Waves & Wild Light
Surf, Create and Awaken the Wild Within.
Read below for more detail or Click to BookThe Essentials
7 Days / 12 Curious Guests / June 2026
Awaken the Wild Within.
Waves & Wildlight is a co-ed surf and creative retreat where the wild beauty of Costa Rica becomes your muse. Guided by Malin Bray and Rideaway, this experience merges ocean adventure and creative exploration into one unforgettable week.
You’ll surf glassy waves at sunrise, ride horses through palm-lined trails, practice daily yoga and pilates ... .race quads along the shoreline — all while being immersed in a curated team of artists, content creators, and storytellers capturing the magic in real time. Expect dynamic coverage from our surf water photographer, breathtaking drone footage, and creative documentation woven throughout the retreat so you leave with memories as vivid as the experience itself.
Guests are invited to bring their own cameras if they feel called. Under Malin’s guidance, you’ll have the opportunity to explore photography — learning how to see light, movement, and emotion in a new way, whether you’re picking up a camera for fun or expanding your creative skills.
This is a space for those who live for movement, nature, and art — where you can let go of perfection, embrace your creative edge, and rediscover the freedom that comes from living vividly.
Booking PageWhat's Included and Who is This For?
What's Included?
• 6 nights / 7 days in beautiful accommodation in the heart of Santa Teresa with a pool, fitness center and a few steps to the beach hidden in the jungle.
• Daily surf training with deep technique work + wave analysis
• Video coaching + feedback to accelerate your progress
• Surfing different waves around Santa Teresa + nearby breaks
• Yoga, reformer pilates + movement sessions for grounding, mobility, and strength
• Epic horseback ride through jungle + beach at golden hour
• ATV + moto day trip through jungle trails + coastal viewpoints
• Drone + water photography documenting your adventure
• Optional creative support + photo mentorship moments with Malin
• Opening and closing beach dinners under the stars • Two Meals per day • Community, connection, and plenty of down time to breathe + roam
Who is this retreat for?
For the wild-hearted, the salt-seekers, and the ones who feel the pull of the tide — this retreat is for you. It’s for anyone craving sunlight on skin, movement that feels like truth, and freedom that doesn’t need chasing.
Come if you want to:
- Start your days with the sea and end them in golden stillness
- Progress in surfing at your own pace, with steady support
- Reconnect with your body, intuition, and creative spark
- Explore storytelling and expression in a gentle, guided way
- Share time with curious, kind, sun-warmed souls
No experience needed — just curiosity, courage, and a willingness to play, learn, and grow.
Themes
This is an invitation to rediscover freedom, flow, and creativity — on the board, on the mat, and in every golden Costa Rican moment. You’re not just coming on a trip — you’re stepping into a curated creative environment. You’re being photographed by professionals who shoot for brands, creators, and artists. You’re learning from them. You’re creating with them.
Surf and Surf Photography
Improving your surf is always the goal, so we're offering top quality surf coaching with video analysis and for the more advanced surfers, we will be capturing you cutting shapes on the water all week with photos and videos from the water, shore and air, so you walk away with a documentary-level of footage of you and your friends.
Artistic Creation
We will be inviting local artists and practitioners each day to hold creative sessions with the group to be a creator and a muse. You will leave emboldened and with a whole new portfolio of personal work of commercial, brand quality to use however you wish.
Yoga
Yoga will be offered at least twice daily, with a variety of coaches and styles to learn.
Men & Women
While the retreat is co-ed, Malin will be offering women only elements each day to enable a more feminine exploration to occur in between the co-ed activities.
Physical, Adventurous Challenges
Paired with a talented photographer, we will be taking you on ATV rides through the jungle and riding horses on the beach at sunset. We will gently push you to go beyond your comfort zone.
Daily Flow / Itinerary
What's each day going to feel like?
Morning
Surf check and yoga sesh at the lodge with breakfast before starting the day's activities.
Mid-Day
If we aren't surfing or shooting, we're eating and napping or ripping through the jungle.
Afternoon Shoots
Pull in Malin for a personal shoot to capture you in a new light for a project of yours.
