The Co-Wash Retreat

In our community, a CO -WASH is how we cleanse our hair, not by stripping it of its moisture, but adding moisture and reviving our texture. Come revive your spirit by adding moisture to your soul and immersing yourself in the sea.

March 2, 2024 - March 8, 2024

Popoyo, Nicaragua

Apply to The Co-Wash Retreat

A blissful fusion of community, waves, and self-discovery

On our retreats we center local voices and work with organizations to promote responsible tourism and foster respect for the ocean and those around us! Our warm water retreats in Nicaragua are great for intermediate level surfer who can catch green waves unassisted. We will have twice daily guided surf sessions to help your surfing advance to the next level. We offer a unique experience that breaks down barriers to entry for our community regarding skincare, haircare, and beyond!

2024 Retreat Overview

March 2, 2024 - March 8, 2024

Popoyo, Nicaragua

6 days, 5 night stay at Malibu Popoyo Resort
Twice daily guided surf sessions
Daily yoga sessions
Daily sunset surfs
Boat tour to surf secret spots
Breakfast, lunch & dinner provided during stay
Closing beach bbq and bonfire
Surf photos
SO MUCH MORE!

The Co-Wash Experience

CoWash Retreat Highlights & Take-A-Ways

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Ride With Us

Complete the retreat application to join us on the 2024 Co-Wash Retreat.

Apply for The Co-Wash Retreat

Single Occupancy

$2600

Double Occupancy

$2250

The Co-Wash Scholarship

Want to join in on our retreats but having a hard time finding the funds? Apply for our Co-Wash Scholarship!

Lean On Us, We Got You

We want to help get more women in the lineup by removing financial barriers. The Co-Wash Scholarship is designed for a BIPOC woman in financial need who wants to expand her surf journey. The scholarship covers roundtrip airfare, retreat experience, and group meals.

Applicant must be 21+, have basic swimming skills and be comfortable in ocean conditions. Applicant must engage in some form of outreach in their local community.

Submit a 90 second video by the updated deadline describing who you are. Videos over 90 seconds will be immediately disqualified due to high volume of applications. Be creative!

Apply For The Scholarship

Co-Wash Love

“I'm not sure how I stumbled upon Textured Waves on Instagram, I just know when it happened I was obsessed. Surfing culture has an "aesthetic" for what women look like and the existence of Textured Waves challenges that not only in shades of color but also in shapes of bodies. As a curvy person who loves all things outdoors, this matters to me. A lot. I had seen posts about the retreat pop-up, but knew it was above what I could afford. Not only that, I felt I didn't know what I was doing with surfing and that the event wasn't meant for me. Thanks to encouragement received on applying for the scholarships, I went from knowing next to nothing about surfing to now consistently surfing for nearly two years. I've met so many good people and feel this is a space where I belong. Being in the water is my peace, my meditation. It has given me so much in more ways than I could've imagined. The community, confidence, and calm I've gained was all made possible thanks to this first experience. I was the only South Asian (Pakistani and Indian) surfer I knew, and now I know several as well as influenced some of my relatives to take part with me. Thank you, Textured Waves.

-Sabah
Textured Waves creates a sisterhood where I feel seen, heard and loved by once-strangers to now sea-sters. Some I surf with on a regular because we reside in the same area; others are like pen pals through social spaces like Instagram and intimate spaces like text messages and phone calls where we talk about our surfs but also life highs and challenges. We lean on each other as collective and individual safe spaces and cheerleaders. I have not only matured my surf confidence but I’ve also enhanced my community and sisterhood to women I would have never met if not for Textured Waves. We surf, but most importantly we connect, love, laugh and lean on each other. Textured Waves added purpose to my passion.

-Gianina
I had never touched a surfboard before going on TW’s retreat. Because I was surrounded by such a warm and supportive group of women, I caught on quickly. Not only did I jump from a skateboard onto a surfboard, but I also learned more about Hawaiian traditions and how to care for & respect the ocean. I have newer and bigger dreams now! And I'm definitely coming back!

