loving awareness
the south portugal retreat
for queer women, trans and non-binary people
14th - 19th july 2026
the experience
Your return to the heart.
6 transformative days immersed in presence, self-enquiry and soul-rooted practices in a hidden valley in South Portugal. A sanctuary to slow down, soften and deepen your relationship to love- within yourself, with one another and with all things.
Yoga. Breathwork. Meditation. Mantra. Workshops. Ritual. Nourishing food. Spacious rest. All held within an intimate community of queer women, trans and non-binary folk (aka your new soul people).
Far from the noise, the rush and the busyness, we’ll gather in loving awareness of our bodies, our stories, our shadows and our light. We’ll move, breathe, feel, rest, share and be witnessed in the gentle bravery of being fully alive.
This is your moment to remember:
the tenderness of your heart,
the wisdom in your nervous system,
the beauty of meeting life with open hands.
To listen. To open. And to love more honestly.
We can’t wait to hold you here.
the location
Our private home for the week is nestled in a secluded valley in South Portugal, cradled by rolling hills, wild olive trees and wide open skies.
Wrapped in nature and stillness, this land invites you to pause, soften and return to yourself. Mornings arrive with gentle light across the valley. Evenings settle into birdsong and quiet star-filled skies.
Abundant with spaces to release, restore and reawaken: an open-air yoga shala, infra-red sauna, jacuzzi, saltwater pool and ice bath, meditation room and so much more.
Delicious meals lovingly prepared by our in house private chef, shared slowly under summer skies and golden light.
A place that invites your nervous system to exhale. Where slowing down becomes sacred. Where nature becomes both mirror and medicine.
this retreat is for you if…
You’re ready to go beneath the surface and allow real, embodied transformation to unfold
You want to deepen your spiritual practices, exploring yoga, mantra + breathwork more deeply in an intimate, inclusive setting with experienced teachers
You’re craving a community of LBTQIA+, spiritual, like-minded souls who truly see you + get you (bi babes with BFs/bi-curious huns/non-label folk, this of course includes you too!)
You want to unplug, slow down and reconnect with the simplicity and wildness of nature
You want to experience the beautiful lands of Portugal and everything it has to offer
You’re ready to be in an alcohol free environment filled with intention, depth and connection
You want to meet yourself, choose yourself and most importantly… love yourself
“Life altering”
— Natalie
“This community makes me feel like myself. What a gift that is!”
— Martina
“Thanks to PLU I now know that I am worthy of all the things my heart wants for me.”
— Abigail
“Heart-first queer community”
— Ace
what’s included
6 days, 5 nights at our beautiful private retreat centre in the secluded Portuguese countryside
Transfers to and from Faro airport (see travel info below)
Daily vegetarian brunches, snacks and dinners, locally sourced and soul-nourishing
Daily 1.5 hour morning yoga and meditation sessions with Natalia
Somatic Breathwork journeys with Calypso
Access to our private in house spa: saunas, cold plunge, jacuzzi + more
Workshops, devotional rituals, mantra singing and ceremonies
Sharing circles, beach visits and nature walks
what’s not included
Flights to and from Portugal
Taxis for explorations (beaches, towns etc.)
Optional treatments: Massages etc.
“A loving embrace of queer joy”
— Ace
“My life changed when I came on this retreat. It fast forwarded my journey of connecting to myself which is so much harder to navigate on your own than when you’re surrounded by people who get it. I’ve made life long best friends and couldn’t be more thankful that People Like Us exists.”
— Kathryn
a typical day
7:30-8:30: Silent reflection, teas + nature sit
8:30-10:00: Mantra, Meditation + Yoga with Natalia
10:30-11:30: Fresh local vegetarian brunch
11:30-3:30: Free time: pool chill, naps, chats + adventures
3:00-3:30: Afternoon snack
4:00-6:00: Somatic Breathwork with Calypso
6:30-8:30: Sunset dinner made by in house chefs
8:30-9:30: Stargazing + late night chats with new queer bffs
rooms, price, book
Twin: Big Lodge
Your spot in a shared twin room, housed within a spacious, luxury lodge with sweeping valley views- perfect for solo travellers or friends booking together. Peaceful open living space, shared bathroom and private lodge veranda, perfect for quiet mornings, sunset reflections and gentle unwinding. (Beds can also be made into doubles. There are three twin rooms in each big lodge).
