MAINTY STUDIO RETREATS · SÃO MIGUEL, AZORES
Immersion. Culture. Well-being.
Small-group retreats that pair a creative practice with the ocean, a monastery or a vineyard kitchen. Three combinations, one island, far from mass tourism.
Learn a real skill
Technical learning for guests who want to pick up real skills, from oil painting to ceramics and cooking.
A full week of immersion
Learning supported by repetition over a whole week, with time left to practice what you love, your well being is our priority.
Azorean heritage
History, culture and local initiatives of São Miguel at the heart of every program.
RIBEIRA GRANDE
Painting
x Surf
We paint at high tide, we surf at low tide.
SÃO VINCENTE
Ceramic
x Yoga
We center the clay, we center ourselves.
CALOURA
Gastronomy x Hiking
We walk for taste, we cook for keeps.
Three format, three places. Mark your calendar.
Painting x Surf
7 nights · November 2026 · 17-24
Oil painting workshops with a professional artist, surf lessons for every level and guided island tours.
12 participants max · Last beds available
Ceramic x Yoga
7 nights · February 2027 · 20-27
Shape clay by hand, stretch into daily yoga, and discover the island at a slower pace.
12 participants max · BOOKING OPENING SOON
Gastronomy x Hiking
7 nights · October 2027 · TBA soon
Every hike leads to a dish: cook with a professional chef using ingredients you meet along the trail.
12 participants max · BOOKING OPENING SOON
An art practice. A movement to feel.
EVERY MAINTY STUDIO RETREAT PAIRS TWO PRACTICES : AN ART OF MAKING AND A WAY OF MOVING
One slows you down and asks for your full attention, the other opens you to the ocean, the mountain, and the island around you.
Oil painting, ceramics, island cooking: you learn the craft with your hands, then you go outside to surf, stretch or hike.WELLNESS BUILT IN
Wellness is not an add-on: it comes from the rhythm of the week. Unhurried pace, time outdoors, good food, a small group and free time left open. Some retreats also include yoga, or can add massages on site.A DIFFERENT WAY TO TRAVEL
This is not a holiday where you collect sights, nor one where you only rest. You spend the week learning, moving, sharing, and you come home not just rested but recharged, with a skill, memories and energy that last.
For anyone looking for real time for themselves
OUR TYPICAL DAY
Different combos, same rythm
Each day is a balance between doing, learning and resting. You create, you move, and you recharge, without ever feeling rushed.The program is tried and tested, so you don’t have to think about anything. Quiet time and free afternoons are built in, so the rest of the week is yours to shape: explore, rest, or simply do nothing.
YOUR HOSTS
The faces behind each retreat
Célia Rakotondrainy
Visual artist focused on painting, and founder of Mainty Studio and Mainty Art Residency. Named one of Artnet News’ “5 Artists to Watch”, she has exhibited in France, Germany, Spain and the United States, and has lived in São Miguel for five years.
Amandine Marty Pinto
Tour guide since 2019, trained by the São Miguel Natural Park Association. She settled on the island in 2016 and is fluent in English and Portuguese. If you love botany, architecture, art and heritage, she is your guide.
SÃO VINCENTE · SÃO MIGUEL
Gastronomy x Hiking
We walk for taste, we cook for keeps.
SÃO VINCENTE · SÃO MIGUEL
Ceramic x Yoga
We center the clay, we center ourselves.
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DURATION
7 nights
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WHEN
February 20-27
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WHERE
São Vincente
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FROM
€1,290
THE RETREAT
Two rhythms, one week
The ancestral art of Azorean ceramics meets a daily yoga practice. At Azores Bagus, a house surrounded by nature, you reconnect with the earth through traditional modeling and enamel painting, and slow down with the Atlantic and the volcanoes in view.Between the workshop table and the yoga mat, the days stay slow. You come home with more than rest: a body and mind that feel truly recharged.
BOOK YOUR PLACE
Choose your room
Single Occupancy
En-suite
2 single beds in a double suite
Shared
4 bunkbeds for a max capacity of 8
Dorm
Three ways to fill the days
A typical day
A relaxed rhythm. Some days include free time.
WHERE YOU STAY
A cosy house overlooking the ocean and moutains
The Villa Rosa is a three-floor sunny house run by Gianni and Federica, with open views of the Atlantic and the island’s volcanoes. Not beachfront, but the beaches of São Roque and Pópulo are about a few minutes away by car, and Ponta Delgada about 5 minutes.
What’s included in
Ceramic x Yoga
Everything is taken care of from the moment you land on the island.
— All meals by a private chef, plus coffee and tea at any time.
— 3 ceramic master classes of 3 hours each, all materials provided.
— daily yoga with certified instructors, all equipment included.
— 3 guided tours (two half-days, one full day), a hot springs visit and a wine tasting.
— All ground transfers, including the round-trip airport shuttle.
— Welcome drink and a farewell dinner.
— Bed linen and towels.nNot included: flights to São Miguel, travel insurance and the arrival dinner.
Optional on site: massages, painting class, yoga, pilates, surfskate, extra surf lessons, board rental, whale watching and other excursions available on the island according to the season
RIBEIRA GRANDE · SÃO MIGUEL
Painting x Surf
We paint at high tide, we surf at low tide.
