Relax and Recharge: 13 Best Wellness Retreats Worldwide for Women

Wellness is for everyone, but sometimes it’s nice to escape to a retreat surrounded by same-sex, like-minded individuals. Some retreats cater to men specifically, but if you’re a woman looking for a female-centric wellness retreat, this article is for you.

While not every option on our list is strictly for women, each offers a female-centric retreat or a safe space to relax, recharge, and focus on self-care. Here are the best 13 wellness retreats around the world for women.

What Is a Wellness Retreat for Women?

A wellness retreat for women is a safe, comfortable space where women can go to be around other women searching for the same things, like rest, rejuvenation, detox, empowerment, self-discovery, or even just a getaway focused on yourself.

Some wellness centers are strictly women-only, some offer women-only retreats, and others are unisex but perhaps offer things that may entice women, such as health treatments, exercise, nutrition, hormone balancing, and other activities or services geared toward females.

Why Choose a Women’s Wellness Retreat?

Choose a women’s wellness retreat for many of the same reasons as a regular one. For example, you may want to connect with nature, find inner peace, sleep better, lose weight, build better habits, improve your mind-body connection, and so much more.

But if you choose a women-only, women-centric, or women-focused retreat, it may better address your needs as a woman. You might also enjoy making new female friends or being surrounded by like-minded women. If you plan to travel alone, it’s an easy way to travel solo but still feel safe and secure.

There are also times in a woman’s life when a bit of empowerment, nutrition, and rest are especially welcome. For example, if you’re a frazzled mom in desperate need of a break, a college student who’s just finished exams, someone who’s just gotten through a rough divorce or breakup, or if you are burned out from work, family, relationships, and life, a retreat may be the answer. There’s always a right time to go on a women-only wellness retreat, but one can be especially beneficial when you’re in a mindset that’s ready and open to experience some rest and healing.

Hot Tip:

Wellness travel is trending, and if you’re in the market for a wellness retreat, we have a whole series on why to take one, how they can benefit you, and exactly where to go: Wellness Vacations: Hype or Healing?, Boost Your Wellbeing: The Complete Guide to Wellness Retreats, The Best U.S. Wellness Retreats: Escapes for the Mind, Body & Soul, and Self Care, Serenity, and Solitude: The Best Solo Wellness Retreats in the U.S.

How To Choose a Women-Only Wellness Retreat

Choosing a suitable women-only wellness retreat is essential to have a dream experience. With so many different kinds of retreats, follow these steps to pick just the right one for you.

5 Steps for Retreat Selection

1. Decide what you want out of a retreat for women. Is it essential that only women are allowed? Or are you okay with a unisex space that may focus on women or offer special services just for women? It’s also important to think about your needs — do you want a retreat focused on health, nature, healing, detox, fitness, yoga, working with animals, spa and pampering, or otherwise? You can begin your search once you clearly understand your wants and needs.
2. Consider location and budget. Do you want to go out of state or out of the country? Do you want an exciting escape to a destination like Bali or Costa Rica, or would you (or your budget) be better served by a retreat closer to home? Definitely weigh your options. Sometimes, retreats abroad can actually be cheaper than retreats in the U.S., but it may take more time and money to arrive.
3. Consult your points and miles balances. You might save some significant cash if you can use your points or miles to fly to your destination, especially if it’s across the country or abroad.
4. Pick your retreat. Choose a retreat that best fits the goals, needs, and budget you determined beforehand. Look at all the fine print, especially inclusions and exclusions. Check what kind of meals, activities, and accommodation are included in the rate. A retreat with more inclusions may seem pricier in the long run, but it could potentially save you money.
5. Bring along some friends (or not). Some women may feel more comfortable going with friends or perhaps a mother or daughter. Others may prefer to experience a female-centric retreat alone.

