A serene getaway to inspire your writing & revive your creative flow.
Writing is more than an act of creating. It is more than scrawling words on paper or typing stories into life.
Writing opens your truths and delves into your insights, curiosity, and cleverness. Our writing stays tucked away, quiet and patient, until space has been carved away and we begin to write.
We write our stories.
Write our poems.
Write our songs.
Create our characters.
We learn and hone our skills.
We get started.
We keep going
We finish.
We start again.
This is what the “Writing Retreat” will do for you. It will inspire you with space and time to delve into yourself and draw up the words that long to be set free in stories, memoirs, novels, poetry, or weekly blogs and journals.
I say “writing” and not “writer”, because though most of us write in some form, we may not call ourselves writers. Those of us who have even published a book may still struggle to self-identify as a writer. The imposter syndrome hangs on tight sometimes.
This Writing Retreat is designed for those who write at any level. Whether you are a seasoned blog writer yearning to write your first book and seek guidance, or someone who has dabbled in journaling but struggles to write consistently and seeks inspiration. Perhaps you are well on your way to finishing your book, but feel stuck and could use a change in scenery to carry you over the finish line.
This Writing Retreat is for you.
Nicaragua Writing Retreat Details
8 Days, 7 Nights I Starting at $2299
LOCATION
Verdad is a boutique beach hotel, located on the Southern Pacific coastline of Nicaragua overlooking the private, uncrowded beach, Playa Escameca Grande. In this secluded and serene setting, you will be immersed in culture, surrounded by nature in complete laidback luxury.
Facilities include the exclusive use of the peaceful 900-square-foot open-air yoga studio with breathtaking views out to the ocean and surrounding valley.
The gorgeous open-air space is outfitted with Manduka yoga mats, belts, blocks, straps, and bolsters for your use every day. The functional fitness equipment includes 800 pounds of kettlebells, TRX, jump ropes, med balls, Bosu, and boxing gloves/pads.
The pool and beach bar, the massage studio, and locally sourced meals served family-style overlooking Playa Escameca Grande. Take in the sound of waves crashing on the shore, and enjoy the tropical breeze blowing through the studio as you nourish your mind and body.
ACCOMMODATION
Each guest will stay in laid-back luxury in one of the architecturally designed rooms or casitas with gorgeous ocean views. No matter where you sleep at Verdad Nicaragua, you’ll be able to take in the striking beauty that surrounds you in relaxed comfort. Each accommodation is thoughtfully appointed with locally made furnishings and fine linens.
There are three accommodation choices available, for either private booking or shared rooms. (Please inquire about shared room option details and pricing).
Ocean View Duplex:
Both levels of this duplex casita have expansive, open views of the Pacific Ocean. The upper level has a queen-size bed, an indoor daybed large enough for a third guest, a ceiling fan, a private deck, and an outdoor shower as well as a full bathroom with a solar hot water shower that boasts ocean views, gorgeous tiles hand-made in Nicaragua and a rain shower head. The lower level has a double bed, a twin bed, a ceiling fan, a private ocean view deck with three chairs, and a solar hot water shower with a rain shower head.
$3399 (Shared pricing available)
Ocean View Casitas
These three casitas are nestled into the hillside with open views of the Pacific Ocean. They all have a queen-size bed, an indoor daybed large enough for a third guest, a ceiling fan, a private deck, and an outdoor shower as well as a full bathroom with solar hot water showers that boast ocean views, gorgeous tiles hand-made in Nicaragua and rain showerheads.
$2599 (Shared pricing available)
Ocean & Valley View Casita
This casita is located hillside with both a valley and ocean view. It has a queen-size bed, a ceiling fan, an indoor daybed that sleeps a third guest, a full bathroom with a solar hot water shower, a desk, and a private deck with a daybed, hammock, and two chairs.
$2599 (Shared pricing available)
Ocean & Valley View Rooms
Both rooms are poolside with double beds and private bathrooms. Each room has a ceiling fan and air conditioning. They overlook the ocean and valley below. All of the bathrooms have solar-generated hot water showers.
$2299 (Shared pricing available)
Your Itinerary
Here is what each day will look like:
DAY 1
Arrival at your boutique beach Nicaraguan Retreat location.
