Christmas Yoga & Spa Escape on Spain's Sunny Costa del Sol

This retreat runs over Christmas itself — arriving December 23rd, departing December 27th — and the schedule is designed around the holiday rather than despite it. Christmas Eve, the group cooks a Spanish dinner together with instructor Inés, who lived in Nerja for years and knows the local recipes. Christmas Day follows the same format: morning yoga on the beach if the weather cooperates, free time through the afternoon, then another cooking workshop for the Christmas dinner. No restaurant queues, no lonely hotel buffet — just a group meal you helped make.

The yoga programme covers four styles across six sessions. Mornings typically start with something more active — Hatha or Vinyasa — while evenings wind down with Yin or Nidra. Patrick, who founded Yogi.nl in Amsterdam in 2004, leads most classes; he's been teaching for over 15 years and specialises in these styles. Inés, who's been teaching since 2006, handles the Nidra sessions and the Wim Hof breathing meditations that open each morning. Both teachers trained in the Netherlands and have run retreats together across Europe, but their base is here in Nerja.

The apartments at Marina Turquesa sit in one of Nerja's quieter neighbourhoods, 250 metres from Burriana beach. Each has a kitchen, living room, and terrace; you share these spaces with one to three other guests depending on your room type. Breakfast happens together each morning on the terrace of the largest apartment — a buffet spread with fruit, yoghurt, bread, and eggs. The two dinners not covered by the cooking workshops are on your own, so you can eat in town with part of the group or explore Nerja's restaurants solo.

The excursion to Frigiliana is a highlight for many guests. The village sits in the Almijara mountains, about 20 minutes from Nerja, and the retreat includes a guided hike through the surrounding countryside with a mindful meditation session built in. Lunch that day is optional — the group eats together at a restaurant in the village — and you can take the bus or a shared taxi back, or stay longer and explore on your own. Reviews from past guests mention this day, along with beach yoga and the New Year's Eve celebration in Nerja's main square, as standout memories.

What's included

- 4 nights accommodation in shared or private room - Daily breakfast (buffet-style on apartment terrace) - 2 cooking workshops with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners - 6 yoga classes (Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Nidra) - 6 meditation sessions (4 Wim Hof breathing, 2 relaxation) - Guided excursion to Frigiliana with hike and village tour - Walking tour of Nerja city centre and Balcón de Europa - Access to spa, jacuzzi, pool, and fitness area - Free wifi - Free parking - Luggage storage

What's not included

- Flights to Málaga - Airport transfers (bus or shared taxi available) - Travel insurance - Visa fees (if applicable) - 2 dinners (free evenings to eat in town) - Lunches - Optional activities and excursions not in the programme - Additional spa treatments