Come Home to the Source
Welcome to the Source, where we invite you to step into a slower pace of life reflecting the natural rhythms of the Douro Valley. Nestled amongst the ancient grape vines, our 400-year-old Quinta and vineyard estate offers the perfect balance of tradition, comfort, and mindful living. Whether you join us for a yoga retreat, cycling adventure, or in-depth teacher training, you can expect a peaceful and historic environment surrounded by nature. Deepen your yoga practice, explore our local culture and landscapes, enjoy nourishing meals sourced from local ingredients, and connect, laugh, and reflect with yourself and others. From practicing yoga in the heart of our vineyard to enjoying quiet moments in our historical home, The Source is a place for rest, rejuvenation, and personal transformation.
Read more below to learn about our unique retreat space...
1. Our Quinta & Living History.
A Quinta is a traditional Portuguese farmhouse, often part of a vineyard or agricultural estate. Ours dates back to the early 1600s, with its deep history woven into every stone. The house tells stories of the past, from its ancient dining room with a lopsided fireplace to the intricate layers of wine-making basements beneath. Built into the hillside, the house uses gravity to help wine flow from the ancient stone tanks into the barrels below. As we’ve restored the property, our goal has been to respect its history while offering the modern comforts needed to make your stay both authentic and enjoyable.
Upstairs, you'll find six guestrooms, including two privates, two doubles, one triple room and one quad room with dorm bunk beds. Our upstairs rooms all feature en-suite bathrooms, heating and cooling AC units, new comfortable mattresses, and dedicated storage spaces. Downstairs, we also offer a deluxe private room, a small facilitator room, and an additional private cottage in the garden.
Our amenities include a large lounge to read and rest, a romantic old dining room, a fully equipped yoga room with all the props to support your practice, and a plunge pool (and sauna and ice bath facilities coming in 2025). Outside you'll find our large courtyard, sunset terrace, extensive gardens, and rolling vineyards with ample space to wander and rest. In 2025 we will also be adding a large solar panel installation to offset our energy needs.
2. Our Working Vineyard.
Our Quinta is also a fully operational vineyard. As you stroll through the vine rows, you may come across Margarida and Jacinta, two wise and wonderful women who help care for the vineyard and gardens. If you visit us in mid-September, you’re welcome to experience the magic of grape harvest and may contribute your hard labor! Although we are in one of the world's most famous wine regions, we adapt to the purpose of each retreat. For certain retreats, we are happy to offer wine tastings and tours of our vineyard. However, during teacher training courses, we honor the traditional roots of yoga with alcohol-free experiences.
3. Our Animal Sangha.
Our retreat space is also our home and is shared with our beloved animais de estimação (animals of esteem, the Portuguese term for "pets"). You'll meet Freya, our friendly dog, and a collection of local cats that have adopted us over the years. While the animals are not allowed in guest rooms, they may wander through the house and grounds looking for snacks or belly rubs. Please be mindful of this if you have allergies, and know that we maintain a clean, serene environment for all - but are also the perfect retreat for animal lovers.
4. Locally Sourced.
Whenever possible, we source our food and supplies locally to support the surrounding community and reduce our environmental impact. From the fresh vegetables grown in our own gardens to the wine produced in our vineyard and local cooperative, our offerings reflect the rich heritage and natural bounty of the Douro Valley. Our menus are primarily plant-based, but may also include some protein options, including local eggs, fish, and free range chicken. We are happy to support your unique needs, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and allergy-sensitive menus. Please indicate your food requirements on our registration booking form so we can look after your needs.
5. Our Offerings.
At The Source, we primarily offer yoga retreats and yoga teacher trainings. Our retreats offer you a dreamy yoga holiday, including daily classes, specialized workshops, fun local adventures and excursions, and time to rest and reflect in our space. Some retreats may also include our own vineyard tours and wine tastings. Its your vacation and we are here to ensure its both meaningful and unforgettable.
Our teacher trainings offer in-depth education for aspiring and experienced yoga teachers. These offerings include very full days of practice and lecture. Your training package will also include accommodations and nourishing daily meals. Check out our full calendar including 200-hr, yin, restorative, myofascial, and icebath trainings. Honouring the origins of yoga, these programs exclude our wine-tasting offerings. Join us for a training to deepen your study and practice of yoga and turn your passion into a professional pathway.
In addition, we also offer cycle retreats in the beautiful Douro Valley and wellness workshops and day retreats to enjoy our beautiful space in the Douro.
