DEEP HEALING WATERS –
YOGA & MEDITATION RETREAT IN AZORES
11th – 16th May 2026
*please note, this retreat is now fully booked. But feel free to check out our Azores Retreat in September 2026 via the button below*
In the heart of the Atlantic, where lush gardens meet healing waters, a journey of renewal and inner awakening awaits. This is your invitation to join us for this Yoga & Meditation Retreat in Azores.
This retreat is an invitation to reconnect, purify, and recharge in a place of breathtaking natural beauty. The thermal waters of Terra Nostra, rich in minerals and celebrated for their healing properties, will be woven into our daily rhythm. Yoga and meditation sessions held in the warm, therapeutic pool, surrounded by the gentle stillness of the gardens.
After eight years of guiding retreats at Shamballah and welcoming over 2,000 participants, we feel deeply inspired to share this new journey in one of the most magical places on earth. Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, nestled in the heart of Furnas, carries an atmosphere of serenity and timeless elegance. In short, this peaceful setting makes it a perfect space to support profound inner transformation.
Our destination, São Miguel in the Azores, is a jewel of natural wonder – an island of volcanic landscapes, lush forests, and pristine lakes. Moreover, it is recognised as both Europe’s Leading and the World’s Best Adventure Destination. The Azores embody harmony between humanity and nature – an ideal sanctuary for awakening balance, vitality, and presence.
YOGA & MEDITATION RETREAT | CONSCIOUS HOLIDAY
Yoga and meditation retreats are a great way to unwind and de-stress from daily demands. They offer a clear break from the usual hustle and allow space for self-care and personal growth. Many of our guests feel more relaxed and centred after a retreat. It often improves their overall sense of well-being. Our programs also create a supportive and nurturing environment. In this space, participants can learn about themselves and build new skills and habits for a happier, healthier life.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR YOGA RETREAT WITH SHAMBALLAH IN SÃO MIGUEL?
Yoga & Meditation Practices
Each day at Terra Nostra Garden Hotel begins with a Vinyasa Yoga practice – a dynamic, flowing sequence of asanas guided by conscious breath and intention. These energizing morning sessions awaken the body and mind through variations of Sun Salutations and mindful movement.
Evening classes are more introspective, offering a blend of Hatha, Yin, and Restorative Yoga. These slower-paced sessions emphasize alignment, deep stretching of the connective tissues, and full-body relaxation. Throughout the week, each class explores one of the seven chakras, combining asanas, mudras, breathwork, and mantra chanting to restore balance and enhance the flow of life force energy.
The meditation sessions invite you to journey inward through stillness and awareness. Guided meditations, breath-based concentration techniques, and mindfulness practices cultivate clarity and inner peace. Some sessions take place amidst the lush beauty of the Terra Nostra botanical garden and in the soothing warmth of the thermal pool. This setting offers unique opportunities to connect deeply with nature and experience profound states of relaxation and presence.
Nourishing Food
Food is a very important part of this program and usually a highlight for many of our guests. With influences from around the world, we prepare fresh and delicious meals with local and organic ingredients when possible.
The Place
Terra Nostra Garden Hotel will be our home for this retreat, a timeless
sanctuary surrounded by one of the most enchanting botanical gardens in the world. With 24 hours access to these lush botanical gardens so that you can enjoy the true beauty of them at your leisure.
The thermal waters of Terra Nostra, rich in minerals and known for their healing and revitalizing properties, will be part of our daily practice.
In May, the gardens come alive with colour, and there’s a quiet sense of renewal that you feel not just around you, but moving through your body.
Accommodation
Our guests will stay at the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, a sanctuary of peace surrounded by the lush botanical gardens of Furnas. Most participants will enjoy Garden View Rooms, offering elegant comfort and beautiful views over the surrounding greenery.
We also have a limited number of SCAD Rooms (Standard Cosy Art Deco) – charming spaces that reflect the hotel’s original 1930s style while maintaining the same comfort and tranquility.
Staying within the hotel grounds allows effortless access to the thermal pools and gardens – a true luxury for body, mind, and spirit, inviting deep rest and reconnection with nature without the need to travel far.
Other Activities
During our time together, we’ll enjoy two unique experiences that invite connection with the raw beauty of the Azores. We believe there’s no need to move much to feel deeply transformed. The thermal waters and lush botanical gardens surrounding us offer everything we need to restore balance, slow down, and allow true healing to unfold.
One day, we’ll head out into the Atlantic during the early days of the baleen whale season, when these gentle giants begin passing by the Azores. We’ll be on the lookout for the majestic blue whale, a powerful reminder of the vastness of life and our place within it.
Another day, we’ll take a mindful hike around Furnas Lake to witness the traditional cooking of Cozido das Furnas. In our case, a nourishing vegetarian version, gently cooked underground by volcanic heat.
This healthy week includes:
INVESTMENT
€1,750 / person – Twin/shared room
€2,750 / person – Single room
LET’S CONNECT
Have questions or want to learn more about the retreat before booking? Schedule a quick call and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know.
HOW TO GET THERE
Getting to São Miguel, Azores
To reach the island of São Miguel, you can fly directly to João Paulo II Airport (PDL) in Ponta Delgada, Azores.
There are frequent direct flights to the Azores with airlines such as TAP Air Portugal, Azores Airlines, and Ryanair.
Regular connections operate from major European and North American cities. Including Lisbon, Porto, London, Frankfurt, Boston, New York, and Toronto – with additional routes available seasonally.
For those travelling from or connecting in Portugal, there are multiple daily flights from Lisbon and Porto, with convenient options for both weekday departures and weekend returns.
Getting to Terra Nostra
Once you arrive at João Paulo II Airport (PDL), in Ponta Delgada, it’s approximately a 45-minute drive to Terra Nostra Garden Hotel in Furnas.
If you wish to explore the other 8 Azorean islands, there are short inter-island flights and ferries connecting São Miguel with Terceira, Faial, Pico, and the other islands.