The retreat runs from 2 to 9 May 2026: seven nights and eight days at TreeCasa Resort near San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. Francine Bartlett leads it. She is the founder of Medicine Wheel Wellness, and her main work is consulting, advising and training organisations on whole-person health. The retreats are the hands-on version of that work: instead of a workshop in a conference room, you spend a week working through the framework yourself.

The Medicine Wheel splits wellbeing into four directions, and each has its own focus. West covers spiritual alignment: purpose, values and meaning. North covers mental clarity: reflection and learning. East covers emotional renewal: relationships and expression. South covers embodied integration: movement, vitality and putting what you've learned into practice. Each direction is also linked to a life stage, an animal, a season and an element. For example, South is youth, wolf, summer and fire, and North is elder, buffalo, winter and earth. Expect the sessions to draw on those associations.

A typical day mixes morning movement, a guided session on one of the four directions, free time at the resort or in town, and an evening group gathering. The page describes the week as 'healing, connection, movement, and adventure'. The adventure side most likely uses what's on the doorstep: beaches north and south of San Juan del Sur, jungle walks, and the Pacific for swimming or surfing.

What sets this apart from a standard yoga week is the framework. Many wellness retreats are a timetable of classes. This one follows a single structure from start to finish, so the active sessions, reflection and group work are meant to connect to each other.

TreeCasa itself sits in the forested hills inland from San Juan del Sur. It's quiet and green, with the town and the beaches a short drive away. San Juan del Sur is a relaxed surf town with a crescent bay, fishing boats and good sunset spots. You get jungle quiet at the resort and an easy trip to the coast when you want it.

The page asks interested guests to read past-guest testimonials before booking, and full details and sign-up sit behind the retreat's 'Learn More' page. Prices, room options and the exact daily schedule aren't on this page, so confirm those with Medicine Wheel Wellness directly.

What's included

- 7 nights at TreeCasa Resort, San Juan del Sur - 8 days of retreat programming led by Francine Bartlett - Guided sessions on each of the four Medicine Wheel directions - Movement sessions - Nature and adventure activities - Group reflection and community gatherings

What's not included

- International flights - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Optional spa treatments - Anything not listed as included (confirm with the organiser)

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