Orientation – Here we will review local information about Nicaragua, your surroundings, and health and safety information, as well as review what you can expect to experience throughout the week. We will also take a short tour of the premises.
Welcome Dinner – Enjoy a Mediterranean-style open-air family-style meal serving hearty, healthy dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. A variety of gourmet dishes of fish, meat, chicken, salads, and vegetarian/vegan options are available.
DAY 2 – 7
Throughout the next week, your experience will include the following:
Morning Writing Practice: Spend time in your casita overlooking the Pacific and start your day writing in your journal. Writing prompts will be offered, or you are free to journal what comes to mind. The intention is to begin your day through writing and implement positive writing habits, or to give you space if journalling is already a part of your morning practice.
Breakfast: A selection of healthy organic breakfast items to choose from made fresh daily from local Nicaraguan produce.
Writing Workshops: A series of 6 guided Writing Workshops. Workshop Topics Include:
- Goal Setting & Exploring the Writing Process
- Overcome Feeling Stuck, Imposter Syndrome & Other Paralyzing Challenges
- Writing Through Emotions (your own, and emotions within your work)
- Honing Your Writing Style
- Self-Editing and Empowering Your Voice
- Honoring Promises – Reflection on what you have learned, explored, accomplished, and your accountability plan for continuing forward with your writing goals
Two private 1:1 Writing Coaching Sessions are included during the week, Daily Writing Prompts, and you will be gifted a writing journal.
Afternoon Activities: Your early afternoons will be free to spend as you wish. Lunch is offered, or wander down to the local cantina for a lunch on the coast. You can also use this time to write, engage in a private writing coaching session, or take part in any of the local activities including horse riding, surfing, massage, or hiking the local trails.
Wellness Hour: The afternoons are dedicated to a mind, body, and soul wellness break.
- Yoga: Included in your retreat will be five yoga workshops. In our ocean-front yoga classes, we set our awareness to align with our own personal thought processes and writing experience. Each yoga session will focus on heart-opening movement, creative flow, and deepening connection tuning in to your purpose and the intentions you have set for your writing retreat. In addition, we invite you to experience a sound journey to support your inspiration and creative flow.
- Sound Journey: The Sound Journey will offer you an inner exploration guided by diverse sounds of varying frequencies and vibrations. The tones and resonance lead you into a state of deep relaxation where profound healing and connection to higher consciousness can occur. It involves using specialized sound frequencies to create a therapeutic atmosphere to promote deep rest, nervous system rebalancing, and emotional release to enhance your creative flow complementing your writing journey through sound.
Dinner: Your meals, served in our screened dining area overlooking the ocean or poolside, are always a highlight where local chefs prepare all of our delicious, freshly made meals with local ingredients and love in our on-site kitchen. Imagine just caught whole fish and ceviche, freshly picked greens, delicious fruit smoothies, house-made granola, and brick-oven pizza made with homemade fresh mozzarella.
Our cooking is ocean and farm-to-table, utilizing the freshest, quality ingredients from the soil and shores of Nicaragua. All of our seafood is locally caught; our dairy products, such as eggs and homemade yogurt, are locally sourced and what we don’t grow here in our garden, we get at the local farmer’s market, enabling us to support our local neighbors in numerous ways.
We cater to all dietary preferences and needs, be it vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, paleo, or something else so that every guest can indulge in the scrumptious local flavors of Cocina Verdad.
DAY 8
Breakfast A selection of healthy organic breakfast items to choose from.
Departures Transportation to Managua or Liberia provided.
Additional Activities
- Delicious meals (Big breakfasts and hearty dinners. Lunch is not included. All dietary requirements catered for)
- Modern, newly furnished private casitas (shared option available upon request)
- Exquisite open-air yoga shala with jungle and ocean views
- Rejuvenating yoga sessions and sound journey
- Queen-sized beds with soft cotton sheets
- Refreshing swimming pools
- Private, local beach Access
- Focused Writing Workshops designed to support your creativity
- Surf
- Jungle hikes with coastal views
- Massage
- Airport pick up and drop off
- Wifi/AC/Hot Water
- Safe and comfortable transportation in-country
- Support for Flight Booking & Covid-19 Testing Logistics
- Calendar of optional local cultural immersion activities
- Pristine beaches and spectacular sunsets
- Horse riding
*Optional add-on activities include:
Massage
The new ocean view studio, where the sweet sounds of the waves breaking on shore will lull you into deep relaxation, has room for two massages at a time. Our massage therapists specialize in deep tissue massage.
