You never lose, either you win or you learn
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our philosophy
Aren’t retreat centers, lifestyle coaches, spiritual mentors and experience experts popping up like mushrooms? To the annoyance of some people (which we kinda get). Because why is everybody suddenly a spiritual mentor or a coach? Long story short; because there is a high demand. Because many of us feel lost, hurt and broken and we need healing. Together with everyone out there trying to make this world a better place, we will contribute to the pursuit of that goal. Creating a hub where people can connect, share and grow.
it’s not healthy if there is no balance
We are big fans of self development, being introspective, structured and disciplined. But it’s not healthy if there is no balance. Life must be lived to the fullest. You don’t do that by solely obeying to your tamed, civil side. You also have to let your inner wild child run free sometimes. Let your hair down and dance underneath the stars until the sun comes up.
Villa La Kookaburra is here, to help you restore the balance between those two sides.
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Our villa is situated in the spectacular surroundings of the Barranco Blanco; a hidden gem with crystal clear water and a broad variety of flora and fauna. During the summer months (June-October) it’s prohibited to drive down the river if you are not a resident. This makes it even more exclusive for you as a guest to enter
our secret paradise.
luxury & nature
We believe that personal development is best reflected in a low-stimulus environment surrounded by all the splendor Mother Nature creates. If you combine these elements with a certain level of luxury, you facilitate the right amount of headspace for someone to surrender and focus on your own process.
We provide an experience in which attention is paid to every detail. This is reflected in our personal approach, stylishly decorated rooms, the luxurious facilities and food for the soul. Think; handwritten notes, soft towels, eco shower products, freshly cooked Instagrammable meals, a jacuzzi with mountain views, a beautiful infinity pool, cozy outdoor corners lit with romantic lights... Well, have you drifted off to retreat wonderland already?
discover more about the villa
doggoe heaven
We are proud parents of 5 amazing fur balls. Oh my, these rascals bring us so much happiness. So if you are in need of an extra dose of serotonin, you should definitely visit La Kookaburra. Let us introduce them to you. After all, it won’t be just us you’ll be co-living with. Plus, during our retreats the dogs are also an important zen factor.
It all started with Pien, our brown mixed labrador. She was our first dog when we still lived back in the Netherlands. Together with her we started our adventure in Spain. Pien was so nervous to go out at night, because there were suddenly so many other animals she could smell in the woods. We didn’t wait for long to find Pien a brother.
That’s when Olaf came into the picture. He still thinks he is a puppy or a chihuachiua for that matter, because he loves to sit on your lap despite his size and cuddle, or French kiss you. Yes Olaf shows his love with his tongue (everybody, please be more like Olaf)
After Olaf came Takkie. Our little Zen Master. Takkie is a very special little dog. There is something so wise about her, that we suspect her to be a reincarnation of Buddha. Tak knows when people need her. So she goes wherever she needs to go to comfort people, which results in a lot of sleepovers for her.
Who came next? That was our big boy Ivy. During Corona confinement he became our light in the darkness. Do you remember The Big Friendly Giant of Roald Dahl? Well that’s Ivy. An amazingly smart and gentle boy. And insanely handsome. Holding his big head and kissing his nose is one of our favorite things to do.
Last but definitely not least; Georgie. You’d think 4 dogs is enough, but mama couldn’t help herself. She convinced herself that two small dogs make one dog, and since there was only one Takkie there'd probably be room for another…
Georgie might be the biggest cuddler of all, but that doesn’t apply to mountain bikers unfortunately. If she sees anything on two wheels, then there is no stopping her. Sundays are always very busy for her, because she has to chase the mountain bikers all day (from behind the fence).
meet the team
Hi there, we are Cees & Anna. Two Dutchies who swapped the concrete jungle of Rotterdam for a much greener one in Spain. Our friends would probably describe us as people who suck the marrow out of life. Bon vivants in the purest sense of the word. That’s also how we met, celebrating life in Rotterdam’s nightlife. Always surrounded by a group of friends for whom we gladly organized (dinner)parties. The more the merrier, because happiness is doubled when shared!
a shared past in hospitality
Our shared past in the hospitality industry probably won’t surprise you. Anna studied at the Hotelschool The Hague for a while and during her studies she always worked in restaurants with great pleasure. However, at some point she swapped slinging beers and crowded terraces for a career in online marketing.
When Cees got his first job in the hospitality industry, he never expected to stick around for so long, but it grew on him! As soon as the art of creating the perfect beer head was second nature for him, he began to gather knowledge about fancy wines and learned to make gin&tonics in endless varieties and tastes. Life was good… Yet something was missing. It lacked sparkle…
sharing is caring
So in 2018 we took a leap and moved to Spain. For 4,5 years we ran a glamping resort in the mountains of Alicante. Being in nature, surrounded by animals, experiencing a more slow way of living absolutely changed us for the better. It made us decide to find a way to share this experience with as many people as possible; through retreats.
creating from our own experience
So together with our 5 dogs, we continued our journey and found this beautiful villa which we called La Kookaburra (the laughing bird). For our year round program we join forces with a great network of inspirational entrepreneurs. We don’t pretend to have a monopoly on wisdom, but we create from our own experiences. Together with everyone out there trying to make this world a better place, we will contribute to the pursuit of that goal. Lifting each other up, and sending ripples of change out into the world.
