The week runs from Saturday to Saturday. You arrive on Saturday and meet the other guests over dinner. Sessions run from Sunday to Friday, with Wednesday free. A normal day starts with an activating yoga class before breakfast, followed by a surf lesson of about 2.5 hours and then a yin class around sunset. The yin class focuses on stretching and releasing tired muscles, which is welcome after a morning of paddling.

The surf coaching is split by level. Beginners (levels 1 and 2) start with theory in the chill-out area before going in the water, and by the end of the week should have a reliable stand-up technique, controlled rides and their first manoeuvres. Intermediate surfers (level 3) get their current ability assessed, then work on wave reading, wave selection, pop-up timing, line choice and turns such as the bottom turn, top turn and cutback. Lessons have 6 to 8 students per instructor, and coaches give individual feedback in the water.

Experienced surfers can join free surf guiding sessions, subject to a coach's check that the spot suits their level. These are extra to the lessons and are often early in the morning, so you may miss morning yoga. You head off in the jeep with a coach, get some tips on the way, then surf together. Los Caños itself has no traditional beach break and its spots don't have sandy bottoms, so they suit more experienced surfers, while El Palmar is where most of the teaching happens.

This retreat differs from a standard surf camp or surf school in its size and format. You can't book lessons as a drop-in, so everyone in the water is staying at the villa for the full week. Boards and yoga gear are free to use whenever you like, along with SUPs. If the surf is unworkable, the team reschedules where it can or offers an alternative such as surf skating or a guided SUP tour. There is also a weekly sound healing session, a movie night or live concert, and guided meditation and journaling.

The coaches are described as internationally certified and licensed, and the yoga teacher is certified too. Individual staff aren't named on the page. The operator, Surf Spirit, began with surf and yoga retreats in Sri Lanka and came back to this stretch of coast after years of surf trips here. It reports more than 10,000 guests so far across its retreats.

The location gives you plenty to do on free days. The Arab mountain town of Vejer and the surf town of El Palmar are both close by, La Breña Nature Reserve is on the doorstep, and you can ride horses through pine forest or along the beach. Cádiz works well as a day trip, and Tarifa, further south, is the place for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The area is lively in summer with beach bars open late, and quiet in winter with few tourists and around 16 to 26°C air temperatures.

What's included

- 7 nights in a double, twin, 3-bed or 4-bed room - 7 breakfasts - 5 lunches including coffee and tea - 6 dinners - 5 surf lessons with theory and transfers (September to June) - 1 surf video analysis (September to June) - 3 surf lessons with theory and transfers (July and August) - 1 pottery workshop and 1 creative workshop (July and August) - 10 yoga sessions, including a weekly sound healing session - Guided meditation and journaling - 1 movie night or live concert - Free use of surf and yoga equipment and SUPs - Free surf guiding for experienced surfers, subject to a coach's level check

What's not included

- Flights - Airport transfers (not listed as included) - Travel insurance - Drinks from the bar menu - Meals not covered by the package (2 lunches and 1 dinner across the week) - Massages - Rental car - Optional excursions such as horse riding and guided bike tours - Personal expenses