Back to your Roots retreat

Nevis is the smaller, quieter sister island of St. Kitts, only 36 square miles with a population of 12,000 people. Unlike a lot of popular tourist destinations, Nevis is not over-developed and commercialized. It is simple and rustic, yet still provides upscale amenities, making it a perfect choice for people who like a balance of luxury and down-to-earth vibes. With no cruise ship port, high rises, traffic lights, or fast food chains, Nevis is the perfect little off-the-beaten-track place to dedicate time to mind-body wellness.

Getting to Nevis

Direct flights are available to St. Kitts International Airport (SKB) from London (11 hrs British Airways), Toronto (5 hrs Air Canada), Atlanta (4 hrs Delta), New York, Charlotte, and Miami (3 hrs American Airlines). Upon arrival, you will be greeted at the airport and taken on a scenic taxi ride (30 minutes) to Reggae Beach on the southern end of St. Kitts. From there you will enjoy a refreshing water taxi ride (10 minutes) to your accommodation at Oualie Beach, Nevis.

Our retreat headquarters, and beachfront accommodation is at Oualie Beach, a small, family-owned, eco-friendly hotel located on a quiet swimming beach overlooking the scenic channel between St. Kitts and Nevis. Rooms are spaciously scattered along Oualie Bay in single and two-storey gingerbread cottages that reflect the traditional Caribbean architecture of the island.  There is a charming open-air restaurant and beach bar on the property where you can enjoy a variety of Caribbean and international dishes, tropical fruit juices and cocktails, as well as live local music. 

Oualie is not a luxury resort, but is specifically chosen for its unique, down-to- earth ambiance that perfectly captures the idyllic tranquility and simplicity of Nevis beach life. There is no other place like it. The bungalow style rooms are complete with all the comforts of home, like TV, air conditioning, mini-fridge, and coffee maker, as well as a  screened-in patio where you can listen to the soothing sounds of the sea, chirping crickets, singing tree frogs, and maybe even the clip-clop of a passing donkey during the tranquil evenings. 

Included in your Retreat package is daily breakfast, which is your choice of one of many appetizing options from the breakfast menu at Oualie Beach Restaurant 

Other meals are available at the hotel or one of many other restaurants around the island, ranging from local street food to fine dining, and everything in-between. There is a mini-fridge in your room and you will be provided with a trip to the grocery store so that you can stock up on any snacks you might want.

Also included in your package is an opportunity to try "Ital", traditional Rastafarian food. Ital comes from the word "vital" stemming from the Rasta belief that food is medicine. Ital is organic, vegan,  made with only the freshest ingredients that come directly from the earth, and cooked in a clay "yabba" pot over an open fire and served in a calabash (tropical guord) bowl with a coconut spoon.

In addition to unique Caribbean style cuisine, you will be able to find just about any other kind of food that you like here. This is your vacation, and there is no pressure to adhere to a certain kind of diet. Whether you want to detox or indulge, your needs will be happily supported and catered to. Special diets (such as vegan and gluten free) are accommodated with advance notice.

Each day you can opt to join the Yoga and meditation session on offer in our beachfront Yoga room, only steps away from your guest room at Oualie Beach. On some days you will be invited to a special session off-property, such as sunrise Yoga on a secluded beach or a mindfulness hike in the cool, lush rainforest.

Sessions are guided with a therapeutic approach, offering a mixture of Yoga styles including traditional Hatha, Slow-Flow, Yin Yoga, and MyoYin, as well as some specialty meditations, such as Yoga Nidra, Metta Bhavana, and Laughter Meditation. Each class is taught with an emphasis on self-inquiry and self-healing, aligning the physical, energetic, and mental bodies through mindfulness, conscious breathwork, stretching, core stability, and somatic movement. 

All Yoga offerings are carefully instructed to offer optional challenges and variations for practitioners with different levels of experience and mobility. Whether you are a beginner or experienced practitioner, you can expect an unpretentious and supportive environment that invites you to explore your unique self and deepen your personal Yoga practice.

Participants can also book private specialty sessions, including holistic and spiritual counseling and Thai Yoga Massage as well as a variety of traditional massage and spa services available at the hotel by appointment.

In addition to these daily wellness sessions you will have an opportunity to experience island life through a variety of locally-guided adventures, including:

•  Nevis island road trip
•  Scenic Private Cruise and Snorkeling trip (Scuba Diving and Try Scuba upgrade available)
• Mindfulness Rainforest/Waterfall Hike 
• Therapeutic Volcanic Hot Springs 
• Rastafarian Vitality Experience: including traditional Rastafarian "Ital" meal, sampling of botanical island juices, and reggae beach party. 

Aside from these inclusive activities there are many other unique ways to explore Nevis and plenty of free time to relax and enjoy solitude.  Although you are passionately encouraged to take advantage of everything the retreat has to offer, all classes and adventures are OPTIONAL. This is YOUR vacation!