8-Day Pilates, Yoga & Hiking Retreat in Gran Canaria, Spain

The retreat runs Saturday to Saturday at Villa Gran Canaria in the town of Agüimes, in the south-east of the island. You fly into Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) and get picked up — the villa is roughly 15 minutes away. Arrival day has a welcome dinner at 19:30. From Sunday morning onward the pattern settles in: a 9:00 Pilates class, brunch at 10:00, an excursion or free afternoon, a 17:30 yoga class, dinner at 19:30.

The Pilates programme builds across the week rather than repeating the same class. Sunday is breath and core activation. Monday is power Pilates. Tuesday uses the magic circle. Wednesday brings in the body ball, and Thursday works with elastic bands. Friday is a general class, and Saturday closes with a yoga departure class before breakfast. Yoga runs most evenings at 17:30, and there's a yoga stretch and flow session on Friday at 18:00. Thursday and Friday are the two hiking days; Tuesday is the day trip to Tejeda and Roque Nublo, with dinner eaten out that evening rather than at the villa.

What separates this from a generic Pilates holiday is the teaching. Alex Estornel is certified through Equinox Pilates under Carrie Macy and has Polestar Pilates training from Miami. He came to Pilates from a professional dance career — he danced for Cher, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and Gloria Estefan — and used it to manage the physical toll of performing. He has run Pilates retreats in Greece, Spain, England and Austria for over ten years, and the classes here are classical Pilates taught with modifications for beginners through to advanced practitioners.

The villa itself sits in a quiet spot with mountain views. The heated pool is the main gathering point in the afternoons, and the terrace is where most people end up after dinner. There are two room options: a private room with a large double bed and a shared bathroom, and a shared room for two people (either two singles or two doubles depending on the room) with an en-suite bathroom. Both have air conditioning, WiFi and terrace access.

The Gran Canaria setting does a lot of work here. The retreat runs October through April, which is peak season on the island and the reason the schedule leans on outdoor classes, beach trips and hikes. The interior of the island — Tejeda, Roque Nublo — is dramatic volcanic terrain, and the hikes are guided. Guests regularly mention the food and the progression of the classes in reviews; the programme is structured so each day adds to the last.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation - Water, tea and coffee served throughout the day - Daily brunch, dinner and snacks - Twice-daily Pilates and yoga classes - Transportation during the retreat - Airport collection and transfers - 2 guided nature hikes - Excursions to sites of interest (beach trip, Tejeda and Roque Nublo) - Professional event photos - WiFi connection - Parking - Pre and post retreat support from the team

What's not included

- Flight costs - Travel insurance - Visa fee - Lunches (brunch and dinner only are included) - Additional activities not included in the itinerary - Additional treatments such as massage - Personal expenses