Join Amelia Andaleon for 5 nights / 6 days of yoga, adventure, and restoration in the Azores, Portugal!
The Azores are an adventure lovers paradise, full of natural, raw beauty, a temperate climate and outdoor activities. We will be staying on the "Green Island" of Sao Miguel, home to vibrant blue volcanic lakes, black sand beaches, lush natural preserves, and panoramic cliffs.
Our included excursion days will include all levels hikes to some of the most stunning vistas on the island, soaks in natural hot springs, and exploration of neighboring towns and beaches.
Yoga classes (morning vinyasa and evening yin yoga on your two free days) and meditation will be offered daily by Amelia. There will be plenty of time for relaxation and rejuvenation amongst the stunning grounds of our 4-star, beachfront resort.
All meals (with the exception of 2 lunches) are included, and will be nourishing, fresh, and delicious, so that you can get a true taste of Azorean fare.
ALL PRICES LISTED ARE PER PERSON and a €500 per person non-refundable deposit is due to reserve your spot on the trip. Trip balances are due 120 days prior to departure, on June 28th. If you'd like to inquire about payment plan options or have retreat related questions, please email info@solseedretreats.com.
Please read on for important info on: What is Included, What is Not Included, Passport, Immunization & Covid-19 Entry Requirements, Our Cancellation & Refund Policy, and Required Travel Insurance.
*5 Nights / 6 Days lodging at Santa Barbara Eco-Beach Resort
*Breakfast & Dinner Daily (Arrival day no breakfast, departure day no lunch or dinner)
*Lunch on Arrival Day, and Picnic Lunch on Excursion Days (no lunch on free days)
*Early Check-in on the morning of your arrival to the resort
*Two group hiking, hot springs, and town visit excursions, including all guides and transportation
*Yoga classes (morning vinyasa and evening yin yoga on your two free days) and meditation will be offered daily by Amelia
*Roundtrip airport transfers from Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL) to SBER and back (about a 15 minute ride each way)
*Base gratuities for the resort staff, taxi drivers and tour guides
*Airfare to Ponta Delgada (PDL). We recommend flying SATA (Azores) Air direct from Boston and NYC
*Lunch on your two free days
*Alcoholic beverages
*Additional excursions or cab rides
*Massages & Spa Services (can be booked directly at the resort front desk)
*Required Travel Insurance
For over ten years Amelia has been an international yoga retreat leader and assistant in Thailand, Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Greece and stunning nature-filled landscapes in the US! She’s a true Sagittarius who loves adventure, travel, and people! Combining two of her favorite things, yoga and nature, is her happy place!
Amelia is a small town Pacific Northwest nature-lover now living in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the founder and podcast host of Spiritually Fit Yoga, LLC. She has over 1500 hours of yoga and meditation teacher training, and she trains yoga teachers through her Registered Yoga School, Spiritually Fit Yoga. She loves leading yoga retreats to create opportunities for playfulness, adventure, self-reflection, and transformation.
You can find her online at 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫 or on her Spiritually Fit Yoga podcast.
Amelia currently teaches in person at her private studio in Danville, CA, Yoga Flow SF - Walnut Creek, Life Time Walnut Creek, and Baptiste Power Yoga San Francisco. She teaches vinyasa, power vinyasa, hot yoga, yin yoga, meditation, and offers sound baths and reiki sessions.
You will be flying into Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL).
For non-stop flight options, we recommend booking flights directly through Azores Air out of New York (JFK), and Boston (BOS). If you are originating from another US airport, you will need to connect through either JFK or BOS to take advantage of these direct flights to and from Sao Miguel island. We recommend allowing 3 hours minimum between your connecting flights.
Feeling adventurous, and have some extra PTO? Look into "stop over" packages which would allow you to continue on to Lisbon or Porto for very little extra money on Azores Air.
Retreat start date: Saturday, November 2nd
The direct flights from the US to the Azores are often red-eye flights, so you leave the night before the retreat starts, and arrive in the Azores early in the morning on the start date of your retreat. Everyone's rooms are held for an early check-in, so you will have an opportunity to get settled and take a nice nap. The first event of the retreat is a lunch at the resort at roughly 1PM. If you are arriving on a flight other than the overnight option(s), you should arrive at Ponta Delgada airport by 11:30am in order to attend this meal.
