Personalized Retreat
(1-7 people)

Our trained staff will work with you to incorporate the appropriate amount of activities based on a short questionnaire that we ask you to fill out. We offer three distinctly different personalized retreat options for 1-7 people, which all aim at balancing rest, times of reflection, and intentionally chosen activities.

‍Breathe: This option implements the classic spiritual disciples of silence, solitude, and simplicity. Your day will include times of prayer, scripture reading, journaling, and simply being in the presence of the Lord.

‍Illuminate: This option incorporates facilitated reflective activities in addition to our outdoor adventure activities. These activities may include use of our various high and low ropes course elements, time spent at the climbing wall, or prayer and conversational activities, etc.

‍Together: This option is designed for families that are looking for rest and relational connection. You will be able to craft how you use your time and incorporate team building activities or simply spend time together as a family. We will provide suggested devotional activities for your family and provide prayer.

For additional information or details regarding these various options, feel free to get in touch with our coordination team to learn more.

We encourage you to spend as much time as possible in nature and the outdoors during your stay. In addition to any lodging you may have selected, feel free to choose from a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces to meet your needs.

Indoor spaces
+ Upper Room
+ Dining Hall

Outdoor Spaces
+ Pavillion
+ Gazebo
+ Chapel
+ Pergola
+ The Cross ‘Overlook’
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Use of all spaces should be reserved in advance prior to your arrival. Please do not hesitate to inquire about prices, locations, and amenities of each space with our coordination team.

Feel free to bring your own food and snacks if you desire or in the case that our dining services are not available. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks are available for purchase in our dining hall when dining services are offered. Choose from a variety of different options and schedule the meals you’d like in advance with our coordination team when scheduling your retreat. The hours of service and menu selection will be based on availability.

Fresh water is always provided from our mountain spring and hot beverages are available for purchase with prior reservation as well. For a more rustic experience, choose to roast hot dogs over the fire for one of your meals and enjoy s’mores made with Ecuadorian chocolate for a sweet ending!

You may choose to participate in the spiritual practice of fasting during your retreat. Alternatively, you may also opt to purchase a food basket, which is filled with simple artisanal food items carefully chosen to nourish your body and to invite you into communion with God during your retreat. Confirm with the Guest Services coordinator what food arrangements are available to you prior to your arrival.

El Refugio offers a variety of options for overnight accommodations. Choose to stay in one of our cabins, dorm-style rooms, or spend the night at one of our campsites. We also offer the Cooper Hermitage Cabin in the woods which is a good option for an individual or couple.

Dorm-Style Room: Accommodates up to 12 people, all contain bunk beds and one queen bed, and are conveniently located next to our Dining Hall. 

Cabins: These are ideal spaces for an individual, couple, or small family. This option provides a refrigerator, coffee and tea, and in certain cases your own kitchen or kitchenette. 

Camping: Available for those looking for a more rustic experience, enjoy hiking and appreciate being a bit further away from the center of where most activities take place. 

Contact our coordination team to learn more about prices, amenities, and locations to choose the space that will be best suited for your experience and needs. Hours of arrival and departure will be finalized with the coordination team.

This experience which offers a ‘choose your own activities’ model is aimed at personal enjoyment, time spent with God and others, and a slow paced schedule that allows you to simply ‘get away.’ Our hope is that after allowing us to walk alongside you through your selected activities of outdoor adventure, rest, reflection, and simply enjoying God’s creation, you’ll go home refreshed and leave with a greater sense of the areas where you’d like to pursue growth. We encourage and help you process your experience and identify next steps, to empower you with the tools to live the abundant life in Christ.

As always, our desire is to work with you to customize your experience and make it what you need. We love personalizing everything we offer! Consider adding some of the following components to your Personalized Retreat to make it your own:
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+ Stay overnight instead of just spending the day
+ Arrive early and start your day off with breakfast in addition to lunch and dinner
+ Reserve an indoor space in addition to any lodging you’ve chosen
+ Add on a personalized counseling session with one of our trained staff members
+ Add a high ropes challenge to the beginning or end of the day
+ Add any or all meals during your stay, depending on availability
+ Purchase our artisan food basket to enjoy during your stay