SUP
We have several SUP boards you can take out on the Escameca Grande River just down the beach, either on your own or with a guide to point out the howler monkeys and birdlife you’re likely to see on your adventure.
Hike
Throughout the hillside are several trails that connect us not only to the beaches and surrounding tropical forest, but to nearby beaches such as Playa el Coco, and Playa Yankee. You can take a trail map, and hike on your own, or go with one of our local guides. Hikes range from super easy to somewhat difficult, but we will help you choose a path that suits you.
Surf
We are blessed with a consistent off-shore wind that creates clean waves almost all year round, so you can count on being stoked to surf here. Board rental is available (longboard, shortboard, soft tops and boogie boards) and we offer private and group lessons with our professional coaches, Jose Espinosa Venegas, Wesley Bermudez and Ibrahim Villalobos. All three are experienced pros who motivate absolute beginners to pop-up on their first wave and inspire advanced surfers to shred a barrel or two. Jose is the Longboard Champion of the Central American Olympics.
Horseback Riding
Take a guided tour of the waterfall on horseback in the Collado Reserve and see first hand our preservation efforts in conjunction with Vital Actions, or ride on the beach and into the surrounding tropical forest.
Beach & Bonfire Stargazing
Stargazing at Playa Escameca with a crackling bonfire and after dinner drinks or a late night swim for groups of four or more.
Book. Click the “Book Now” button below to submit your details.
Make a Payment. After submitting your details, you will be taken to the “Make A Payment” page so that you can secure your placement with a deposit and a signed participant agreement.
- Deposit of 10% of the total cost is due to secure placement.
- Instalment of 25% is due May 1
- Instalment of 25% is due June 1
- Remaining balance of 40% of the total cost is due July 1
All payments are non-refundable.
Payment plans are available. Just reach out to me and I can structure a payment plan that works for you and gets you on a Retreat.
Flights. Airport options are Augusto C Sandino international airport in Managua (MGA), Nicaragua, or Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia (LIR), Costa Rica. We will pick you up at the airport upon arrival. Please get in touch with me and I’ll help you arrange the best possible travel logistics
Covid-19 Testing: Nicaragua requires negative Covid-19 testing or a vaccination card prior to entering the country. Please reach out for the most updated information when making your travel arrangements.
Prepare. We will connect with you soon to provide more information regarding in-country travel logistics, your itinerary, and any answer questions you may have that help you prepare.
Meet Your Retreat Facilitator
Christy Nichols
Life Purpose Coach | Curator of Transformational Retreats | Author | Speaker | Purposeful Travel Advocate | Reiki Master | CEO at Venture Within
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Christy’s professional education expertise has afforded her the opportunity to work all over the world. Since achieving a Masters Degree and Teaching Credentials in Sussex, England, she has delivered educational and leadership initiatives internationally to individuals in the UK, Europe, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, South Africa, Canada, the USA, and Australia. After successfully creating and developing EDventure International, an organization combining leadership development, education, and conservation projects overseas, she launched Venture Within. Her passion is creating transformational experiences for personal and professional growth through overseas immersion, executive life coaching, and adventurous experiences abroad. She enables and inspires others to live a full and meaningful life.
- Expert in leadership development amongst professionals
- 20 years an Educator, CEO of Venture Within, and EDventure International
- ICF Accredited Certified Professional Coach
- Curated strategic leadership workshops catered for traveling professionals, with a focus on personal development and growth.
- Utilizes cultural immersive experiences as transformative opportunities.
- Specializes in transformative experiences that enhance leadership abilities on personal and professional levels.
The Nicaraguan retreat is for those who seek an indulgent experience away from their routine and who crave soulful time to align their purpose and tune into their writing passion. If you are:
- an adventurous spirit
- craving a change in your scenery
- a soul-searching individual
- seeking mindfulness
- in need of a break, relaxation and re-focus
- ready to invest in your writing skills and nurture your passion
Then we got you covered. The Writing Retreat is the luxurious get-away offering you the experience you’ve been looking for.
Still have questions? Get in touch and we’ll give you a call to be sure this retreat is the perfect fit for your needs.
