April 24-28, 2025 Tucson, Arizona

In secluded Esperero Canyon in northern Tucson, Arizona, when the annual monsoons arrive, the creek bed flows again, the mighty saguaro cacti swell and plump, and the air is perfumed with the unmistakable aroma of the creosote bush. This brief but intense rainfall can sustain life for the dry year ahead.

A good retreat does for us what a monsoon rain does for the desert: it fills the well.

If your well is running dry I invite you to join me for a powerful long weekend of filling up.

For people who attend Replenish, their need for rest, time in nature, creative expression, community, quiet, body-tending, play, and introspection will be fulfilled.

If four days of rain can sustain a desert for months ahead, I believe that four days of retreat can do the same for you.

Nature

Drink your morning coffee with the hummingbirds, take nature walks amidst the majestic saguaros, and gaze nightly at the glittering Tucson stars.

Rest

Far away from the noise of a city, get offline, feel permission to simply be, take daily siestas, lounge in the hammock, and catch your breath.

Body Care

Feast on wholesome, organic, chef-made meals, unwind with a massage, stretch out on the yoga mat, and let your body lead the way.

Connection

Come together with like-hearted women for laughter, new experiences, and a reminder of our common humanity.

Replenish is for you if…

Your tank is running low
You know that nature heals
Your body wants to be the center of your attention
You’re ready to catch your breath
You need space and time to hear your own voice again
You’re seeking the healing power of our shared humanity

HOW REPLENISH CAME TO BE

For many years, I crisscrossed the country leading retreats, sometimes facilitating over ten a year. I stopped because the travel was burning me out. Since then, I have longed to find a way to offer retreats in a more sustainable way.

Enter Esperero Canyon.

My mother grew up in Tucson, Arizona. Around the time I was born, my grandparents finished building a home in Esperero Canyon so that they could be immersed in the vibrant and wild desert flora and fauna. That home served (and still serves) as my second home. I spent a lot of my childhood scampering among the cacti, feeding the birds and wild animals, and soaking in the sacred, full-sensory experience that is Esperero.

In 2017, I was married at my grandparents’ home in Esperero Canyon and saw both the power of the place to deeply touch people, and an opportunity to offer retreats on my own familial land, in my own way.

I’m inviting you to attend the kind of retreat that I know so many are hungry for. Replenish will feed your hunger for rest, quiet, slowing down, nature, body-care, and creative expression. It’s the kind of retreat I would want to attend where the days aren’t overly scheduled, the activities are restorative and thought provoking, and feeding your hungers is what it’s all about.

In Spanish, esperero means a place of, or for hope. Esperero Canyon and my family’s home serve as a container, a muse, a healer, and an active participant in the retreat. It’s unlike any place you’ve ever been.

SAMPLE SCHEDULE*

THURSDAY

5:30 pm Welcome dinner

FRIDAY

8:00 am Breakfast
10 am Sift writing
12:30 pm Lunch
1:30 pm Free time
5:00 pm Sunset + Cocktails
6:00 pm Dinner

SATURDAY

6:30 am Guided morning birdwatching
8:30 am Breakfast
10:00 am Sift Writing
12:30 pm Lunch
1:30 pm Free time
4:30 pm Bird Bingo
5:30 pm Dinner
6:30 pm Fire Circle + s’mores

SUNDAY

8:00 am Breakfast
10:00 am Sabino Canyon hike + picnic
2:00 pm Free time
5:00 pm Dinner
6:30 pm Closing fire circle
7:30 pm Guided stargazing

MONDAY

8:30 am Grab n’ Go Breakfast

*subject to change

FREE TIME

During our free blocks of time you can take a siesta, hike in Esperero Canyon, read that book that’s been languishing on your bedside table, make art, journal, do some self-guided yoga, or get a massage. It’s your time to get what you need.

GROUP ACTIVITIES

Our time as a group will be spent in a variety of ways and as the retreat nears plans will be finalized. You can, however, expect to be immersed in the wonders of the Sonoran Desert, introduced to the practice of Sift writing, and gathered under the stars with an astronomer getting close up with the cosmos, to name a few. No matter what everything is thoughtfully designed to fill your well.

Sonoran Feast
Sample Dinner Menu

NEARBY MOUNTAIN VIEW CONDO

Sleeps 4 people

There is limited space onsite for lodging, but just a few minutes drive away I have rented a beautiful private condo with unobstructed views of the Catalina mountains. The property has a shared swimming pool and hot tub. Prices are for all four nights.

