Spain Coastal Retreat

Our retreat begins at Casa Vilá Reyes. Once you’ve settled in and had a chance to look around, we’ll all get together for welcome drinks and appetizers, our first teaching and discussion, and a chance to get to know the women we’ll be sharing the next eight days with. 

Later, we’ll enjoy a farm-to-table dinner prepared by our private chef. One of my favorite things about the first night of a retreat is watching a group of women who arrive as strangers start talking, laughing, and getting to know one another. Add great food and a beautiful evening in Spain, and I think we’re off to a pretty good start!

We’ll start the day a little later, giving you a chance to sleep in and hopefully get ahead of the jet lag. After a delicious breakfast, we’ll spend time together talking about the truth of who God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are and what really makes the Good News so good.

Then we’ll head outside to our terrace for a workout with the Mediterranean as our backdrop. I’m pretty sure this will be one of the best workout spots we’ve ever had!

At lunch, you’ll meet with your small group for a chance to talk a little deeper and hear different perspectives while we enjoy a fresh, healthy meal together. And speaking of fresh, I have to mention the tomatoes in this region. They are something extra special! 

Then, if you choose, we’re off to the Mediterranean! Grab a spot on the beach, take a walk along the boardwalk, or stay back at the villa for some quiet time. The afternoon is yours to enjoy however you’d like.

We'll get together early evening for a cooking class where we will learn how to make authentic Spanish tapas, paella, and flan, enjoy some wine, and eventually sit down to eat everything we’ve made. ¡Buen provecho!

We’ll get our day started with a workout and breakfast, then spend some time talking about what it looks like to experience a more intimate relationship with God. Afterward, we’ll break into our small groups to for discussion.

After lunch, we’re off to Alella wine country! We’ll visit Bouquet d’Alella, a beautiful family-run winery surrounded by vineyards and Mediterranean views. We’ll take a walk through the vineyard, learn a little about how their wines are made, and, of course, taste a few!

Then it’s back to the villa for another amazing dinner prepared just for us by our private chef. After dinner, the evening is yours to enjoy however you would like.

It’s our final day at Casa Vilá Reyes, so we’re going to take full advantage of having the Mediterranean in our backyard! We’ll start with breakfast, teaching and discussion, and a workout before enjoying lunch on the beach.

Spend the afternoon however you'd like. Grab a kayak or paddleboard and get out on the Mediterranean, walk the beach, do a little shopping in town, hang by the pool, or find a great spot at the villa and do absolutely nothing. You get to choose!

That evening, we’ll gather back at the villa for a Charcuterie Challenge. We’ll divide into teams, give you a mix of delicious Spanish ingredients, and let the creativity begin! Your challenge: create the most beautiful charcuterie board. Expect a little friendly competition, lots of laughs, and plenty of sampling along the way.

The fun isn't over yet... We will then sit down to a multi-course dinner prepared by our chef, complete with wine and handcrafted mocktails. We’ll enjoy an amazing meal and talk about some of the things God has been showing us over the past few days.

Enjoy one last night at Casa Vilá Reyes. Tomorrow we’re packing up and heading to Costa Brava for part two of our Spanish adventure!

Today we say goodbye to our villa and head north to Costa Brava! Our luggage will go straight to Casa Vincke in Palamós, while you get to choose how you arrive. If you’re up for a hike, the shuttle will drop you near Sant Feliu de Guíxols, or at another spot depending on how far you want to walk. You’ll follow part of the beautiful coastal trail with views of the Mediterranean, beaches, cliffs, and little coves along the way.

Prefer not to hike? Stay on the shuttle and head straight to the hotel. Grab lunch, explore Palamós, or settle in and enjoy the pool.

At 6:30, we’ll meet by the pool for drinks before heading to dinner at the Michelin Guide restaurant right at our hotel! Come hungry and ready to enjoy a creative, beautifully prepared meal featuring the flavors of this part of Spain. A pretty great way to kick off part two of our retreat!

Today is all about enjoying this incredible coastline! I’d love for everyone to experience at least part of the Camí de Ronda, the coastal trail that winds from Palamós toward Calella de Palafrugell. The full walk is about 11 km (just under 7 miles) and takes you past beaches, little fishing villages, hidden coves, cliffs, and some pretty spectacular Mediterranean views. 

But if you are not up for the full hike, no problem. Walk part of it, or spend your morning doing something completely different. Palamós has snorkeling trips by boat, introductory scuba diving, and other water activities, and nearby Calella offers SUP rentals. Or keep it simple and shop, head to the beach, or explore town. These optional activities aren’t included in the retreat cost, so you can choose whatever sounds fun to you.

We’ll meet up in the adorable seaside village of Calella de Palafrugell for lunch together by the water and then have free time to explore before heading back to Palamós. That evening, we’ll get together again for teaching and discussion, then head out for dinner as a group.

We’ll start with breakfast, teaching and discussion, and a workout before making our way to town for lunch.

Then it’s time to see Costa Brava from a whole different angle. We’ll spend the afternoon out on the Mediterranean, cruising along the beautiful coastline, taking in the cliffs, coves, beaches, and clear blue water. 

After our afternoon on the water, we’ll keep dinner casual and grab a spot along the boardwalk. 

We have some special things planned for our last day in Costa Brava. We're not sharing all the details but I guarantee it will be lots of fun and meaningful. A perfect way to end this amazing retreat!

After one final breakfast together, we’ll pack up, say our goodbyes, and head back to Barcelona. It’s always hard to see a retreat end, but I have a feeling we’ll be leaving with full hearts, great memories, and plenty of stories from our eight days in Spain.