South Alentejo, Portugal
Imagine
Imagine yourself waking up at a farmstead in a verdant valley, close enough to explore neighbouring towns and nearby beaches, yet far enough to let you unwind. A place where the sun rises early over wine groves, and dips behind a beautiful sloped hill late in the evening, leaving a burnt orange and purple sky in its wake. During this week we’ll enjoy the simple Portuguese life to the fullest. Immersing ourselves in a culinary experience. Think of beautiful shared lunches, traditional Portuguese cooking class, pizza night at our outdoor pizza oven or a romantic Fado music night under our olive trees. This week is for women who want to reconnect with their creativity through food and nature’s elements.
Food
This season, Maya will lead you through a culinary journey inspired by the vibrant late summer harvest. Together we’ll create and enjoy nourishing meals using farm-to-table principles, featuring vegetables and fruits from our garden and local producers. This retreat is designed for the creative food enthusiast eager to learn new techniques like jam making and pickling, while having space to explore their own culinary creativity.
Stay
Stay in our rustic farmhouse located in the peaceful Montinho do Gois valley. Wake each morning to birdsong overlooking the vegetable garden and join us for a nourishing breakfast spread. This intimate retreat offers six self-sufficient studios, each with a private bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. The two farmhouses accommodate up to 12 women. Five rooms have shared beds, while one room can be shared with a close friend or used as a private space.
Sample daily schedule:
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Morning yoga flow
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Breakfast with fresh local ingredients
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Creative time to explore, rest, or create
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Workshop on preserving and pickling seasonal produce
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Afternoon swim by the ocean
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Sunset garden dinner prepared by Maya
A Day at the Retreat
Expect a balanced rhythm of mindful movement, hands-on workshops, peaceful ocean swims and moments to dive into your creative projects. Evenings are for long conversations and garden dinners that celebrate the season’s bounty.
Meet the Hosts
Esmee Brandwijk
Co-founder of Helder Farm Studios
Meet our 25-year-old art/fashion photographer, a Dutch Photo Academy Amsterdam graduate. With experience in producing photo and video projects, she brings a keen sense of content creation to Helder Farm Studios.
Specializing in human and natural forms, she’s developed an unique artistic style within photography and pottery. She’ll play a crucial role in organizing events on the property and contributing fresh ideas to enhance our farmstead experience.
Besides that, she is taking care of the landscaping, can often be found in the vegetable garden and greenhouse or preparing nourishing meals in the kitchen.
Maya Aristimuño & Alyssa Hannah
Maristi Creative
Maya and Alyssa are a dynamic chef and artist duo from NYC. Maya’s cooking is inspired by seasonal ingredients, her multicultural family roots, Ayurvedic nourishment, and the simplicity of Argentine and Italian cuisine. Her love for Mediterranean flavors, nurtured during her time in Italy and Barcelona, shapes the retreat’s menus and workshops.
Alyssa is a painter and photographer based in Brooklyn who captures the intimate beauty of everyday life. Her art focuses on bringing people together through shared moments of creativity and connection. Together Maya and Alyssa have created meaningful women-centered experiences in Mallorca, NYC, and Florence.
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6x night stay at Helder Farm Studios
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6x nourishing breakfasts
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5x flavorful lunches
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6x garden dinners
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1x field trip to local winery
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1x traditional Portuguese cooking workshop with a local chef
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3x cooking workshops by Maya
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2x yoga sessions on the farm
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Daily creative time to rediscover your craft in nature
What's included
Expect a balanced rhythm of mindful movement, hands-on workshops, peaceful ocean swims and moments to dive into your creative projects. Evenings are for long conversations and garden dinners that celebrate the season’s bounty.
Sample daily schedule:
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Morning yoga flow
-
Breakfast with fresh local ingredients
-
Creative time to explore, rest, or create
-
Workshop on preserving and pickling seasonal produce
-
Afternoon swim by the ocean
-
Sunset garden dinner prepared by Maya
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Flight to/from Portugal
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Transport from train station to Helder Farm Studios (provided for additional fee)
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Travel/medical insurance
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Shared room
This room is a spacious studio with bedroom, private bathroom and kitchen. Will be shared with another participant. This bed can be separated.
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Private or shared friend room
This room is a spacious studio with bedroom, private bathroom and outdoor kitchen. This room is for the one who wants more privacy or comes together with a close friend. This bed is a fixed bed and can’t be separated.
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FAQs
Helder Farm Studios is located in the South of Portugal. The closest airport is Faro, 1 Hour and 25 minutes.
Lisbon airport is also an option, 2 Hours and 30 minute drive.Both Faro and Lisbon offer a train to Santa Clara Saboia, 20 minutes from the property, pick-up by us for a small additional fee.
Yes you can come with a friend, but traveling alone is also an option. This retreat is about connection and making new friends along the week.
If you come together with a friend, please let us know, so we can give you the same room.
Yes, we will take allergies and dietary restrictions into account.
There is a non-refundable deposit of 800 to pay when booking. The remaining amount is due 6 weeks before the retreat.
There is a non-refundable deposit of 800 to pay when booking. You can cancel your stay up to 6 weeks before the start of the retreat, after this no refund will be given. If you do want to cancel, please get in touch immediately and we will do our best to help. Please make sure you have travel insurance in case any unforeseen circumstances occur that might affect your travel plans.
Terms & Conditions
Every booking means a lot to us, so please read our terms and conditions before booking.
By making a reservation, you acknowledge and agree to the following terms:
A non-refundable deposit of 800 euro is required to secure your place.
The remaining balance must be paid in full 6 weeks before the start date of the retreat. Failure to do so may result in losing your reservation.The deposit is non-refundable under any circumstances.
If you cancel more than 6 weeks before the retreat, you will receive a refund minus the deposit.
If you cancel within 6 weeks of the retreat start date, no refund will be given.
If the retreat is canceled by the organizers, you will receive a full refund, including the deposit.Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from the retreat location.
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances such as illness, flight cancellations, or emergencies.
The retreat organizers are not responsible for any travel disruptions or delays.Please inform us in advance of any food allergies, dietary restrictions, or medical conditions that may affect your participation.
While we strive to accommodate dietary needs, we cannot guarantee a completely allergen-free environment.Participants acknowledge that they take part in the retreat at their own risk.
The retreat organizers are not liable for any personal injury, illness, loss, or damage of personal belongings.
Guests are responsible for respecting the property, staff, and other participants. Any damage caused must be covered by the guest.The retreat schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions, availability of local ingredients, or unforeseen circumstances.
We reserve the right to modify the itinerary to ensure the best possible experience for our guests.We foster a respectful and inclusive environment. Any disruptive behavior may result in removal from the retreat without refund.
Guests are expected to respect local customs, staff, and fellow participants.
By booking your place, you confirm that you have read and agreed to these terms and conditions.For any questions, please contact us at. We look forward to welcome you!