Portugal HSP & Introvert Retreat

Coastal walks, ancestral arts & nourishing yoga among the expansive landscapes of the Algarve

w/ Melissa Renzi and Stephanie Bour

Portugal HSP & Introvert Retreat

Coastal walks, ancestral arts & yoga among the expansive landscapes of the Algarve

w/ Melissa Renzi &Stephanie Bour

Embrace your trait and connect with people who get you.

Immerse yourself into the sun-drenched, wild landscapes of Portugal’s Algarve on a retreat specifically for highly sensitive people and introverts.

Picture a community of like-minded people who honor your way of connecting without the social pressures of typical group travel.

Soak up serenity from your own hammock at a retreat set atop rolling hills of umbrella pines.

Meander along dramatic coastal cliffs sculpted by the azure sea. Relax into a sandy cove.

Learn about ancestral traditions with a hands-on tile painting workshop and Portuguese cooking class.

Nurture yourself and each other with gentle yoga practices and reflection circles.

Photo by Ines Göhringer on Unsplash

At a Glance

Facilitators: Melissa Renzi & Stephanie Bour
Highlights: Algarve Coastlines & Cultural Workshops
Venue: Mid-range eco retreat focused on sustainable living
Rooms: Single occupancy with en-suite bathrooms
Food: Vegetarian, can meet most dietary needs
Activity Level: Mild to moderate (can be very mild)
Weather: Sunny – daytime upper 70s °F, nighttime low 60s °F
Group Size: 14-16 people, including 2 facilitators

Our retreats are LGBTQ+ Friendly & Affirming.

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The Land & Space

Portugal’s Southwestern Algarve, is a unique region for nature lovers with its spectacular landscapes, dramatic coastal cliffs, secret beach coves, and picturesque villages. The month of June is enjoys warm weather without the heat or crowds of the later summer months.

Monte Velho Retreat Centre is a family-run holistic learning center that aims to reconnect its visitors with nature, promote healthy living, and inspire visitors to contribute to the health of our planet and future generations. Monte Velho is built upon principles of sustainable living in its approach to renewable energies, food practices, water and waste management, building materials and techniques, and reforestation projects. You may read more about their sustainability projects.

The center is set among rolling hills of umbrella pines in a remote part of the Algarve, where southwestern Europe sinks into the Atlantic. It’s a 5-minute drive to the nearest town of Carrapateira. By car, Monte Velho is 3 hours from Lisbon, 1 hour and 20 minutes from Faro, and 10 minutes from the nearest beach. A walk to the nearest beach is about one hour.

Accommodations: Monte Velho offers 12 private rooms, all of which have a double bed, en suite private bathroom, and small terrace area with a daybed and hammock. The rooms are comfortable and minimalist with all that is needed for relaxing into the precious surroundings of nature.

Food: Monte Velho serves amazingly delicious, well-balanced vegan and vegetarian meals that are inspired by Ayurvedic principles and cooked with care. Ingredients are fresh and sourced from their own garden and local farmers as much as possible. While meat will not be served, animal products such as eggs and yogurt will be offered. Please inform us of your dietary needs so that we can do our best to accommodate.

Facilities: Monte Velho offers two indoor yoga pavilions with panoramic views and heated cork wood floors, an outdoor gazebo, a spa with sauna, steam room, massage room, an indoor living space, and plentiful land to wander. The grounds and facilities will be private for our group.

The location, activities, and schedule made this retreat an introvert’s paradise! The itinerary offered the perfect balance of time to connect and time to recharge. The activities were fun and educational. The retreat centre was beautiful and serene, and the staff were kind and accommodating. To top it all off, Melissa’s attention to detail and thoughtfulness made it a truly invaluable experience.

Blake L.

Day 1

Lisbon to Monte Velho: All guests will need to meet at a central location in Lisbon at 12:00 p.m. A private group shuttle will transport us 3 hours to Monte Velho. We will arrive for check-in at 4:00 and have time to settle in. We’ll meet for our opening circle around 5:00/5:30 and then share our first dinner.

