Familievakantie op Ecofarm in Portugal

Mijn kinderen vinden het hier helemaal geweldig. Elke dag even de ezels en eenden voeren, een terrein waar zij zich koning voelden en overal konden spelen, De rust en de stilte, maar ook de nabijheid van het waanzinnige strand van Odeceixe (onze absolute favoriet, zo mooi!!). Dit in combinatie met de geweldige energie en ervaring met kinderen van Neel maakt dit voor ons echt een absolute aanrader voor families die op zoek zijn naar een hele fijne vakantie waarin je naast heel veel plezier ook diepgang met elkaar kunt vinden.

2,5 hours long drive from Lisbon airport… really?! Why am I doing this to myself?... However, my daughter is really quiet on a back seat and finally we are arriving to Pura Vida. I get out of a car and get straight into arms of Neel who gives me a warm welcome hug. Interesting enough, I immediately feel less tired. We drop our suitcases in a really nice apartment (we stayed at “Natural Elements’) and go straight to a pool. Actually, it’s not a usual swimming pool (blue tiles & chloride) but a tiny lake with natural clean water created by Robin (the owner of PV). I take a dive and after happily relaxing on a nice laying cushion , gazing at the green mountains. The evening yoga class for parents and kids is a nice chance to meet everyone and we end up doing some light stretches which are really welcome after a long travel. Great dinner follows and Sofia & myself fall into our beds being fully satisfied. In the morning I wake up and get onto our large terrace. The view is breathtaking, beautiful sunrise paired with the sounds of waking nature creates almost a fairytale-like atmosphere. The days which follow are so nice and we are so much in a flow that we wonder how is it at all possible to ever come back to our normal lives. We walk in a forest & the kids are riding donkeys; we swim in a hidden forest lake, have picnics, practice yoga together, get massages. I read so much during this week that I can’t believe my own luck! The time slows down and it feels like you getting more hours in a day without actually stressing about anything. The retreat is hosted by two lovely sisters -Neel & Geer. Neel gives powerful and meaningful yoga sessions to adults and kids. I could never imagine my 10 years old Sofia running for yet another 8am yoga session but yes, she loves it! And so does the rest of us. Parents and kids sessions are especially precious. During the last session I feel so open and receptive and connected to my child that I have tears going down my cheeks. Tears of happiness. Geer is a creative center of the retreat and whenever she looks after the kids, we know – they are having a great time though we are not being told what are they doing. They keep it a secret! But all the secrets are being revealed during a “presentation” when we are invited to a “museum” which is carefully showcasing a variety of works made by our kids and proudly presented to us. A couple of other things which are definitely worth to mention. We really liked our nearest beach - a drive takes only 15 mins and you find yourself on a nice and clean sandy beach on the Atlantic ocean, where you can swim, serf or rent a SUP board. In the afternoon when it gets a bit hot you can spend an hour just hanging in one of the hammocks at Pura Vida, safely located in a shade. Oh yes, and did I mention our amazing cook Diane? She is our absolute cooking goddess and I am seriously considering to turn into a full time vegetarian after eating her lovely meals for entire week. In only one week Sofia & myself have got a “full reset”. I had a luxury of having an empty, worry-free head which doesn’t happen too often these days. Besides that, daily yoga practice also made our bodies look & feel wonderful! The great “after effect” from this trip has certainly lasted for a few days. I have no idea what will happen next year and where am I going to spend my big summer vacation, but one thing I know for sure: I will first plan a week at Vida Pura and then will build my other summer plans around that. If you once experienced this retreat – you will know exactly what I mean!

Een hele mooie en bijzondere vakantieweek voor gezinnen met kinderen. De locatie is prachtig, mooie accomodaties, fijn yoga deck met fantastisch uitzicht en een zeer mooi natuurlijk zwembad op het terrein. En natuurlijk het mooie strand om de hoek. Een afwisselend programma en met name de ouder en kind yoga lessen maken deze week extra bijzonder en zorgen voor een mooie verbinding binnen het gezin. Een aanrader, ook voor mannen en zonen ;-)