EARLYBIRD: £1599 [£1799] ONLY 3 SPOTS LEFT
Save your spot with a £399 deposit.
Twin: Small Lodge
Your spot in a shared twin room within our smaller, luxury lodge overlooking the valley, perfect for solo travellers or friends booking together. With just two twin rooms, this space offers a quieter atmosphere, alongside a shared bathroom, open living area and private veranda for slow mornings and sunset wind-downs. (Beds can also be made into doubles)
EARLYBIRD: £1699 [£1899] SOLD OUT
Save your spot with a £399 deposit.
Twin: Villa
Your spot in a shared twin room within our nature wrapped villa, offering stunning valley views- ideal for two solo travellers or friends seeking extra privacy. This peaceful room shares a bathroom with just one other room, and comes with serene spaces to reflect and soak in the tranquillity of your surroundings. (Also able to be made into a Kind Bed for couples).
EARLYBIRD: £1899 [£2099] SOLD OUT
Save your spot with a £399 deposit.
King: Villa
Your shared spot in a king room within our secluded villa, with a plush king-sized bed and breathtaking valley views- perfect for couples seeking rest and connection. Sharing a bathroom with just one other room, this tranquil space provides a sanctuary within it all.
EARLYBIRD: £1899 [£2099] SOLD OUT
Save your spot with a £399 deposit.
Please note, deposits are non-refundable and contribute to the total amount of your booking. You then have the option to pay your balance in full or via a payment plan. Payment plan: split the balance in 2. All final payments are due by 15/5/26. If a slightly different payment plan is required, please drop us an email hello@peoplelikeusretreats.com and we will see if we can accommodate. Klarna and PayPal are also available at checkout. We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking to cover any potential cancellations.
“An amazing, caring community that creates a safe space for queer people to come together to be held and discover more about themselves than they ever felt possible.”
— Sarah
“What I love most about People Like Us is how Calypso and Natalia show love, care, warmth, compassion, authenticity and vulnerability in a way that is entirely infectious, and how everyone in their presence is able to do the same. It’s something I’ve never experienced, and has led to the deepest, most beautiful connections that I will treasure for the rest of my life.”
— Natalie
our part-scholarship
As per all of our previous international retreats, we’re offering one part-scholarship place (25% off) for this retreat, created for someone who would deeply benefit from joining us but would otherwise be unable to financially access this experience.
We especially encourage queer people of colour and trans people to apply.
This spot is in a shared room (with 1 other) in a Big Lodge and is intended for those for whom attending at full price truly isn’t an option right now. If you’re able to make the full price work with a payment plan, this scholarship isn’t for you. But if this retreat is out of your financial reach at present, but you know it is calling you deeply- we invite you to apply.
We trust you to honour the spirit of this offering.
Please only apply if you’re confident you can cover the part-scholarship price of £1199 (total), including the £399 deposit due upon confirmation of your place. A payment plan for the remaining balance is available. Flights are not included.
To apply:
1. Please complete this part-scholarship application form
2. Complete the retreat booking form below ensuring you have checked the scholarship box.
Your application is not complete unless both of these forms are complete and submitted. Please ensure your name and email address match on both forms. The application deadline is Sunday 22nd February 2026. We will be in contact with the successful applicant no later than Friday 27th February 2026.
travel
We want your journey to our slice or Portuguese paradise to be as smooth and simple as possible, so here’s everything you need to know:
outbound
If you are planning to arrive in Portugal the day of the retreat, we recommend you fly to Faro airport and land no later than 1pm.
We’ll be arranging a complimentary group transfer from Faro Airport to the retreat venue at around 3pm. The journey from the airport to the villa takes around 1 hour, and arrivals will be from 4pm.
