Questions
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Living off-grid means we take care of our own essentials here on the land. We generate our own electricity with solar power, pump fresh water from deep underground, and treat all wastewater on site.
You’ll have all the comfort you need — electricity, hot showers, a flush toilet, and a fully equipped kitchenette — while living a little closer to the rhythms of nature. But, because our resources are finite, especially in winter and during the dry summer months, we ask guests to use energy and water with care.
Living off-grid isn’t about giving things up; it’s about becoming more aware, slowing down, and discovering how little is actually needed to live well.
We welcome guests who wish to slow down and stay a while. Chão da Mina is ideal for longer stays (minimum 30 days) — to rest, to read, to create, or to reconnect.
Some guests work remotely, others take time to heal or simply be. Some people even use our house as a landing place for their own adventurous move to Portugal!
You’re welcome to help in the garden or join simple yoga or meditation sessions when offered by Inge. Everything is optional and follows the natural rhythm of the days.
LGBTQIA guests are very welcome.
The house is designed for two adults. It’s a quiet retreat made for rest, relaxation, and simplicity.
For safety reasons and to preserve the calm atmosphere of the land, we’re not able to host children or babies.
If you’re looking for a place to slow down together as a couple or as two friends, you’ll find everything you need here for a peaceful stay.
We’re nestled in the hills near São Miguel d’Acha, in Central Portugal. You’ll need a car to reach us — the road winds through olive groves and quiet fields. Once you arrive, everything slows down.
The nearest village, São Miguel d’Acha, is within walking distance — perfect for a morning coffee or a pastel de nata. For groceries and larger shops, you can drive to Castelo Branco or Idanha-a-Nova (about 15–25 minutes away). See the activities we mention here!
Many guests enjoy staying close to the land — walking the trails, reading under the olive trees, or visiting the local river beaches and small villages for a gentle day trip.
All water and electricity at Chão da Mina come directly from nature — from the deep well and the sun. Both are precious resources, so we ask guests to use them mindfully.
This gentle way of living keeps the land healthy and thriving — so every guest helps sustain the balance that makes this place feel so alive.
Yes, there’s Wi-Fi — so you can connect with the outside world if you want to 😉.
Most people find they use it less and less as the days go by. The quiet rhythm of life here invites you to look up from the screen, to listen, to notice.
Yes — well-behaved pets are welcome!
Please keep your dog on a leash at all times, for the safety of our animals and the peace of the land. Pet owners are also kindly asked to clean up after their animals and bring their own bed or blanket.
There are beautiful walks starting right from the doorstep 😉
Utilities such as water and electricity are included in your stay — we only ask that you use them with care, since everything here comes directly from the land. There’s no washing machine for guest use, but there’s a lavandaria self-service (laundry) nearby, where you can easily wash clothes.
We trust guests to treat the house and the land with the same respect and gentleness they find here.
You’re welcome to wander the property, pick a few figs or herbs, and enjoy the space in a spirit of simplicity and care.
Chão da Mina is part of a small quinta, a traditional Portuguese smallholding. We live on the land as well, together with our animals — and sometimes a friend or helper who joins for a while.
Life here moves with the rhythm of nature: a rooster may greet the morning before you do, and you’ll share the land with birds, geckos, and sometimes a sunbathing snake. The countryside is not silent, but full of a quieter kind of music.
Simplicity here isn’t a compromise — it’s part of the experience, a gentle way of remembering what truly sustains you.
Please ask away
Here were some answers to the most common questions about life at Chão da Mina — from the practical to the poetic. If you have other questions: please feel free to ask.