Days mix structured recovery work with getting out into Antigua and the villages around it. There are daily recovery-focused sessions and workshops, some built around 12-step principles, alongside excursions — volcano hikes, cultural visits, local markets and Mayan villages, and stops at nonprofits that part of the trip cost goes towards. Lunches are usually packed takeaway boxes on excursion days, and a couple of meals are eaten out at restaurants.

What separates this from a standard wellness week is who runs it and who's in the room. Philippa Myers holds a Master's in Addiction Studies from Hazelden Betty Ford and is a licensed alcohol and drug counsellor and therapist (MA, LADC, LPCC). She's been sober nearly 19 years and has worked with individuals and families navigating addiction for years. She also lived in Antigua for two decades, ran a bookstore and café there, and worked as a top-10 travel agent — which shows in the access the group gets to places most tourists don't see.

The three retreat formats are distinct. "From Chaos to Calm" is for family members of someone in or out of active addiction, focused on boundaries and looking after yourself. "Rediscover Peace & Purpose" is for people in recovery, newly sober or years in. "Belong, Heal and Thrive" is for LGBTQ+ people in recovery and LGBT allies. All three run in Antigua and share the same villa, chef and excursion style.

Antigua itself is a UNESCO World Heritage city of cobblestone streets, colonial churches and volcanoes on the skyline, and it's the base for the whole week. The retreat is priced as all-inclusive: villa accommodation with private ensuite bathrooms, chef-prepared meals using local ingredients, expert facilitation, workshops, excursions and airport logistics. A portion of every booking goes to Guatemalan nonprofits — one night's stay funds one week of school for a local Mayan child, and bookings also support local sobriety resources.

Group size is capped at 22, which keeps sessions small enough to be personal. The team of licensed professionals and guides is available around the clock during the trip, and pre- and post-retreat Zoom calls are offered for support before and after you travel.

What's included

- Villa accommodation with private ensuite bathrooms - All meals, including a couple of meals out at restaurants - Packed takeaway lunches on excursion days - Daily recovery-focused sessions and workshops - 12-step recovery sessions - Facilitation by a licensed therapist and addiction counsellor - Volcano hikes and cultural excursions - Visits to local markets, Mayan villages and nonprofit projects - 24/7 support from licensed professionals and guides - Pre- and post-retreat Zoom calls - Detailed pre-departure notes - Free use of washing machines and dryers at the villa - A donation of one week of schooling for a local Mayan child per night stayed

What's not included

- Flights (the operator can help book through an IATA-certified travel agency at no extra cost) - Travel insurance - Single room supplement ($500 USD) - Souvenirs, tips for tour guides and personal purchases - Any meals or activities outside the programme

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