7 Day 'NotSoSerious' Surf, Wine, and Yoga in Alentejo, Portugal
Yoga Holiday in Portugal
“Not So Serious” means no circles of tears—just oceans, trails, boards & bikes. You choose: surf, SUP, hike, horse ride, wine tasting. We add cozy stays, easy yoga, and friendly locals. A ‘do-stuff’ retreat: fewer mantras, more moments. Wake up to birds, stretch it out (or don’t), explore the coast, toast at sunset. Come solo or with friends—either way, you’ll leave with better stories.Explore the wonders of the Alentejo Coast, learn about the local culture, enjoy daily yoga and surfing classes accessible to all levels, and indulge yourself with delicious, healthy food. What about the wine? Wine is such a big part of this region and Quinta Camarena will be presenting a different small producer every evening. This sustainable program mixes a range of activities that will allow you to stay active, meet new people, and discover the wonders of the beautiful region of Costa Vicentina. You will explore historical towns and the natural protected park of Costa Vicentina.
Meet the instructors
Highlights
- Five yoga sessions at the open-air shala in the woods
- Have 4 surf lessons, including board and wetsuit
- Relax with a deep healing massage
- Enjoy a guided hike and visit a local artisan
- Visit a sustainable vineyard with wine tasting
- Access all outdoor and common areas
- Stay 6 nights at Quinta Camarena
- Enjoy daily brunch and dinner with a little wine
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Types
6 days with instruction in English
Accommodation
Facilities
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Barbeque facilities
- Dining area
- Garden
- Kitchen
The holiday will take place at Quinta Camarena, a beautiful, rustic-chic countryside hotel, surrounded by nature. There is space and plenty of spots to relax, hike, chill, read, meditate, and drink wine. The yoga classes will be done in a big open-air shala surrounded by nature. A villa, a casita, a country loft, or private rooms. Each house has a private entrance, living room, and equipped kitchenette. All spaces were carefully curated based on sustainable principles using local materials. For your comfort and enjoyment, Quinta Camarena wants to make you feel at home.
The decor of each house was meticulously curated by the hosts with objects from their own art collection, family pieces, antiques, and furniture made in local recycled objects made following the principles of sustainability and circular economy. You will also find first-quality linens in the beds and local, bio, artisanal soaps. The guest houses are located by the garden and pool. The outdoor space is an open invitation to bond with your group in comfort and space. You can stay in a single or shared bedroom in the main villa (each has a private bathroom) or in a one-bedroom house for single or shared occupancy.
Program
The yoga and surfing classes are accessible to all levels. During yoga, there will be options for both beginners and advanced. On the beach, the group will be divided into beginners and those who already have some surfing experience. Yoga and surfing are complementary activities as they both improve your overall strength, balance and focus. But the most important is they´re fun and they´re supposed to make you feel great.
What will be the program like?
The program schedule will be adapted to the tides to get the best surf conditions. Days will usually start with one of the activities: an energizing yoga class or a trip straight to the beach for a morning surf session. Never too early, this is vacation. Always followed by a delicious and healthy brunch to recover energy.
In the afternoon you will usually do the other main activity. In between, there will be a hike, a visit to the winery, and a local artisan. There will be some free time to relax and do nothing. If you can´t stay still, don´t worry: there´s a gym, bikes, and plenty of hiking trails to explore.
Close to the end of the program, there will be a deep tissue massage to work on your full body, which at this point should be at least a little bit sore.
One of the highest moments of the program is the visit to a local family winery where you will learn about their sustainable farming and artisanal production followed by a wine and tapas tasting overlooking the vineyards.
Sample daily schedule
Day 1
- Arrival and check-in
- Sunset happy hour and dinner at the terrace
Day 2
- Surf or yoga in the morning (depending on tides and wind, Quinta Camarena will decide when to surf)
- Brunch
- Free time for you to discover the cute towns around, shop at the incredible local artisans, hike the beautiful trails of Costa Vicentina), lay by the pool, or hang out in the gardens, read, drink, or sleep - no judgments
- Surf or yoga
- Dinner
Day 3
- Surf or yoga
- Brunch
- Guided hike
- Free time
- Dinner
Day 4
- Morning yoga
- Brunch
- Free time
- Visit the winery, wine, and local produce tasting
Day 5
- Surf or yoga
- Brunch
- Visit a local artisan or farmer
- Surf or yoga
- Dinner
Day 6
- Surf or yoga
- Brunch
- Free time
- Surf or yoga
- Photo session
- Dinner and a little party
Day 7
- Yoga
- Brunch
- Check out
Included excursions
During this holiday, you will visit a local sustainable vineyard with wine tasting, have a guided hike, and will visit a local artisan.
