The Water & Fire Boutique Retreat

In June 2027, we will finally realise our dreams by securing a retreat venue and taking you to the island of Terceira in the Azores.

There is always a place on earth that you never imagine you will discover or visit, and this enchanting Portuguese archipelago is one of those places.

The island of Terceira is a treasure in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean. When you arrive on the island, you feel as though you are miles from everything, surrounded by vast stretches of water, and you are!

When we visited in 2025, it was a genuine revelation and a wonderful surprise. We fell in love instantly.

Because the very essence of Terceira lies in its vast oceans, ancient forests and volcanoes, the theme of the retreat is Water and Fire.

At the modern, bright and airy venue, Xhale Azores, Teresa and her team will welcome you with care and expertise, creating a space for rest and renewal.

Just twenty minutes from the airport and only steps from the ocean, the retreat is surrounded by volcanic and floral landscapes and embraces the warm, wild and deeply nourishing rhythm of the island.

Here, the days unfold softly: somatic yoga, mindful yoga, breathwork, and meditation to the sound of the waves, nourishing meals grown from local soil, and time simply to be, whether swimming in the heated infinity pool overlooking the Atlantic, in the nearby natural lava pools, or hiking in the mountains, surrendering the area.

The rooms are cosy and thoughtfully designed, with ocean breezes and natural touches that invite you to slow down and feel at home. Enjoy massages, the hammam, the dry sauna and the gym to enhance the sense of wellbeing already created by this enchanting venue.

Xhale is more than just a retreat centre; it is a space where the island’s beauty, culture and the generosity of its people come together.

Owned, loved and managed by the women of Terceira, it carries a spirit of care and connection that makes every moment feel personal and genuine.

Water and Fire is the theme of this retreat, where we celebrate fluidity, movement, integration, controlled warm energy, and deep wisdom.

Through somatic and mindful yoga inspired by the Scaravelli approach, breathwork, deep relaxation, and meditation, we will explore how these elements live within us, how water teaches softness and adaptability, and fire awakens clarity, vitality, and transformation.

We will embrace opposites and contradictions, polarities and balance, finding presence in every breath and grounding in every movement, the true essence of summer!

The theme at this retreat will help you to:

• Return and reconnect with the body’s wisdom.
• Restore your nervous system and return to a rhythm of effortless balance, where breath, movement, and stillness meet.
• Soften into emotional fluidity, learning to move with life as water does; adaptable, open, and alive.
• Unravel tension and rediscover the body’s natural grace, guided by awareness rather than effort.
• Awaken the steady, radiant warmth of inner fire, energy that nourishes rather than consumes.
• Root into clarity and grounded presence, finding harmony in the dance between flow and focus, water and flame
• Embrace Summer as we remember!

Summer invites us to slow down, breathe deeply, and move with the rhythms of sunlight and sea.

On this island carved by water and fire, we awaken fluid strength and delicate vitality, easing into what feels natural and alive.

Each breath carries the warmth of renewal, a return to balance, brightness, and inner flame. Here, rest and vitality meet in the effortless flow of summer.

There is something very personal about this place.

When Teresa returned to her ancestral home on Terceira Island, she did not just come back to live. She came back with the wish to create a space where others could experience what she feels here: the light, the openness, the presence of the ocean.

Together with her husband, she chose not to follow traditional island architecture. Instead, they built something modern and simple that keeps the landscape the focus. Large windows, open terraces, and clean lines keep you always aware of the sky and the sea. The building does not compete with nature. It frames it.

Inside, comfort has been considered carefully. The ensuite bedrooms are calm and private. The yoga space is purpose-built, with enough room to practise without feeling crowded. There is a spa area to unwind, and the café and terrace are bright and open, offering a natural place to sit, talk, or simply look out at the horizon.

Teresa works alongside a small team of local people. This matters. They know the island, its rhythms, its weather, its stories. There is a quiet warmth in the way guests are welcomed and looked after. You do not feel processed. You feel received.

The garden leads to a saltwater pool that faces the Atlantic. On clear days, the line between pool and ocean almost disappears. And if you prefer to swim in the sea itself, natural volcanic pools are a short walk away.

For our work together, this setting is not incidental. The simplicity of the design, the steadiness of the team, and the constant presence of the ocean all support what we are doing. It becomes easier to slow down. Easier to listen. Easier to let the island do some of the holding.

That same space and quiet also shape the way Laurent teaches. When the environment is this open and steady, his creativity sharpens. The rhythm of the ocean and the landscape subtly influence how each session unfolds, so the work stays responsive and grounded, rather than fixed in advance.

Xhale offers a small number of thoughtfully designed ensuite rooms, each with a balcony, desk, minibar, and hairdryer. The rooms are calm and private, with side sea views and garden outlooks, fitted with natural materials and simple finishes that reflect the character of the island.

Please note that this retreat accommodates a maximum of four single occupants.

Terceira is a genuinely surprising island, and the free time built into each day gives you space to explore it properly.

Within the venue, the heated infinity pool faces the Atlantic. On clear days the horizon stretches uninterrupted in every direction. The Sage Spa is available throughout the week, with a sauna, Turkish bath, and hot and cold circuit. Massage and therapy treatments can be booked directly at reception with local therapists.

The natural volcanic lava pools at Os Salgueiros are a short walk from Xhale, carved by centuries of Atlantic waves into the black rock. Swimming here, with the open ocean on one side and the island rising behind you, is one of those experiences that stays with you.

The island's volcanic interior rewards exploration on foot or by car. The landscape shifts dramatically as you move inland, from coastal scrub to dense laurel forest, ancient craters, and the remarkable underground lava tube at Algar do Carvão, one of the few in the world accessible to the public.

Angra do Heroísmo, the island's capital and a UNESCO World Heritage city, is around 30 minutes away. Its Portuguese baroque architecture, harbour fortresses, and tiled streets are worth an afternoon. The cafés and local restaurants there are excellent.

A boat excursion to the Ilhéus das Cabras, the two small islets just off the coast, is well worth arranging. The waters around them are a protected marine reserve, clear and rich with sea life, and the crossing itself offers some of the best views back towards the island. We can help organise this for you.

Car hire is available at the airport and recommended for anyone who wants to cover the island at their own pace. We are happy to help with suggestions and arrangements.

How to get to Terceira

Flights are not included in the retreat price, giving you the freedom to travel on your own schedule. We are happy to help you plan your journey.

The closest airport is Lajes Airport, Terceira Island (IATA code: TER). From the UK and most European cities, the easiest route is to fly via Lisbon or Porto, with daily onward connections to Terceira. Flight time from Lisbon or Porto is approximately two and a half hours.

Scheduled airport transfers between Lajes and Xhale are included in the retreat price. Private transfers can be arranged at an additional cost. If you would like to explore the island during your stay, car hire is available at the airport and straightforward to arrange.

Entry requirements

The Azores are an autonomous region of Portugal and part of the European Union. No additional visas or special permits are required beyond those normally needed to enter Portugal. Travel is simple and familiar for UK and EU residents.

Arrival and departure

The venue address is Rua dos Salgueiros 6, 9700-607 São Sebastião, Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Açores, Portugal.

Check-in is from 4:00 pm. Check-out is by 10:30 am.