Discover the real Almería.
Imagine six all-inclusive nights in Almería, a sun-drenched corner of Andalucía where mountain trails, Mediterranean shores, and incredible local flavours invite you to slow down and savour every moment.
Yama Yoga and Secrets of Almería have come together to create Savor Andalucía, an all-inclusive boutique retreat for women that blends daily yoga and mindfulness with exceptional food, local culture, and adventure. With a thoughtfully planned itinerary and time to unwind, you can settle in, feel looked after, and enjoy the experience which includes experiencing Holy Week Spain style!
Come for the sunshine, the food, and the adventure. Leave feeling rested, inspired, and connected, with memories and friendships to take home.
Morning light on the pool
as you unroll your yoga mat. A delicious breakfast, a stroll through the local market, a glass of wine or two..., olive oil tastings, incredible Spanish cheese, and the sun sinking into the sea at the end of the day. No inbox, no itinerary to manage, just time to be fully where you are.
It's more than a girls trip...this is a chance to slow down alongside women who want the same thing. Share meals, movement, and authentic cultural experiences, as you step into the heart of Almería during Semana Santa, when candlelit processions wind through the historic streets. You'll come home with memories, and probably a few new friends.
The best part, You don't have to plan a thing! Simply show up and let yourself be guided, pampered, and cared for while you explore this gorgeous part of Andalucía, Spain! Cathy and Sasha are expert hosts that have thought of every detail for your journey in Andalucía - from the tours, meals, hikes, yoga, experiences, you don't have to think, you can just BE.
WHY TRAVEL WITH SECRETS OF ALMERIA & YAMA YOGA?
Enjoy the trip, leave the planning to us
Give yourself a break from researching, booking, and working out the details. We bring together comfortable accommodation, delicious meals, and thoughtfully chosen experiences so you can spend your time enjoying Almería.
Nourish your body and mind
Daily yoga and meditation invite you to stretch, breathe, and reconnect with yourself. With guidance suitable for all levels, plus time for massage, spa experiences, and rest, you can enjoy taking care of yourself without any pressure to perform.
Get to know the Almería we call home.
Explore beyond the usual tourist trail with people who know and love this corner of Spain. Meet local producers, visit family businesses, and discover the food, landscapes, and traditions that give Almería its character, with English-speaking hosts to help you feel comfortable and connected along the way.
Come on your own, feel part of the group
Whether you arrive solo or with a friend, you’ll join a small group of women who share your curiosity and sense of adventure. Shared meals, new discoveries, and relaxed conversations offer plenty of opportunities for friendships to grow.
Explore without feeling rushed
Enjoy the pleasure of discovering somewhere new, with time to appreciate it. Our six-night retreat balances cultural experiences and outdoor adventure with leisurely meals and moments to yourself, so you can explore without feeling you’re constantly moving on to the next thing.
Savour the food and the company
Food is one of the most memorable ways to experience Almería. From local tastings to meals shared around the table, you’ll discover regional flavours, hear the stories behind them, and enjoy the simple pleasure of eating well together.
Support the place you’ve come to enjoy
Your visit supports local businesses and producers. Secrets of Almería also donates €100 to PAWS PATAS, our local animal shelter, for every retreat booked, helping care for animals in the community we call home.
Your Excape to the Mediterranean
What incredible experiences will I enoy on this journey?
Here is a glimpse of what is on offer.
Sample Itinerary
Arrival Day: You will be picked up from the airport or train station to be whisked to Vera Playa a beautiful beachside village where you can take a deep breath and completely let go in our beautiful chalet. Orientation, yota, massage and dinner are included this day.
Day 1 = Local seaside markets, nature wellness walks, yoga and gourmet food paired with local wines in the comfort of your home away from home.
Day 2 = Excursion to the mountains of Almería Today, we will taste organic wines and explore a beautiful castle nestled in the mountains of Almería. The evening there will be an yoga and an optional excursion to the white painted village of Mojácar for sunset and shopping.
Day 3 = Spains Liquid Gold Excursion to enjoy an olive oil tasting breakfast, yoga, and the journey through Andalucía wine tasting dinner.
Day 4 = Ceramics & Garnet Hunting After breakfast and yoga, we will check-out of our chalet and begin our journey to the capital city. On the way we will visit an artisan village that specializes in ceramics and hike into an ancient crater to hunt for garnets. In the evening we will watch Flamenco while enjoyinig local tapas.
Day 5 = Exploring Almería After yoga and free time we will enjoy a tapas tour for lunch and then meet at the Spa for an ancient baths journey with massage and our dinner will be on the patio so that we can enjoy watching the Holy Week Easter Processions.
