2019 - YOGA RETREAT

Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro

WHERE

ALDEIA DE VILAS BOAS

The retreat take place in two houses, that sleep 14 people, located in Aldeia de Vilas Boas, Concelho de , inserted in Parque Natural Regional do Vale do Tua, in the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro region. The main house, Estamancas, is located above the village on the descent from the N. S. da Assunção hill. The second house, Azinheira, is located 5 minutes by car and 15 minutes by foot from Estamancas. HOW TO GET THERE

CAR

With the completion of the A4 highway and the IC5, the access is quick and with reduced costs. Taking the Porto’s Airport as a starting point, Vilas Boas is 167 km and approximately 1h45 of travel. The Michelin Guide estimates a total cost of 23 euros.

Indications: From Porto, take the A4 towards Amarante / Vila Real / Bragança. Follow the exit n. 27 towards IC5 in direction of Alijó / . After 42Km, exit the IC5 towards Vila Flor. At the 1st roundabout, take the 1st exit. Then, at the 2nd roundabout take the 3rd exit towards Vila Flor Poente. After 500m, at the 3rd roundabout, take the 2nd exit. Proceed for 850m, and at the roundabout take the 3rd exit. After 1km, at the roundabout take the 1st exit to , road N214. After 500m, turn left towards Mirandela. Continue for 600m and turn left towards Vilas Boas, Sanctuary of N. S. Assunção. Follow about 3km, and after the sign indicating Vilas Boas, on the descent from the hill to the village, you will see a house in the middle of the hill. Turn right next to the white house on the side of the road.

GPS Coordinates: 41°20'44.5"N 7°11'07.6"W

BUS

There are daily bus trips between Porto and Vila Flor with the cost of 14 euros. Schedule

Monday to Friday (except holidays): Porto - Vila Flor Departure: 13:00 | Arrival: 15:45 Departure: 18:00 | Arrival: 20:45 Stations: Rodonorte - R. Ateneu Comercial do Porto, 19 (metro stations: Bolhão, São Bento, Aliados); or Hospital de São João - R. Dr. Roberto Frias

Direction Vila Flor - Porto Departure: 06:15 | Arrival: 09:00 Departure: 14:15 | Check-in: 17:15

Schedule on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: Direction Porto - Vila Flor Departure: 14:30 | Arrival: 17:10 Stations: Rodonorte - R. Ateneu Comercial do Porto, 19 (metro stations: Bolhão, São Bento, Aliados); or Hospital de São João - R. Dr. Roberto Frias

Direction Vila Flor - Porto Departure: 08:40 | Arrival: 11:20 Departure: 17:15 |Arrival: 20:15

Confirm the schedule with the company.

Company: Rodonorte Website: http://www.rodonorte.pt/en/ Telephone: + 351 259 340 710

TRAIN

The beautiful Porto - São Bento railway station is the starting point of the train line connecting Porto to Pocinho. The trip takes about 3 and half hours and has stunning scenery over the Douro. Some of the trains only start and end their trip at Porto - Campanhã station.

Weekdays, Sundays and holidays there is a metro between Porto Airport and Campanhã and São Bento railway stations every 30 minutes and the metro journey takes approximately 40/45 minutes.

Schedules can be found at: www.cp.pt.

However, we refer this one:

Porto - Pocinho Porto - Campanhã (metro station Campanhã) Departure: 13:14 Arrival at Pocinho: 16:35 Price: € 13,35

Between the train station of Pocinho and Vilas Boas, it is about 40 km / 35 minutes by taxi.

Pocinho - Porto Departure: 15:08 Arrival in Porto - Campanhã: 18:34

B E T W E E N C L A SSES

BOAT TOURS

From Foz do Sabor, 35 km from Vilas Boas, 30 minutes by car, it is possible to organize boat trips on the Douro River with a duration of 4 hours.

Contacts for information and reservations: http://www.sabordouro.com http://loja.douro.biz/

HIKING

The Route Network of the Regional Natural Park of Vale do Tua covers the five municipalities that integrate this protected area: Mirandela, Vila Flor, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Alijó and Murça. It is noteworthy that these Pedestrian Paths are approved by the Federation of Camping and Mountaineering of Portugal (FCMP).

Routes: http://parque.valetua.pt/percursos/

RIVER BEACHES

Closer to Vilas Boas, a 16 minutes drive away is the river beach.

A little further, at 48km, is the beach of Albufeira do Azibo.

PARQUE ARQUEOLÓGICO DE FOZ CÔA

As an immense open-air gallery, the Côa Valley features more than a thousand outcrops with rock art, identified in over 80 different sites, predominantly from the Upper Paleolithic, some 25,000 years ago.

Archaeological Park of the Côa Valley is located 50km from Vilas Boas.

Visits must be booked.

Information and reservations: https://arte-coa.pt/en/

TORRE DE MONCORVO

Torre de Moncorvo, is a beautiful village belonging to the District of Bragança 35 minutes from Vilas Boas.

There are several museums to visit, namely the very interesting Museum of Sacred Art and Iron Museum.

Know more: http://www.cm-moncorvo.pt/what-visit

GASTRONOMY

If you are a vegetarian, Trás-os-Montes is not a region where you will find vegetarian restaurants. However, the gastronomy is very rich, and on request in the restaurants you will have many options.

Restaurants in Mirandela: O Grês A Adega Pizzaria Coliseu Maria Rita ( do Romeu) Restaurants in Torre de Moncorvo: Taberna do Carró Restaurants in Pocinho: Taberna da Julinha USEFUL INFORM A TION

TAXIS

Taxis Ramos Tel. 914936086 Tel. 278512166

Two vehicles with 9 seats and one with 5 seats. Vilas Boas - Vila Flor price: € 7,00 (5 places)

SITES http://parque.valetua.pt/en http://www.dourovalley.eu/