- Clear sustainable travel policy
- Social / Environmental Impact
- Tourism Dispersal
- Behavioral Awareness Education
- Small Group Travel
- Listen to Community Feedback
A different kind of yoga retreat… This experience is a sustainable yoga retreat for people that don’t take it too seriously and want to have a good time while immersing themselves in nature and ancient culture, exploring the beautiful region of Alentejo, and enjoying great local food and wine.
When was the last time you felt at one with your inner self and spent several days nurturing your body and mind?
Wait. Is that too zen for you? Let’s try again.
When was the last time you had some good glasses of wine or mimosas with a group of cool people while doing the tree pose? Sound better? We’ve got the thing for you…
Highlights:
These laid-back 5 days will fly by at this magical eco-haven in the Alentejo region of Portugal!
🧘🏽♀️ Find your sense of calm with daily yoga sessions in the open-air Shala in the woods (yoga is led by Nina, a certified instructor who will tailor the classes to each person’s ability).
🥗 Healthy meals and snacks using exclusively fresh, local, organic, and seasonal products (most meals are vegetarian, too!).
Menus change with each retreat, but here’s a sneak peek of what you might be served.
Feel free to also drool over the French Toast brunch or the vegetarian frittata.
🍷 Visit a local winery (and taste their wine), and visit a local artisan, too.
See what the winery tour is like.
… and in your ample free time, enjoy the pool, serene garden, meditation platform, wild beaches, and nearby trails for hiking or biking. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, try a surf class or horseback riding.
This sustainable yoga retreat takes place in Cercal do Alentejo, a historical rural village off the beaten path, located only a 15-minute drive away from the beach. You will stay at a beautiful property surrounded by nature where the hosts will welcome you like old friends. They will tell you about the history and local culture while taking you through the historical and coastal hiking trails nearby.
Get out of the city, explore a new setting, and unwind with yoga, wine, and friends. This “kinda” retreat is for people who practice and love yoga, or they’re just curious about it and all the amazing benefits it brings to your (cliché alert) body and mind. But it’s true. And also fun.
So come! Stay amongst the pine and oak trees, enjoy the delicious food and wine (again, it’s a big part of this trip!), and meet like-minded people.
This retreat has multiple set dates:
- April 9-16, 2023
- May 6-10, 2023
- May 25-29, 2023
- June 30-July 4, 2023
- July 19-23, 2023
- August 2-6, 2023
- August 26-30, 2023
- September 10-14, 2023
- September 30-October 4, 2023
- October 14-18, 2023
Group Privatization:
If you want to bring your own group, we recommend avoiding the crowded high season and coming in spring (April to June) or fall (September to November). The beaches are deserted, and the days are mostly sunny and warm (you’ll need a cardigan for the evenings though).
Related Trips:
- [7 days] Sustainable Surf, Yoga, & Wine Retreat
- [7 days] Photography & Yoga Retreat
- [7 days] Sculpting & Yoga Retreat
What is it Really Like?
Check out our blog post on Sustainable Retreats for an even deeper look into what to expect. Or, watch these three 20-second video clips to get a sense of a typical day at this beautiful eco-retreat center.
- Yoga, brunch, visiting a small coastal town
- Brunch, coastal hike, market visit, early evening yoga
- Free time, afternoon yoga, family-owned winery visit
Seasonal Notes:
Spring (March to May) is considered the best time to visit Portugal because of the mild weather and lower crowds. The temperatures allow travelers to explore the country comfortably and flowers are bloomed at this time of the year, which adds to the picturesque beauty of the country. Choosing off-season months also contributes to enhancing the local economy as it guarantees income to the community all year round. Alentejo’s rural location fosters tourism dispersal, therefore avoiding overcrowding.
Features
📋 Itinerary
This itinerary is customizable. Contact Yugen Earthside for more information about extending the duration of the trip and adding additional optional activities.
Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon [Portugal], transfer to the retreat center, dinner
Day 2: Yoga, brunch, visit the beach of Malhao, hike along the coast's Fisherman Trail of the Vicentine Route, free time, dinner
Day 3: Yoga, brunch, free time, visit a local artisan, dinner with a private chef at a secret location
Day 4: Yoga, brunch, hike along the Historical Way of the Vicentine Route, free time, visit a winery
Day 5: Yoga, brunch, check out
🌱 Sustainability
Our View on Sustainability
Sustainability is a way of life here. Our family has a deep respect and love for the region of Alentejo and we are passionately committed to protecting and preserving her to the best of our ability. Gratefully, we are able to plant our roots here and carry a strong sense of social responsibility to our community.
Our experiences are all based on the amazing nature of this place and our incredible community and we put a lot of effort to protect both. We love to share it with our guests and try to involve them as much as possible. This includes making them aware of our challenges and how can they further help. This is a truly authentic experience composed of small local and sustainable entrepreneurs only.
On-Site Environmental Initiatives
- Solar panels for hot water and electricity
- Responsible use of water and electricity
- LED lamps
- Ecological soaps and detergents
- Reduce (waste), Re-use, Recycle
- Composting
- Avoid single-use plastic
- Organic farming
- Vegetarian meals (and vegan on request)
- Regenerative forestry
- Minimize footprint
- Protect wildlife
We make a big effort to maintain and increase the amazing biodiversity among us through the diverse activities explained during the trip. We use local, organic soaps and ecological detersives. The whole trip happens in a short circuit of 20kms. we are lucky to have nature, beaches, and historic towns all nearby to reduce the footprint. We don't sell single-use plastic items. We work a lot to reduce waste, reuse as much as we can, and recycle the rest. You will see our animals wandering free and happy along our property and the surrounding area.