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DURATION
7 nights
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WHEN
Nov 7-14
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WHERE
Ribeira Grande
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FROM
€1,290
THE RETREAT
Two rhythms, one week
On the north coast of São Miguel, this retreat brings together two very different rhythms: the stillness of painting and the pull of the ocean. Over seven nights, you split your days between oil painting workshops led by a professional artist and surf lessons adapted to every level, with room left to explore the island, its hot springs and volcanic trails, guided by a certified local guide.It is for anyone looking for real time for themselves, to recharge while discovering or improving creative and movement skills. No experience in either discipline is required.
BOOK YOUR PLACE
Choose your room
Single Occupancy
En-suite
2 single beds in a double suite
Shared
4 bunkbeds for a max capacity of 8
Dorm
Three ways to fill the days
A typical day
A relaxed rhythm. Some days include free time.
WHERE YOU STAY
An eco-lodge by the ocean
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. Whether for sunbathing, relaxing, or sheltering from the rain, there's always a place to gather comfortably together.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.
What’s included
Everything is taken care of from the moment you land on the island.
— All meals by a private chef, plus coffee and tea at any time.
— 4 oil painting classes of 3 hours each, all materials provided.
— 2 surf lessons with certified instructors, wetsuit and board included.
— 3 guided tours (two half-days, one full day), a hot springs visit and a wine tasting.
— All ground transfers, including the round-trip airport shuttle.
— Welcome drink and a farewell dinner.
— Bed linen and beach towels.nNot included: flights to São Miguel, travel insurance and the arrival dinner.
Optional on site: massages, yoga, pilates, surfskate, extra surf lessons, board rental, whale watchingn and other excursions available on the island according to the season
PAINTING x SURF · YOUR ROOM
Single Suite
Your own space, steps from the ocean.
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PRICE
1420€ per person
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STAY
7 nights · November 7-14
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SLEEP
1 person
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DEPOSIT
500€ to book
THE ROOM
Calm, modern, all yours
A comfortable, modern room with elegant wooden furniture, a seating area with a sofa, and a private bathroom with a rain shower and fresh towels. Everything is on the ground floor, so you step straight out to the garden and the day ahead.It is offered for one person during the retreat. If you are travelling with someone you already know, the room can be shared on request: write to us for the shared price.
PRICE
1420€ per person, in three payments
Secure your place with a deposit, then pay the rest on a simple schedule.
Included in the price
The whole week taken care of. It's an all-inclusive package.
— All meals by a private chef, plus coffee and tea at any time.
— 4 oil painting classes of 3 hours each, all materials provided.
— 2 surf lessons with certified instructors, wetsuit and board included.
— 3 guided tours (two half-days, one full day), a hot springs visit and a wine tasting.
— All ground transfers, including the round-trip airport shuttle.
— Welcome drink and a farewell dinner.
— Bed linen and beach towels.
Reserve the Single Suite
2 single beds in a double suite
Shared double room
Room to rest between the easel and the waves.
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PRICE
1340€ per person
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STAY
7 nights · November 7-14
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SLEEP
2 people · bed setup
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DEPOSIT
500€ to book
THE ROOM
Spacious, bright, made for two
A modern, spacious room with elegant wooden furniture, and a private bathroom with a rain shower and fresh towels. Everything is on the ground floor, so you step straight out to the garden and the day ahead.[Confirm: shared by two people, bed setup (double or twin) and whether a solo booking is possible.] The price is per person, so a friend, a partner or a travel companion each pay their own place.
PRICE
€1,340 per person, in three payments
Secure your place with a deposit, then pay the rest on a simple schedule.
Reserve your bed in the double room
Included in the price
The whole week taken care of. It's an all-inclusive package.
— All meals by a private chef, plus coffee and tea at any time.
— 4 oil painting classes of 3 hours each, all materials provided.
— 2 surf lessons with certified instructors, wetsuit and board included.
— 3 guided tours (two half-days, one full day), a hot springs visit and a wine tasting.
— All ground transfers, including the round-trip airport shuttle.
— Welcome drink and a farewell dinner.
— Bed linen and beach towels.
4 BUNKBEDS · CAPACITY OF 8 PERSONS
Dorm
The shared way to stay, at the best price.
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PRICE
1290€ per person
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STAY
7 nights · November 7-14
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SLEEP
8 people · Bunkbed setup
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DEPOSIT
500€ to book
THE ROOM
Bunk beds, good company, best price
It is ideal for solo travelers, groups of friends, or anyone on a smaller budget.The room is very spacious and features stylish wooden bunk beds, designed to give you plenty of privacy, plus a large bathroom of its own. The price is per person, so each guest reserves their own bed.
PRICE
1290€ per person, in three payments
Secure your place with a deposit, then pay the rest on a simple schedule.
Reserve your bed in the dorm
Included in the price
The whole week taken care of. It's an all-inclusive package.
— All meals by a private chef, plus coffee and tea at any time.
— 4 oil painting classes of 3 hours each, all materials provided.
— 2 surf lessons with certified instructors, wetsuit and board included.
— 3 guided tours (two half-days, one full day), a hot springs visit and a wine tasting.
— All ground transfers, including the round-trip airport shuttle.
— Welcome drink and a farewell dinner.
— Bed linen and beach towels.