What To Pack for a Wellness Retreat for Women

Packing for your women-centric wellness retreat depends greatly on location — a Caribbean beachfront break or a trip to Colorado in winter require very different suitcase selections. But generally speaking, here’s a solid starting point on what to pack for your next retreat:

• Backpack
• Blister cream or pads
• Book or Kindle
• Bug spray
• Camera to take photos (if you’d rather shut off your phone)
• Hat and sunglasses
• Journal and pen
• Layers for cooler weather or nighttime
• Loose, comfortable, and casual clothing or activewear
• Medications, toiletries, etc.
• Reusable water bottle
• Sneakers
• Sunblock
• Swimsuit and flip-flops
• Travel insurance
• Your passport, if traveling internationally
• Weather-appropriate clothing and gear, such as hiking boots, beachwear, or otherwise, depending on location and season
• Whatever you need to sleep comfortably

Hot Tip:

Feeling overwhelmed with packing in general? Download and print the Upgraded Points packing checklist so you won’t forget a thing.

The 3 Best Wellness Retreats in the U.S. for Women

You don’t have to head abroad to focus on wellness with other women. You can do so right here in the U.S. at these spots.

1. Retreat Ranch (Texas)

Set on a rolling 46 acres of Texas Hill Country, Retreat Ranch is a family-owned retreat center where women can feel safe and comfortable doing some soul searching at retreats like a women’s mindful reset retreat, a women’s yoga and wine retreat, a horse retreat, or a mother/daughter retreat.

Retreats include nourishing meals, local wine with dinner, yoga sessions, stress reduction workshops, sound baths, mindful walks, and mindful art sessions. Mother/daughter retreats include art and yoga therapy, meditation breath work, horseback riding, games, sound baths, and confidence-building activities, and are available for mothers and daughters of varying ages. Retreats also include glamping accommodations like vintage trailers, yurts, shared bunkhouses, and beyond. The center also features an outdoor fire pit, a meditation labyrinth, dipping pools, a hot tub, a sauna, and horses.

Rates start as low as $629 per person for a 2-night retreat if you’re willing to share accommodation or around $729 for your very own vintage trailer or deluxe yurt.

2. C Lazy U Ranch (Colorado)

Although C Lazy U Ranch welcomes all travelers with open arms, the Colorado ranch also offers many special events like adults-only weekends, family getaways, and the one women may want to consider: the Find Your Inner Cowgirl Through Mind, Body, Equine. The 3-night horse and yoga retreat is open to all levels of yogis and riders, helping women become mindful riders, improve body awareness, stay present, and create a balanced, beautiful life.

Mornings start with gentle yoga and stretching, ideal for riders, followed by time spent grooming the horses and other equine activities. Afternoons are for trail rides and bonding with other like-minded cowgirls. You’ll lodge in luxury cabins with thoughtful details, such as bath amenities from C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries and Keurig coffee machines — some even come with fireplaces.

Single occupancy rates start at $745 per night, and all 3 nights are required. Treatments at the Lazy You Spa, complete with spa cabins and copper soaking tubs overlooking the Rocky Mountains, come at an additional cost.

3. Retreat in the Pines (Texas)

If your vibe is all about affordable retreats for women, led by women, then Retreat in the Pines is definitely your place. The center offers several retreats focused on healing, connection, and support. Choose from programs such as Inner Goddess, Self Love & Acceptance, Detox & Yoga, Mindfulness & Meditation, Book Lovers, Strength & Healing Yoga, Grounding & Growth, and many others. Women can also choose from seasonally available retreats, like Winter Solstice.

Retreats include many unique activities, from the more obvious yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices to nature walks, moon bathing, plant swaps, letting go ceremonies, DIY essential oils, seasonal wellness workshops, and much more.

Meals and snacks are included in the retreat cost, but please keep in mind that you’ll be sharing a cabin room with other women, so this retreat is best for ladies eager to make new friends who aren’t looking for private accommodations. Weekend retreats for 2-nights start at $799 per guest.

Hot Tip:

Most wellness retreats aren’t associated with traditional loyalty hotel programs. However, you can earn points when booking with a credit card that offers bonuses for travel purchases. Our favorites are the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® or Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card, as Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to a number of travel programs (both airlines and hotels) that can help you save on your next trip.

The 2 Best Wellness Retreats in Mexico for Women

If you’re looking for sand, sun, and female-oriented wellness, Mexico is a destination that feels exotic, yet it’s a reasonably simple flight from many U.S. destinations. Here are some of the best wellness retreats in Mexico for women.

