16-Day Yoga & Nature Escape in Bahia, Brazil

The retreat runs for sixteen days, split between a home base in Salvador and two short trips into the surrounding region. Most days start with a yoga session in the morning, followed by breakfast at the pousada. Afternoons are largely free: you can join a second yoga class, head to the beach, or explore the neighbourhood on foot.

The pousada — Villa Encantada — sits directly on the beach, with a pool, garden, terrace and hammocks scattered around. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms, and the staff speak English and German. It's small and personal, not a resort.

For six of the sixteen days, a private chef prepares vegetarian meals on site. The food leans Ayurvedic: simple, fresh, designed to digest easily and leave you feeling light rather than stuffed. On the other evenings, you'll walk or drive to local restaurants and pay for your own meals — a chance to try Bahian cooking, which is coconut-heavy, often spicy, and influenced by West African cuisine.

The two excursions are highlights. Chapada Diamantina is a vast national park inland from Salvador, full of table-top mountains, caves, and waterfalls with pools deep enough to swim in. You'll spend two nights there, hiking during the day and cooling off in the water. Boipeba Island, by contrast, is flat and quiet — mangrove forests, empty beaches, small fishing villages. Two nights there give you time to slow down completely before returning to Salvador.

Saskia leads all the yoga. She trained in India over a twelve-year period, completing certifications in Hatha yoga, Ayur-Yoga massage, and yoga therapy. Her style is therapeutic rather than athletic: gentle holds, attention to alignment, gong sound baths at the end of some sessions. She's been teaching since 2003 and running retreats in Brazil for several years.

The group is typically between ten and twenty people, mixed ages, all skill levels welcome. You don't need yoga experience to join, though you'll get more from the practice if you're willing to show up consistently.

What's included

- 15 nights accommodation at Villa Encantada in Salvador - Accommodation during excursions (2 nights Chapada Diamantina, 2 nights Boipeba) - Airport pickup and drop-off - Transportation during the retreat and excursions - Daily breakfast - 6 vegetarian meals prepared by private chef - 18 yoga sessions (Vinyasa Flow and Yin) - Yoga mats provided - Water, tea, and coffee throughout the stay - Group excursions and activities - Wifi at the pousada - Pre and post retreat support

What's not included

- International flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees (if applicable) - Meals at local restaurants (evenings without private chef, excursion meals) - Local transport within Salvador (approximately €17 return for 3 people) - Optional massages and private yoga sessions - Personal expenses