Villa Laguna NICARAGUA · FEBRUARY 14–20, 2027 · WOMEN'S RETREAT
She Rises
Softly
Do you know what you need, or only what needs to be done?
A women’s retreat for those ready to step away from the noise, expectations and constant doing, and make space for what has become harder to hear:
Yourself. What you need. What you feel. What brings you joy. What matters to you.
With Emely Alcina & May Denis
You don’t need to push harder to become more.
There is another way to rise.
Maybe you haven’t lost yourself. Maybe life has just gotten too loud.
There is always something to think about. Something to respond to. Something that needs your attention.
Responsibilities. Expectations. Decisions. Plans. Other people’s needs. The constant sense of what comes next.
And somewhere inside all that noise, your own voice can become harder to hear.
What do I need?
What do I want?
How do I actually feel?
What brings me joy now?
What matters to me?
She Rises Softly is an invitation to step out of the constant motion and be nourished by the sacred land of Laguna de Apoyo, creating space for rest, deep introspection, mindful presence, and a remembering of the inner wisdom that has always lived within you.
For one week, the meals, the activities, the details, and the care have already been thought about.
You get to arrive.
You get to soften.
You get to listen.
And in that quiet, you may begin to hear yourself again.
Is This You?
Life feels full, loud, and constantly in motion. You keep moving, responding, managing, and doing, but somewhere along the way, your own voice has become harder to hear.
You are so used to thinking about what needs to happen next that you rarely get the space to ask yourself what you need, how you feel, or what brings you joy.
And you are craving more than a vacation. You want space to slow down, breathe, reconnect, and come back home to yourself in a way that nourishes your mind, body, and soul.
If this feels like you, come discover what becomes possible when you finally have the space to hear yourself again, surrounded by the beauty and magic of Nicaragua.
Take a few minutes to meet us and hear why we created She Rises Softly.
A Personal Invitation From Us
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Imagine Yourself Here
Imagine waking to the sounds of nature, warm air drifting through your room, and the smell of fresh coffee waiting downstairs.
You make your way to the open-air shala for a quiet morning practice. You breathe. You move. You meditate. You open your journal without needing to know exactly what you are going to write.
And slowly, something begins to quiet.
Afterward, you gather around the table with a small group of women over fresh fruit, coffee, juice, and breakfast. There is conversation and laughter, but no pressure to be anything other than who you are.
The day might take you into the warm waters of the lagoon, out into the beauty & culture of Nicaragua, or simply into a hammock with nowhere else you need to be.
And somewhere in all that space, you begin to notice something that can be so easy to lose touch with in everyday life:
Yourself.
The space between your thoughts begins to widen. There is room for clarity. Inspiration. Desire. The quiet knowing underneath all the noise.
Not because someone tells you who you should become.
Because you finally become quiet enough to hear what has been there all along.
This is the space She Rises Softly is inviting you into.
How the Days Unfold
Each day is intentionally shaped with both structure and spaciousness, offering invitations into rest, breath, reflection, movement, connection and inner work, while leaving room to follow what you need.
Slow mornings
Meditation, breath, mindful movement, reflection.
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Space to Rest, Eat and Receive
Lake time, journaling, floating, quiet, nourishment.
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Evenings and Connection
Cacao, firelight, sensory dinner, conversation, integration.
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Guided Inner Experiences
Breathwork, reflection, inner-child work, somatic awareness, sharing.
Some moments will be guided, others intentionally open, so you can listen to what you need.
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Experience Nicaragua
Included activities
Two included experiences bring beauty, culture, awe, and connection into the week. These outings are not here to fill the schedule. They are chosen to support the retreat’s deeper intention: to step outside your usual rhythm, take in the world around you, and let yourself be moved by something larger.
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Volcano Evening Experience
Witness the Power of the Earth
We will begin with a brief stop at Masaya Market, where you may browse handmade crafts, colour, and local artistry before the evening continues.
