Estrela do Sul

Beautiful organic farm, peaceful agritourism in the middle of olive groves

We are a Reunionese–Franco–Canadian family who, after years of living and traveling across many countries, decided to finally settle down a few years ago. Our certified organic farm is located in central Portugal, in a very rural region rich in history and traditions, near a charming little village once inhabited by the Romans. We built our own passive solar house using wood and straw, which keeps us cool in summer and cozy in winter. The land, nestled among olive groves and away from the village, borders a singing river. The peace and quiet is only occasionally interrupted by a distant tractor or the gentle bleating of passing sheep. The area is surrounded by wild trails, offering countless hours of hiking and nature walks. At night, the terrace reveals a breathtaking starry sky, with a clear view of the Milky Way and countless brilliant stars. In the early morning, you might be gently awakened by birdsong in the ash trees—our rooster lives far enough from the house not to disturb your sleep. In summer, a 5 mn walk trail leads you to a beautiful river and natural pool where you can swim in cool water! We have 8 ha in total, including 1 hectare of vineyard and 250 olive trees: we make our own grape juice and olive oil, and our diverse vegetable garden nourishes us quite year-round. We follow principles of permaculture and biodynamics. Our orchard provides delicious fruit: apples, pears, figs, cherries, peaches, raspberries, currants, chestnuts… Every year, we plant more and more trees. The guest room includes a double bed, a desk area, and the option of adding a small single mattress if needed. Guests have access to a spacious communal living room with a wood-burning stove, a large kitchen, and a bathroom with a shower. We often host volunteers, so meals tend to be hearty, warm, and full of good conversation!

Our farm is accessed via a 1-km dirt road, drivable with any regular car (except very low-slung sports cars). If you’re coming by public transport, it’s totally doable! There’s a bus station in Trancoso and a train station in Vila Franca das Naves, both just 15 minutes away. A taxi ride costs about €20. If no taxi is available, we can also arrange pickup (just message us in advance).

We are 2 hours from Porto and close to the Serra da Estrela National Park, Douro valley, several medieval villages, and the prehistoric site of Foz Côa. There are many natural rivers and swimming spots nearby. In summer, the area comes alive with village festivals and events — a great way to experience local culture and meet all kinds of Portuguese artists.

We provide organic, biodegradable soap and shampoo. Please avoid bringing standard cosmetic products, as our grey water is filtered through a plant-based system. Our toilets are composting dry toilets. During your stay, you’re welcome to take part in the farm’s daily activities: milking our goat Amarela, making cheese, gentle horse training based on trust, collecting eggs from our hens, harvesting from the vegetable garden, or gathering medicinal plants in our mandala garden. We also make preserves and herbal remedies. We’re both holistic therapists: Laetitia is a trained herbalist, educator, author of L'autre Pharmacie, and hypnotherapist. Yannick is a massage therapist, shiatsu practitioner, and reiki master. You’ll also meet our daughter, a lively student who loves cooking and chatting with our visitors. We love sharing our knowledge, our travel stories, and the reasons behind our lifestyle choices — all rooted in a deep respect for nature and biodiversity, food and energy autonomy, and alternative health practices. You can enhance your stay with delicious organic vegetarian meals made with farm-fresh ingredients, as well as wellness consultations in shiatsu, reiki, naturopathy, herbal medicine, and "Horse discovery" sessions. There’s no Wi-Fi and no TV in the room or communal areas — it’s a great chance for a digital detox! You can use your mobile data, or head to the village (3 minutes by car, 10 minutes on foot), where free public Wi-Fi is available. A local data SIM card costs around €10 if needed.

From mid-December to mid-February, it gets colder and we do not host guests during this period. Minimum stay: 1 night, maximum stay: 28 days No extra value for the electricity/water consumption Price per night : 37 EUR (up to 2 people). Extra mattress for a child: 10 EUR Extra cost for breakfast : 4 EUR / person Extra cost for lunch or dinner : 8 EUR / person Pets are not accepted, as we have plenty of free-range farm animals