We believe that a nourishing meal and a delicious feast don’t need to be exclusive of one another. Our food is local, with most of our produce coming from our property and nearby farms. From a sustainability standpoint, we choose not to serve red meat. While we are mostly a plant-forward kitchen, we do serve eggs from our chickens and local cheeses. On two evenings we’ll be serving grilled fish at dinner.

We offer low-intervention Portuguese wine for sale for €22 / bottle. We also offer bottles of Portuguese beer, and some great non-alcoholic options. Outside alcohol is not permitted at Cocoon.  

Our chefs are happy to accommodate food allergies + food intolerances. Please tell your retreat leader your food allergies, and they will communicate with our team in advance of your arrival. Meals are served buffet-style from a communal table. Those with Celiac should note that Cocoon is not an entirely gluten-free facility. Our kitchen handles bread and flour on a daily basis which leads to a risk for cross-contamination. We are, however, gluten-aware, and our staff are trained to handle your food safely while you're here.  

We ask that guests kindly clear their own plates and stack them when they are finished. 

clothing to move in + clothing to relax in

swimming stuff
The beach is only 10 minutes drive away! Cocoon provides one beach towel per person, per week. We don't change the beach towels, guests have the same beach towel for their entire stay. We also sell Cocoon Turkish towels in our shop.  Cocoon provides beach umbrellas for use during your stay. 

appropriate footwear
Remember this is a farm! There are animals like chickens and peacocks running around, and these animals poop! We suggest you bring something that you don’t mind getting dirty, to stomp around the property.  

mosquito repellant + sun protection

electric adapters
Two round pins, at 230 volts and 50hz frequency.  The Portuguese wall plug has two round pins. 

digestive enzymes + probiotics
Many people, including experienced travellers, notice that after a long flight and the excitement ahead, it takes a few days for their body processes to return to normal. Digestive enzymes + probiotics can help keep you normal.

leave your mat at home: we have all the props  you would expect from a modern studio. All rooms are stocked with body wash, shampoo, and hair dryers. 

Our team provides fresh towels once during your stay, midweek.

We offer laundry service at Cocoon. The rate is €1 per item and will be added to your bill to pay at the end of your stay.

In May, Zambujeira do Mar experiences pleasant, mild-to-warm weather, making it an excellent time to visit before the peak summer heat and crowds. You can expect comfortable, sunny days with relatively low, though possible, chances of rain.

Temperature

• Average Highs: Around 21°C - 23°C (70°F - 74°F).

• Average Lows: Around 13°C - 15°C (55°F - 59°F).

• Daily Feel: The weather is generally warm during the day but cools down in the evenings, necessitating a light jacket or sweater.

Rain and Sun

• Rainfall: Rainfall is relatively low in May, with an average of about 1.12 to 1.5 inches for the month. Rain, if it occurs, is usually in the form of brief, light showers.

• Sunshine: There are ample sunny days, with daily sunshine hours increasing as the month progresses towards summer.

• Humidity: The average humidity is around 68-70%.

Wind and Sea

• Wind: The area can be breezy, with average wind speeds around 17 mph (approx. 27 km/h).

• Sea Temp: The Atlantic Ocean remains refreshing, with sea temperatures generally ranging around 17°C-18°C (63°F-64°F).

Before or after your retreat, or for an extra bite out.

Try out Cafe Palhinhas for lunch. It’s our friend’s place, about a 20 minutes drive from Cocoon, located right on the cliff of Azenha Do Mar, a small fishing village. Other options: on the nearby beach town of Vila Nova de Milfontes, a 15 minute drive from Cocoon, are two great restaurants: A Choupana is right on the beach, and is simple. It’s perfect for a leisurely lunch of grilled sardines. A bit more upscale is Tasca do Celso, great for dinner. Reservations recommended for both. We’re happy to arrange for you. Another one of our favorites restaurants in the area, perched above a fishing enclave, is our friend’s place, A Barca Tranquitanas.

Cocoon is not the place to come if you are looking for a strong wifi experience. Our common area has wifi, the rooms do not. Please keep in mind we are in the countryside. This is a great opportunity to leave your phone in your room, and enjoy nature, a conversation, or a lovely book.

We know some wonderful massage therapists ~ you can schedule these during your stay, no need to plan them in advance. €75 / hour, cash only, pay directly to the therapist.

We have our own spring at Cocoon. This spring water is always available from our farm table. The spring water is delicious, and is tested regularly at a PH 7+. The water that comes out of the faucet at Cocoon is municipal water. You can drink the water from your own sink, it just doesn’t taste great.

We’re a two-hour drive south from Lisbon. The nearest town to us is Vila Nova de Milfontes, which is 15 min drive away. Our address is: Estrada Nacional 393, km 14.2.  7630-063, Portugal.

Please note there is also a “Cocoon Eco Lodges” that is also in Portugal - that’s not us! We are on Google Maps as “Cocoon Portugal.”  or click this link.

You can fly into either Lisbon or Faro.  Most guests choose to fly into Lisbon, and stay a couple nights on either end of the trip to enjoy Portugal’s charming capital. From Lisbon, Cocoon is a two-hour drive south. From Faro, we’re a two-hour drive north. 

Portugal is part of the 26 Schengen countries. So if you belong to any of the other 25 Schengen countries, you can visit Portugal at any time without needing any paperwork. 

Starting in 2026, visa-free travellers, including U.S. Citizens, will need to request ETIAS authorization before visiting the Schengen area. They can complete an application and pay a service fee of €7 online. The application takes under ten minutes. The authorization is valid for three years. Please note this is an authorization, not a visa. U.S. citizens can still travel to Portugal for up to 90 days, no visa is necessary. However, you will need a valid U.S. passport for at least 3 months from the date of planned return or other travel document recognized by member States of the Schengen Agreement. For all other nationalities, please check for current visa formalities for your respective country.

Plan on arriving anytime after 3pm on your arrival day. Please do not arrive before then, as we will not be ready to welcome you. If you arrive in the area early, we suggest you have a nice lunch nearby in the town of Vila Nova de Milfontes at A Choupana or Oasis, and then head to Cocoon after lunch, as dinner will be the first meal served. A more decadent option, if you want to detour slightly, is to stop at Comporta Cafe or Sublime Comporta Beach Club for a fabulous beachside lunch. Make a reservation, go for a swim (they have showers) and then drive the rest of the way to Cocoon later. 

Check out is 10am. Late check out is not available. The last meal served on your last day is breakfast.  Any extras like alcohol or purchases, can be paid to our manager in cash or with a credit card the night before departure. 

For minor cases, we suggest the 24 hour clinic in Odemira. It’s a ten-minute drive from Cocoon. The next largest clinic after that is in Sines: Unidade Local de Saúde do Litoral Alentejano.  There are also excellent private & public hospitals in Lisbon. For emergencies, dial 112.

The staff at Cocoon are wonderful, as you will soon get to see & experience firsthand! We suggest each guest leaves a tip for the staff of €40 upon final departure from the retreat centre.  Please do not leave the tip in your room, rather, please give it to your trip leader and our manager will make sure that they’re divided among all our staff, including the cleaning team, volunteers, chefs, etc.