From there, we will drive up to Masaya Volcano’s overlook. No hiking is required, only the rare opportunity to stand above an active crater and witness this powerful natural wonder.
As the light begins to change, there will be time to take in the evening air, the scale of the earth, and the perspective that can come from being somewhere so ancient and alive.
Horse Rescue + The White Villages
Compassion Changes Us
This day begins at a local horse rescue sanctuary, where horses formerly used for cart pulling are now receiving care, safety, and the chance to live with greater freedom.
From there, we will continue through two of Nicaragua’s Pueblos Blancos. In Catarina, we will pause for open views across Laguna de Apoyo.
In San Juan de Oriente, there will be time to wander through a village known for its pottery traditions and handmade craft.
Your Stay & Experiences
Included Activities
Your Open Integration Day
One day is intentionally left open so you can choose what your body and heart need most: rest, lake time, massage, or an optional participant-paid excursion.
Optional experiences may include:
In-house massage · Popoyo Beach · San Juan del Sur + Catamaran · Granada + Las Isletas
Optional activities, excursions, and wellness services are participant-paid and can be arranged separately.
An Intimate Sanctuary by the Water
Nestled between tropical forest and the warm volcanic waters of Laguna de Apoyo, Villa Laguna will be our home for six nights.
• Comfortable shared accommodations, each with a private bathroom
• Direct access to the warm waters of Laguna de Apoyo
• Peaceful gardens, an open shala overlooking the water, and quiet corners for gathering, connection or rest
• Homemade plant-based meals shared in community
Choose Your Space
The first four confirmed deposits will receive first opportunity to request a Lake View Suite, subject to rooming needs and availability.
Every guest has her own bed, and each room has a private ensuite bathroom. You are welcome to attend on your own, be thoughtfully paired with another participant, or reserve with a friend or partner.
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Lake View Suites
Shared accommodation · Private bathroom · Lake-view balcony.
Two queen beds + one twin bed · Up to three women per suite
A spacious suite with beautiful views across Laguna de Apoyo.
Patio Rooms
Shared accommodation · Private bathroom · Private outdoor patio
Two single beds that may be joined to create one king bed for couples or friends, with advance notice.
Cozy rooms located beneath the Lake View Suites, with a peaceful outdoor space to rest between retreat experiences.
Forest Rooms
Shared accommodation · Private bathroom · Surrounded by tropical greenery.
Two single beds that may be joined to create one king bed for couples or friends, with advance notice.
A quieter, tucked-away place to rest and recharge close to the gardens and natural beauty of Villa Laguna.
All accommodations are shared occupancy. Final room placement is based on registration timing, rooming preferences, and availability.
Meet Your Retreat Guides
We believe there is a quiet knowing within each of us that can become harder to hear beneath the noise, expectations and pace of everyday life.
Together, we bring therapeutic depth, body-based practice, sensory awareness, grounded facilitation and a shared belief in creating enough space for women to slow down, listen inward and reconnect with themselves.
Emely Alcina
REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST · BREATHWORK FACILITATOR · HYPNOSIS-INFORMED & BODY-BASED PRACTICES
For years, I have had the privilege of sitting with women as they share the parts of themselves that are often carried quietly: fear, grief, self-doubt, exhaustion, and longing.
Again and again, I have witnessed how easily a woman can become disconnected from her own needs while caring deeply for everyone around her.
My work is rooted in the belief that beneath the layers of protection, self-criticism, and striving, there is already something deeply worthy within us.
As a psychotherapist and facilitator, I draw from breathwork, hypnosis-informed practices, compassionate self-inquiry, and body-based awareness to create spaces where women can slow down, listen inward, and meet themselves with more kindness.
Creating this retreat feels deeply personal to me.
My hope is that you leave with more than beautiful memories. I hope you leave feeling a little more connected to your own voice, your own needs, and the quiet truth that you matter.
May Denis
Guide in Sensory Awareness & Holistic Wellbeing
For as long as I can remember, I have been curious about what helps us feel truly alive, not simply busy or productive, but present, connected, and grounded within ourselves.
