A Day at the Retreat
Days at the farm follow the easy rhythm of late summer — unhurried, full of warmth and connection. Mornings begin slowly with yoga or a quiet walk through the garden. The kitchen comes alive mid-morning for hands-on workshops, followed by long, sunlit lunches and time to rest or swim by the ocean.
As evening falls, we gather again in the garden. Dinners stretch into golden hours, as the last light fades over the hills and the air fills with the scent of herbs and woodsmoke.
Sample Daily Schedule
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Morning yoga or garden walk
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Breakfast with fresh local ingredients
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Culinary workshop with Maya — preserving, fermenting or seasonal cooking
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Lunch together in the garden
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Free afternoon for rest or ocean swim
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Sunset dinner prepared together and shared under the open sky
Meet the Hosts
Esmee Brandwijk
Co-founder of Helder Farm Studios
Esmee is a photographer and creative spirit with a deep love for storytelling, aesthetics and food. A graduate of the Dutch Photo Academy in Amsterdam, she spent years traveling the world, gathering inspiration that now shapes her work and life. Rooted in Portugal, she created a unique farmstay where art, nature and hospitality meet. Living close to the land sparked her passion for growing food from seed and with more time in nature, cooking became a joyful new creative outlet. Her days are filled with hosting retreats, capturing moments, tending the garden and preparing meals from the farm’s harvest.
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.
What's included
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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 ( 1x lunch off site on own costs)
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6x garden dinners
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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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1x market Visit
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Daily creative time to rediscover your craft in nature
South Alentejo, Portugal
6th — 12th September
Stay
Stay in our rustic farmhouse tucked away in the peaceful valley of southern Portugal — a place where time slows down. In a world that moves too fast, we offer space: to breathe, to listen, to create and to simply be. The stars replace city lights, silence replaces the noise and nature replaces the rush.
Mornings begin with birdsong and soft light over the vegetable garden. You might collect eggs still warm from the nest or pick sun-ripened vegetables before joining us for a nourishing breakfast spread.
Good to Know
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Check in is on sunday at 3PM
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Check out is on saturday at 10AM
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Upon your booking you will receive a guest intake form with a more detailed information letter
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Upon your booking you will be charged with a service fee. For bank transfers from outside the EU, we kindly ask guests to cover any additional transfer fees on top of the remaining balance.
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It’s an international retreat, communication will be in English
Days at the farm follow the easy rhythm of late summer — unhurried, full of warmth and connection. Mornings begin slowly with yoga or a quiet walk through the garden. The kitchen comes alive mid-morning for hands-on workshops, followed by long, sunlit lunches and time to rest or swim by the ocean.
As evening falls, we gather again in the garden. Dinners stretch into golden hours, as the last light fades over the hills and the air fills with the scent of herbs and woodsmoke.
Sample Daily Schedule
-
Morning yoga or garden walk
-
Breakfast with fresh local ingredients
-
Culinary workshop with Maya — preserving, fermenting or seasonal cooking
-
Lunch together in the garden
-
Free afternoon for rest or ocean swim
-
Sunset dinner prepared together and shared under the open sky
Stay
Stay in our rustic farmhouse tucked away in the peaceful valley of southern Portugal — a place where time slows down. In a world that moves too fast, we offer space: to breathe, to listen, to create and to simply be. The stars replace city lights, silence replaces the noise and nature replaces the rush.
Mornings begin with birdsong and soft light over the vegetable garden. You might collect eggs still warm from the nest or pick sun-ripened vegetables before joining us for a nourishing breakfast spread.
The retreat offers six self-sufficient studios, each with a private bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. The two farmhouses accommodate up to twelve women. Five rooms feature shared beds, while one can be shared with a close friend or reserved as a private space.
Here, the simple rituals of the land ground you in the present. The vast sky opens up and with it, so does your mind. In this stillness, clarity returns and transformation begins naturally.
The retreat offers six self-sufficient studios, each with a private bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. The two farmhouses accommodate up to twelve women. Five rooms feature shared beds, while one can be shared with a close friend or reserved as a private space.
Here, the simple rituals of the land ground you in the present. The vast sky opens up and with it, so does your mind. In this stillness, clarity returns and transformation begins naturally.
Food
In the late summer light, the kitchen becomes a place of abundance. Together with Maya, you’ll cook with the season’s harvest — sun-ripened tomatoes, figs, herbs and fragrant stone fruits, learning to transform simple ingredients into soulful meals.
This retreat is for the woman who loves food and wants to reconnect with the joy of cooking. Through hands-on workshops, you’ll explore preserving the season from pickling and fermenting to crafting jams and sauces, discover how to let nature guide your creativity.
Each meal is a celebration of the land, cooked and shared around long tables where stories, laughter and flavors intertwine.
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Flight to/from Portugal
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Transport from train station Santa Clara Saboia to Helder Farm Studios (provided for additional fee)
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Travel/medical insurance
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Shared room - 2795€
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 - 3445€
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 of 10 euros round trip.
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 take allergies and dietary restrictions into account. Please let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly. Keep in mind that this is a hands-on culinary retreat focused on seasonal, farm-to-table cooking and sharing meals together, so it may be challenging to accommodate highly restrictive diets.
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!
