This ten-day retreat invites you into the quiet heart of Zen and the Way of Tea, set in the mountains of the Spanish Pyrenees. It offers a rare space where stillness, presence, and silence can be lived fully, away from the pace of modern life.

During the retreat, you will:

Practice meditation at dawn and dusk each day.
Take part in tea ceremonies with Wu De, along with group tea practice.
Receive Dharma talks on Zen, the Way of Tea, and conscious living.
Walk in silence every day through the ancient Pyrenean landscape on meditative hikes.
Observe Noble Silence for the full ten days, with no phones, no conversation, and no distractions.

Overview of the Retreat

The rhythm of each day is calm and unhurried. The structure is clear enough to support deep practice, while still leaving room for each participant to experience the retreat in a personal way.

Noble Silence

Noble Silence includes silence of body, speech, and mind. It is more than not speaking; it is a commitment to deep presence, awareness, and mindfulness throughout the retreat. This is a tech-free retreat: mobile phones and devices will be collected at the beginning and returned at the end.

Meditation

Morning and evening meditation sessions form the foundation of the retreat. Any quiet meditation tradition is welcome, whether you are experienced or just beginning. When instructions are offered in the meditation hall, participants are asked to follow them. A gong marks the start of each session, inviting everyone to arrive on time, settle in, and let the practice unfold.

Dharma Talks

Wu De will offer Dharma talks throughout the retreat, sharing teachings on Zen, practice, tea, and the deeper questions that arise when attention turns inward. These are not academic lectures, but invitations that often continue to resonate long after the retreat ends.

Tea Ceremony

In this tradition, tea ceremony is an act of service. Preparing tea with care and a meditative mind creates a space of equality, where host and guest meet as one. It is an opportunity to feel connected to self, others, and Nature.

Tea Classes

The tea classes complement the ceremonial practice with practical knowledge about tea. They offer teachings that can be carried into daily life, supporting a deeper understanding of the Way of Tea.

Meditative Hiking

Daily walks and hikes through the surrounding Pyrenean landscape are an essential part of the retreat. They help deepen our direct experience of connection with Nature. One 90-minute walk takes place each day to open the senses and cultivate mindfulness, and one full day is devoted to a longer mountain immersion, with time to explore Ordesa National Park and nearby areas.

Facilitators

Wu De

Wu De is a Zen-ordained teacher, author, and Chajin who has practiced and taught The Way of Tea for more than twenty years. His path has included years spent in meditation centers in India, Burma, Thailand, and Japan, where he worked closely with a Zen teacher who used tea ceremony to share Zen wisdom. After ordination in the Soto Zen tradition, he studied gongfu tea with Master Lin Ping Xiang in Kuala Lumpur.

He is the founder of Global Tea Hut and teaches the ancient relationship between Zen and tea to communities around the world. His writings, classes, and retreats have reached over 100,000 people in more than 75 countries.

Daniel Benito

Co-director of Casa Cuadrau, Dani is a yoga and meditation instructor, mountain guide, and ecological builder. From an early age, he felt a strong connection to the mountains, and in the Pyrenees and the Himalayas he discovered hiking as a powerful meditation practice. He completed his yoga teacher training with Bharat Shetty (RYT 500), and his meditation practice is rooted in Buddhist teachings inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh and S.N. Goenka.

Duration

The retreat begins on Monday, September 7th. Check-in is from 14:30 to 16:00, followed by orientation, a light dinner, and the opening of the retreat.

The retreat ends on Wednesday, September 16 at 8:30am after breakfast.

IMPORTANT!!

Please try to arrive in Barcelona 2–3 days before the retreat to allow time to adjust.

Rates

Casa Cuadrau is a Social Interest Cooperative Society, and the retreat is sustained through a careful balance between participants, collaborators, and facilitators. Scale rates are offered according to each person’s financial circumstances, based on trust, solidarity, and reciprocity.

Rates vary depending on accommodation type:

Assisted: for those needing financial support. Limited availability in shared dormitory only.
Basic: covers the essential costs of the retreat.
Sustainable: fully covers retreat costs and contributes to facility maintenance.
Generous: helps support assisted rates and future facility improvements.

Casa Cuadrau rates include accommodation, meals, meditative hikes, taxes, and insurance.

Types of accommodation

Shared dormitory: 1.600€ (Assisted), 1.700€ (Basic), 1.800€ (Sustainable)
Double room with shared bathroom: 1.700€ (Assisted), 1.800€ (Basic), 1.900€ (Sustainable)
Double room with bathroom: 2.100€ (Assisted), 2.200€ (Basic), 2.400€ (Sustainable)
Single room with bathroom: 2.400€ (Assisted), 2.500€ (Basic), 2.700€ (Sustainable)
Cabin with bathroom + kitchenette – double: 2.270€ (Assisted), 2.370€ (Basic), 2.470€ (Sustainable)
Cabin with bathroom + kitchenette – single: 2.500€ (Assisted), 2.600€ (Basic), 2.700€ (Sustainable)
Suite double room: 2.600€ (Basic), 2.800€ (Sustainable)
Suite single occupancy: 3.700€ (Basic), 3.900€ (Sustainable)
Without accommodation: 1.350€ (Assisted), 1.450€ (Basic), 1.550€ (Sustainable)

TEA & ZEN TEACHINGS

The teachings and activities led by Wu De are offered on a donation basis. The minimum donation for teachings and activities is 1100€ per person, paid in full before the retreat.

Recommendations

Where to fly?

Barcelona – El Prat airport is the recommended arrival point.

Please try to reach Barcelona 2–3 days before the retreat to adjust to the time.

Transportation

Transportation is not included in the rates. Shared transportation from Barcelona to Casa Cuadrau and back can be arranged after booking.

Departure from Barcelona to Casa Cuadrau on Monday, September 7th:

9:00 am from Barcelona City near Metro Palau Reial
9:30 am from El Prat Barcelona Airport T1

Return from Casa Cuadrau to Barcelona on September 16th:

9:00 h departure from Casa Cuadrau
13:30 h approximate arrival at El Prat Barcelona Airport T1
14:00 h approximate arrival in Barcelona City near Metro Palau Reial

The transportation fee will depend on the number of participants using this option.

Before coming

What to bring to a retreat
How to get to Casa Cuadrau
Frequently asked questions

About Casa Cuadrau

Casa Cuadrau is more than a venue. Built with love and steady dedication over many years, it has become a sister refuge to Global Tea Hut and a place that naturally supports retreat life. The food is simple and nourishing, the accommodation is clean and restful, and the team led by Daniel and Katya offers warm, attentive hospitality. Surrounded by the quiet mountains of the Spanish Pyrenees, the center creates the ideal setting for deep practice and inner stillness.

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