• 6 nights accommodations 
• 3 meals per day (excluding alcoholic beverages) starting with dinner on the first night and ending with breakfast on the last day
• Group Ground Transportation to/from Faro Airport to Retreat Center
• Daily yoga practices
• Personal retreat time (having time to nap, explore, walk, read, and just be)

Accommodations

Located in Lagos on the Algarve coast, this unique family-run boutique hotel has breath-taking panoramic ocean views and is the oldest operating property in the area. Allow yourself to unwind in our comfortable hotel that combines traditional charm and modern luxury, nestled amongst idyllic surroundings. 

Sink into one of our beautifully decorated rooms, each named after one of the gorgeous local beaches. This is a place that soothes the soul and rejuvenates the spirit, making you feel at home instantly. From our lovingly-tended Italian garden to the outdoor yoga shala overlooking rolling hills, each space offers the opportunity to appreciate the tranquility of Southern Portugal. It is a calm oasis in a busy world. Buffet brunch and afternoon tea with cake are served daily along with local fare including fresh baked bread, eggs, and wine. 

Christa Mastrangelo Joyce is E-RYT500 hour certified through Kim Manfredi. She holds more than 1000 additional hours of training through her studies with Sianna Sherman, Bernie Clark, Maria Garre, Shiva Rea, Desiree Rumbaugh, Tiffany Cruikshank, and Andrew McCaulay. Christa founded Jala Yoga in 2009. She has offered yoga training since 2012 and has led multiple yoga retreats. Christa has a wide and diverse yoga background, including training in Ashtanga, Hatha, Ayruveda, Yin Yoga and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has a strong understanding of anatomy, especially regarding the nervous system, and incorporates her knowledge of breath work, meditation, and Yoga philosophy in her teachings. She brings her love of story and mythology to the practice. Christa strives to honor the ancient tradition of the practice within a modern context of the world today. She is especially interested in understanding the barriers to accessibility in the yoga practice, and she works to create classes that support adaptability, curiosity, and engagement. 

Jen Rolston was drawn to yoga in 2005 in a culmination of a life-long curiosity of religions and philosophies. She attended the first yoga studio in Shepherdstown, falling in love with yoga philosophy, meditation, and the asanas as taught by Shanti Saagar founders Judy Jenner & JiJi Beckett. She has maintained a self-practice ever since, and began a consistent practice with Christa Mastrangelo Joyce in 2010. In 2018, she completed Jala Yoga’s 200HR Teacher Training with Christa Mastrangelo Joyce and has been teaching her Morning Dharma classes ever since. She continues to practice with the teachings of Yogrishi Vishvketu, Jack Kornfield, Ram Dass, and Buddhist dharma. She truly believes that yoga, meditation, and connecting with nature is the simplest path to a joyful life — not always the easiest, but definitely the simplest.

Testimonials

“Christa Mastrangelo Joyce’s yoga retreat with Jen on the island of Amorgos in Greece (September 2022) was absolutely divine.  Their beautiful teaching style, stories, humor, and pearls of wisdom provided a wonderful experience on a gorgeous island. Their teaching  allowed for all different yoga levels and experiences, and each class was an absolutely beautiful experience.  Although I’ve been practicing yoga for more than ten years, I greatly enjoyed learning new poses and flows and methods to improve my practice. Their style is a wonderful mix of contemplative, rigorous, meditative and overall feels just wonderful for the body, mind and spirit.

Many of the participants knew each other already, but they were all exceptionally welcoming to newcomers so the group felt very integrated.  Christa and Jen were very attentive to all the participants’ needs and super fun on island excursions too.  I highly recommend signing up for their retreats.”  – Naomi P.

“In October 2022, I had the great pleasure of attending the Greece Yoga Retreat for Christa’s retreat she led with Jen.  It was my first solo international trip.  This was exciting, but also a bit unnerving.  I had no reason to worry though.  Within moments of my arrival, Christa and Jen welcomed me with true warmth and friendship, as did the entire group.

