Home - Vera Vida Retreats

Panama, where it began

The Story

It began on a balcony in Panama.

I run a small guesthouse on the Pacific coast, and over the years I've watched women arrive tired and leave lighter — looser in the shoulders, quieter in the mind, more themselves than when they landed. Somewhere between the sourdough and the long dinners, the same question kept surfacing: what do I actually want from the years ahead?

Vera Vida grew from that question. Small, intimate luxury retreats, held in beautiful places around the world, for women who want to explore that question together — while we're still at our best. Explore. Connect. Belong.

Creative direction by Ralu, architect, interior designer, and friend of twenty years.

The Experience

What to expect.

Easy nature walks

Gentle exploration of the surrounding landscape, no pressure, no rush.

Cooking & baking

Hands-on cooking lessons with local chefs. Sourdough baking from scratch.

Wine tasting

Local wines paired thoughtfully. Learning the stories behind them.

Watercolour session

Intuitive painting. No experience necessary. Pure creative play.

Gentle movement

Optional stretching, yoga, or walking. Whatever feels right.

Women-in-history dinners

Evening conversations exploring the lives of women who moved us.

A Sample Day

What a day might look like.

Morning

Wake whenever you choose. Coffee or tea on the terrace. A quiet walk if you feel like it. No obligations, no schedule.

Afternoon

A cooking lesson, watercolour session, or simply time to read, swim, or rest. The hotel's gardens and pool are yours to roam.

Evening

We gather for dinner. Long tables, conversation, local wine. Some nights we have a theme — a women-in-history dinner, a wine tasting, a storytelling circle.

Night

Moonlight on the water. Early bed or late conversation with whoever wants to linger. It's yours to choose.

Questions

What you might be wondering.

What is Vera Vida Retreats?

Vera Vida Retreats hosts small, all-inclusive luxury retreats for women, founded by Hana Josephson. Each retreat brings together a single intimate circle of women in one beautiful place for several days of connection, food, and rest.

Who is this retreat for?

Women who've built a life they're proud of and are ready to go deeper — whether traveling solo or wanting real connection rather than small talk. You don't need to know anyone else attending beforehand.

Where and when is the next retreat?

Our inaugural retreat runs 4 nights, 5 days, this October 2026, at To Rodi Boutique Hotel in Rovies, Evia, Greece. The entire hotel is booked exclusively for our group.

How many women attend each retreat?

Each circle is limited to 10 women, plus the two hosts. We keep it intentionally small so every woman is genuinely seen, not lost in a crowd.

What's included in the price?

Accommodation, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all activities (cooking, wine tasting, watercolour, sourdough baking, nature walks), and the women-in-history evening dinners. Flights and personal expenses are not included.

What's the difference between shared and private rooms?

Shared rooms are paired with another guest in the circle. Private rooms are yours alone, for a supplement. Private rooms are limited, so they're offered on a first-come basis.

Finally. Luxury retreats for women ready to simply be.