Artist Retreats & Residencies 2026 & 2027

Quiet the world. Listen to Your Voice. Create.

Looking to get away from the constant distraction and mental noise of daily responsibilities and interruptions that leave you with little time and mental space for deep creative work?

Finding it hard to access flow and fresh ideas?

Needing a dedicated space to support focused, immersive creation?

The artists & writers retreat and residency programs offer a transformative environment for you to be supported, and nourished by people and the land. At Apothefinca you’ll find the perfect space to be replenished and find your creative zen.

This creative getaway invites artists and writers of all genres to explore the intersection of creative expression and the untamed beauty in the tropics of Southern Nicaragua.

Apothefinca is a perfect place for both emerging and established artists. It’s where you’ll find inspiration in the botanical gardens, jungle edges and beautiful work spaces - and in the good company of one or two other creative people also working on their projects.

This is the perfect opportunity for you to get back - to you.  Fully and without compromise. You’re here to be complete, and to create.

This is for you if...

  • You’ve been meaning to create —your book, your story, your ideas—but haven’t had the time, space, or focus to make real progress

  • You’re burned out or creatively blocked and need a reset in a peaceful, inspiring environment

  • You’re craving solitude to do deep creative work, but also want connection and support when needed

  • You’re tired of distractions and overstimulation and want to unplug from the noise of digital life

  • You know your creativity is important—but it keeps falling to the bottom of your priorities

  • You’re looking for a tailored retreat-style stay without the overwhelm of a big group but with structure, support, and nourishment

  • You value wellness, nature, and conscious living—and want your environment to support your writing and personal growth

 You’ll leave with…

  • Tangible progress on your project—whether it’s a book, photographic work, blog, or personal practice

  • A renewed sense of clarity, focus, and creative confidence

  • Daily habits that support your writing, health, and mental clarity

  • A deeper connection to your own voice and what you actually want to say

  • Tools for sustaining creative momentum long after you leave

  • More energy, better sleep, and less stress from time spent off-grid and in nature

  • A stronger relationship to stillness, silence, and your own inner wisdom

  • A sense of completion: you gave yourself the time and space to do the thing you said you would

Check Availability
Apothefinca View
Interior of a rustic-style living space with a high wooden ceiling, hanging woven light fixtures, a small kitchen area with a patterned front, red bar stools, a white sofa with a blue throw, a wooden coffee table, and a sliding glass door.
Bedroom with large windows, white brick wall, wooden bed with pink and green floral pillows, white bedding, built-in shelves, ceiling fan, and pendant lights.

Apothefinca Healing Artist Retreats

2026 & 2027

Monthly Retreat Themes:

June: The Explorer

July, August & September Farm Stay Availability (no guided retreats)

October: Plantlore & Artistry

November: Creativity & Healing

December: Gathering, Belonging & Artistry

2027

January: Earth Wisdom & Creativity

February: Creativity & Healing

March: Plant Medicine Making & Creativity

April: Land & Ocean, Soul & Surf

May: Land & Ocean, Soul & Surf

Included In Your Residency:

  • Private room with ensuite bathroom and writing desk

  • Farm to table breakfast and lunch Monday to Saturday (lots of left overs so dinner is easy to make)

  • Art and writing circles Monday to Friday with meditations and movement medicine 3 x/ week led by your hostess & co hosts

  • Opening and closing ceremonies/gatherings

  • Inspiring places throughout the land to make art and write

  • Plant and herbal medicine teaching woven through your stay

  • Co work space in the Canopy Studio available daily

  • Unlimited coffee and tea

  • Support and guidance to suit your needs before and during your stay

  • Optional music circles

Photo of a wooden wall with a heart-shaped cutout window showing a blue door, greenery, and metal garden art outside.

During Your Stay at Apothefinca:

Farm to Table Food: You’ll eat delicious freshly harvested organic farm to table food and enjoy a range of medicinal teas from garden grown herbs and plants (e.g. turmeric, ginger, lemon verbena, holy basil).

Medicinal herbs and wellness are part of the daily experience woven into your writers residency.

Inspirational Creative Places: During your stay you’re welcome to explore, relax and get creative in spots throughout the garden. There are swings under the big guanacaste trees, a writing table under the mango trees, a story cabin, and plenty of spots to hide away and relax within the fold and safety of the medicinal and botanical gardens.

How it Works - What’s Next ?

1. Choose your dates and reach out to us via the booking link below. Lucy will be in touch as soon as possible.

2.On booking we take a non refundable $500 deposit (this can be transferred to other dates within 6 months if you need to change your booking).

For the remaining amount we will create a payment schedule with you to be paid before your arrival.

3. We are happy to help you with travel logistics, recommend a trusted driver to meet you, a packing list etc.

Apothefinca is a home and the people who live here will share everything you need to know to have a smooth and safe arrival and stay. 

