Ribeira Seca, Ribeira Grande, Portugal
Up to 16 in group
November 8 - 15, 2025
About this Retreat
Visual Artist & Retreat Founder
Célia Rakotondrainy is a French–Malagasy visual artist whose work has been exhibited internationally and featured in publications such as The Washington Post and Artnet. Her artistic practice explores the fluidity of identity, with water as a recurring motif symbolizing transformation and memory.
Based in São Miguel since 2021, Célia has built a life guided by the rhythms of the ocean — painting at high tide and surfing at low tide. From this balance, she created Mainty Studio, curating immersive retreats where art and movement come together.
At the retreat, Célia leads the painting workshops, sharing her professional expertise while creating a space where participants can slow down, experiment, and reconnect with their creativity.
Azores Surf Center is a locally-rooted surf school on São Miguel Island, dedicated to teaching and inspiring surfers of all levels. Established in 2013 by Josephine and Ricardo, we are licensed by the Azores Tourism Board and fully insured, with certified instructors who are passionate about the ocean and environmental protection.
Azores Surf Center
Situated right on Santa Bárbara Beach in Ribeira Grande, our mission is to provide a friendly, professional, and personal surfing experience. Whether you’re catching your first wave or refining advanced skills, we bring safety, fun, and authenticity to every lesson.
Azores Surf Center
We include all necessary equipment (wetsuits, boards), and adapt to the tides and conditions to ensure the best experience possible. We're also active in community and environmental work — from beach cleanups to partnerships with Surfrider Foundation Azores.
Azores Surf Center
Amandine has called São Miguel home since 2016, when she left Paris to embrace a new life in the Azores.
Trained by the São Miguel Natural Park Association, she is a certified guide with nearly a decade of experience leading visitors through the island’s hidden trails, cultural landmarks, and breathtaking volcanic landscapes.
With a background in communications and a passion for art, heritage, and architecture, Amandine brings depth and storytelling to every excursion.
Fluent in French, English, and Portuguese, she creates a welcoming space for guests from all over the world.
At the retreat, Amandine curates the island explorations, offering participants not just a tour, but an authentic immersion into Azorean culture and nature.
Her knowledge and care make every walk, every viewpoint, and every encounter unforgettable.
Details of this retreat
Art × Surf Retreat in São Miguel Island, Azores
November 8–15, 2025 · 7 nights
A unique retreat where creativity meets the ocean.
Paint at high tide, surf at low tide, and let the volcanic landscapes of São Miguel inspire you every step of the way. It is not about doing more, it is about finding a rhythm: painting at high tide, surfing at low tide, letting the island guide you. From the moment you arrive, everything is taken care of—meals, transfers, workshops, surf, and tours—so you can truly let go.
This is precious time just for you: to experiment, to adventure lightly, to breathe, and to realign. A pause where creativity and the ocean meet, and where you finally have space to reconnect with yourself. This retreat is your chance to leave daily worries behind and finally give yourself time:
- Time to create and learn painting alongside a professional artist with international exhibitions
- Time to play in the ocean
- Time to slow down, realign, and recharge
- Time to explore hidden gems with a certified local guide who knows the island like few others
- It is more than a holiday—it is a pause, designed for you.
This all-inclusive experience blends:
- Oil painting workshops
- Surf sessions with certified instructors from our partner school
- Guided tours of hidden viewpoints and hot springs
- Seasonal meals with vegetarian options
- Stay in a cozy eco-lodge with pool and garden
With only 16 spots available, this intimate retreat is designed for those seeking not just a trip, but a transformation: time to recharge, create, and connect with nature’s rhythm.
This retreat is open to all levels, whether in art or surfing.
Whether you have never picked up a paintbrush or a surfboard, or you are looking to hone your skills, it is for anyone who wants to grow creatively while enjoying the beauty and tranquility of island life.
Minimum age required: 18 years
THE PAINTING STUDIO
4 × 3-hour classes · Beginners to advanced intermediates · All materials provided
These four sessions will introduce you to, or deepen your knowledge of, oil painting.
The goal is to provide you with the essential tools you need to continue exploring this medium.
SURF LESSONS
Two lessons are included in the stay:
Wetsuits and boards provided
Beach transfer included
Personalized advice
Video analyses available on request
Sessions tailored to your experience
Levels:
Beginner – First steps on the board, safety, and technique basics
Intermediate – Perfect your technique, read the waves
Advanced – Discover the best spots on the coast to enjoy the best swells
Outside of classes, boards and wetsuits are available at the lodge for your free sessions.