Room One (1 person or 2 friends)
California King Bed with Ensuite Bathroom
$500

Room Two (1 person or 2 friends)
King Bed with Shared Bathroom
$400

Room Three (2 people)
Twin Beds with Shared Bathroom
$275, per bed

Stay onsite just steps away from our activities and meals. Prices are for all four nights

ESPERERO CASA

Room One (1 person or 2 friends)
Queen Murphy Bed with Ensuite Bathroom
$500

ESPERERO CASITA

The bathroom, with a shower/bathtub, is shared amongst three people.

Room Two (2 people)
Twin Beds with Shared Bathroom
$275, per bed

If preferred, this room also has a double mattress sleeping loft available to either guest.

Room Three (1 person)
Double Bed with Shared Bathroom
$450

All-In Pricing Matrix

Early Bird Total
(Retreat Fee + Accomodation)
Sign up before 1.11.25

Accomodation Options

Standard Total
(Retreat Fee + Accommodation)
Sign up on/after 1.11.25

Condo Room One
California King with Ensuite Bathroom

$1650 + $500 = $2150

$1400 + $500 = $1900

Condo Room Two
King Bed with Shared Bathroom

$1400 + $400 = $1800

$1650 + $400 = $2050

Condo Room Three
Twin Beds with Shared Bathroom

$1400 + $275 = $1675

$1650 + $275 = $1925

Esperero Casa Room One
Murphy Bed with Ensuite Bathroom

$1400 + $500 = $1900

$1650 + $500 = $2150

Esperero Casita Room Two
Twin Beds with Shared Bathroom

$1400 + $275 = $1675

$1650 + $275 = $1925

Esperero Casita Room Three
Double Bed with Shared Bathroom

$1400 + $450 = $1850

$1650 + $400 = $2100

A non-refundable deposit of $400 is required to reserve your space and is credited toward your total fee. Once your deposit has been received, you’ll receive a follow-up email to determine whether you will pay your remaining balance in full or in three installments.

Please note: your airfare to Tucson and transportation to/from Esperero Canyon are not included.

Please note: early-bird pricing is offered until

January 10, 2025, and then prices increase.

  • "Rachel created a cocoon through the Replenish retreat. I felt completely cared for, relaxed, tended to, loved on, and free to take the time and space I needed to really slow down and let go. The canyon was simply magical. I can't think of a better place to go with the goal of replenishing my body, mind and soul. Truly, I left the retreat with a true feeling of replenishment and a better understanding of tangible things I can do in my daily life to take care of myself in a way that is true for me. I will participate in this retreat yearly if Rachel offers it! It is the best gift I can give to myself. Did I mention I fell in LOVE with the canyon!?!"

    Erin K.

  • "Retreating with Rachel is a dream because she creates such a clear container for the experience -- her intuitive, laser-pointed teaching helps you unfold the questions you arrived with, and her modeling of rest and self-care gives you no choice (in a great way!), but to give yourself the same permission."

    Anna Guest-Jelley

  • "Rachel's Replenish retreat was just the right balance of structured activities and free time. The company of like-minded women really made me feel seen and held and accepted. Rachel was wonderful at intuiting both my obvious and my underlying hungers and helping me to see them as well. The environment of the retreat, a family home, really made the experience feel that much more gentle and caring (and the food was truly magical). The canyon and desert are far more nourishing than I could have imagined. I'll be back!"

    Jamie V.

  • "One of the most amazing things about going to a retreat with Rachel is the warm and supportive community that she attracts. Rachel's events are always well-designed and paced in a way that gives you time to process and begin to incorporate new ideas into your life. If you're looking for a thought-provoking opportunity to jump-start some personal growth, this is it."

    Keri C.

  • "Rachel provided a beautiful setting and space in which I had the opportunity to be surrounded by a small community of like-minded women. I felt truly tended to while taking the time to tune in to what I needed to feel replenished and left the retreat feeling a sense of calm I hadn't felt in a long time."

    Jenny W.

  • “Rachel's retreat gave me so many pleasures: the company of smart, warm, and interesting women, an oasis from work and family in which to recharge, and a whole new way to think about some issues in my life. Working with Rachel is like making a new wise friend and ally. Financially it was a stretch for me, but worth every cent. There is not a day that goes by that I do not practice the new skills and ways of thinking I learned on the retreat. I am much happier now.”

    Helen M.

  • “Rachel is undoubtedly gifted at what she does and it's a joy to be in her presence. She held space for us to explore our hungers, to think about how we could build the bridges from where we are to where we want and need to be. I didn't realize that what I needed most was the space and time to wander and wonder through the land and through her words and guidance to find my way back to myself. It is no secret that the desert is holy land and so when you arrive, you are already in awe of what is in front of you: hundred-year-old saguaro, crushed up red rock and earth, wide blue skies. And then the gifts just keep on coming. This is the home that once belonged to Rachel's grandparents with its antique grandfather clock and books on the local flora and fauna. It's not just a resort, it's a home. And it's the perfect place to sit and be and remember who you are.”

