I was nervous to go solo but that didn’t matter at all because I was well taken care of and made a bunch of new friends even before the trip started! I’m not an extrovert and that didn’t even matter, everyone was so kind and welcoming.

From the hostesses to the coaches in the water with us, to the incredible women making our delicious meals, everything feels so intentional and done with love.

As someone who’s naturally a bit of a lone wolf, the idea of joining a large group of women initially felt a little overwhelming. But from the moment I arrived and connected with everyone, it felt magical.

Our incredible hosts brought endless energy, positivity, and vibes. 

They adapted effortlessly to any schedule changes and went above and beyond to accommodate even the smallest requests, making every guest feel truly cared for.

Despite growing up by the sea, I learned so much during this retreat.

For a while I was like, ‘Oh, a retreat, it might be cheesy. I want the real thing.’ But AWA makes it so authentic; you really interact with the community and the land.

I never could have imagined that it’s absolute heaven on earth.

In a world that’s in crisis, this place is a perfect illustration of what could be. I’m going home so inspired.

These retreats give me a moment to take the layers off and to find my soul again. 

To rediscover what makes me happy and face my fears. It’s SCARY, but it’s also so much FUN.

The women who run these retreats are truly inspiring. This was my third retreat, and I can’t wait for the next!

They have created a space where adventure, encouragement, and unrelenting joy meet the challenges of learning to surf. 

It's this really unique approach that allows to you deeply connect with them, the other surf seasters, and nature.

People walk away from retreats and say it was a life-changing experience" and quite honestly, this one truly was.

It was a wonderful feeling to be surrounded by other women who were continuously reaffirming positivity and boosting your confidence.

The surf coaching was one of the biggest highlights for me. The lessons felt completely tailored to each participant, and the coaches genuinely cared about helping us improve.

I've taken one-off surf lessons in other places before, and I've never experienced this level of personalized instruction.

I left feeling significantly more confident and knowledgeable in the water.

I found the pure joy of surfing through AWA, and it changed everything. I learned so much, not just technical skills like positioning and paddling.

Surfing has become this beautiful metaphor for how I approach challenges in life now.

I came home absolutely fired up.

I was concerned about being the oldest and largest bodied person there and worried it could feel ostracizing.

Instead I found many peers and also great connections with the women younger than me. I may have been the largest body person there but no one seemed to notice. I just got love and praise.

I can tell that joyful and loving environment was more than my cohort and absolutely a result of the positive atmosphere created by the hosts.

I’m 45, traveled solo, and felt so much like myself, surrounded by friends of all ages and backgrounds.

Most of all, it was the friendships that were made, the sisterhood support, the cheering each other on both on and off the water, and the perfect video analysis.

The amazing feeling of learning, working hard, and improving at something exciting, difficult and unpredictable as surfing. The rides in the truck while feeling the wind, the freedom of it, swimming in the jungle’s natural pools.

The feeling of being ALIVE.