Day 2

Beach Day or Coastal Walking: Awaken with a gentle, enlivening yoga practice at 7:00 with breakfast to follow at 8:30. Late morning, we’ll drive 10 minutes to a nearby beach. You’ll have the opportunity relax on the beach, meander along the gorgeous cliffs, or take an invigorating dip in the sea. We’ll have a lunchtime picnic at the beach and then return around 2:00 or 3:00 so you have time to relax before a restorative yoga class, reflection circle, and dinner.

Day 3

Azulejo Workshop: We’ll wake up with yoga at 7:00, followed by breakfast. After breakfast, local artisan Carla Guerreiro, will come to Monte Velho to teach us about the historical and cultural significance of the beautiful azulejos or Portuguese tiles that adorn the country’s architecture. Carla will share the techniques for painting these designs and provide support as you paint your own tiles. This will take us up to lunch time, and after lunch, you’ll have the afternoon to relax. Melissa will hold a restorative yoga class and reflection circle before dinner.

Day 4

Visit Lagos & Hike: After yoga and breakfast, we’ll drive 40 min to the town of historic town of Lagos, which boasts gorgeous cliff lines and beach coves, as well as delightful restaurants and shopping. This will be a full day out (approx. 9:30-4:00), but it’s a “choose your own adventure” kind of day. We’ll provide all the guidance you need to explore according to your own desires and rhythm. Restorative yoga will be held before dinner.

Day 5

Cooking Class: One highlight of this retreat that our past guests have raved about is the phenomenal food. In this cooking class, Monte Velho’s head chef, Larissa, we’ll show us how to prepare traditional Portuguese dishes but with a vegetarian spin. This hands-on workshop will be held onsite and will take about 2 hours (about 11a-1p). After lunch, the afternoon is yours to relax. Restorative yoga will be offered at 5:00, followed by a reflection circle at 6:00, and dinner at 7:30.

Day 6

Sagres Region Interpretive Flora + Nature Hike: Following yoga and breakfast, we will drive 30 minutes to the southern part of the west coast near Sagres for a gentle interpretive walk with a local plant expert who will share more about the natural environment of the region you’ve been exploring. You will have time to visit the most southwestern part of Sagres of the lighthouse of Cabo de Sao Vicente. We will then return in time for lunch and you’ll have the afternoon free. Restorative yoga and a reflection circle will be offered at 6:00 followed by dinner.

Day 7

Rest Day: This is our final full day. We’ll continue our rhythm of morning yoga and breakfast, and then you’ll have the day to rest in a hammock, get a massage, or use the steam and sauna facilities. We’ll have restorative yoga and our closing circle in the evening before our final dinner together.

Day 8

Return to Lisbon: We’ll awaken to our final morning at Monte Velho with enlivening yoga and breakfast. At 10:00, we will head back to Lisbon where we should arrive by 1:30.

Meet Your Guides

Melissa Renzi (she/her) is a Licensed Social Worker, Certified Yoga Teacher, HSP Retreat Organizer, and Community Builder. She is passionate about creating experiences for sensitive people to embrace who they are, connect to others, and leverage their strengths for positive impact. Her retreats offer a refuge to connect with like-minded people, while also getting to know other cultures and surroundings lands at a slower pace than typical group travel. Since 2016, Melissa has led over 20 retreats in 6 different countries, serving over 200 highly sensitive people and introverts.
Stephanie Bour (she/her) is a certified psychologically sensitive yoga teacher, women’s health specialist, and birth doula. With her soothing presence, Stephanie strives to establish a safe and nurturing space to support sensitive people on their journey toward greater well-being. She has been offering heart-centered practices for almost a decade and she is passionate about accompanying people through life transitions. Stephanie is native of France, married to an Argentinian, and is now raising her 2 Chicago-born children in her home in Barcelona. She is fluent in French, Spanish, and English.