1. Xinalani Retreats

This eco-resort offers a far-flung wellness experience for women who really want to escape the grind. Although it’s not officially female-only, Xinalani Retreats offers specific female-only retreats such as the Women’s SUP & Yoga Adventure Retreat and the Radiant Love: Queer Women’s Couples Retreat. Beyond that, retreat goers can experience programs such as Yoga Alchemy, Dancing Through Life, Reset and Renew, Hot Yoga, and many more.

Xinalani Retreats offers casitas that vary from ocean-view, air-conditioned deluxe rooms to jungle-side, 3-walls-only rooms with hammocks that immerse you in the surrounding verdant rainforest. Budget travelers can even stay in 4-bed or 8-bed dorm rooms.

The Puerto Vallarta retreat center clarifies that this is an eco-escape for those who want to get off the grid. The idyllic resort has incredible amenities like a private beach but is only accessible by boat and has a significant amount of stairs. Less than half of the casitas have 4 walls, so Xinalani is best for those who want a truly remote experience.

Retreat rates range in price and inclusions, but a 7-night SUP & Yoga Retreat that includes meals, airport/boat transport, and activities ranges from $2,550 in a dorm room to $3,550 in a deluxe AC room.

2. Palmaïa, The House of AïA

This high-end wellness enclave in the Riviera Maya offers retreats specializing in restoring one’s inner self and healing the mind, body, and soul. Thanks to chic decor, separate family and adults-only sections, cruelty-free amenities, and plant-based cuisine, Palmaïa, The House of AïA feels like a boutique haven that can make any traveler, including women, feel at home in a serene and sophisticated space.

Although some retreats are unisex, others are female-only, like the 5-day Women’s Wealth of Wellness Retreat, which includes daily yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, sound therapy, women’s circles, and spa treatments. You can also sign up for shorter, women-centric getaways like a women’s wellness weekend. And if you really want to combine a retreat with remote work, the resort also offers beachfront work suites and the Atlast Club co-working center.

Retreat prices vary, but the 3-night, 4-day women’s weekend retreat that includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, activities, yoga, bike sharing, Wi-Fi, and beyond starts at $2,379 for single occupancy. Suites range from swim-up to oceanfront in the special adults-only section of the resort.

Hot Tip:

Hoping to use points and miles to get you to Mexico? Our step-by-step guide on the best ways to fly to Mexico using points and miles can help you figure out how to best use your hard-earned points to get there on the cheap.

The Best Wellness Retreat in Costa Rica for Women

If you need a dose of Pura Vida in your life, Costa Rica is just the right spot for your next wellness adventure. This top women-catered wellness retreat offers the best of Costa Rica’s stunning natural landscapes and positive vibes.

Mama Wata

Mama Wata offers surf retreats for women by women in the coastal village of Nosara. The small town is known for the swells along Playa Guiones, a beach that’s also protected and pristine thanks to its turtle hatching. Mama Wata offers 7-day, all-inclusive Flow Retreats, which offer healthy Costa Rican cuisine, wine and beer, surf coaching, yoga, stretching, 1 massage, use of bicycles, and other activities. The retreat also boasts a swimming pool and a comfortable common area ideal for bonding with other female retreat guests.

Although the waves on Playa Guiones can be huge, they’re low at other times of the year, so the retreat is just as apt for beginners as it is for advanced surfers. Accommodations range from private oceanfront rooms to a bunk bed in a shared bunk room. Bunk rooms start at $3,150 per person, while private rooms run over $4,000 for the week-long retreat.

The 2 Best Wellness Retreats in Bali for Women

1. Goddess Retreats

Fans of the book and movie “Eat, Pray, Love,” or anyone who finds joy in being surrounded by some sisterhood should head to Bali in Indonesia. Not only is the destination known for wellness in general, but Goddess Retreats focuses explicitly on connection, pampering, and relaxation that can emotionally transform you.

Different Goddess Retreats have different focuses:

• The 6-night Surf Goddess Retreat is ideal for those who want female-focused surf instruction and limited spa treatments tailored to beginner or intermediate surfers.
• The 6-night Bali Goddess Retreat is best if you need inspiration, energy, and your emotional cup refilled, complete with yoga, spa treatments, and activities like bike tours, temple experiences, and energy-balancing treatments.
• The 6-night Fitness Goddess Retreat is perfect for anyone seeking an active escape and includes personal training, yoga, and lifestyle coaching sessions.
• The 6-night Wellness Goddess Retreat is for anyone rundown who needs a reboot. It includes unlimited spa therapies and energy-balancing treatments such as acupuncture, Ayurvedic sessions, and detox therapy.