If you’d like to take this transfer, please book a flight scheduled to arrive no later than 1pm on July 14th. If you arrive earlier or are already in Portugal, you’re welcome to hang out at the airport and join the transfer. If you’d prefer to make your own way to the retreat venue, arrivals are from 4pm.
return
Checkout will be at 10:30am. If you are planning to fly home directly from the retreat, we recommend you book a flight no earlier than 2pm. We’ll be arranging a group transfer from the villa to Faro Airport at 10:30am.
If you’d like to join the complimentary transfer but your flight is later in the day, you’re welcome to hang out at the airport or spend a few hours exploring Faro before departure. And if you’re extending your trip in Portugal, you will need to organise your own onward travel for checkout (ubers are available).
visa + passports
It’s your responsibility to check Portugal’s entry requirements based on your nationality.
If you have a UK or non-EU passport, please ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your date of arrival.
about people like us
People Like Us retreats are elevated, heart-led journeys for queer women, trans and non-binary people to pause the noise, land back in their bodies and reconnect with spirit and community.
Held in stunning, nature-rich locations, our boutique retreats take you on a journey of introspection, offering space to slow down, breathe deep and be immersed in queer connection. You’ll move through yoga, somatic breathwork, sound healing, coaching workshops, cacao ceremonies and tender conversations under the stars.
Founded by wives Calypso and Natalia, People Like Us was born from a craving: for beautiful, intentional spaces where we could gather outside of party culture, move, rest, reflect and feel held by our community. What started as a one-off event in 2023 quickly became something bigger, because it turns out, a lot of us were longing for the same thing.
Today, People Like Us is a curated home for transformational retreats, somatic experiences and community rituals rooted in devotion, tenderness, spirituality and radical joy. Our spaces centre on safety, belonging and authenticity, welcoming anyone who feels called, whether you’re secure and confident in your queer identity, still exploring your sexuality, bi-curious with a boyfriend or don’t vibe with labels at all.
For the seekers, the softies, the edge-walkers and joy-hunters. For people like us.
meet your hosts
Calypso Barnum-Spano (she/they)
Leadership Coach, Somatic Breathwork Practitioner, Speaker + Writer.
Calypso is a certified Trauma Informed Coach, Somatic Breathwork Practitioner and authentic living guide who helps humans break free from the stories that limit them and come home to their full selves.
Featured in Stylist, Gay Times, and Glastonbury Festival, Calypso is known for creating heart-led, transformational spaces both in intimate coaching containers and on global stages.
With a background in public speaking, 1:1 and group coaching, somatic facilitation and holding conscious community spaces, Calypso sees gold in the places you once called broken and offers practical, spiritual, embodied tools to help you reclaim them.
Natalia Barnum-Spano (she/her)
Yoga + Somatic Movement Teacher, Dancer, Sound Healer, Reiki Practitioner
Natalia is a 425hr certified Yoga Teacher, Somatic Movement Facilitator, Dancer, Sound Healer and Reiki Practitioner whose work is devoted to helping people reconnect with their bodies, hearts and creative expression.
Having trained in somatic and elemental practices across Bali, India and the UK, Natalia fuses ancient tradition with contemporary movement, holding spaces that are fluid, embodied and soul-led. Her style invites students to drop beneath the surface, move intuitively and honour the sacred wisdom of their bodies.
Natalia also owns and runs a dance studio, regularly teaches across London and internationally and leads for conscious communities and brands.
retreat booking form
Fill out the below and we will be in touch shortly with a link to pay your £399 deposit, secure your booking and join the People Like Us Portugal crew!
First come, first serve. Please note, deposits are non-refundable.
Please note, deposits are non-refundable and contribute to the total amount of your booking. You then have the option to pay your balance in full or via a payment plan. Payment plan: split the balance in 2. All final payments are due by 15/5/26. If a slightly different payment plan is required, please drop us an email hello@peoplelikeusretreats.com and we will see if we can accommodate. Klarna and PayPal are also available at checkout. We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking to cover any potential cancellations.
“Humanity at it’s best”
— Vitti
“The friends and community I have made has been life changing. Not to mention the advancements I've made within myself! Love Calypso and Natalia and the space they've created and the emotions and feelings they've guided me through. Thank you so so so much!”
— Clare