What’s Included

  • 7 nights accommodation at Monte Velho Retreat Centre
  • 3 heavenly vegetarian meals per day (minus 1 lunch)
  • Azulejo history & painting workshop w/ tile artist/expert
  • Cooking class with Monte Velho’s head chef
  • Visit to Lagos w/ support for self-guided day & transport
  • Plant walk & Sagres region w/ local guide & transport
  • Costa Vicentina walk / beach day & transport
  • Daily yoga w/ Melissa & Steph (2 classes, most days)
  • Facilitated reflection circles (some days)
  • Round-trip group transfer to/from Lisbon (A transfer for 1 person would normally cost € 600.00 round-trip.)
  • Pre-Retreat Meet & Greet via Zoom
  • Trip Planning Packet w/ details & checklists
  • Unlimited filtered water, coffee, teas, and fruits

Not Included:

  • Airfare to/from Lisbon Airport
  • Ground transport to/from airport
  • One lunch while in Lagos
  • Travel insurance – strongly recommended
  • Gratuities (approx. $40-50 USD in total)
  • Additional activities, massages, sauna, etc.

Accommodations

Spacious rooms with en-suite bathroom and a small terrace area with your own daybed and hammock. Bed sizes and configurations vary slightly. All rooms can offer a double bed.

Prices are per person. While you may share with a partner or friend, the rate per person is the same in order to meet Monte Velho’s booking requirement while also limiting our group size.

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Melissa was organized, accommodating and a beautiful person to connect with. She made the retreat exceptional. It was great to be surrounded with like-minded people, as we all felt we could easily open up and genuinely be ourselves. 

Jessica M.

Melissa sets everyone at ease without fuss. She arranges supportive yoga sessions and encourages adventures out on your own. I never felt rushed or overwhelmed. Lifelong friendships were forged and forever memories engraved on my heart.

Denise L.

Melissa is way more than just a trip organizer, she goes above and beyond to connect people together and creates an atmosphere of open-mindedness with other travelers, local people, and local experiences.

Stephanie K.

Cancellation Policy

Read the full policy and terms in our Yoga International Retreat Agreement before reserving your spot.

Trip Cancelled by Participant

  • All deposits are non-refundable/non-transferable.
  • Remaining balance must be paid 90 days before trip start date.
If you decide to cancel your trip for any reason, the following fees apply at the time we receive written notice of your cancellation.
– All deposits are non-refundable/non-transferable.
– More than 90 days before retreat start date, receive a refund of your retreat payment, excluding your deposit.
– 60-89 days before retreat start date, 75 percent of any payment previously made may be applied to another retreat, excluding your deposit. You will forfeit 25 percent of the price of your retreat. Ex: If your retreat cost is $2500 with a $500 deposit, and you’ve paid in full, $1500 may be applied toward a future retreat.
– 31-59 days before retreat start date, 50 percent of your payment previously made may be applied to another retreat, excluding your deposit. You will forfeit 50 percent of the price of your retreat. Ex: If your retreat cost is $2500 with a $500 deposit, $1000 may be applied toward a future retreat.
– If you cancel 30 days or less before retreat start date, you will forfeit your entire payment. 

We are not responsible for any delays or cancellations due to lack of proper travel documents. We strongly recommend you purchase “Cancel for Any Reason” travel insurance to cover your expenses in the event you must cancel for any reason.

Trip Postponed by MNR Retreat, LLC.

We reserve the right to make reasonable changes to the itinerary or postpone the retreat where deemed advisable for the safety and well-being of participants. If it is necessary to postpone the retreat due to conditions that may be hazardous such as pandemics, weather, political, or any other reason we deem necessary, we reserve the right to postpone said retreat. In this case, 100 percent of all payments, less any payment processing fees and non-refundable, including but not limited to in-country airline, train, bus, entrance tickets, or permits purchased by us on your behalf for the previous booking, will be applied toward the same retreat on future dates.

We reserve the right to cancel any retreat prior to departure in the event that there are too few people booked in which case you will be given a full refund of your full payment, including your deposit. We strongly encourage and recommend that you purchase your flight after your retreat is confirmed, which will be no more than 90 days days prior to retreat start date.