Retreat return date: Thursday, November 7th
Check out at the resort is noon. The last programmed events are in the morning leading up to and including breakfast. We will offer multiple shuttles to Ponta Delgada airport, and/or hotels in Ponta Delgada, during the day according to people's travel itineraries. The resort will safely store luggage, and you are welcome to enjoy the restaurant and grounds if you schedule an evening flight.
If you book flights outside of these dates, you may be responsible for paying for your own taxi (budget about 35 Euro for this each way), but we can still help to coordinate a taxi for you.
Considering arriving a day or more early? Check out this handy information sheet to help you plan your lodging and transportation.
Once you have secured your flights, please forward your flight confirmation email itinerary to info@solseedretreats.com
You must have a valid passport to travel to the Azores. Please check your passport expiration date and make sure it is valid for at least 3 months after the end date of your retreat.
Currently, there are no COVID testing or vaccination requirements to enter the Azores or mainland Portugal.
The purchase of travel insurance is required for this trip.
Most policies protect you against potential trip delays or cancellations due to airline issues, family emergencies, illness, injury, etc. The travel insurance will also demonstrate to the host country that you are able to pay for any emergency services which may be necessary during your stay.
SolSeed is not authorized to sell travel insurance. Any offer to purchase travel insurance that you encounter during the checkout process are third party offers. You are free to select your own policy provider. If you would like to review options in a convenient online marketplace, we like what www.insuremytrip.com has put together. We have also had great experience with Trawick International and their customer service, and heard very good things from AAA and AMEX Members who have purchased their travel insurance through those respective agencies.
We strongly encourage you to speak with a travel insurance agent to discuss your specific coverage needs, and to clear up any questions you may have relative to travel insurance coverage, including questions about COVID-19.
Please make sure you purchase a plan that includes coverage for COVID-19 related trip cancellations and trip interruptions as not all do.
To learn more about Travel Insurance and review some FAQs, please visit this helpful blog post that we put together on the topic: https://solseedretreats.com/travel-insurance-faqs/
All retreats include a €500 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit, which is required to hold your spot on the trip. Any balance payments made are also non-refundable / non-transferable. SolSeed Retreats can only make an exception to these terms if:
If SolSeed must further postpone or cancel the trip for any of the above reasons, all registrants will receive a refund of all deposits paid less €200.
If you refuse to comply with the entry laws of the host country, region, town, etc; SolSeed will not consider this a valid reason for receiving any refund. SolSeed will ensure to the best of their abilities that all registrants comply with all then current laws and regulations.
Below you'll find all of our available accommodation packages. If you're wondering which is the best type for you, and possibly your travel buddy or group of friends, please follow this link to our handy ROOM SELECTION FLOW CHART.
By selecting a single occupancy room type you will have a private bedroom and bathroom, while selecting a double occupancy room type you will have a shared bedroom and bathroom with your travel buddy.
All Villas and Studios are equipped with: LCD TV | Independent air conditioning | Wi-Fi | Hair dryer | Bathrobes | Electronic safe | Kitchenette equipped with microwave, fridge and utensils | Coffee machine with capsules
Luxury Upgrades: The resort also offer a handful of villas which feature private hot tubs and ocean views on their decks. If you're interested in booking one of these more high end rooms, please reach out to info@solseedretreats.com to inquire about pricing and availability.
This beautiful villa features two bedrooms and two bathrooms. By selecting a Double Occupancy Bedroom, you and your selected roommate with share a bedroom and a full bathroom with stand up shower.
Your bedroom will contain two twin beds OR one double bed (please indicate your preference upon registration).
You will then share a common living area with kitchenette, which separates the two bedrooms, as well as a beautiful outdoor seating area, with one other person who will occupy the second bedroom and bathroom of your villa.
YOU MUST HAVE A ROOMMATE TO REGISTER FOR THIS PACKAGE. ALL PRICES ARE PER PERSON. If you don't have a roommate, please email info@solseedretreats.com prior to registering.
