Guides
How to apply to The Health Initiative’s wellness retreat in Puerto Rico
To apply to the wellness retreat, you complete the online application and then reserve your place with a deposit through secure online card payment. Applications close November 5, 2026. The first cohort has 10 places and runs 5 days starting November 15, 2026. The retreat is held in English and is open to everyone.
Is it an emergency? Call 911.
Pay now, then choose your time right away. Full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more ahead.
See the cancellation policy
You can cancel for a full refund or change the time up to 24 hours before your visit. Within 24 hours you can't cancel and there's no refund. If you don't join in the first 10 minutes, there's no refund.
If you choose a time less than 24 hours away, it can't be cancelled or changed.
If the clinic can't see you, for example because of a technical problem on our side, we refund you in full.
Is this an emergency?
This is not an emergency service. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:
- Chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting: call 911, do not wait to apply
- A recent change in a health condition, or a new medicine, before you travel: talk to your own doctor first
- If you are in a mental health crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or Puerto Rico’s PAS line, 1-800-981-0023
Help lines
In short
The essentials before you apply:
- Applications close November 5, 2026
- Places in the first cohort: 10
- Length: 5 days starting November 15, 2026
- Where: a hacienda in Río Grande, Puerto Rico; the exact location is shared with confirmed guests
- Price: US$4,500 per person
- Language: the retreat is held in English
- Who: open to everyone
The steps, in order
The process is short: you apply online first, then reserve with a deposit:
- 1. You apply online. You complete the application before applications close.
- 2. We get in touch. We contact you with the next steps. If something about your health or mobility deserves a conversation so we can plan your week safely, we tell you.
- 3. You reserve with a deposit. You reserve your place with a deposit through secure online card payment.
Before you apply: what is worth knowing
Applying takes little time, but a few things help you decide calmly:
The dates. Applications close November 5, 2026 and the cohort starts November 15, 2026.
The group is small. There are 10 places, so each guest gets close attention. We do not publish more availability detail than you see here.
The retreat is held in English. The sessions are in English. Dr. Diana Nieves Castro speaks English and Spanish.
It is wellness, not treatment. The retreat does not replace your own doctor, who stays in charge of your care.
Before you fill in the application
Have your contact details handy and think about what you hope to get from the week. If you take medicines, have health conditions, or have mobility or dietary needs, keep them in mind: the retreat includes a physician assessment with a general practice physician licensed in Puerto Rico.
There are no "right" answers: applying is not an exam. If you have questions before you apply, talk to us first.
What happens after you apply
After you submit, we write to you with the next steps. We do not publish a response time, and we do not promise that every application moves forward: the group is small (10 places), and some situations need a conversation first.
If we need more information, or want to talk with you about your health, we write to you. That does not mean you cannot come; it means we want to plan your week safely.
How you reserve your place
After you apply, you reserve your place with a deposit paid through secure online card payment. This is the step that confirms your place.
A deposit reserves your place. The amount and terms are confirmed in your acceptance email.
The price of the retreat is US$4,500 per person. To see what it covers, read what a wellness retreat includes and costs.
What comes next once you reserve
With your place reserved, you receive the information to prepare for the trip: the exact location, which is shared only with confirmed guests, and the arrival details. To start thinking about packing and the rhythm of the days, read what to expect at the retreat.
If you take medicines, plan ahead: read about traveling to Puerto Rico with medications.
What the retreat includes
All of the following is included in the price:
- Lodging and meals
- Medical care and labs, provided by a general practice physician licensed in Puerto Rico; labs are ordered when clinically appropriate and we do not promise specific tests or results
- Coaching and sessions: mobility, meditation and breathwork, and nutrition
- Island activities and airport transfers
If you are unsure the retreat is for you
The retreat is open to everyone, at any fitness level. If you are not sure it fits, read is a wellness retreat right for me? or, for the medical side of the program, the guide to the medical wellness retreat.
Talk to us first if
Some situations just need a conversation before you apply, so we can plan your week safely. They are not a list of people who cannot come. Talk to us first if you:
- Are pregnant.
- Had recent surgery.
- Have a condition that is not stable or that changed recently.
- Had a recent hospital stay.
- Have mobility needs we should plan around.
- Are going through a hard time with your mental health. If you need help now, call or text 988 or Puerto Rico’s PAS line, 1-800-981-0023.
Keep reading
For everything about the first cohort, go back to the wellness retreat in Puerto Rico. For the day-to-day, read what to expect at the retreat. For the price breakdown, read what a wellness retreat includes and costs.
How we care for you
We evaluate, diagnose and treat; if needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you.
We see adults and children of all ages. Patients under 21: a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian is on camera for the whole visit and shows photo ID.
Real-time video visit. We send you a secure video link. It works on your phone, tablet or computer.
If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy.
You must be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit (visitors, tourists and cruise passengers are welcome).
In an emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply to the wellness retreat?
When do applications close?
How many places are there?
How and when do I pay?
How do I reserve my place with the deposit?
How long until I hear back?
Can my application not move forward?
What if I want to come with a friend or partner?
What does the price include?
Is the retreat held in English?
About this page
Author: The Health Initiative
Medical care provided by Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD (PR license 24027)
Disclosure: Founding Executive Director of The Health Initiative
Published: 2026-10-10 · Updated: 2026-10-11
Sources (2)
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-10)
- Línea PAS (ASSMCA, in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-10)