Day 6 = After breakfast We will arrange for your transportation to the airport or bus/strain station.
A taste of your Savor Andalucía experience With Secrets of Almería and Yama Yoga
Ease into life by the Mediterranean
Settle into our private retreat home in Vera Playa, unpack, and take a breath. Enjoy a welcoming meal, a relaxing massage, and time to unwind. A walk along the beach and conversations around the table offer a lovely beginning to your stay.
Find your rhythm with Yama Yoga
Make space for yourself through yoga, meditation, and a soothing sound bath guided by Sasha of Yama Yoga. Whether you practise regularly or are simply curious, you’ll be welcomed with guidance for your level and encouraged to listen to your body.
Spend a morning enjoying the simple things
Browse the Sunday market in Villaricos, soak up the seaside atmosphere, and pause for churros con chocolate. These everyday pleasures offer a chance to slow down and enjoy the company, the surroundings, and whatever catches your eye.
Taste the stories behind the food and wine
Visit a local bodega, discover regional wines, and explore the flavours of Spanish olive oil through a guided tasting. A special wine pairing dinner takes you on a culinary journey through Andalucía, with time to savour each course and discover something new in your glass.
Explore villages, history, and local craftsmanship
Discover Vélez Blanco and its castle, then enjoy a different side of Almería in Níjar, where you can browse colourful ceramics and find something special to take home. Cathy brings local knowledge and a personal touch to the places you visit, helping you connect with more than the scenery.
Step into Almería’s remarkable landscapes
Enjoy a picnic and a hike at El Hoyazo, taking time to appreciate the landscape and the details you might otherwise walk past. It’s a chance to move your body, enjoy the fresh air, and share a little adventure together.
Discover the flavours and atmosphere of Almería city
Spend your final two nights at Aire Hotel & Spa, with time to wander the old town and enjoy the city’s character. Join Cathy for a tapas tour filled with local flavours and stories, then experience the atmosphere of Semana Santa as its traditions unfold in the streets.
Finish with time to unwind
Enjoy a spa experience at Aire, a leisurely dinner, and time to reflect on the week together. Our closing circle offers a moment to pause, share your favourite memories, and appreciate the connections you’ve made before heading home.
Top 4 reasons to join us:
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Share the experience with women who love to explore. Come solo or bring a friend, and enjoy the easy company of a small group. From yoga sessions with Sasha fron Yama Yoga to shared meals and new discoveries, there’s plenty of space for laughter, connection, and friendships to grow.
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Give yourself the care you so often give others. Enjoy daily yoga and meditation with Sasha of Yama Yoga, with welcoming guidance for all levels. Alongside a relaxing massage and time at the spa, these moments invite you to slow down, stretch, breathe, and reconnect with yourself.
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Get to know the Almería we call home. Let Secrets of Almería introduce you to local flavours, welcoming people, characterful villages, and beautiful landscapes. Together with Yama Yoga, we blend cultural discovery with mindful moments that give you time to appreciate it all.
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Enjoy having something wonderful planned for you. We take care of the details, balancing yoga and wellness with delicious food, culture, adventure, and rest. You can put the planning aside, follow your curiosity, and simply enjoy being here.
What's included
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A gorgeous home-like environment for 4 nights, where you feel like part of the family, in a private chalet in a seaside village.
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2 nights in a boutique historic hotel in the historic center of Almería, close to everthing but away from the noise and hustle and bustle of the city.
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All meals during the retreat are included, depending on your personal arrival and departure that means up to 6 savory breakfasts, 6 luscious lunches, and 6 incredible dinners – plus snacks, tea, coffee, wine, soda and bottled water throughout the day.
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Welcome massage.
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Spa Hammam access with massage at Aire Spa.
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Magical, unique off-the-beaten-path guided experiences.
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Free time to relax or roam the local beaches and bird-filled lagoons neighboring our chalet.
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Free time to shop and explore Almería city.
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All entrance fees for all planned excursions.
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Group Transportation for all excursions and to and from the airport at designated times.
What's Not included
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Your round-trip airfare from home.
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Personal, medical or trip cancellation insurance (we highly recommended you purchase a policy.)
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Personal transport to and from the airport outside of scheduled group transport.
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Meals, beverages and activities during free time or done outside planned group activities.
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Tips and gratuities.
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Taxi transport and entrance fees for any private, individual trips.
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Souvenirs, phone calls, spa services (except those included in the group activities), taxis, laundry (through a paid service), etc.