My path through different cultures, personal and professional transitions, studies, and teachings has shaped my understanding of sensory awareness, mindful movement, well-being, and the quiet wisdom of slowing down.
Over the years, I have accompanied women through uncertainty, growth, and new beginnings, creating spaces where they feel seen, supported, and gently reminded of their own wisdom and strength.
Through movement, reflection, nature, and practical awareness practices, I help people reconnect with themselves, nurture self-trust, and create more space for joy, belonging, and meaningful connection, all of which lie at the heart of The Art of the Senses.
Creating this retreat alongside Emely feels deeply meaningful to me.
My hope is that you leave more present in your life, more connected to yourself, and more open to the beauty and possibility around you.
You Will Not Arrive as a Stranger
Before the retreat, you will be invited into a private WhatsApp group and an optional virtual gathering so you can meet the women joining you, ask questions, and arrive already feeling more familiar with the group. An optional post-retreat gathering will also be offered after we return home.
A Glimpse of What Awaits
A glimpse of the water, warmth, rest, nourishment, and beauty that will hold the week.
Your Investment
Here is the full retreat investment, what is included, and the details to help you decide with clarity.
She Rises Softly
February 14–20, 2027
Villa Laguna • Laguna de Apoyo • Nicaragua
This retreat has been intentionally designed as a small, cared-for experience where the essential details are already held for you: accommodations, meals, airport transfers from Managua, guided practices, included cultural experiences, and space to rest.
$2,777 USD per person
Shared occupancy only
All mandatory retreat package charges are included in this price.
Limited to 14 women · Minimum of 6 participants required
Your retreat investment includes:
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Six nights at Villa Laguna in shared rooms, each with a private bathroom
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Three homemade plant-based meals each day, along with fresh tropical fruit, coffee, tea, and filtered drinking water
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A welcome gift, thoughtful touches throughout the week, and a contribution that supports the horse rescue sanctuary.
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Direct access to the warm volcanic waters of Laguna de Apoyo
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Round-trip airport transfers from Managua International Airport
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Cacao ceremony with bonfire
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Guided heart-centered experiences, including breathwork, meditation, Qigong, hypnosis-informed inner journeys, reflection, and meaningful conversation
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Two included excursions: Volcano Evening Experience with a stop at Masaya Market, and the Horse Rescue Sanctuary with Catarina and San Juan de Oriente
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Daily housekeeping and refreshed towels
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A private retreat WhatsApp community
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One optional pre-retreat virtual gathering and one optional post-retreat virtual gathering.
Not included:
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International flights to and from Nicaragua
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Transfers from airports OTHER than Managua International Airport
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Optional activities, excursions, wellness services, and massages
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Extra nights before or after the retreat
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Alcoholic beverages
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Personal purchases, souvenirs, gratuities, and incidental expenses
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Payment-plan, processing, or credit-card fees, if applicable
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Travel insurance is not included and must be purchased separately.
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Emergency medical travel insurance is required for every participant. We also recommend choosing coverage that includes trip cancellation and interruption, so you have added support should plans change unexpectedly.
Reserving Your Place
To reserve your place, an $800 USD non-refundable deposit is required. This deposit is applied toward your total retreat investment and allows us to hold your space, begin rooming arrangements, and confirm retreat planning details.
Once availability and rooming arrangements are confirmed, the remaining balance is due by December 1, 2026.
Payment-plan options may be available upon request. Any applicable payment-plan, processing, or credit-card fees will be confirmed directly by the travel advisor before you proceed.
Retreat Confirmation
She Rises Softly requires a minimum of 6 participants to proceed. If the retreat cannot proceed, participants will be notified by December 15, 2026.
Whether you feel ready to move forward or still have a few questions, you are welcome to explore availability, rooming, payment options, and the next steps with us.
Booking is coordinated through Isabella Meduri at RF Travel, a TICO-registered travel agency.
Once you are ready to move forward, Isabella will guide you through availability, rooming, payment arrangements, and travel-related details.