You will not be entitled to claim any additional amounts or seek any compensation for any injury, loss, expenses or damage, either direct or consequential, or for any loss of time or inconvenience which may result from such cancellation, including but not limited to visa and passport fees and expenses, flights, flight cancellation and reservation fees, and vaccination costs). We strongly encourage and recommend that you purchase travel insurance within two (2) weeks of registering your trip.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance. We don’t recommend a specific company or policy, but we’ve partnered with InsureMyTrip as the best option to compare plans. They have thousands of travel insurance plans, as well as a recommendation engine to help travelers find the right plan. They will also provide support before, during, and after your trip if you should need anything, including help with a claim.

We recommend “Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) coverage, which will cover your trip in the event you are unable or choose not to attend for any reason. CFAR insurance typically reimburses 50 or 75 percent of your trip cost if you need to cancel for reasons not otherwise covered and requires the following conditions:

  • Purchase the policy within 14-21 days of first trip payment.
  • Insure all prepaid and non-refundable travel expenses prior to departure.
  • Cancel more than 48-72 hours prior to your departure date.

Read the policy terms. If you miss the window for CFAR coverage, you can still buy other policies.

Passport & Visa

Check the visa requirements for entry to Portugal from your home country. For U.S. travelers, if you are planning to travel to Portugal as a tourist for a period not to exceed 90 days, you do not need to apply for a visa. You are required to be in possession of a U.S. passport, valid for a minimum of three (3) months beyond the length of your stay.

Getting There & Away
Group Transfer: We will provide round-trip group transport to and from Lisbon (3 hours by car). The pick-up/drop-off location will be at a central location in Lisbon (not the airport).
Lisbon to Monte Velho: Our group transfer will meet for departure on September 21st at 11:30 a.m.
Monte Velho to Lisbon: Our group transfer will return to Lisbon on September 28th at 10:00a.m.
We recommend that you fly into Lisbon International Airport (LIS) and arrive at least one day early, particularly if you are traveling between time zones. If you are extending your travel in Portugal before or after your retreat, and may wish to consider the airports in Faro or Porto, or trains, depending on your plans. The arrangement and cost of your airport transfer are your responsibility; though we will provide resources and hotel recommendations to help you make arrangements in Lisbon.
 
Taxis/transfers in Portugal are expensive and there is only one taxi in the village by Carrapateira. We are including the cost of transportation for several excursions so that you can see the region. However, if you think you may want to explore in your free time, you might consider renting a car. Roads in the south are generally paved, safe, and easy to get around, but the retreat center lies at the end of a gravel road.
Should you choose to arrange your own transport to/from Monte Velho, please note:
Check-in is 4:00 p.m. on September 21st
Check-out is 10:00 a.m. on September 28th
Weather & Climate
Weather: Late September continues to enjoy warm temperatures during the day (upper 70s °F). Days tend to be sunny and dry, but there is a small chance of rain. Nighttime temperatures can dip down to the low 60s °F, so it is a good idea to pack layers for the evening.
Food, Alcohol & Smoking
Food: Monte Velho serves well-balanced vegetarian meals that are inspired by Ayurvedic principles and cooked with care. Ingredients are fresh and sourced from their own garden and local farmers as much as possible. Animal products such as eggs and yogurt will be offered. You will have an opportunity to eat seafood or meat during our visit to Lagos. Please inform us of your dietary needs so that we can accommodate you.

Alcohol: Monte Velho does not serve alcohol. Alcohol is not prohibited, but we kindly request that retreat guests refrain from bringing alcohol into the retreat center—not for any moral or health reason, but to be sensitive to those in recovery and the way in which alcohol has potential to change the group dynamic. Guests are welcome to consume alcohol while visiting towns such as Lagos and we trust your decision-making.

Smoking & Other Drugs: Smoking and illegal drugs are not permitted on the property. If you smoke tobacco, please reach out to discuss.