-Fisola
Being at the Co-Wash was like coming home to a sisterhood I didn’t know I needed. Leave aside for a moment that the entire retreat was impeccably planned, with beautiful, soulful, and joyful activities, teachings, and teachers — what stood out most for me was the feeling of love, connection, and COMMUNITY that nourished me to my core. I will be forever grateful for the memories, lessons, healing, and joy that was built with my sea-sters 🧜🏾‍♀️💙

-Lisa
I first found textured waves in 2019/2020, back when I was still confused by my own compulsion towards surfing. Do Black people even surf? I've had that thought, it was one of my first around that time. I wasn't sure then but I was sure as hell going to do it anyway. So when I found textured waves' insta I was like, fuck yeah we do! It was such a weird time. We were all disconnected from the pandemic and I was hours away from an accessible ocean, not to mention, I was completely lacking in any surf knowledge or experience. Despite all these obstacles, I felt so drawn to this sport. Textured waves felt like an anchor tethering me to that dream. Every post made it feel that much more real. Just the still image of brown skin, curly hair, and salted Black women cruising against the water was all I needed to keep that dream alive no matter how far away it felt. Although I had two surf experiences before then, surfing with textured waves in Hawaii was the beginning of a whole new era. I wasn't sure I would be able to afford what felt like a splurge at the time, but I am so glad I did it anyway. It was not a luxury, but a necessity. What was a distance post on instagram materialized into real people filled with care and intention guiding women like me back towards the water safely. I hope they know how grateful I am and was to have surfed with them. Still there was too much happening during that time to process the magnitude of what they were offering and opening up and what that experience did for me at that point in my life. The sisters, the waves, the community, the lessons and the love. Well worth it. love and salt,

-Ashley
I hate to sound cliche but my experience on the Textured Waves Co-Wash retreat can not be put into words. Geez, where do I even start? A group of incredible women from different walks of life that just clicked is a bond I will forever be grateful for. I appreciated the most that every activity was intentional to learn honor and respect the land the people and the sport of surfing. My goal for attending the retreat was selfishly just to be able to level up in my surf journey but I took away so much more; a reminder of the importance to live in empathy, to continue to honor the earth , to not be afraid to be inexcusably me in any space and the seasterhood is real! I would have never in a million years taken the time and resources away from family to take a trip like this on my own, and I am so grateful I was given this opportunity and know that I owe it to myself going forward. This retreat was truly a life changing experience.

-Charity
I wanted to send a heartfelt thank you for the opportunity to come to surf in Mexico with you and the other ladies last week! It was such an enriching, relaxing, and delightful experience head to toe. I am so grateful to have received the gift of that opportunity, to spend time and get to know each one of you more and connect with the other girls on the trip. Thank you for all your hard work planning, coordinating, and decision making before, during and after the experience to make it all run smoothly for everyone. It's an honor to surf with and be in community with each of you.

-Kristi

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FAQs

Popoyo, Nicaragua and Honolulu, Hawaii
Airfare, airport transfers, trip insurance, alcohol, hotel incidentals
Yes, you must have strong swimming skills. We will be surfing in the ocean daily. Surf guides will be provided in Nicaragua on our intermediate retreat and surf lessons will be provided in Hawaii for our beginner retreat. Swimming lessons will not.
Applicant must be 21+
Applicant must have basic swimming skills and be comfortable in ocean conditions
Applicant must engage in some form of outreach in their local community
Please Submit a 90 second video by the updated deadline describing who you are. Videos over 90 seconds will be immediately disqualified due to high volume of applications. Be creative!
We will provide a detailed packing list to all retreat attendees. Basic packing needs are swimsuit, rashguard, sunscreen, hair products, clothes appropriate for warm weather. You can bring your own equipment or we can provide you with a rental board!
The Co-Wash retreat welcomes beginner surfers to our Hawaii retreat and is designed specifically for folks new to surfing.
Our Nicaragua location is for our seasoned surfers who want to progress their surf skills!
We open up free surfs for local women to join in and surf with us. Please email us for details regarding free surf community opportunities.
Send us an email to see if there are opportunities to volunteer or join in the fun!