About Us
From a feeling of Freedom on surf trips to concept development
We are Dana & Nils from Germany. With our close friends, we spent a lot of time on the coasts of Europe. Our circle of friends is characterized by a passion for surfing, yoga, music and community. During our travels, we have always experienced incredible freedom. This feeling has accompanied us through our adventures and discoveries. We wanted to share this feeling and make it accessible to everyone. On week-long surf trips, we not only developed a concept, but also wrote down our philosophy (spirit).
Idea to share our Lifestyle
We wanted to create places where a community of like-minded people meets. So we have developed a Surf & Yoga concept with which we inspire our guests to dive even deeper into the Surf & Yoga world. Each guest should be able to bring something for themselves at the end. The focus is on quality surf & yoga sessions. In addition, we define our experience through a sense of belonging, a contagious thirst for adventure or spiritual development.
Growing Community
We met a lot of interesting people on our travels. Some contacts just fell at our feet. On the other hand, surfing also makes it easy to meet many like-minded people. We are very communicative and with an idea in our pocket, opportunities quickly emerged. When the region also offers smooth waves, the nature is breathtaking and the magic is right, you know that you have found a place of your heart here. When the region also offers smooth waves, breathtaking nature and magic, you know you've found more than a place of your heart.
At all these locations, we have then created places where we can offer you very personal, high-quality and limited surf & yoga retreats.
Sustainable concept strengthens local community
The Surf Spirit concept is also based on using the strengths of the local community in conjunction with our concept. As a result, most of the income remains within the respective community. This has opened many doors for us and we are proud to integrate a sustainable concept for both sides into the Surf & Yoga world.
The Idea
Everything starts with an idea. Through Travels with Our Close Friends We Have Been Living a Lifestyle Full of Surfing, Yoga, Music Fulfilled with a Great Sense of Community. Being able to keep on living like this became our dream. Being able to share this lifestyle became our mission. The idea of a surf & yoga retreat concept was born.
Into The Jungle
With the idea in the back of our minds we found not just the ideal location but also a great local partner “Dulip”. We have been so excited to welcome our very first guests in 2017.
Back to the Roots
Back to where everything started. With our best friends from Home Maja & Freddy we started the little bohemian retreat in a small hippie town Los Canos de Meca.
The Beach
Due to amazing feedback from our guests we were able to open a second little retreat directly on the beach of our “home” surf spot.
2023
In the hinterland of the Algarve our retreat location in Portugal is into the wild. Our Partners Janina & Markus have set up Treehouse Glamping Tents Surrounded Veggie Gardens, a Swimming Lake and Farm Animals.
Go with the Flow
It is our dream to offer the best retreats in the most fascinating locations around the world. But it is most important to us to find not just amazing locations but also partners who share our values. Let's see what the future brings. We go with the flow.
Our Partners
Dulip
Our project has started in Sri Lanka. With the idea in our pocket but no expectations, we arrived right in the jungle of Unawatuna. We wanted to get a feel for Sri Lanka first. Travel and surf across the country. We first booked exotic accommodation via a booking portal.
The sensational surfing conditions in the region and the warm water surrounded by tropical palm trees immediately fascinated us. The culture and food in Sri Lanka are also unique. We fell in love with the exotic country right away. We were also overwhelmed by the booked villa. An extensive jungle area with beautiful rooms and endless opportunities to relax. However, we made a small mistake when booking the villa. We rented the entire villa. One room would of course have been sufficient. That's how we got into conversation with the owner Dulip.
After seeing our surfboards, he tells us about his dream of a surf & yoga camp. We could hardly believe it. That was the start of a trusting collaboration between Dulip and us that continues to this day. A few years later, his tranquil accommodation has evolved into one of the most popular surf & yoga Retreats in Sri Lanka. We appreciate each other very much, benefit from each other and have become good friends. We are proud that our concept has given him, his family and his staff an opportunity they never thought possible. This success has motivated us to open further locations.
Just a few minutes away by tuk-tuk, an opportunity has arisen to open a Beach Lodge right on the beach at our home surf spot in Bonavista Bay. Smooth waves come in here in a tropical bay. Any experienced surf coach will confirm that we have one of the best waves right on our doorstep, which is suitable for complete beginners as well as intermediates and longboard fans. Our guests can now choose between an exclusive jungle Retreat and a relaxed beach lodge.