What you'll take home
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Thoughtful gifts from Secrets of Almería and Yama Yoga, chosen to bring a little of your time here home with you.
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Simple ways to make time for yourself, inspired by your yoga and meditation experiences with Yama Yoga.
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A closer connection to Spain, its flavours, traditions, landscapes, and the people who make it special.
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New friendships and shared stories, from meals around the table, moments of discovery, and plenty of laughter along the way.
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A little Spanish and a taste for a slower pace, with more reasons to linger over a meal and enjoy the moment.
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Memories you’ll love revisiting, and photographs that bring you straight back to your favourite places and people.
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Fresh inspiration for your next adventure, with the confidence and curiosity to explore beyond the familiar.
This adventure is just what you need if:
You love exploring new places and would welcome someone else taking care of the details.
You enjoy travelling with other women, whether you come solo or bring a friend.
You’re ready for time to yourself, with massage, spa time, and room to unwind.
You’d love yoga and meditation with Yama Yoga, whether you’re a beginner or practise regularly.
You enjoy local food, wine, and culture and discovering places beyond the usual tourist trail.
You’d appreciate English-speaking hosts who help you feel welcome and comfortable along the way.
A little about our travel style:
We love getting to know a place by going where the locals go, understanding its culture through food, and exploring beyond the usual tourist trail. With Secrets of Almería, you’ll discover favourite local spots and enjoy experiences that help you feel connected to the place and its people.
Yoga and the Wellness practices shared on this retreat with Sasha of Yama Yoga is approachable and welcoming for all abilities. From the foundations to more challenging poses, she’ll offer guidance and options so you can enjoy your practice at a level that feels right for you.
Together, we believe in making space for quiet moments, giving you time to rest, reflect, and nourish yourself. Whether you enjoy journaling, taking photographs, a quiet walk, or simply sitting and taking in your surroundings, there’s time to pause and appreciate being here.
And we believe exploring locally should come with plenty of comfort. Beautiful accommodation, thoughtful touches, massage, spa time, and incredible food and wine are all part of the experience. We love a little adventure, and we love being pampered too.
Frequently asked questions
Meet Your Retreat Hosts
Cathy Allen - Secrets of Almería
About Cathy Allen :
Your host and founder of Secrets of Almería
Born and raised in Alaska, I’ve always been drawn to sunshine and discovering somewhere new. After studying Finance at the University of Arizona, my career with IBM gave me the opportunity to live in Malaysia and work and travel across Asia and Europe.
What I loved most was getting to know a place through its food, its customs, and especially its people. That curiosity eventually brought me to Almería, where I now live and have the pleasure of sharing the corner of Spain I call home.
I created Secrets of Almería to offer the kind of travel I love: personal, welcoming, and full of discoveries beyond the usual tourist trail. Whether we’re chatting over tapas, meeting a local producer, or exploring a mountain path, I want you to feel looked after and enjoy a real connection to the places we visit.
Together with Sasha of Yama Yoga, I’m bringing that love of discovery to a retreat with time for adventure, rest, wonderful food, and good company.
I can’t wait to welcome you to Almería and share the places and people that make it so special to me.
Sasha Woodard - Yama Yoga
About Sasha Woodard :
Your host and founder of Yama Yoga
I founded Yama Yoga to create a space where women can reconnect with themselves and rediscover joy, peace, and connection. Since completing my yoga teacher training in 2010, I’ve guided more than 3,000 classes and led 24 retreats across Colorado and Mexico. Each one is a unique opportunity for women to slow down, reflect, and awaken to living fully and boldly.
Before teaching yoga, I spent nearly a decade working as an environmental engineer — a chapter that strengthened my appreciation for structure, clarity, and purpose. Over time, I realized my true calling was to connect with people on a deeper level and help them live with intention and love.
When I’m not teaching or hosting retreats, you’ll find me laughing with my family, dancing, traveling, or spending time in nature. I believe yoga extends far beyond the mat — it’s a lifelong practice of mindfulness, compassion, and courageous living.
Training/Certifications:
200 hour Yoga Teacher - 2010
Prenatal Yoga - 2011
Yoga Wall Teacher Training - 2017
Yin Yoga Teacher Training - 2019
Anatomy Teacher Tune Up - 2019
Certified Breath Coach - 2022
I continue to feed my mind with current knowledge via annual training and workshops in yoga philosophy, meditation, anatomy, and teaching principles/methodologies
Contact
Vera Playa, Almería, Spain 04621
+34 644 773 807 or +1 720-545-6003