6. Activites and Adventures.
In addition to our yoga classes and wellness workshops, our retreats focus on exploring our local region. Take the beautiful train along the riverside to the local towns of Peso da Regua and Pinhao, known for their famous vinyard and Port wine production. Or stay close to home and hike down our valley to the lost Roman bridge and our favourite waterfall swiming spot. And we can also organize daytrips to our favourite city, Porto, to spend a day exploring the port houses, tiled houses, shops and restaurants of the old city center.
7. It Takes a Village.
The Source is located in the small village of Cidadelhe, named after the ancient ruins of a pre-Roman citadel that sits atop our hill. Today, the village is a quiet, rural community. You’ll find a charming local church at its center, and while there are no shops or cafés within walking distance, you’ll hear the cheerful sounds of bread and fish delivery vans that visit our village. We are conveniently situated between two main Douro Valley towns, Mesa Frio and Peso da Régua, and can arrange rides for guests who wish to explore.
8. Getting to the Source.
We can help you to arrange your transport to the retreat (although transfers are not included in packages).
Porto (OPO) is the nearest airport, approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes by car. We can help you to arrange transportation by shuttle or you can also take the train from Porto to our nearest station, Rede. The train takes about 1-hour 40-minutes to travel to Rede where we can collect you and drive you 10-minutes up the hill to the house. Breathe easy, as we will help coordinate your transportation with you ahead of your arrival.
9. Our Microclimate.
The Douro has its own unique microclimate, shaped by the deep valleys and nearby mountain ridges. As the old adage says, stress creates good wine. Grapes benefit from variation, including cool winter climates and hot, dry summers.The Douro Valley experiences chilly, rainy winters (6 -15°C), warm, temperate springs (18-25°C), hot dry summers (24-34°C), with autumn being one of the most beautiful times of year as the vineyards turn golden and the air cools (16-22°C). Pack accordingly, and rest assured, we have spaces to escape the heat. If you are joining us in winter, evenings can get chilly, but our cozy fireplaces and heated rooms will keep you warm and comfortable.
10. About Your Hosts.
Oh hey! How rude of us. Its much more fun to tell you about our place, but let us introduce ourselves as your hosts. We are Eva and Stephen.
Stephen is from Scotland and after many years of working in wind energy and renewables he was craving a shift. He moved to Portugal to restore a crumbling old house and create a special space to share with friends and our community.
Eva is from Canada and has taught yoga for over sixteen years facilitating classes, retreats, and training interationally. She specializes in an integrative approach to yoga, emphasizing intuitive and individual alignment and soft and safe practices to support nervous system regulation.
We also love food. And history. And animals. And wine. And we can't wait to welcome you all to our home.
About our unique
Retreat Space
Encircled by arcane ruins, artistic touches, and gorgeous gardens, our retreat centre has lived many lives high on a cliff above the Atlantic beaches of Portugal.
Creeping vines and bougainvillea flowers wind in and around the fallen stones of the 14th-century seaside palace of Portuguese royalty. With its fragmented walls, you'll uncover a collection of cozy accommodations surrounded by courtyards, a plunge pool, and a bespoke chapel.
Once reborn as an artists’ retreat and now our enchanted wild feminine refuge, this is a place for rest, creativity, play and connection amongst the elements of rock, sea, sky, fire, and mist.
You’ll spend your days here with skin warmed by the heat of the summer sun and embraced by the ocean breeze that winds between the stones of this nearly-forgotten sanctuary.
Our practices will take place amid the crumbling ruins or in the newly fitted indoor yoga studio. And our evenings will be spent communing, chatting and laughing in the mystical chapel or around a roaring fire surrounded by shimmering lights and open skies.
Retreat Snapshots
About our unique
Retreat Space
Encircled by arcane ruins, artistic touches, and gorgeous gardens, our retreat centre has lived many lives high on a cliff above the Atlantic beaches of Portugal.
Creeping vines and bougainvillea flowers wind in and around the fallen stones of the 14th-century seaside palace of Portuguese royalty. With its fragmented walls, you'll uncover a collection of cozy accommodations surrounded by courtyards, a plunge pool, and a bespoke chapel.
Once reborn as an artists’ retreat and now our enchanted wild feminine refuge, this is a place for rest, creativity, play and connection amongst the elements of rock, sea, sky, fire, and mist.
You’ll spend your days here with skin warmed by the heat of the summer sun and embraced by the ocean breeze that winds between the stones of this nearly-forgotten sanctuary.
Our practices will take place amid the crumbling ruins or in the newly fitted indoor yoga studio. And our evenings will be spent communing, chatting and laughing in the mystical chapel or around a roaring fire surrounded by shimmering lights and open skies.
Retreat Snapshots