Do you ever feel like:
🔻 You have low energy and want to eat better but don’t know where to start?
🔻 Do You want to cook vibrant, nutritious meals without overcomplicating things?
🔻 You crave a nature escape to slow down and reconnect with yourself?
🔻 You’ve heard about plant-based and conscious eating but never truly experienced it?
SENSES is for you if you answered yes to any of these.
SHOWCOOKINGS
Join interactive workshops & live cooking demonstrations, guided by Chef Catarina Mamede. The objective is for you to learn the fundamentals in plant-base cuisine.
SENSORY & NATURE
IMMERSION
Immersed in a natural setting, transform your relationship with food by engaging your all of your senses.
LEARN ABOUT
GUT HEALTH
Explore the connection between food, health, and energy with expert lead workshop about the power of our gut in overall health and wellbeing.
EXPLORE
Activities around Alentejo region, we will explore organic farms to learn with the producers how they grow the vegetables throughout the seassons.
Accommodation
Casa Koya offers five beautifully appointed rooms, three of which are spacious and luxurious suites, while the other two are non-suite rooms. All of our rooms are designed to provide maximum comfort, with luxury beds and top-quality linens ensuring a restful night's sleep.
The rooms are carefully decorated with a blend of antique and modern styles, featuring a minimalist aesthetic that enhances the natural beauty of the surrounding environment. Each room has large windows that invite natural light, creating a bright and inviting atmosphere that inspires relaxation and tranquility.
Some of the rooms also feature a terrace, where you can relax and soak up the stunning views of the surrounding landscape from the comfort of your chair. We pride ourselves on creating a healing environment, and our rooms are designed to promote restful sleep, being free of electronic devices that can interfere with your relaxation.
You can choose between:
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Private ensuite with terrace - 690 €
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Double ensuite garden view - 590 €
What to expect
A Three-Day Journey Into Nature, Food & Connection
Step into SENSES, a unique retreat designed to awaken your senses, nourish your body, and deepen your connection with nature and yourself.
Over three days, you'll explore the art of mindful cooking, intuitive eating, the increasing importance of gut-health foods, and how to ferment your own while reconnecting with the rhythms of nature. This immersive experience is where food becomes more than just nourishment—it becomes a practice of presence, creativity, and transformation.
This retreat is for you whether you're from an English—or Portuguese-speaking country, as all offerings are in both languages.
Wholesome Feasts for a Happy Body
While on retreat at Casa Koya, you will be cooked two nourishing wholesome meals every day with world inspired cuisine cooked by our two local chefs. It will be a blend of food for the soul with a complete brunch and a tasty dinner. In between there will always be something to nibble on from savory to sweet treats.
During meal time we invite you to eat mindfully and play a game of "Who is the star" savoring each dish with all your senses. This is a time to shift from silence to connection, sharing stories, laughter, and meaningful interactions with your fellow guests.
We have two beautiful dining areas at Casa Koya. You can enjoy a meal on the outdoor terrace, and surround nature, or in the spacious dining room inside.
Our large open-concept kitchen is equipped with all the necessary appliances and cooking utensils if you want to make a midnight snack or store any food while staying with us.
Please let us know of your dietary needs upon booking so that we can cook meals that nourish you.
This Retreat Is For You If
1
You want to reconnect with food in a meaningful way.
In a world of fast meals and distractions, SENSES invites you to slow down and rediscover the joy of food. Imagine harvesting fresh ingredients, feeling their textures, smelling their aromas, and savoring every bite with full awareness.
2
You crave a deep, immersive experience in nature.
If you long to step away from screens and schedules, this retreat offers you a space to ground yourself in the rhythms of the earth—walking through organic farms, cooking outdoors, and eating with intention.
3
You want to nourish your body and mind with vibrant, plant-based food.
You don’t need to be a chef to join us. Whether you’re curious about plant-based eating or already passionate about holistic nutrition, you’ll learn how to prepare healing, delicious meals that elevate your energy.
A day in the life while on retreat
8:00 AM - Wake up Slow and enjoy a mindful awake in nature
9:00 AM - Freshly Squeezed Juice and Light Refreshments
9:15 AM - Let's cook together breakfast and enjoy our meal
11 AM - Learn about the power of fermented food
12:00 PM - Let's enhance our senses with live demonstrations
1:30 PM - Let's eat our creations
4:30 PM - A visit to a local farm and Beekeeping sanctuary
6:30 PM - Time for you to enjoy the natural surroundings
7:30 PM- Nourishing Dinner & Community Time
8:30 PM - Fire time Under the Stars
9:30 - 10 PM - Bedtime
*All offerings are spoken and taught in both English and Portuguese*
Hello I am Rebeca, the Founder of Casa Koya
I am a Portuguese native with over fifteen years as an emergency medicine nurse and nearly a decade of global experience, I discovered my calling when I transformed Casa Koya into what it is now. Having witnessed the impact of diseases, stress, and burnout on individuals and families in demanding medical environments, I felt a deep desire to offer a solution.
Casa Koya emerged as my dream realized—a sanctuary where guests can escape the strains of daily life.
With my Health and Wellness Coaching studies at Duke University and Board Certification as a Wellness Coach, my mission is to bring a unique blend of medical expertise and holistic wellness to Casa Koya. My journey from the high-stress world of emergency nursing to the tranquil haven of Casa Koya reflects my commitment to inspiring others on their path to well-being and inner harmony. In embracing nature and holistic wellness, individuals and families find solace, reconnecting with themselves and each other. I continue to be dedicated to my growth and learning to fuel Casa Koya's mission to be a beacon of transformation and rejuvenation for all who seek it.
Meet Your Hosts
Hey there! I am Catarina
Animals have been part of my family for as long as I can remember.
Many of them were rescued from the streets, teaching me about compassion and care early on.
As a teenager, volunteering at animal protection associations opened my eyes to something bigger: the impact of our food choices on animals and our own health. That’s when my passion for cooking was born—not just as a means of nourishment but as a way to create awareness and transformation.
Over the years, my kitchen has become a creative lab where I experiment with colors, flavors, and textures, crafting dishes that nourish and delight. In 2018, I furthered my passion by studying Functional Gastronomy and diving into plant-based dairy, specializing in cheeses made from nuts, seeds, and legumes.
In 2019, I launched Bee’s Knees, a brand dedicated to 100% plant-based, natural, and sustainable food. Around this time, I also started exploring simple ways to reduce food waste, developing zero-waste recipes, because I believe cooking with consciousness is one of the greatest acts of respect for our planet.
Since 2017, I’ve been sharing my knowledge through workshops and live cooking demonstrations, inspiring others with techniques, recipes, and insights to make healthy, sustainable eating accessible to all.
What Our Guests Are Saying
Catarina Canteiro
“An excellent house to spend time with family and friends 😍 I want to come back and absorb all the good energies that the house transmits to me. It is a place where we find the calm we need to find ourselves and allow us to rest our body and mind.”
Diogo Ferrinho
"We truly enjoyed our stay here. The host accommodate our needs and made sure our stay was amazing. The house is beautiful, the surroundings are beautiful and make you truly connect with nature. Plus you can expect the most beautiful sunset looking through the beautiful pool."
Maria João Campos
"At Casa Koya I felt at home. A beautiful, comfortable space to enjoy a few special days. Rebeca is a spectacular hostess, who knows how to welcome and pamper her guests. Green spaces, outdoors, the sounds of nature, the pool. I will definitely come back and recommend it so much"
