25th - 29th Jan 2026
Oru El Saltador
Permaculture Retreat: Cultivate, Connect, Regenerate
At Oru El Saltador, we believe that learning begins with curiosity and with the simple act of paying attention to the land beneath your feet.
This three-night retreat is an accessible, hands-on introduction to regenerative living, permaculture principles and land-based wisdom across our 81 acres of land nestled in the Sierra Alhamilla in Andalusia, Spain. It’s designed for anyone who wants to connect with nature and learn more about regeneration and permaculture with no prior experience necessary!
This retreat offers something rare: the chance to be involved at the very start of a groundbreaking land restoration initiative.
Alongside expert facilitators, you’ll learn the practical tools, ecological frameworks and hands-on stewardship skills that will shape this landscape for decades to come.
Participants won’t learn the theory, they’ll help co-design the project.
This is a unique opportunity to contribute directly to one of the most ambitious ecological restoration projects in the region.
By the end of the retreat, you’ll leave with:
A foundational understanding of permaculture and regenerative design
Increased awareness and knowledge of key issues including soil health and water conservation techniques
A deeper connection with nature and land-based practices
Direct input into the co-design of Oru El Saltador’s evolving landscape and systems
A renewed sense of grounding, wellbeing, and purpose
Each day on retreat will begin outside, learning directly from the soil, plants and the land. Afternoons will move into inspiring educational workshops that deepen what you’ve observed that day, from regenerative planning and soil health to water harvesting and conservation techniques. As the day softens, we close with a movement or yoga class before sharing nourishing food and easy conversation.
We are incredibly excited that this event is being hosted by world-class Spanish and global facilitators, John, Susana and Gabino, who bring over 30 years of combined experience in landscape design, soil ecology and Mediterranean growing systems, spanning global master planning to hands-on climate-resilient and regenerative farming.
Facilities and Activities
Beautiful views and hikes from our doorstep
Thoughtfully curated daily yoga classes to help you connect with nature
World class education on landscape design, soil ecology, Mediterranean growing systems and regenerative land management.
Daily practical sessions working on the land, planting trees and cultivating the future of Oru El Saltador
Three delicious organic veggie meals per day
Example Retreat Schedule
7.30am - Teas, Coffee, Fruit
8.30am - Grounding and energising morning yoga practice
9.30am - Morning site walk and reading the landscape
10am - Brunch
11am - Workshop on ‘Designing in accordance with nature - learning the principles of Regenerative Planning’
1pm - Lunch
2pm - Hands on work: composting and microbe activation
5pm - Relaxation time
7pm - Dinner
*subject to change
Room Options
Accommodation will be simple and comfortable. Choose from limited solo occupancy rooms, a dorm space or a twin/sharer room. We also have limited options for volunteers to join and stay on the land.
All rooms have shared bathrooms and showers.
Twin / Double Room
Shared bathroom
£700pp
Single room (solo occupancy - limited)
Tucked away, cosy
Shared bathroom
£800pp
Dorm room
4 single beds
Shared bathroom
£500pp
Where you’ll stay
Oru El Saltador Retreat Centre
Almeria, Southern Spain
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Nestled in the gentle hills of the Sierra Alhamilla in Almeria, Spain, lies Oru El Saltador. It is located at the crossroads of the Tabernas Desert and the wild beauty of the Cabo de Gata-NÃjar Natural Park.
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You will need to arrange your own flights for this retreat.
For direct flights in January, we recommend flying to Murcia (1 hour 45 from the venue).
The nearest airport is Almeria, just 45 minutes from the venue. There are limited direct flights to and from this airport in January.
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Once you have chosen your airport of choice, we can help arrange taxi transfers for you direct to the venue.
Almeria - 45 minute drive
Murcia - 1 hour 45 minute drive
Facilitators
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With over 25 years of professional experience, he brings a unique perspective that bridges environmental agrobiology, sustainable landscape design, and education. His background combines scientific understanding of soil–plant–water–air interactions with hands-on expertise in dryland management and ecological restoration. Specializing in the design of low-input, high-resilience landscapes that thrive under arid and semi-arid conditions, and drawing from techniques in permaculture, regenerative agriculture, and Mediterranean garden culture, Gabino helps shape environments that conserve water, restore soil function, and foster biodiversity.
His work integrates swales, water-harvesting topographies, drought-resilient plant communities, and local microclimate adaptation to transform degraded terrain into living systems
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With a broad experience on agricultural field work in southern Spain, she has worked extensively on plant health, particularly olive and almond trees, irrigation systems and harvest management in semi-arid conditions. She has also worked in the wellbeing industry and has created and managed a line of organic skin care Products. Trained as an Agricultural engineer with early formative years in Germany and Spain she has worked extensively in agricultural related fields. Following her passion for plants and the botanical world she has trained as a landscape architect with a specialization in planting in mediterranean controlled environments and interior planting.
Ready to unwind and reconnect with yourself?
Secure your spot today.