The Heart Accelerator is a unique group retreat, designed to accelerate the healing of major wounds, help you get unstuck, and create massive energy shifts in your whole being.
The next 7-day retreat will be from April 24 – May 1, 2022 in the south of Portugal at the VidaMar Resort Hotel.
1) Optional Activities During the Retreat
The retreat schedule includes some free time (between lunch and dinner) on three days. You may want to take advantage of this time to make your retreat extra special by participating in one or more of the optional activities which were selected to give you an opportunity to get to know Portugal a bit more and the Algarve area in particular. On each of the days we’ve arranged for a mix of activities that are focused on: Historical / Culture, Active / Adventurous or off-site nature walks / hikes. Each of the activities will be 2.5 to 4 hours in length so you will only be able to do one of the activities per day.
Transportation is included for all of these activities, however, they are subject to a minimum number of participants depending on the activity.
| Day | History / Culture | Active / Adventurous | Nature Walk / Hike |
| Day 2: April 26 | Guided visit to the Estoi Palace & gardens as well as Villa Romana de Milreu | Boat Tour of Ria Formosa | Off-site nature walk / hike |
| Day 4: April 28 | Visit a local vineyard and sample local gastronomy | Boat tour along the Algarve coast including Benagil | Off-site nature walk / hike |
Day 6: April 30 | Moors & Romans History Tour | Jeep Safari | Off-site nature walk / hike |
| Post-Retreat Group Dinner: May 1 | Optional Group Dinner on May 1 – for retreat participants and their partners (50€ per person): This specially prepared menu includes: o Entrée o Main course includes an option of typical Algarvian seafood dishes to select from: Cataplana or Polvo (octopus) o Wine with dinner o Dessert o Coffee o Special local after dinner aperitif The restaurant is only a 10-15 mins walk away from VidaMar so we plan to walk to/from (however, transportation will be provided in the event of inclement weather) |
| Post-Retreat: May 1 -6 | NEW Best of Portugal Tour – for those that have some additional days in Portugal post-retreat and would like a hassle free tour to see some of the top sites and cities of Portugal (6-days, 5 nights)… this could be for you. See the description below in section 2). |
Please use the BOOK NOW link below to register your interest in any of the activities occuring during the retreat week. Logistics and payment details will be communicated to those participating in the activities.
PLEASE NOTE: Some activities have a limit on the number of participants. If the maximums are exceeded, participation will be based on a first-come, first-served basis. Some activities also have a required minimum number of participants. Payment will only be requested once we have the required number of participants.
Estoi Palace & Gardens, Villa Romana de Milreu
Spend the afternoon enjoying the beautiful rooms and gardens of the Pousada do Palácio de Estoi, passing by the Villa Romana de Milreu where you can see archaeological finds in its ruins, such as themed mosaics from the Roman period, marble coverings and ceramics and discovering how ancient the heating of houses was already in the Roman Era. You also have the opportunity to visit a place where you can enjoy local products and where they also make of baskets. (110 Euros)
Visit Vineyard & Sample Local Gastronomy
Visit to an award-winning Algarve producer, including a guided tour of the vineyards, winery and facilities. You will have the opportunity to savor some of the locally produced products as well as some “petiscos” which will give you a sense of the local gastronomy. (45 Euros)
Moors & Romans History Tour
Visit to the municipal market and the historical center of Loulé; History and spectacular scenery; Discover the city’s arts center and the main church; Guided tour of the Ethnographic Museum in S. Brás de Alportel. (115 Euros)
Boat Tour of Ria Formosa
Superb boat tour along the islands part of Natural Park of Ria Formosa; Discover fauna, flora, its secrets and curiosities; Enjoy a relaxing stroll on one of the barrier islands; If time permits, we will explore the old city center of Olhão. (110 Euros)
Algarve Coast Boat Tour
Enjoy an amazing (2h30) boat tour exploring the caves, coastline, while searching for dolphins in their natural habitat; Be impressed by Benagil cathedral and many other dramatic rock formations. (45 Euros)
Jeep Safari
This tour is made on board 4×4 all-terrain SUVs and driven by experienced drivers/tour guide who will ensure you have a safe and highly entertaining experience during your trip across the Algarve region. Enjoy breathtaking scenery from high peaks; Learn about cork oaks and its industry; and visit old villages with Moorish influences. (45 Euros)
Off-site Nature Walks / Hikes
- A variety of different Nature Walks / Hikes will be selected at nearby locations that offer quiet coastal trails along the top of cliffs. One of the days will include a shortened walk along the truly unique Benagil beach and caves. More details of the specific trails will be provided on-site. (45 Euros)
- FULL-DAY OPTION (May 1, 2022 Post-Retreat) Hike along the SEVEN HANGING VALLEYS TRAIL – This is a truly spectacular coastal trail along the top of spectacular cliffs overlooking turquoise ocean waters, natural arches and rock formations with time to enjoy the truly unique Benagil beach and caves. Considered by many to be the best hike in the Algarve, this winding and fragrant trail takes us through some of the most beautiful natural gems of the Algarve. (Full Day including a boxed lunch – 65 Euros to 85 Euros depending on the number of participants)
- KAYAK along the Algarve’s unique coastline from a completely different perspective from the sea. (2-3 hours in total including transfers 45 Euros)
2) Post-Retreat: Best of Portugal Tour & Day trips from Lisbon
NEW – Due to popular request, we will be adding a Best of Portugal 5-Day Tour that will start on May 1 (departure from the retreat hotel) and then work its way up through Portugal and end in the beautiful city of Porto. Visit many of the key cities and sites along the way. Key highlights will include stops in Lisbon, Sintra, Obidos, Tomar, Coimbra and more. The package will include a driver / group leader, transportation, entrance fees to selected sights / attractions and accommodations with continental breakfasts. If you have questions or are interested in more details including pricing & availability, please contact us to get your name on the list. (Limited capacity)
Additional information is now available. If you are interested in the price and additional details, please send us a message using the CONTACT US button below.
