initiation with letting go and setting your intention.
Transfer to the accommodation, welcome, tea/coffee and snacks, opening information session, free time, opening ceremony, yoga, dinner, Blues Music Festival.
You arrive in the wild embrace of Santa Maria, the ocean breeze greeting you like an old friend. With a warm welcome, your first yoga session creates a quiet spark. Laughter and blues music under the stars finish the day - an initiation into something that feels deeply alive.
Your inner journey: Today you set your intention. You begin the SHAPE cycle with Start, letting go of old layers and opening space for what’s to come.
Day 2 - 18 July - Earth element - Honesty
Grounding and understanding where you are.
Yoga, breakfast, hike to see the red desert, picnic lunch, free time on the beach, yoga, dinner, Blues Music Festival.
Your feet meet the land as you hike the red desert. You feel held by the earth - steady, calm, and strong. Your body softens during restorative yoga. Your breath deepens. Salt on your skin, sand between your toes, the rhythm of life slows as you gaze into the Atlantic.
Your inner journey: Today you step into Honesty - noticing how you feel in your body, acknowledging where you truly are in your life.
Day 3 - 19 July - Metal element - Aim
Getting clarity about where you want to go.
Yoga, breakfast, hike to see the highest point on the volcanic island, picnic lunch, free time on the beach, yoga, dinner, Blues Music Festival.
Climbing to the highest peak of the Santa Maria Island, above the clouds and into the sky, your vision expands. The vastness mirrors your own mind clearing. Each breath feels intentional. Moments of stillness on the beach invite reflection, and your evening practice draws you closer to what you truly desire.
Your inner journey: You enter Aim - defining what matters most, clarifying your goals, and choosing where your energy will flow next.
Day 4 - 20 July - Water element - Practice
Embracing the fluidity and choosing your path.
Yoga, breakfast, hike to see the waterfall, picnic lunch, free time on the beach, yoga, dinner.
Today is a song of flow. The trail winds to a gorgeous waterfall overlooking the ocean. Water carves its path with ease - and so do you. Yoga stretches into fluid movement, nothing is rushed. You feel more present, more attuned. The ocean invites you to simply be.
Your inner journey: You are in the heart of Practice - translating intention into action through breath, and mindful movement.
Day 5 - 21 July - Wood element - Evolution
Growth to the next step of your journey.
Yoga, breakfast, hike in the forest, picnic lunch, free time on the beach, yoga, celebration dinner.
The forest welcomes you with the scent of pine and possibility. You move with strength and grace, rooted yet reaching forward. Evening brings celebration - a shared meal, glowing faces, the sense that something inside has changed.
Your inner journey: This is Evolution - you witness your growth, your unfolding, and you prepare to bring it home.
Day 6 - 22 July - Centre - Integration
Coming back to centre and integrating the cycle of inner work.
Yoga, breakfast, closing circle, transfer to the airport.
The final morning greets you with golden light and stillness. Your mat becomes a place of honour - for all you’ve felt, discovered, and remembered. You leave with sand in your shoes and clarity in your heart.
Your inner journey: In this closing of the SHAPE cycle, you return to your Centre - integrated, grounded, and ready to live from your deeper truth.
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Getting Here
Yoga Shape, Vila do Porto, Azores, Portugal
Directions
Please book your flight to arrive at Santa Maria Airport (SMA). Transfer from and to the airport is included. Yoga Shape will pick you up from the airport. There are direct flights from Lisbon. If you fly from Brussels, book with TAP Air Portugal or Ryanair, both with a stop in Lisbon. However, a better option price-wise could be to book two separate trips:
Return flight 1: your ‘home’ - Ponta Delgada (the ‘capital’ of Azores in Sao Miguel island). If you fly from Brussels, book with TAP Air Portugal or Ryanair.
Return flight 2: Ponta Delgada - Santa Maria. These are with the local airline Sata Azores.
Send Yoga Shape your flight details and they will arrange group transportation at the most common time for all. If the common time does not suit you, take a taxi to Vila do Porto. It will take about 10 minutes. The information session is at 4:00 PM on July 17th, 2025.
Return flight 1: your ‘home’ - Ponta Delgada (the ‘capital’ of Azores in Sao Miguel island). If you fly from Brussels, book with TAP Air Portugal or Ryanair.
Return flight 2: Ponta Delgada - Santa Maria. These are with the local airline Sata Azores.
Send Yoga Shape your flight details and they will arrange group transportation at the most common time for all. If the common time does not suit you, take a taxi to Vila do Porto. It will take about 10 minutes. The information session is at 4:00 PM on July 17th, 2025.
Accommodation
Our home for 6 days/5 nights is the family-owned hotel in the heart of Santa Maria Island. It has an outdoor swimming pool, bar with terrace, and spacious balconies with views. Imagine chilling on the terrace with a book and enjoying the colours of the sky and the magnificent views of the ocean. The retreat is planned for up to 11 guests to be accommodated in a single, double/twin or triple setting. Choose the best option for your holiday depending on your preference.
1 spot in a shared triple room
1 spot in a shared twin room
private single room
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
The Portuguese Azores are unknown to the regular tourists. It is literally a treasure for landscape variety and hikes.
Dramatic volcanic landscape, incredible ocean views, greenest fields, stunning rainbows, and even a red desert - this is what you experience in the Azores. Walk along the fairytale-like paths, marvelling at the fascinating vegetation, stopping in awe at the amazing views, soaking in the beauty and wisdom of nature.
Dramatic volcanic landscape, incredible ocean views, greenest fields, stunning rainbows, and even a red desert - this is what you experience in the Azores. Walk along the fairytale-like paths, marvelling at the fascinating vegetation, stopping in awe at the amazing views, soaking in the beauty and wisdom of nature.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
You will be served with 3 daily delicious and nutritious meals. The dishes are prepared from regional and seasonal products so you can indulge in the traditional culinary delights of the Azores.
What's Included
- 5 nights, 6 days in the local family-owned hotel + bed linen, towels, hygiene products
- outdoor swimming pool with an ocean view
- 3 daily meals, vegetarian options available
- 1 celebration dinner with local craft beer tasting
- 2 daily yoga and meditation sessions tailored for the theme of the day
- 4 organised hikes with diverse landscapes
- tickets to the 3-day Blues Festival
- group transportation from and to the airport
- group transportation to and from all the hikes
- group transportation to and from the Blues Music Festival
- video recording of a 30-minute yoga session based on techniques and practices we will learn at the retreat
- a print-out of how to best apply the energy of 5 elements throughout your day
- a surprise gift upon your arrival
- a surprise gift before your departure
What's Not Included
- Your flights
- The costs of additional activities
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