“The absolute best experience! Lucy and her team are the most wonderful hosts and the property is lovely. It's the perfect place to escape the intensity of city life and experience the Nicaraguan lifestyle..”

— Jamie Pearl, Photographer

A wooden table with various bowls, jars, and kitchen items, set on a balcony with a view of trees and mountains in the background.
A woman with blonde hair in a floral dress standing outdoors, touching a large tree trunk, holding a book and a water bottle, during sunset or late afternoon.

A Day In The Life… 

Wake up to the birds and the sounds of nature

Sip a cup of coffee or tea and consider how you’d like your day to unfold to support your creativity and wellness

Enjoy an organic farm to table meal at breakfast or lunch 

Settle into creative time. Choose to gather with your host and other residents or find a quiet nook to connect with yourself and your project.

Take in the scents of the herb garden, do a yoga practice, meditate beneath a mango tree

Walk barefoot everywhere 

Feel the inspiration arise within you

And make beautiful art.

Check Availability

“To say that my time at Apothefinca this past November was transformative is not nearly substantive enough. I was able to heal with intentional time and the supportive framework Lucy provided. Not to mention the divine cuisine, nurturing, daily massages and safeguarding provided by all the beautiful local people that she engages. It had just the right mix of adventure, seclusion, peace and community. All in mi casita tranquila. I have every intention of making it an annual pilgrimage to rest, reflect and process all that life presents.”

— Julie Brown, Osteopath

What’s to Discover at Apothefinca

  • A woman wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat and a patterned dress walking along a stone pathway through a lush garden filled with banana plants.

    Medicine Gardens & Outdoor Reflection Spots

    Staying at Apothefinca will reconnect you with nature and the elements. Apothefinca is an organic medicine farm surrounded by protected nature reserve nestled in a jungle valley just 10 - 15 minutes from pristine beaches. We specialise in tropical medicinal herbs, honey and sharing what we have with our guests. You’ll find plenty of inspiration spots (swings from the biggest trees, hammocks, the poetry hut) outside to sit and relax; read and write; take a siesta and connect with nature.

  • Lush green garden with various trees and plants, a small building with a red roof, a hammock, and rolling hills in the background.

    The Guest House

    The two bedroom guest accommodations offer a rare fusion of refined elegance and spaciousness. The space is airy, clean and inviting—designed with every modern comfort in mind while maintaining a deep connection to the natural surroundings. Each room has an ensuite bathroom and writing desk and walk out patio doors with screens to allow the cool breezes in, and jungle bugs out.

  • Lush green tropical forest with a modern house on a hillside and mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

    Creative & Yoga Spaces

    Elevated above the mango trees, the Canopy Studio offers an expansive space where creativity and inspiration are easy to connect with. This open plan studio with two big co-working tables (full of art material to encourage your inner creator) is designed to inspire and elevate your spirit, with panoramic views of the lush jungle and beyond—an ever-changing tapestry of green and sky. The canopy studio is the co-work, yoga and art space.

  • A person surfing on a wave in the ocean with two people swimming in the water nearby, and a rocky island in the distance.

    Movement as Medicine

    Yoga - Surfing - Walking - Horseback Riding - Chi Gong - Aerial Silks and Trapeze. Our residencies and shorter stays offer an array of possibilities tailored to what you need to be in balance with your writing.

    Your host, Lucy, loves movement so you’ll find lots of options to keep yourself limber and healthy. You might want to roll out a yoga mat and stretch; walk on the country roads, or do something more energetic.

    Whatever you feel inclined to do with your energy, there are many options to align with and choose from.

“I would recommend Apothefinca for anyone up for adventuring off the beaten path. I loved the holistic approach of this retreat: meditation, chi gong, art, visits to the ocean, music and lots of space for rest and integration. I focused on writing during my stay, to progress on the book I’ve been writing for a number of years. I knew having dedicated time and space, with built in support and guidance from a writing coach would help me gain clarity and establish a foundation for writing after I returned home. The grounds are beautiful. The land is supportive and nurturing. I loved being able to walk out my door and pick herbal medicine. The chefs food was local, fresh and amazing. I began to feel an overall sense of wellness as soon as I arrived. ”

— Dawn Deguire, consultant, coach & yoga teacher

Meet the Team

  • LUCY LOWES PAGET

    Lucy Lowes Paget

    Writer, Apothefinca Founder, Osteopath

    Lucy had a dream of creating a healing arts sanctuary in the wilds from which Apothefinca evolved. Lucy is a writer, Osteopath and yoga teacher.

    Lucy is currently working on her book, ‘The Home Tree’ which she has a publishing deal for with a british press, The Unbound Press.

    Lucy is also a mother of two great kids - Nina & Jago, she’s an artist, a writer and she loves singing.

  • A person smiling and presenting a plate of food at an outdoor dining setting at night, surrounded by green plants and fairy lights.

