SoulShine
Men’s Surf & Revitalize Retreat
Nicaragua, April 15-20, 2026
Join us for an incredible experience combining the passion & joy of surfing fused with the empowerment of deep and enriching men's work & holistic modalities at a fully dialed in tropical holistic beach villa!
The Flavor
Stretch beyond your limits in and out of the water, confront your personal challenges with a group of supportive brothers and awaken your strengths and gifts.
What people are saying
"Shems is a powerful guide and it is such an honor to experience this level of masterful facilitation. During our men’s retreat, we did profound work together and I accessed deeply hidden parts of myself and experienced incredible insight, healing, and transformation. I truly feel like I have a new family of friends."
-Gregory Hyman
“Derek has an undeniable love for people, the ocean, and sharing his passions and expertise. The guided Breathwork & Meditation sessions are powerful, unlike anything I’ve experienced. They were naturals at keeping us comfortable surfing new breaks, we especially appreciated all the assistance helping us in the line up with catching as many waves as we could each session.
-Eddie & Jen Delaney - Austin TX/Costa Rica
“The experiences Derek creates stand out among the plethora of available options in both the remote surf travel and wellness retreat industry. He and his team are a pleasure to spend time with, and all naturals in regards to crafting like long memories. Derek is also a very gifted breathwork, meditation coach and wonderful musician. He provided us with amazing live music under the stars on several evenings.”
-Cathleen & Greg Pecchia
“The soul water retreat was one of the most important things I did for self growth in the last five years. I would highly recommend to any man looking for a way to merge nature, men’s work, and personal development.
From the amazing retreat center facilitated by Derek, to the incredible space holding of Shems, this is an experience that delivers on all vectors.”
David Clavens
The Finer Details
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You will be staying at our luxury villa located in the utopian community of Hacienda Iguana along the Emerald Coast of Nicaragua with access to private surf breaks. Our villa has 4 rooms each with private baths, a yoga studio, and multiple social hangout areas on the property. Casa Soul Water is an idyllic holistic surf house boasting a gorgeous pool, custom cedar Sauna & Ice Bath, Yoga Studio, Gym and Light Therapy Room.
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Enjoy and enliven your being with nutrient-dense locally grown healthy meals prepared by our talented chefs as well as our favorite local restaurants. Our culinary team ensures that your dietary preferences and restrictions are taken into account while providing a memorable dining experience.
(During your stay you will enjoy a variety of super food delights such as, bulletproof coffee, cacao drinks, kombucha, and veggie juices).
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We will utilize a variety of professionally guided transformative tools for Mind/Body/Spirit: Breathwork, Yoga, Meditation, Qi gong, Contrast Exposure (Sauna & Ice Bath), Light Therapy and Strength & Mobility Enhancing protocols.
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Heart Bravery is what’s needed to truly create meaningful transformation in your life.
Our retreat provides the perfect environment to forge new friendships, shed old skin, exchange stories, and create lifelong memories. Engage in social activities, beach bonfires, and group outings, fostering a sense of camaraderie that extends beyond the retreat.
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Everything from small friendly scenic waves for our beginners to peeling points and peaky beach break barrels for the intermediate to advanced surfer. There is no shortage of warm water offshore tropical surf break options. Whatever your skill level, we have skilled surf coaches and guides to make the most out your surf experience. Soul Water has on site a variety of quality soft top boards, ranging from 9’ foot long down to 5’6 twin fins. These boards are especially ideal for the beginner surfer giving them the best opportunity possible for success and fun in the water.
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High quality professional transportation via both land and sea vessels.
Guests may choose to fly into Liberia, Costa Rica or Managua, Nicaragua. Both of the two international airports are the same ground travel distance, roughly 2 1/2 hours from our doorstep.
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(Additional Cost)
Relax and renew with a variety of world-class spa treatments to restore and revitalize your system for another epic day. Enjoy massage, facials, body wraps, reflexology, etc.
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Horseback riding on the beach, mountain biking, hiking, visiting volcanic hot springs, sea turtle spotting, and monkey scouting, sand boarding and lounging at the beachfront villa pool.
Your Hosts
A relationship guide and Men’s Work facilitator who specializes in personal, relational, and collective empowerment. His work goes to the core of what is needed for embodied transformation by working with and integrating the physical, mental, emotional, sexual, and spiritual as the tapestry for our evolution.
Shems has mentored some of the most influential teachers in the fields of conscious relationships, coaching, leadership, healing, and transformation. He blends his 20 years of experience and knowledge into highly effective work that is the leading edge of the human potential movement.
Shems Heartwell
A seasoned internationally certified Breathwork, Meditation, Yoga, and Contrast Exposure Therapy facilitator. Over the years Derek has hosted his one-of-a-kind holistic holidays in a wide variety of settings around the globe from exclusive resorts and wellness centers throughout the Maldives, Indonesia, Central America, and Hawaii to to more clinical settings of therapist offices.
Derek has had the opportunity to share his "Conscious Breath & Meditation Workshops” with thousands of online participants. He is an Integrated Treatment Provider for the Arizona Relationship Institute designing breath work protocols for guided ketamine immersions and private therapy sessions and the founder of Conscious Breath & Meditation Immersions as well as the holistic retreat company Soul Water Surf.
Derek Thomas
Facilities
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Nourishing sessions for mind and body wellness. Re-connect to the deeper essence of your spirit through yoga, meditation explorative movement, sound, ceremony, self exploration and more - guided by our sincere professional facilitators and visiting resident guests from around the globe. Immerse yourself in a variety of guided sessions at both the beachfront shala and a handful of our coastlines most coveted sanctuaries during your stay.
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Minimize recovery time, maximize internal wellbeing and push past your limits within a supportive environment.
Professional guided sauna immersions at our private on-site volcanic stone cedar sauna.
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Immerse yourself in group & private sessions with PandoraStar, the worlds most advanced regenerative light machine.
Pandora Star offers a fast, safe and enjoyable way to reach deep altered states of consciousness, adjust ones emotional energy and shift perspectives. With only a handful of these machines currently available globally, we are grateful to have access to this very powerful transformative tool for all SW guests.
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Minimize recovery time, maximize internal wellbeing and push past your limits within a supportive environment.
Professional guided ice bath immersions at our private on-site ozone-filtered ice bath.
Occupancy
Single
$4000
Double
$3200
Inquire Now
Schedule a call!
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Non-refundable deposit
$500 non-refundable initial deposit is required for all bookings
Full payment is required for any bookings made 1 month prior to Retreat date.
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If you cancel more than 90 days before your retreat start date, 100% of your payment may be applied to another Retreat hosted by Soul Water Surf within 12 months less $500 deposit.
If you cancel within 45 days of the Retreat, your payment is transferrable to any other retreat Soul Water Surf is hosting within a 12 month bracket, less $1000.
If you cancel within 14 days of the Retreat date, you will forfeit your entire payment.
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We recommend getting Travel insurance before you join us in Nicaragua incase of any travel disruptions or cancellations - to make sure all your costs will be covered.