About us

Organic Farming & Ecotourism

Peneda ecofarm, located on the fringes of the Peneda – Gerês National Park is dedicated to organic farming, integrating permaculture concepts.

We offer B&B accommodation, with the option of meals at the farm. We organize Culture & Nature activities with local partners, boosting nature tourism and discovering the region in various geographical points in the North of Portugal and Galicia. We follow UNWTO guidelines for sustainable tourism (ST) and we are Biosphere ST certified. Join us for a time reconnecting with yourself and nature.

Organic farming

We are inspired by the principles of agroecology and permaculture, seeking an holistic and integrated understanding of man and the living systems.

Sustainable tourism & soft mobility

We follow UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) guidelines for sustainable tourism. We promote climate and people friendly mobility, such as walking, cycling and kayaking. We are a bike friendly accommodation.

Meals at the farm

We are very passionate about healthy food! In our fresh, farm-to-table kitchen, we lovingly create gourmet, colourful nutrient-rich meals.

Our vision

Peneda ecofarm is born out of positive feelings, a sense of mission, a desire to contribute to a more balanced world at the ecological and human level.

Culture & Nature Experiences

We were born near the sea, and we fell in love with the mountains… An extraordinary world of colours, landscapes, people, music and food waits for you.

Region

From the mountains to the coastal beaches, this is a territory of steep slopes, covered with leafy vegetation, rivers and natural parks. The entire region is still full of elements of cultural and symbolic importance, from the built heritage, to music, folklore and gastronomy. Beautiful region, incredible people.

Who we are

We are a couple, Pedro and Elisabete, with two young daughters. We lived and worked in Porto most of our lives. One day, we left the city, our jobs, sold the house and came to the countryside. We bought an abandoned farm and since 2017 we have been working to fulfill our vision: to create a multifunctional space and rehearse new ways of being and doing towards a more balanced, healthy, tolerant and happy model of life, at the ecological and human level.

Team

Elisabete Alves

I feel deeply grateful and passionate about life. I am fascinated by nature and people, I love to investigate and learn about agroecology, permaculture, healthy food and the evolution of consciousness. I try to accept the challenges that life poses to me, I try to learn and evolve. I value simplicity, humility, tolerance and sharing.
For more than 20 years, in my previous life in the city, I have been curating cultural activities and organizing environmental education projects, and that is why I am so excited about developing the retreats & experiences programme. It is something I love to do and I find it an incredible opportunity to meet new people, making the region known – with its incredible lansdcape, culture and gastronomy-, share learning and celebrate life!

Pedro Almeida

I am very curious, I love surprises, nature, moving and traveling. I worked for several years as an international consultant for several companies, mainly in information systems management. I always liked to integrate new projects and work as part of a team.
Since I was a child I practice sport. Over the last 15 years I have been dedicated to hiking, climbing, mountain biking and kayaking. I love to discover new trails, and I have been designing very special routes for the retreat & experience program, to be done on foot, by bike and / or kayak. Between the mountains, the rivers and the sea, we have incredible natural landscapes waiting for us!

Partnerships

Peneda Ecofarm works closely with several companies in the region. These are projects and people in whom we recognize common values and with whom we are delighted to work.

Anima Botânica

My name is Maria Mota, I am a biologist, I have a master's degree in Organic Agriculture and I have a background in Ayurvedic Phytotherapy. I lived for 5 years in the south of France, where I started to discover aromatic herbs and where I worked in a rural women's association, where we harvested, dried and distilled wild herbs. Currently I am dedicated to the organic production and transformation of aromatic plants and Training. I love to share everything I know about these plants and their different uses!

Biodiversus

We are a young and innovative company, dedicated to the production, distribution and commercialization of organic fruit and vegetables. Our premise is the production of quality food, where ancestral flavors, aromas and freshness prevail. We assume food security, the preservation of the environment and biodiversity, as essential commitments to our activity.

North Land - Mountain Experiences

North Land is a tourist entertainment company located in Arcos de Valdevez. Hiking beautiful trails, enjoying slow water rivers and dams kayaking or discovering Peneda-Gerês National Park on a jeep tour are some of the activities you can book with us. Embrace adventure or discover nature with tranquility with our fabulous local guides.

Tobogã - Portugal Adventure Tours

Tobogã - Portugal Adventure Tours is a touristic company, with 15 years in the market, specialized in Canyoning, Cycling (e-MTB) and SUP tours. We work mainly in Alto Minho region and National Park Peneda-Geres. Here we can find the best natural conditions for Outdoor Active Activities such as Canyoning, Walking & Cycling, SUP and many other nature activities.

Certificates

Peneda-Gerês National Park

It was the first protected area created in Portugal, being the only one with the status of National Park, recognized internationally with the same classification since its creation by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) , due to the richness of its natural and cultural heritage, being one of the last strongholds of the country where ecosystems are in their natural state, with little or no human influence, integrated in a humanized landscape. Peneda ecofarm is situated on the Park’s geographical area of influence, to which it even dedicates its name due to the enormous importance it attaches to its existence.

Gerês-Xurés transboundary biosphere reserve

It was declared by UNESCO on May 27th 2009 and is located in the Autonomous Community of Galicia (Spain) and in the Northern Region of Portugal.
It includes the territories of the Peneda-Gerês National Park and the Baixa Limia-Serra do Xurês Natural Park and counties on both sides of the border.

Nature tourism

Recognition granted by the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests I.P. (ICNF) to companies that develop activities in classified areas or areas with natural values of the National System of Classified Areas (SNAC). Peneda ecofarm has this recognition.

Organic farming

Modern organic farming was developed as a response to the environmental harm caused by the use of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers in conventional agriculture, and it has numerous ecological benefits. Peneda ecofarm is organic certified.

Clean & Safe Stamp

Being a Clean&Safe Stamp compliant means committing to comply with health safety recommendations issued by the National Tourism Authority according to National Health Authority guidelines.

Biosphere sustainable tourism

The Biosphere certification implies that companies make an integral measurement of their contribution to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations and the Paris Agreement against Climate Change through the guidelines indicated in the World Tourism Charter Sustainable +20.

Peneda ecofarm is a Biosphere certified company.