**Please indicate your roommate's name upon registration. If you would like your own private bedroom and bathroom within a Two Bedroom Villa, please register for the Single Occupancy Bedroom option. If you and your bedroom-mate would like more privacy, please register for the 1 BR Villa - Double Occupancy Villa option.**
This beautiful villa features two bedrooms and two bathrooms. By selecting this Single Occupancy Bedroom option within the two bedroom villa, you will have a private bedroom with one double bed, sink, toilet and European style soaking tub with handheld shower-head.
There is also a common living area with kitchenette, which separates the two bedrooms, as well as a beautiful outdoor seating area. Common areas are shared with 1-2 other people, who will occupy the second bedroom of your villa.
NOTE: If you would like to share a 2 Bedroom Villa with a friend, and each have your own private bedroom and bathroom, please email info@solseedretreats.com.
If you would like more privacy, please register for the 1 BR Villa - Single Occupancy Bedroom option.
This beautiful one bedroom villa is ideal for two friends or a couple seeking a bit more privacy and space.
It can be configured with one double bed OR 2 twin beds, and has a private bath with stand up shower. The Villa also comes with a living room, small kitchenette and private outdoor seating area.
YOU MUST HAVE A ROOMMATE TO REGISTER FOR THIS PACKAGE. ALL PRICES ARE PER PERSON. PLEASE REGISTER FOR 2 OF THESE PACKAGES, ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR YOUR ROOMMATE. Please indicate your roommates' name upon sign-up and whether you'd like 1 double bed or 2 twin beds.
This beautiful one bedroom villa is ideal for the solo traveler seeking the most privacy.
It comes with one double bed and a private bath with stand up shower, as well as a living room, small kitchenette and private outdoor seating area.
These private studios are ideal for a couple and feature an open style floor plan with one double bed, private bath, kitchenette, and living area. The studios also have access to a plunge pool with ocean views which is private to only the Studio Guests.
*YOU MUST HAVE A PARTNER TO SIGN UP FOR THIS ROOMING OPTION. This price is per person. Please make sure to book TWO of these retreat packages. One for you and one for your partner.*
These private luxury studios feature an open style floor plan with one double bed, private bath, kitchenette, and living area. The studios also have access to a plunge pool with ocean views which is private to only the Studio Guests.
If you'd like to share this room (1 Double Bed) with a partner, please book two of the Luxury Studio - Double Occupancy packages.
This luxury villa features two bedrooms and two bathrooms, both with stand-up showers.
By selecting this Double Occupancy Bedroom option within the two bedroom villa, you will share a bedroom with two twin beds and private bathroom with your roommate. Your bedroom will contain two twin beds OR one queen bed, and a full bath with stand up shower.
You will have another roommate in the second bedroom of your villa, whom you will share a common living area with kitchenette, which separates the two bedrooms, as well as a beautiful outdoor deck and lounging area with a hot tub that is private to your villa.
YOU MUST HAVE A GROUP OF 4 TO REGISTER FOR THIS OPTION. ALL PRICES ARE PER PERSON. Please indicate your roommate's name upon registration. If you would like your own private bedroom and bathroom within a Retreat Two Bedroom Villa, please register for the Retreat Two Bedroom Villa - Single Occupancy Bedroom option. If you and your roommate would like more privacy, please register for a 1 BR Villa - Double Occupancy option.
Day 1: Arrival + Settle In
Early morning arrival post red-eye and check into room
1pm Lunch and SolSeed orientation
5pm Opening Class
7:30 Dinner at resort
Day 2: Excursion Day
8am Morning Class
9:30am Breakfast buffet
10:30am Excursion including group hike, picnic lunch & hot springs visit
7:30pm Dinner at resort
Day 3: Free Day
8am Morning Class
9:30am Breakfast buffet
Free time
5pm Evening Class
7pm Depart for dinner out
Day 4: Excursion Day
8am Morning Class
9:30am Breakfast buffet
10:30am Excursion including group hike, picnic lunch & hot springs visit
7:30pm Dinner at resort
Day 5: Free Day
8am Morning Class
9:30am Breakfast buffet
Free time
5pm Evening Class
7pm Depart for dinner out
Day 6: Free Day + Departure
8am Morning Class
9:30am Breakfast buffet
12pm Check out Shuttle to airport