Retreats take place in the retreat villa in Seminyak, complete with lush gardens and a swimming pool. Shared rooms in the villa (you can be paired with a roommate) start at $2,199, while private rooms start at $2,999 for the week-long retreat packages, which come with meals, lodging, and activities. And solo female travelers should feel comfortable going on their own — Goddess Retreats says that 80% of its guests come alone.

2. Bliss Sanctuary For Women

Bliss Sanctuary For Women offers healing, stress-free vacations ideal for travelers who prefer to curate their own experiences. The center features 16 different retreat packages, including a thrill-seeker retreat, cultural retreat, yoga retreat, self-empowerment retreat, foodie retreat, and surf retreat.

However, most resort goers choose the widespread, all-encompassing Bliss Package, which includes unlimited massage and spa treatments, unlimited yoga, unlimited food, unlimited sightseeing excursions, a personal driver, and a private room and bathroom in one of the retreat villas (choose from Canguu Sanctuary, Seminyak Sanctuary, or Villa Peace).

Fresh, local cuisine is vital on this particular retreat, and the center will happily cater to gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan diets. Expect Bali breakfast bowls filled with tropical fruits, Asian coleslaw, and shredded coconut with spicy chicken.

A 7-day Bliss Package starts at $2,275 for single occupancy.

The Best Wellness Retreat in the Caribbean for Women

St. Lucia is one of the most underrated Caribbean islands, best for travelers who want to get off the beaten path to experience stunning natural wonders and beautiful Caribbean beaches. Part of wellness is connecting with nature, and St. Lucia is the perfect place to do so.

BodyHoliday Saint Lucia

If fitness is at the top of your list for a wellness getaway, BodyHoliday is the ideal place to get in shape while having fun in a magical setting. The wellness resort has theme months, such as yoga, dance, or sailing, so you can tailor your getaway to the type of fitness you like best. Although the retreat is unisex, many instructors and presenters are women, which might encourage women to feel comfortable on their fitness journey.

BodyHoliday features the only Ayurvedic temple in Saint Lucia, a fitness center, a spa, a dance studio, a skin clinic, a unique BodyScience Clinic, mindfulness and reflection spaces, and a thalassotherapy pool. Expect activities such as archery, golf, tennis, fencing, spinning, windsurfing, wakeboarding, sailing, yoga, diving, cardio and conditioning, and more.

While the resort offers select wellness, diving, sailing, and sleep retreats (even a COVID-19 Convalescence recovery program), we like the idea of organizing your retreat with the exact activities you want —tailoring it to your needs by simply booking the resort by night.

All-inclusive solo rates start at around $600 per night.

Hot Tip:

Think you might want to hang out in the Caribbean for a while post- or pre-retreat? Check out these new Hyatt properties opening in the Caribbean and Latin America.

The Best Wellness Retreat in Italy for Women

Delicious food and wine, stunning architecture, blockbuster landmarks, and charming European culture often bring most travelers to Italy. However, you don’t have to exchange pasta for detox or Italian castles for geothermic healing — yes, you can do them all on a wellness retreat in Italy. Here’s where to go.

Palazzo Fiuggi

Although Palazzo Fiuggi is unisex, Oprah endorses the wellness medical retreat, meaning women worldwide are bound to love it. The complex is built around the healing Fiuggi mineral waters, said by locals to be “miraculous,” reportedly healing the ailments of Michaelangelo. The special water has been shown to positively affect conditions like urinary tract problems, cystitis, pyelonephritis, metabolic disorders, gout, and arthritis and complement weight loss and exercise programs.

The resort offers special wellness programs focusing on longevity, detox and weight, restoration and balance, and specific retreats such as Balance and Wellbeing Through Mindfulness and Developing a Healthy Relationship With Food. There are even seasonal offerings, such as the Post Summer Detox program.

Rooms and suites have classic decor featuring natural light and local artwork. And, as one might expect in a place like Italy, Fiuggi considers food to be a part of healing, with menus that feature biodynamic ingredients developed by Chef Heinz Beck (who is associated with 3 Michelin-starred restaurants) and senescence and genetics specialist Professor David Della Morte Canosci.