    Alisha S.

  • “To be on retreat with Rachel is to be held deeply in the presence of quiet, mindfulness, and space. Her work is about women feeding their true hungers and the experiences that I have had with her at a couple of her in-person retreats have been about slowing down and allowing the space for my voice and my true hungers to be heard. We often get so caught up in the day-to-day of living that our needs get drowned out and so it was such an amazing experience to be given complete permission to steep in myself and my process with someone who is masterful at honoring the feminine hunger.”

    Valerie T.

ABOUT RACHEL

Hi! You can read my formal bio over here, but the main thing to know is that I’ve been coaching, teaching, and leading retreats for women since 2011.

My work grew out of my own journey from mistrust to deep trust of my hungers, my body, and my worth. Over the years, I have helped hundreds of women find this same inner ease.

There is just no substitute for the magic that happens in-person, offline, and away from the noise of our day-to-day lives. I believe wholly in the power of retreat. It’s an honor to be a guide, hostess, and companion for these gatherings.

When I’m not in Tucson, I spend my days in Oakland, California leading Sift writing groups, planning Replenish retreats, being a mom to a powerhouse six-year-old, and hitting up thrift stores.

Esperero Canyon Family Photos

  • Standing on the bridge my grandfather built.

  • My mom and me in the canyon.

  • Palo Verde tree reaching for the sky.

  • My sister and I dying easter eggs.

  • View from our "Sunset Peak".

  • Sun on the ridge.

  • Streambed in springtime.

  • Nana & Bapa way back when.

  • My Esperero Canyon backyard wedding.

  • My grandfather.

  • Nana's Cowboy Beans

  • A visit from Mr. Owl.

  • My baby's first visit to the canyon.

  • Making desert flora sun prints in the backyard.

  • We couldn't get the little kids to smile.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • If possible, you will want to fly into Tucson International Airport. Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United, and others all fly there.

    Alternatively, you can fly into Phoenix, where you can rent a car or catch a shuttle bus, but you’ll have at least a two-hour drive both ways.

  • Please arrive at your accommodations by 4 pm on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Our first event is a welcome dinner that evening.

    We will end the retreat by 10 AM on Monday, April 28, 2025. The airport is 45-60 minutes away from our location, more if you need to retrieve/return a rental car.

  • Maybe/Likely. But sharing is an option.

    For those staying at the nearby condo, you will need a car to get to Esperero Casa where the retreat is being held. The four attendees staying at the condo will be put in touch to explore sharing a rental car.

    Tucson is big and things are spread far apart (land was cheap when it was built) so getting around via public transportation is not a good option. A taxi or Lyft to/from the airport can be expensive ($65+ one way). If you don’t share a car rental or choose to take a taxi it’s strongly advised that you rent one on your own.

  • Yes! A full list of suggestions for the many amazing things to see, do, and eat will be provided to all attendees. Tucson is full of wonders to discover and I highly recommend you tack on some time to explore if you can.

  • The desert is one of the most misunderstood climates. Many people who have never spent much time in the desert think that because it gets relatively minimal rainfall, it’s lifeless, and that because the temperatures can be high, it’s not a dreamy destination. On the contrary, the Sonoran Desert of Arizona is magical, full of life, and will transport you to another world. Yes, we will drink more water, stay inside during the peak heat of the day, and wear sunscreen, but there are few other places as wonderful as here.

    When we’re there in April, the temperatures will be warm during the peak heat of the day. The average highs for this time of year are in the 80s and the average lows are 50s. This is a dry heat which is much more comfortable than humid heat.

  • Yes, we will try to accommodate most dietary needs and allergies such as vegetarianism, gluten-free, etc.
    Extreme restrictive needs may require that you provide your own food. Please let us know when you register what accommodations you'll need.

  • The spirit of retreat is to step away from our day-to-day lives and in this case, to circle intimately with a small group of women hungry for the same respite.

    That said, if you would like to explore joining while staying off-site please email me, exceptions may be granted.

  • If you try to sign up and find that the only accommodation option(s) you want is sold out, please email me at rachel@rachelwcole.com to get on the waiting list.

  • If we are able to find a replacement for you, then a refund, less your nonrefundable deposit, will be returned to you. Otherwise, no refunds will be offered. Please think carefully before signing up.

  • Please feel free to email me at rachel@rachelwcole.com with your questions. I’m happy to help support your making the best decision for you at this time.

  • Yes! If you want to share a queen or king bed with a friend the accommodation cost can be split. Each person will still need to pay the retreat fee. If you’re interested in setting this up, please email me at rachel@rachelwcole.com.