The Elemental Writing Retreat — El Peñol, Colombia
Four days immersed in nature, deep focus, and the company of writers and artists from around the world. No distractions. Just the page.
Each retreat is limited to a small group. Early bird pricing is available now.
2027 dates: January · February · March · April · May · September · November
Writing is solitary work — but it doesn't have to be lonely. This retreat was built for writers who need time, stillness, and the rare gift of being surrounded by people who take their work seriously. We believe that collaborative creativity can enrich our work as individual artists.
Nestled in the natural landscapes of Colombia, the retreat offers unstructured writing time, guided reflection, and real conversation about the craft — from the first chapter to the final query letter.
Our vision is that writing is not just an intellectual activity, but one that flourishes with a sound body and spirit. We take special care over what we eat — focused on healthy and hearty meals — and begin each day activating our bodies. We also believe that language is music, which is why we make space to explore the way rhythm and vibration become essential tools in every writer's toolkit.
Whether you're just beginning or years into a manuscript, you belong here.
Each retreat is intentionally small, with a gentle rhythm that protects deep work while creating space for community.
Long, uninterrupted blocks each morning — your most important appointment of the day.
We explore rhythm and vibration as essential tools — because the sound of writing matters as much as the sense.
Healthy, hearty meals and daily body activation — because great writing begins with a grounded body and spirit.
Writers at every stage, all invested in showing up honestly for the work and for each other.
The flow of each retreat is guided by the participants and the energy they bring. This is not a boot camp — we aim to strike the right balance between creative stimulation and harmonizing our nervous systems.
Meet your fellow writers, settle into the place, dinner, creativity activation.
Mornings for body activation and craft conversation. Afternoons for deep writing, reflection, outdoor activities (walking, swimming, kayaking) and optional group readings or feedback circles.
Collaborative workshops focused on the core components of the writing process, each connected to one of the four elements.
Evenings that breathe.
Breakfast, enjoy the property for a little while longer, departure.
All meals, accommodation, and programming included.
A limited number of spots per retreat, kept small on purpose. Pricing depends on room type, with early bird rates available before the deadline.
A shared room with a double bed.
USD per person
Early bird pricing ends October 15, 2026
Accepted applicants receive their payment link by email.
A shared room with a king bed.
USD per person
Early bird pricing ends October 15, 2026
Accepted applicants receive their payment link by email.
A private room of your own.
USD per person
Early bird pricing ends October 15, 2026
Accepted applicants receive their payment link by email.
Tarifa local — Colombian Writers Rate: shared room, double bed, 1.500.000 COP per person — limited to 3 spots.
Apply for this rateAll meals, accommodation, and programming included. To reserve your spot or ask a question, reach out directly or join the list below.
Patrick Quinn is originally from Maryland and has called Colombia home since 2016. He is the author of Portrait of Leaving, a memoir about waking up strapped to a bed during a semester studying in Spain. In 2019, he founded Functional Creative Editorial, providing creativity and communication training and editorial mentorship to professionals from all over the world.
He is also a retreat facilitator at La Ceiba Healing Center, serving as a cultural and linguistic bridge between indigenous elders and visitors from around the world. He is currently developing a second book, a novel at the intersection of quantum mechanics and ancestral wisdom.
Patrick started the Elemental Writing retreat to give writers and artists a space to harmonize mind, body, and spirit — and to refine their voices and develop their best creative work. He believes something magical happens when creative people gather in a place without distractions, to share their gifts, learn from each other, and build community.
Get early bird pricing, upcoming retreat dates, and occasional notes on the writing life. Nothing more.
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