Accommodation
Being the trip organizers, and the host of the accommodations ourselves, sustainability is part of our lives and business. Guests are welcome to explore every corner of the property and question any concerns they may have. As a small family business, we work very hard to improve every day and create a more positive impact on our environment and in our community.
Sustainable Economic Initiatives
We are a small start-up that works very closely with the local community that depends mostly on tourism and agriculture. The timing of the program (out of high season) helps the community to guarantee their income all year round. By working directly with local farmers and small food/wine producers, we help them to maintain their projects of family-owned, completely organic productions.
Sustainable Social Initiatives
- Community farming
- Support local artisans
- Preference and prioritization of local, small, and sustainable suppliers
- Celebrate local cultural heritage
- Inclusion and nondiscrimination
- Volunteering program
- Donations to local organizations
Being part of the local community ourselves, it's in our own interest to protect it and ensure it develops in a sustainable way. One of the high points of the travel is the visit to the sustainable farm where the grapes are grown before the winery and wine tasting. The tour is guided by the owner himself, a true expert that carries the work of 5 generations. The whole experience is very much community-oriented and we are very much actively involved in projects that protect it.
Responsible Animal Welfare
- Pet friendly!
- Prefer cruelty-free products
- Meat and fish sourced locally from trusted suppliers
- Support local pro-animal projects
Tourism Dispersal
This trip is in rural Portugal, taking travelers off the beaten path and avoiding tourist "hot spots".
Behavioral Awareness Education
We specifically discuss with travelers how to act responsibly in this destination, and why that's important.
- Adhere to Strict Environmental Standards
- Use Environmentally Friendly Products
- No Animal-Harming Tourism
- Use Renewable Energy
- Focused on Minimizing Waste
- Responsible Waste Management
- Use 100% Renewable Energy
- Local/Organic Food Served
- Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
- Recycle >80% Waste
- Energy-Saving Lights
- Solar Thermal Panels
- Provide Local Employment
- Fair Wages / Fair Trade
- Ensures Good Working Conditions
- Supports Local Businesses
- Tours Benefit Local Community
📌 Location
Use the Google map to orient yourself about where in the world this trip is. The location indicates the starting point for this trip.
🏷️ Pricing
All price inclusions and exclusions are mentioned in the booking link.
Optional Add-ons:
Guests can decide on most activities once at the retreat center.
For Surf, SUP, and kayaking, they’re dependent on weather, tides, and currents.
For the massage, it is better to book in advance to ensure we get the best masseuses, so please notify us when your booking is confirmed if you would like to schedule a massage.
Payment for add-ons is made on-site.
- Extra wine and cocktails.
- Outdoor massage with our Goddess Masseuse, Jana (70 EUR).
- Surf lessons with the best badass team in the area (~40 EUR pp, excluding rental material & transportation).
- Stand Up Paddle (SUP) tours (~35 EUR pp, excluding rental material & transportation).
- Kayak tours along the Mira River or the Atlantic (~25 EUR for 1 person / ~35 EUR for 2 people).
- Horseback riding (~60 EUR for 1 person / ~100 EUR for 2 people; 1h30 guided ride).
- Photo session (~50 EUR pp or per couple).
ℹ️ Other Info
Click here to book now.
If you have questions, contact us!
Book with confidence: To reserve your spot on a tour, a 50% deposit will be required.
- If reserved more than 120 days in advance, the deposit is fully refundable for 30 days.
- If reserved less than 120 days in advance, the deposit is not refundable.
The balance is due 75 days prior to the trip's start date. The balance is nonrefundable.
With a capacity of 12 guests only, plus its remote location, this retreat is a safe way to enjoy Portugal. We follow special cleaning protocols adhering to European regulations.
Please be fully vaccinated and boosted before traveling.
Be sure you have traveler's insurance.
Q: What does the Physical Rating of "Average" mean?
Just come with an open mind and willing to challenge yourself. Our certified yoga instructors gladly accommodate all levels.
Q: What are the accommodations like?
The retreat center has guest houses, an open-air Shala in the woods, a pool, a garden, a gym, and nearby walking trails. The retreat center initiates myriad sustainable projects, from its solar panels, organic farming, local artisan support, support of local pro-animal projects, and more.
Q: Is this trip recommended for solo travelers, women, LGBTQ+, and POC travelers?
Yes. We do not tolerate any kind of discriminatory behavior and we ensure a safe, friendly environment for all travelers.
Q: Can the retreat be done on dates other than the listed?
Yes, it can be privatized for small groups on request.
Q: How much wine is included in the program?
One glass per dinner, and the full wine-tasting experience at the winery.
Q: What kind of yoga is practiced?
A mix of styles with a base of Hatha. There are always pranayamas and dynamic flows, and the teacher always tries to challenge the students with poses that demand a bit more physical work.
Q: What kind of food is served?
Homemade, healthy, and delicious, all with seasonal and local organic products. Mostly vegetarian and international. Check out this 20-second video for a sampling of what's served!