All programs and retreats have different rates, but the longevity program includes daily movement classes, spa treatments, 2 personal training sessions, and health consulting, with rates starting at around $8,000 for 7 days.

The Best Wellness Retreat in Spain for Women

There’s nothing that says self-care more than Spain’s Mediterranean sunshine. Rest and rejuvenate amid crashing waves and beautiful mountains in a laid-back, no-worries destination at the best wellness retreat for women in Spain.

Mom’z

There might never be a better time to deeply connect with yourself than when you’re pregnant. And Mom’z Pregnancy Retreat is the most incredible place to do so — an intimate, pampering escape in the Mediterranean that prepares you for birth and offers you the space and care to move into motherhood confidently.

The Solo Babymoon Retreats are for women pregnant for the first time or who have already been pregnant. The 5-day, 4-night retreats encourage you to reconnect with yourself and the other women and find the support you need to become a mom, whether it’s your first child or your fifth. Expect a daily morning movement class, daily birth prep classes, visualizations, meditations, creative activities, massages, and other pregnancy-safe pampering treatments, downtime, and post-retreat support as you move into motherhood.

Retreats are held at the Cuatre Finques Rural hotel in Alicante, set upon vineyards and surrounded by mountains. Moms-to-be can walk to the nearby town of Xaló just 10 minutes away or use shared relaxation spaces like the pool or gardens. Retreats include nutrient-rich, pregnancy-safe meals and snacks, activities, airport transfer, and accommodation.

Shared rooms start at $2,060, and private rooms start at $2,590 for the 4-night retreat.

The Best Wellness Retreat in the U.K. for Women

Women in Adventure

Although Wilderness Scotland offers trips for all kinds of people, its Women in Adventure fully-guided trips are for women only and focus on encouraging women to safely participate in activities such as cycling, walking, and kayaking throughout the Scottish wilderness.

Women in Adventure retreats guide women through several off-the-beaten-path destinations throughout Scotland, such as the Highlands, the Isle of Skye, the Outer Hebrides, the Wilds of Assynt, and the West Highland Way.

Specific inclusions and accommodations vary depending on the trip. For example, a 4-night wilderness retreat in the Cairngorms and Central Highlands includes group walks, scenic drives, free time for dips in the Jacuzzi or sauna, yoga, stargazing, storytelling, a sound bath, and meals.

Expect 4-night getaways to start at $1,800 and 7-night trips to start at $2,751.

The Best Wellness Retreat in Thailand for Women

Sparking seaside, peaceful culture, and holistic healing are just some of the things that make Thailand perfect for a wellness retreat. Haven’t you heard of the famous Thai massage? Get spa time, healing, and the feeling of a blissful escape at a top wellness retreat in Thailand for women.

Women’s Holistic Health, Absolute Sanctuary

Absolute Sanctuary has 21 different programs for wellness travelers looking to focus on the mind and body. But the Women’s Holistic Health Program is the one that any woman looking for a female-focused wellness retreat should choose. The program uses cleansing therapies, fitness, wellness cuisine, body therapies, and balancing sessions to improve physical and emotional health and female hormonal imbalances.

The program, which you can do for 5, 7, or 10 days, includes 3 wellness-inspired meals each day, fresh juices and smoothies, one-on-one lifestyle nutrition coaching, hormone balancing coaching, a bioimpedance reading, unlimited group fitness and yoga classes, airport transfers, accommodation, and discounts on spa treatments.

Located on the beautiful Thai island of Koh Samui, choose from superior, deluxe, deluxe sea view, or suite room options — all are modern and comfortable, with stunning views and contemporary bathrooms. The property also has a Pilates reformer studio, a pool set among lush greenery, spa facilities, a fitness center, a steam room, and a FAR infrared sauna.

Rates start at $2,400 in off-peak season for a 5-day retreat in a superior room.

Final Thoughts

Whether you want to escape the daily grind with your best friends, feel safe and secure traveling for wellness on your own, or make friends with like-minded women, a women-centric wellness escape is just the place for a little “me” time or bonding with other females. From easily accessible U.S. retreats to far-flung exotic getaways, there’s a wellness retreat for any woman, regardless of whether you want to get fit, do a digital detox, cozy up near the fire, practice yoga, meditate, or simply relax.