The location and facility that Christa chose for our retreat was perfect.  The island was beautiful and offered opportunities for enjoying the wonders of nature, history, and amazing adventures.  The resort was family run, the staff was hard working and extremely accommodating.  They offered a great mix of excursions, ensuring that our group always had options for new experiences.

One of the best parts though was the Yoga practice itself.  Christa and Jen put much thought and time into the intentions and practices.  They were moving, relevant, and soul-soothing.  Exactly what I was looking for when I signed up for this adventure.  They helped me find the peace and joy that I was looking for.  I have been grateful to continue with those feelings since our trip.  I have been even more grateful  to be able to call these amazing women my friends.  I look forward to traveling with them again in the future – hopefully often!” -Lee Anne W.

The Algarve is the southernmost region of Portugal, famous for being blessed with nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine each year. With cool Atlantic waters and an eastern mountain border blocking out hot, dry winds from the north, growing conditions for fresh, flavorful fruits, vegetables, and herbs are excellent. Lagos is known for its wide and endless beaches, Mediterranean climate, safety, and fresh seafood cuisine.

While on your retreat you will also have the opportunity to take part in adventure activities and wonderful excursions. Some of the possible options include:

• Explore the pristine beaches peppered along the coast
• Bike along the cobbled streets of Lagos or down to a local beach
• Surfing
• Scuba diving
• Golfing
• Fishing
• Horseback riding
• And more!

*Price of some Activities are not included in tuition unless free or listed under inclusions.

Please be sure to review Our Policies.

Registration

Click Here to Register Now! 

Paying an initial non-refundable deposit of $350 and $35 Payment Processing Fee (added to the tuition rate upon registration) will lock in your tuition rate and hold your space for the trip.

For technical questions or alternative payment options, please contact us.

Getting There 

You will be booking your flights for the Faro International Airport (FAO). Before booking tickets, please be sure you have received your official confirmation note that the retreat has met its minimums. There will be one group airport shuttle each way based on our flight window guidelines. Be sure your flights align with the provided flight windows if you wish to use the group shuttle. The drive time to the center is approximately 1 hour. 

Travel Insurance

We cannot emphasize more the importance of travel insurance. As we all know, especially as travelers, “life happens.” Whether it’s family, work, mother nature, or a change of heart, it is important to be prepared in case you need to unexpectedly change your travel plans. Often for less than $150, you can purchase a travel insurance policy and be protected in the event that you need to make a change or need to be covered financially prior to or during your trip. 

We have partnered with two insurance companies: Trawick International and CSA Travel Insurance (available for U.S. Residents only). 

Read more about our insurance partners and their policies here. We encourage you to research the insurance company and policy that best meets your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do you have questions about traveling abroad? After you register, we will provide you with a Participant’s Package with helpful information. Also, be sure to check out our Participant FAQs. If you have other questions, feel free to write to us at info@truenaturetravels.com and let us know how we can help!

Save $200 on full-price (shared only) of $3495 USD Sept. 15, 2024! 

Shared Accommodations – $3295 USD (Full Price $3495)

Single Accommodations – $3995 USD

Paying an initial non-refundable deposit of $350 and $35 Payment Processing Fee (added to the tuition rate upon registration) will lock in your tuition rate and hold your space for the trip.

If you select Deposit Payment, depending on when you registered, your remaining balance will be split into 1-3 payments, depending on when you register, and processed with your credit card on file on the dates indicated on your Confirmation Letter.

**Additional payments can be made at any time through your account up to the final auto payment date.

Follow this link to review our payment schedule policies.

For technical questions or alternative payment options, please contact us.

Cancellation

• Initial deposits and the $35 registration fee are non-refundable and non-transferable.
• 50% of payments are refundable up to 90 days before a retreat excluding the initial deposit and the $35 registration fee.
• 89 days prior to a retreat, tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Full tuition is refunded* if the trip is canceled due to low enrollment. The $35 registration fee is not refundable.
• True Nature Travels is not responsible for any loss incurred due to currency conversion rates.

*Refundable amounts do not include applied credits.

If you wish to cancel your spot on a trip you must submit your cancellation by email to info@truenaturetravels.com.