    Idania Aburto

    Chef

    Idania is the queen of the kitchen and serves food with love that will make your mouth water. She brings joy to the retreat. She’s always happy to teach if you’re keen to learn from her - but she wont share her family secret recipes - many have tried.

    The meals are all exquisitely tasty - and healthy. You wont go hungry. You’ll be well nourished by the beautiful cooking.

    Farm and ocean to table.

  • A person wearing a striped t-shirt and a khaki cap inspects a large pile of fresh ginger roots on a wooden table in a lush garden setting.

    The Garden Team

    Benito & Larry

    Benito & Larry work hard making the gardens beautiful, organic, peaceful and productive.

    They make soil (we have a big worm compost and another compost pile), plant seeds, transplant baby plants, tend and harvest and help Lucy bring her garden ideas to life.

    Benito and Larry always know that if Lucy is standing still staring at the garden she has an idea in mind for them to get to work on…

Ready to Invest In Yourself? Here are the details

Price: $1500 USD per week per person or 10 days $1900

Your stay includes:

  • Private ensuite bedroom with a writing desk

  • Farm to table breakfast & lunch 6 days per week (with lots of left overs for easy dinners)

  • 5 Days per week art and writing circles led by your hostess with one to one coaching as needed

  • 3 Days per week medicine movement and meditation practices

  • Opening & closing ceremonies to support creativity and wellness

  • 1 Massage

  • Plant and herbal medicine teaching woven through your stay

  • Land connection and art - creating with the land as our ally and our supporter is an integral part of your stay at Apothefinca

  • Inspiring art making and writing spots throughout Apothefinca grounds

  • Beach trips (Ocean time at nearby secluded beaches is something we love to do - surfing, boogie boarding, swimming and relaxing on the beach are all encouraged)

  • Co writing/art studio space in the Canopy Studio available daily

  • Coffee, fresh juices & organic garden grown herbal tea

Ready to invest in yourself and focus on your creativity, but also want to offer something in return (e.g. get your hands into the garden or provide social media support)?  

Well you might be the perfect fit for our scholarship option! 

On a first come first serve basis we are opening up our Apothefinca Artist Residency Scholarship program.

Here are the details about our Work Exchange Option:

We offer a work exchange rate of $850 per person per week or $1400 for 2 weeks, or $1900 for 3 weeks, in exchange for 8 hours of contribution per week (if you would like to come as a couple please ask about rates)

Preferred areas of support include content creation, farm and garden help, carpentry or woodworking, and graphic design and skill sharing workshops on the land or in the art studio. If you have other skills or ideas to offer, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to discuss what feels aligned with the land and the residency.

FAQs

  • Not at all. This residency is for anyone who feels called to create, heal and explore—whether it’s your first time putting words or colour on paper, or you're deep into a project. What matters most is your willingness to show up for your creative process.

  • Yes - This is a small group retreat with a light structure. You’ll have the freedom to gather for writing and art circles or to find your own space to be creative. It’s a supportive environment, not a rigid program.

  • You’ll get to gather for writing and art circles and creative meditations and movement medicine led by Lucy Paget and other co-hosts, access to a shared co-writing space, and a nourishing environment designed to support focused creative work. One-on-one mentorship is given based on your need for support.

  • You’ll stay in a private, eco-bohemian room with an ensuite bathroom and writing desk. The property is off-grid but designed for comfort—expect peace, beauty, and the essentials for creative living. There is hot water, a living and a dining area, and a fully equipped kitchen. If you are part of the scholarship program your accommodation is a little more rustic but beautiful.

  • You’ll be served farm-to-table breakfast and lunch five days a week, with plenty of leftovers for easy dinners. Meals are made from organic produce grown onsite or locally sourced. All food grown on site is organic and not treated with chemicals.

  • We can help arrange travel logistics and connect you with a trusted local driver for a smooth arrival. You'll receive a full packing list and travel guide once your booking is confirmed. The best airports to fly into are Managua and Liberia, Costa Rica, but all will be explained in depth upon acceptance.

  • Yes, there is stable Wi-Fi available in your room and in the co-working areas. Many residents balance remote work with creative time while here.

  • Yes, Apothefinca is located in a peaceful, rural area and has a trusted local team on site. Nicaragua is full of kind people and natural beauty. We’ll provide all the info you need to feel confident and prepared for your stay.

  • Yes. A $500 deposit secures your spot, and the remainder can be split into 2–3 payments. We’re happy to discuss a plan that works for you—just ask.

  • Once booked, you’ll receive a complete packing guide tailored to the season. In general: light breathable clothes, comfortable shoes, swimwear, natural bug spray, and anything you need for your writing or wellness practices. The environment is simple, natural, and supportive.

Come and Create at Apothefinca

Ready To Say Yes To You?

Get In Touch. Check Availability.

Send us a message with questions or your dates and we will get back to you right away. Every story is worth sharing.