NEW – Will will also be offering several 1-Day Packages from Lisbon including a day trip to visit the medieval town of Obidos as well as day trip to the spectaular region of Sintra. To receive information on these special 1-day packages please reach out to us using the Contact Us button above and indicate you interest in the day trip options from Lisbon. (Transportation and guide included)
3) DO-IT-YOURSELF (DIY) Personalized Itinerary
We can help you create a DIY personalized travel plan so that it includes activities specifically suited to meet your needs and preferences and can offer recommendations related to accommodations, transportation, transfers and, depending on the city, even suggestions for restaurants or other local activities. We’ll guide you through the different options and, in most cases, make the reservations for you and work out the details. With this option you will be able to pay the service provider(s) directly or we can coordinate the payment.
The cost of this personalized service for 1 or 2 travellers is:
- 150€ for 4 days or less
- 275€ for 5-10 days
- 350€ for 11 days or more
Prices for groups of 3 or more travelers are also available upon request
Discover the splendors of S. Miguel Island with a DIY personalized itinerary
We can also customize a personalized side trip to S. Miguel Island so that you and enjoy it’s unique offerings of enchanting, lush, green flora, thermal water spas, natural fumaroles, tea plantations and much more. S. Miguel is an ideal stop as you make your way back home. The personalized itinerary can include:
- Day trip to Furnas to admire the geo-thermal phenomena of the active fumaroles and then relax in hot thermal springs water and a walk through the luxuriant vegetation of the Terra Nostra Park
- Whale and dolphin watching
- Hikes to suit your preferences (there are many trails of various lengths & difficulties to select from)
- Visit a 19th Century Tea Plantation & enjoy a relaxing cup of tea
- Visit the centuries old capital of the Azores, Ponta Delgada
Short Video: Top 10 Things to see on São Miguel Island
Contact us for more information to make your retreat complete!
4) AZORES ISLANDS PACKAGES
Turn your HEART ACCELERATOR retreat into a unique vacation with a special visit to Christina’s native São Jorge Island!
Due to the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the participants who attended the September 2021 HEART ACCELERATOR retreat, we will be offering 4 and 7-day add-on packages to the Azores Islands so that you can also enjoy some unique island activities. The Azores Islands, an archipelago of Portugal, can be easily reached from Lisbon (2.5 hour flight) or on a stop-over flight from the US or Canada on your way to / from continental Portugal.
Add-on Guided Packages to the Azores Islands include:
- 4-Day – April 19th to 23rd arrival and departure from São Jorge Island
- 4-Day – May 1st to May 5th arrival and departure from São Jorge Island
- 7-Day – May 1st to May 8th arrival at São Jorge Island for 4 nights and then 3 nights on Pico Island which includes a day-trip to Faial Island (departure from Pico Island)
Add-on Packages include: accommodations, meals, land and sea transportation, activities, tips and gratuities. Flights and insurance are not included.
4 – Day Guided Package:
Enjoy some of Christina’s unique nature walks and hikes that you’ve seen in many of her videos. This package includes a special day long hike to the Caldeira do Senhor Santo Cristo which is considered by many to be the best hike of the Azores and, weather permitting, a boat ride along São Jorge’s unique coastline.
Optional Climb to the Summit of Pico Mountain
For those keen on climbing Pico Mountain, Portugal’s tallest point, you can swap-in a couple of days to take a short ferry ride to Pico Island to enjoy a guided climb up Pico Mountain. ($375 USD supplement – only breakfast is included during the side-trip to Pico Island).
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7 – Day Guided Package:
In addition to the 4-Day Package, you will also explore neighboring Pico and Faial Islands where you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage wine vineyards and museum, a nature walk and visit to the picturesque port village of Madalena. You’ll also enjoy a day trip to Faial Island to visit Capelinhos (the Pompeii of the Azores), enjoy the historic port city of Horta & a guided tour of the island.
More Info