KAYA Connections

Marie is a fantastic mastermind/workshop facilitator. She's able to work with a variety of personality types, create a safe and engaging atmosphere were people want to contribute and has an energy which is very positive such that people really ENJOY the exercises. Strongly recommend doing any of her workshops and/or even having her design and run one (if you're a business ... since good workshop facilitators, let alone designers, are often hard to find).

Attending the Kaya Connections retreat was an unforgettable experience. One of the most unexpected yet memorable lessons I took away was how simple joys, like sitting in warm water while it rains, can truly ground you and help you appreciate the present moment.

I would absolutely recommend Kaya Connections to fellow nomads. It’s the perfect way to kick off your adventure in Southeast Asia or the Philippines, especially for those who are new to the area. The retreat offers a seamless way to begin your journey, making it easy to settle in and explore.

The biggest strength of Kaya is how well they know the place. They go beyond just hosting; they solve the common stresses of travel, from recommending the best spots to booking amazing experiences. This takes away the anxiety and FOMO that often comes with traveling on your own, allowing you to fully enjoy the experience.

Siargao, in particular, was a hidden gem, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to discover it through this retreat. Thank you, Kaya, for making this experience so special!

Joining Kaya Connections was the best decision I made for my nomadic journey. The retreat taught me one invaluable lesson: connection is everything. It’s not just about meeting other nomads; it’s about building relationships that inspire you, challenge you, and make you feel truly at home, no matter where you are.

Would I recommend Kaya Connections? Absolutely. If you’ve never been to Siargao (or even if you have), this retreat is the perfect way to experience it authentically. The activities, the culture, and the weekend adventures are thoughtfully curated, giving you a taste of the island you’d never get on your own.

And Marie—wow. She’s the heart and soul of this experience. You can tell how much she cares—not just about Siargao but about every single person in the retreat. She goes out of her way to make sure everyone feels connected, both to the place and to each other.

Kaya Connections isn’t just a retreat; it’s a community. And I’m so grateful I got to be part of it.

I've gone to two retreats organized by Kaya Connections in the Philippines. Both were awesome. Their local community managers give invaluable insights to the hidden gems and local tricks of the islands.
I loved the setup of spending one month with a small group of digital nomads. Made friends for life.
We have done everything from island hopping to trying out different restaurants. From going out to party to waking up 5 AM for awesome surf classes.

Can't recommend it enough.

Marie is an amazing host, extremely friendly and fun. And as a local she is really able to show you the best sides of the island and all the hidden gems. Kaya attracts a really nice audience of interesting entrepreneurs and remote workers.

I've only joined one other digital nomad trip before trying out Kaya and I didn't really enjoy it as everything felt a bit forced. Everything seemed a bit different Kaya so I took a leap of faith and I'm glad I did. There was a great balance of organized activities (mostly on the weekends), while allowing the flexibility to work and do your own thing the rest of the time. Having a built-in community at your fingertips was great if you wanted to do stuff together but was never forced and felt natural when you went your own way and when you planned stuff with the group. Marie was a great beacon and helped our group navigate the spots in Siargao. Would definitely do another trip with Kaya if an opportunity presents itself.

This was a life changing experience! It gives you the perfect work/life balance. Working during the week days but also being able to explore and enjoy food with the other colivers and the weekend trips are great ways of creating deeper connections and seeing AMAZING places. Having Marie as a community manager is great, as a local she knows the best places to see out of the tourist spots and gives you a great sense of the local culture. Will love to come again! ❤️

The first night at home after the Siargao experience, I had so many flashing memories of all the unbelievable things that happened during the coliving.
When you're back and so far away, you brain think that it was all a long dream.
It's not by accident that we share the word for dreams while asleep and dreams while awake.
The month in Siargao has been a daydream made in paradise, with the most welcoming, happy, caring, dancing, loving group of humans ever brought together by KAYA and Marie.
Siargao was the perfect setting to explore the unapologetically beautiful nature and the heart warming local people. I'll try to go back and can recommend it to everyone.

I joined the experience in April 2023 and it was truzly amazing! I would go as far as call it my favourite trip during my 5 months stay in SE-Asia.

The Hostel was great, I had a large private room with AC and ensuite Bathroom and Shower. The staff was super nice and helpful and the food in the coworking space was yummy!
A typical day for me started by waking up without an alarm, heading to the gym on my scooter, meeting the group for breakfast after or picking up my laundry and having breakfast at the hostel and then start to work. I loved it!

And the weekend trips? Oh boy! Never have I seen nature as amazing as around siargao! From swimming amongst thousands of orange jellyfish to watching glowing plancton, fireflies and the stars in one night!

If you love island hopping, white sand beaches, snorkeling, cave exploring and beautiful nights, this experience is for you!

Had a full month experience in 2022. Marie organized it.
If just facilitated so much everything. Not only the group was really very compatible but Marie also brought people together with Rh activities she organized for everyone. Weekends out together really helped buildin strong connections.

Furthermore the place we stayed was very comfortable but also the staff was actually getring out of their way to help us out with whatever we needed to be more comfortable! Felt so welcoming

Internet was served through starlink and that made us have a almost flawless work experience.
Almost because yes there were a couple of setbacks for a couple of hours but that only happened because they had just started with starlink and we're getting things right. After some time everything was sorted and there were no more issues.

Philippines was one of my best trips of 2022 and that is highly highly due to Kaya and Marie