Evening
Sleep or dance. Up to you really.
Your Hosts and Local Artists
These people will caring for you, documenting you and creating with you.
Malin, Retreat Organizer/Photographer
Malin Bray is a photographer, creative director, and retreat host whose work lives at the intersection of art, movement, and nature. Splitting her time between Costa Rica, Europe and the U.S., she is known for capturing people in their most authentic essence… wild, alive, and illuminated by natural light. With a background in music, wellness, travel, and storytelling, Malin weaves together experiences that are both adventurous and creative. Her retreats invite guests to surf, explore, and express…to reconnect with their natural rhythm and the beauty of the world around them. Whether through the lens, the ocean, or shared adventure, she creates spaces where people can rediscover freedom, creativity, and connection.
At the heart of her work is a belief that life itself is art — and when we move, create, and immerse ourselves fully in the moment, we ride the wildlight that lives within us all.
Surf Photographers
A range of locally-based surf photographers and videographers will attend select surf sessions including the highly talented Ez Rivero and Ollie Wan. So don't worry. We'll get you gliding and falling from the water, from the shore and the air. You'll have a music video's worth of commercial grade content by the end of the week. We want you to look as good in the photos, as you feel inside when the week ends.
Surfer.com Article on Ez RiveroAccommodation
Lodge Summary
Rustic, treehouse-inspired wooden villas built from local timber, offering spacious, stylish interiors with fully equipped kitchens, air-conditioning, and private hot-water bathrooms with outdoor showers. Many feature garden-view terraces with hammocks and large screened windows for natural airflow. Guests also have access to the property’s pool, tropical garden hangout areas, and a well-equipped gym.
Oasis of Respite
Our guest house in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, known for its tranquil, jungle-like atmosphere and stylish, clean wooden bungalows. It is located very close to the beach and town, offering a pool, free Wi-Fi, and family-friendly accommodations. The property also provides convenient services like airport shuttles and a 24-hour front desk
Pool area
According to an AI summary... the pool area is described as beautiful, amazing, and a relaxing oasis, surrounded by nice gardens and tropical vegetation. It is considered a key feature of the property, often highlighted in reviews for its scenic and tranquil atmosphere. Thanks AI.
Room Options
We have secured two private rooms, a Lodge with 2 bedrooms and a lodge with 1 bedroom. Each room has a queen bed. Each lodge has a communal area with a fold out couch that can be used a bed but only as back up option. All rooms can be booked for one person or if you want a discount, reserve it for 2 people. See the booking page for more details.
Amenities
Air conditioning Private bathrooms Kitchenette Refrigerator Cable TV Terrace, patio, or balcony Outdoor shower (in some accommodations) Open-air living room (in some accommodations)
Booking Information
Get'em while you can. You are booking with the Rideaway Team Account. Your booking request will be reviewed by us within 48 hours. If accepted, your payment will be held in escrow by Stripe until 2 weeks prior to the Trip Start Date. If your booking request is not accepted by us in 48 hours, it is void and no payment will be taken by Stripe. You can pay a deposit to secure your place and the rest 1 month prior to start date. You can email us here justin@rideaway.io with questions.
Booking PageWaves & Wild Light: June 7th 2026
You can secure your space with a deposit or pay in full.
Booking PageWaves & Wild Light: Week 2
TBA
What You Can Expect from Your Creative Adventure Retreat with Malin
Each day moves between morning surf coaching and grounding yoga practices, balancing power and presence. Afternoons invite exploration: drone-filmed motorcycle and ATV rides, horseback journeys at sunset, and adventure trails through the jungle.
Your experience will be beautifully captured by local creators through water, surf, and lifestyle photography, ensuring the memories live as vividly as they’re felt. Under the guidance of photographer and artist Malin, guests are invited to blend artistry and adventure through relaxed, intuitive photo moments.
Evenings unfold into oceanfront dinners, moments under the stars, and the chance to stay right in the heart of Santa Teresa — close enough to explore the pulse and rhythm of this vibrant surf town. We can rest, we can party, we can be however we wish.
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