Yoga & surfing vacation in the Algarve, Portugal

Planet

In 2009 I decided to change my life and move from the city to a coastal national park in Portugal where I live my life, together with my partner & our 2 lovely dogs in the most natural ways as possible. Eating organic food from our own garden, or from local farmers around the area and reducing, reusing and recycling became part of our daily lives. This brought our consumption down and allowed us to respect the amazing place where we live, leaving our footprint as low as possible.

During the retreats I try to share this natural, eco friendly & nourishing way of living, providing the same organic & local food. Staying in a wonderful eco farm house, located just a few kilometres away from the Costa Vicentina National Park. Besides the house being a beautiful sight for the eyes overlooking the national park, it's also designed and built to conserve energy.

All the waste during the retreat get's recycled and organic waste will go to our compost to be later used in our garden.

The surf lessons are mainly given on the beautiful beaches of the costa vincentina national park, so that we can also share this amazing natural coast with it's wonderful beaches!

During the retreats we do not use any disposable service items that our not biodegradable and the guests will get glass water bottles which they can use instead of plastic ones, and reusable lunch boxes to take to the beach so that we reduce the use of plastics, and prevent more from spoiling this gorgeous environment.

The entire house is smoke free & we discourage guests to smoke, even in the outside areas.

There will also be towel & linen reuse program at the quinta, which daily saves water, electricity, soap, and labor, and it reduces the wear and tear on towels & linens so that you don't have to replace them as frequently.

People

As first impressions are so important I am very lucky to have found a great local taxi driver to do the taxi transfers from either the airport, train or bus station. His English is perfect, and as a born local he can provide all local details and advice.

All the retreats are hosted at the amazing eco farm house close to the Costa Vicentina National Park where life slow downs & you can still see the local people using horse & cart to get around. To support this community of mainly farmers we buy all the seasonal food locally, and as much as possible organic.

I am also very lucky to be able to work together with amazing therapists from the area. The mindfulness sessions will also be given by a lovely teacher who lives very close by to the quinta, allowing us to spread the benefits of tourism fairly to the talented locals.

For the Yoga & surf retreats I work together with one of the oldest surf schools of the area, run by local surfers who provide great lessons with a lot of care and fun.

And most importantly the amazing chefs that will cook all the deliciously healthy meals are local people from the area!