Instructors
Cam Camarena
Cam was born and raised in Los Angeles, where he learned and perfectioned to surf. After a brief period in Argentina, he moved to New York where he lived for 20 years and built his career as a photographer specializing in portraits. He worked with the best photographers worldwide and photographed several celebrities and magazine covers. He moved to Alentejo, to dedicate himself fully to Quinta Camarena, a countryside Guest house where all guests are treated as friends.
Amari Tiana
Amari was born and raised in Hong-Kong and is Indian by origin. Yoga has been present in her life since a very early age. Prior to teaching, she worked in the corporate world for 11 years. She got her first yoga certification in 2005 and has been developing her practice since then. She's a certified Ashtanga and Hatha instructor. Nowadays she teaches mostly in Alentejo, Portugal, where she's involved in many different projects with the local community. Her classes at Quinta Camarena Retreats mix different yoga styles and are dynamic, challenging and fun.
Flavio
Flavio has a great passion for teaching surf to all those who want to try or evolve in this sport. We are the link between students and the sea. With all responsibility, we teach the tactics and techniques to new surfers of all ages and genders. Above all, we like our students to feel the pleasure of surfing a wave. Now, more than ever, our ecological sustainability policy is stronger. We participate in beach clean-ups, repair and reuse equipment whenever possible (never jeopardizing safety and quality of service), and make the community aware of good practices in recycling and saving water r
Location
Located in the protected area of Costa Vicentina, in the Southwest of Portugal, Quinta Camarena is ideally situated among the countryside and the beach. The picturesque town of Cercal is just a short walk from Costa Vicentina and will make you feel as though you went back in time, giving you a true sense of the Alentejo way of life. The region is full of nature, history, interesting architecture, and local artisans.
The famous Rota Vicentina, a long hiking path spanning nearly 400 kilometers along with one of the most beautifully preserved coastal areas of Europe passes directly in front of the property. This will lead you through forest tracks, to towns and villages with centuries of history. Within a 15-minute drive, you can reach numerous and very diverse wild beaches, a few of which are a real surfer's paradise.
Distances
- Beach, 15 minutes
- Lisbon, 180 kilometers
Surf conditions
Surf spot:
Alentejo
Monthly wave size
Monthly water temperature
Features
Activities
- Boating
- Horse riding
- Massage
- Stand up paddle boarding
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
General
- Barbeque facilities
- Dining area
- Garden
- Hammock
- Kitchen
Food
Food and wine are part of the culture and play an important role in this retreat. You will enjoy 2 daily meals always prepared with fresh and seasonal ingredients. At every dinner, Quinta Camarena will present a different natural wine sourced by small local producers. You will have different chefs with different cooking styles at Quinta Camarena and will visit some traditional restaurants.
The following meals are included:
- Brunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
- Alcoholic beverages
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Organic
Things to do (optional)
Activities at your own cost
- Additional massage and treatments (If you want any other specific treatments, that might be arranged. There is a line of all-natural, local and artisanal beauty products for sale)
- Boat tours along the Mira River or the Atlantic
- Horseback riding
- Stand up paddleboarding or kayak tours
Spa treatments
A deep healing massage is included in the price.
What's included
- 6 nights stay at Quinta Camarena
- Access to all the outdoor and common areas (pool, gym, gardens, and trails)
- Daily brunch and dinner
- A little wine in every dinner
- 5 yoga sessions at The Ground
- 4 surf lessons including board and wetsuit
- Visit to a local sustainable vineyard and wine tasting
- Guided hike
- Deep healing massage
- Visit to a local artisan
What's not included
- Airfare
- Airport transfers
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer available for additional US$ 291 per person
Faro Airport
107 km away from your destination
Transfer available for additional US$ 291 per person
Lisbon Portela Airport
114 km away from your destination
Arrival by bus
There are direct buses from Lisbon and Faro to Cercal do Alentejo. The cost is 18 EUR. Quinta Camarena will pick you up at the bus stop in Cercal.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
Reviews
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