8 days of Art and Surf Retreat in the Azores
8 days of Art and Surf Retreat in the Azores
Ribeira Seca, Ribeira Grande, Portugal
Up to 16 in group
November 8 - 15, 2025
Retreat Highlights
- 7-night all-inclusive stay in Ribeira Grande, the Azores’ surf capital
- Oil painting workshops led by professional artist Célia Rakotondrainy
- Surf lessons with certified local instructors (all levels welcome)
- Guided island tours with Amandine Marty Pinto, certified guide & cultural expert
- Farewell BBQ dinner at a panoramic viewpoint
- All meals included (local, seasonal, vegetarian options available)
- Airport transfers + all ground transportation covered
- Small group setting (max. 16 participants) for an intimate experience
- Time to explore hot springs, volcanic landscapes, and hidden viewpoints
- Extra free time to relax, surf more, or simply breathe in island life
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.
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.
Schedule
Morning : Painting class (3 hours)
Lunch : Picnic or meal at the lodge
Afternoon : Guided tour of the island or surfing lesson
Diner : Shared dinner and group relaxation at the lodge
Some days include free time to balance your stay with your personal interests (with many options such as yoga classes, additional surf sessions or free surfing, mountain biking, surfskating and also visits to thermal baths).
Lunch : Picnic or meal at the lodge
Afternoon : Guided tour of the island or surfing lesson
Diner : Shared dinner and group relaxation at the lodge
Some days include free time to balance your stay with your personal interests (with many options such as yoga classes, additional surf sessions or free surfing, mountain biking, surfskating and also visits to thermal baths).
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Getting Here
Mainty Studio, Ribeira Seca, Ribeira Grande, Portugal
Directions
✈️ Nearest Airport
João Paulo II Airport (PDL), Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Azores, Portugal
This is the island’s main international airport, located about 20 minutes from Ribeira Grande.
🌍 Flight Connections
Direct international flights from major European cities such as Lisbon, Porto, Brussels, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Barcelona and more.
Direct connections from Toronto, Montreal, New York City, Boston, Seattle
Multiple daily flights from Lisbon (2h30) and Porto (2h30) make connections easy if you’re flying in from further abroad.
🚐 Transfers
Roundtrip airport transfers are included in your retreat package.
Once you land, simply relax — our team will welcome you at the airport and bring you directly to the lodge.
🚗 If You Prefer to Drive
Car rentals are available at Ponta Delgada Airport. Ribeira Grande is a 20-minute drive via the main highway.
João Paulo II Airport (PDL), Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Azores, Portugal
This is the island’s main international airport, located about 20 minutes from Ribeira Grande.
🌍 Flight Connections
Direct international flights from major European cities such as Lisbon, Porto, Brussels, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Barcelona and more.
Direct connections from Toronto, Montreal, New York City, Boston, Seattle
Multiple daily flights from Lisbon (2h30) and Porto (2h30) make connections easy if you’re flying in from further abroad.
🚐 Transfers
Roundtrip airport transfers are included in your retreat package.
Once you land, simply relax — our team will welcome you at the airport and bring you directly to the lodge.
🚗 If You Prefer to Drive
Car rentals are available at Ponta Delgada Airport. Ribeira Grande is a 20-minute drive via the main highway.
Accommodation
Stylish Accommodations: Eco Surflodge Azores in Ribeira Grande offers a lodge with a sun terrace, garden, and year-round outdoor pool. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and private bathrooms with views of the garden or courtyard. Comfortable Amenities: The property features a lounge, a fireplace, a fitness room, and cozy, comfortable rooms. Additional amenities include a terrace, free private parking on site, and a breakfast buffet with local specialties, hot dishes, juices, cheese, and fruit. Prime Location: Located 21 km from João Paulo II Airport, the lodge is a 17-minute walk from Praia do Monte Verde and a 10-minute walk from Santa Barbara Beach. Nearby attractions include Lagoa do Congro, Caldeira Velha, and Pico do Ferro. The property is located on the north coast and captivates with its beautiful views of the lush volcanic landscape. The house features an open kitchen where the chefs prepare a menu of both local and international cuisine. Homemade pizza nights are also held, as well as a traditional barbecue at a nearby viewpoint. In addition to a large living room and relaxation area, the spacious outdoor area awaits guests with a swimming pool, yoga pavilion, and skateboarding area. Whether for sunbathing, yoga, relaxing, or sheltering from the rain, there's always a place to gather comfortably together.
Standard Room (price per person)
Comfort Room (price per person)
Dormitory Room (price per person)
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 stay takes place at Surfin Azores, a welcoming eco-lodge in Ribeira Grande, the Azorean surfing capital located on the north coast of São Miguel Island. A variety of rooms are available to meet each guest's specific needs. Nearby are the beaches of Areal de Santa Bárbara and Monte Verde. This lodge features a spacious dining and living area where guests can relax, play, and spend unforgettable evenings together. This is also where breakfast and sometimes dinner are served.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
All meals are made with local, seasonal products and include vegetarian options. We will carefully take note of everyone’s intolerances and allergies in order to prepare accordingly.
What's Included
- it's an all inclusive week from meals to ground and airport transfers we take care of you from the moment you land on the island.
- 4 workshops of 3 hours of painting
- 2 classes of surf
- 3 guided excursions in epic locations
What's Not Included
- Roundtrip airfare to the Azores
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Arrival dinner
- Optional activities not listed in the main package (e.g., yoga, thermal bath visits, surfskating)
- Additional personal expenses or snacks
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