Maja & Freddy
Andalusia is a project close to our hearts. Freddy & Maja (part of the Surf Spirit Crew) have fallen in love with the hippie town “Los Caños de Meca”. Even before we started our numerous surfing trips to the warmest place in Europe, the two discovered the relaxed village. The mix of old hippies, surfers and the Andalusian ambiance makes the place very special.
When we traveled through Caños on one of our tours in 2015, we had the idea for the first time to share our adventures full of surfing, yoga & long musical nights. Whoever we took with us on our travels always sparked enthusiasm. This was especially true in Caños. We have traveled there again and again and established a connection to the place and the open-minded people.
Years later, we are incredibly happy to celebrate the true origin of Surf Spirit with the opening of our Surf & Yoga Retreat in our Spanish Casa there. Andalusia is a step back to the roots. Because it all began here. Our villa is very lovingly, individually and creatively designed. Maja & Freddy fully contribute their artistic skills to the design. Anyone who visits us here knows who we are.
Janina & Markus
After Janina & Markus left their jobs in the hotel & catering industry, they traveled across Europe in their van for years. After arriving in the Algarve, it was clear that they could perfectly implement their dream of their own project in harmony with nature here. The paradisiacal property in the relaxed hinterland of Aljezur was love at first sight.
Since then, the German-Austrian couple have built up a small farm with animals & permaculture. We are proud that we founded Surf Spirit - Habitat Algarve with you & share the same philosophy.
Team & Future
Be inspired by our world, shaped by surfing, yoga, wellbeing and spending nights together around a campfire.
Surf Spirit now enables us to live independently and flexibly with our friends thanks to the various locations. We now have a small Surf Spirit team in the background for the entire organization. We are proud to say that our team still consists of close friends and new creative minds. Together with our team, we will continue to search for the best locations in the world.
We have discovered all of our previous locations through our travels. We can guarantee that every single destination has a place in our hearts. Only the very special places become a surf spirit retreat.
Welcome to our journey.
Welcome to Surf Spirit!
Benni takes care of printing our Merch in Germany. In Bennis little "homemade" factory in Paderborn every piece will be screen printed with hand. Also Benni joins our biggest adventures with his Retro Camera.
Anna is our talented Social Media Manager. Whatever you will see on our channels will most probably be created by Anna. She combines aesthetics & creativity in her job but also personal level. Next to her travel & adventure seeking she loves pottery & crafting. We love her representing Surf Spirit & interacting with our community.
Olivia is the good soul of Surf Spirit. With her tourism background Olivia bundles all structures and makes sure the Surf Spirit philosophy can be lived by all guests in our Retreats. Olivia also arranges our biggest projects & we absolutely love her being part of the Surf Spirit family.
Melli puts a lot of love into providing all necessary information before guests start their journey. She makes sure everyone is ready for a pleasant stay. On top of that Melli arranges a few exciting Surf Spirit projects. Yeew.
Dana is one of the co-founders of Surf Spirit. Her experience in general management originates from running parts of her family business in the entertainment industry. To delight and inspire people is therefor her given desire. Her passion for yoga and health is part of the Surf Spirit concept.
Aaron is our creative video director. Coming from Mallorca Aaron, we randomly met him in Australia. When given a story, an idea he gets so excited that he forgets time and space and keeps on shooting until everything is 100% perfect. Shooting with Aaron is always an adventure and we love it!
Freddy has always been part of the original idea of Surf Spirit when joining some road trips within Europe. Since he fall in love with the little Hippie place Los Cańos de Meca in Andalusia he is creating magical memories for the Surf Spirit community.
Maja is the creative head of Surf Spirit. Being in one of the Retreats, she flashes the guests with her live music, art, photography or contagious smile. Most likely see her in Spain as she and Freddy are not just our best friends but also business partners for our Retreat in Andalusia.
Nils is one of the co-founders of Surf Spirit. With his experience in marketing and sales as well as his passion for surfing, it was only a matter of time before he was able to bring the two worlds together. He loves to create very special moments for guests.