Retreat Policies & Important Information
Please review these details carefully before reserving your place. They explain payment, cancellation, insurance, participant responsibility, and what may happen if plans need to change.
The retreat investment is $2,777 USD per person, based on shared accommodation. All mandatory retreat package charges are included in this price.
An $800 USD non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your place. The deposit forms part of your total retreat investment and is not an additional charge.
Once availability and rooming arrangements are confirmed, the remaining balance is due in full by December 1, 2026.
Payment-plan options may be available upon request. Any applicable payment-plan, processing, or credit-card fees will be confirmed directly by the travel advisor before you proceed.
If you need to cancel your participation, the $800 USD deposit and any retreat payments already made are non-refundable.
Because retreat planning involves advance commitments to accommodations, transportation, staffing, and venue arrangements, we strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip-cancellation and trip-interruption coverage.
Please review your insurance policy carefully to understand what circumstances may be covered.
This retreat requires a minimum of six participants to proceed and is limited to a maximum of fourteen women.
Keeping the group intentionally small allows for a more intimate experience, with space for warmth, ease, and meaningful connection.
If the retreat is unable to proceed because the minimum number of participants is not reached, we will notify you no later than December 15, 2026.
If the retreat must be cancelled by the organizer, RF Travel will contact you directly to explain your available options. These may include a refund of amounts paid toward the retreat package, an acceptable alternative arrangement, or a future travel credit if you choose it.
Please note that independently booked flights, travel insurance, extra nights, and other personal travel expenses are not included in the retreat package and cannot be reimbursed by the retreat organizers.
Emergency medical travel insurance is required for every participant and must be arranged independently before travel.
We strongly recommend comprehensive coverage that includes:
• Trip cancellation and interruption
• Emergency medical care and evacuation
• Lost or delayed baggage
• Travel delays and unexpected changes to your itinerary
Travel insurance is not included in the retreat investment. Please review your policy carefully to ensure it meets your individual needs and covers the full duration of your trip.
She Rises Softly is a wellness and personal-growth retreat. It is not psychotherapy, counselling, group therapy, mental health treatment, medical care, or crisis support.
Participation in all retreat practices and activities is voluntary. You are always welcome to participate at your own pace, take a break, observe, or choose not to join a particular experience.
Please consider your own physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing before reserving. If you have a health concern that could affect your participation in travel, shared accommodations, breathwork, movement, or other retreat activities, please speak with an appropriate healthcare provider before booking.
Participants are asked to respect the privacy of others and not share another participant’s personal story, image, or experience without their permission.
If you are currently a psychotherapy client of Emely Alcina and are considering attending, please speak with her before reserving so you can discuss whether participation is appropriate and clarify boundaries for the retreat setting.
We intend to deliver the retreat experience as described on this website. However, schedules, activities, transportation, facilitators, meals, or venue arrangements may need to change because of weather, local conditions, safety considerations, supplier availability, or other circumstances outside our reasonable control.
When changes are needed, we will make reasonable efforts to preserve the overall intention and quality of the retreat. This may include adjusting timing, changing the order of activities, or offering a comparable alternative experience.
If a significant change to the retreat package becomes necessary, RF Travel will contact affected participants directly and explain the available options in accordance with the applicable booking terms and consumer-protection requirements.
We recommend keeping travel plans flexible and purchasing comprehensive travel insurance to support you if unexpected changes affect your journey.
Travel & Booking Information
Travel booking for She Rises Softly is coordinated through RF Travel, a TICO-registered travel agency, with travel advisor Isabella Meduri.
For questions about availability, rooming, payment arrangements, airport transfers, travel insurance, or booking details, please contact:
Isabella Meduri
isabella@rftravel.ca
RF Travel
TICO Registration No. 5003172
1003–55 York Street
Toronto, ON M5J 1R7
Canada
Once you are ready to reserve your place, Isabella will guide you through availability, rooming, payment arrangements, and the next steps.