How to Prepare for an Off-Grid Retreat
- Helen C
- Apr 21
- 5 min read
It would be reasonable to think that going off-grid would increase the complexities of daily life, but things can actually get a lot simpler. When you come stay with us in Central Portugal for an off-grid retreat, you’ll be taken care of from the moment you arrive.
Whether you’ll be here for a week-long yoga retreat, four days of plant medicine, or our three week yoga teacher training, we’ll look after you like family. Hannah, our beloved retreat chef, will keep your body nourished throughout your stay with food from our seasonal garden, you’ll sleep soundly each night in one of Rory’s beautiful, timber framed creations, and you’ll be guided each day by one of our many talented and passionate retreat hosts to further develop your personal practice.
At Cara Creek, we take care of everything we can so that you can focus resting in nature, among the trees that provide our shade and the river that provides respite from the heat of summer. We’re just a few hours from the bustling cities of Lisbon and Porto, but if you thought you’d stepped into a world entirely new, we wouldn’t blame you.
From the moment you rise at Cara Creek, you’re attuned to nature’s rhythms in a way that we often struggle to maintain in our urban lives. Here, instead of waking up to email notifications and the latest news of the world, you’ll wake up to dappled sunshine dancing across your room and the morning’s chorus of birds that call the valley home.
You’ll fall asleep not to road traffic, but to leaves rustling in the evening breeze and the sound of the river rushing by, under a sky so untouched by city lights that constellations shine in a sky bright with stars.
When you visit our little valley in Central Portugal, your only job is to clear space to let the magic of this place in. While getting ready to stay with us, there are a couple things to think about and a couple things to be sure to bring (and almost an equal number to leave behind!).
Here’s what we’ve learned over the past five years of hosting off-grid retreats at Cara Creek:
Spiritual Prep
We find that those who approach the restorative, off-grid retreats at Cara Creek with clear intentions tend to feel the most rewarded by the end of their time with us. The following questions are a good starting point to begin contemplating what you want to gain from a retreat with us.
What will connect me more deeply to myself during my stay?
What will I choose to connect with outside of myself - the surrounding nature, the elements, other like-minded retreat participants?
What will I disconnect from - my devices, my to-do list, expectations?
During your time here, we strongly encourage you to put away the devices that connect you to the outside world. Getting away from it all is, after all, why you’re here! While there are a few designated spaces with high-speed internet at Cara Creek, most of our communal spaces are device free, allowing you to connect with your fellow guests in a deeper, more authentic way.
Material Prep
A lot of pre-trip anxiety can stem from the fear of not being prepared, of leaving that thing behind that you realize would have been perfect once you’re there. As with much of what we do at Cara Creek though, we encourage subtraction and simplification when packing for a retreat with us. Here are a few thoughts to get you started:
Only bring what you need and wear what you’ll be most comfortable in.
Bring a water bottle to fill with fresh spring water from the land.
If you need to keep your devices charged, a battery pack to charge during the day and keep in your tent at night may prove useful.
In the valleys of Central Portugal, the nights can turn cool even in the height of summer. It’s often nice to have a cozy layer during these welcomed respites from the days’ heat. The cooler nights make for the most comfortable nights’ sleep!
We’ll provide eco-friendly shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. You’re of course welcome to bring your own products, but we ask that everything used in the showers is kind to the land; either biodegradable, or containing a short ingredient list.
A journal can be a welcome and useful addition to your experience. Putting pen to paper can help you hold onto the ideas and feelings, big or small, that surface during your time with us.
We have some art supplies you are welcome to, but some guests choose to bring additional supplies and are inspired to get creative in their free time.
Plant Medicine Retreats
A plant medicine retreat can be a profound, confronting experience. Before you begin the journey, someone will have reached out to discuss any health conditions or anything else that’ll ensure a smooth, safe experience on the retreat. There are a few things to consider when preparing for your time here that will encourage a meaningful experience:
Arrive with an open heart and as few expectations as possible. The less you bring into it, the more free you are to receive what you need from the experience.
Detoxifying your body and mind before the retreat is key. Eliminating any substances (even caffeine) leading up to the retreat is essential
Please keep us informed of any medications you are taking and health issues you are working with so we can ensure a safe experience.
Bring your journal! It’s always a great idea to have a way of reflecting on your experiences during these retreats, and the ability to come back to these reflections during the integration process
Leave your devices at home or prepare to be offline for the duration. Resist the temptation to access the wider world during these retreats especially to keep your mind focused and unclouded. It may be wise to give people a heads up that they won’t be hearing from you for a few days.
Be open to the healing that comes during such profound retreats.
Before and after a plant medicine retreat, we find it important to be extra mindful of what we ingest. We don’t just mean food, but also what we watch or listen to, and who we surround ourselves with. Give yourself the space to process and integrate your journey.
Final thoughts
In the coming months, when you’re getting ready to join us here at Cara Creek, the only thing you really need to prepare for is to be taken care of! We find that the fewer expectations people come in with, the more open they are to a wider range of experience with on retreat with us. People sometimes ask us “how can I continue this when I’m back in the real world.” The answer, we feel, lies in the ability to pay attention and see the magic of life. In the valley things are simpler, and it’s easier to pay attention to what’s occurring all around us, and the beauty of it all. In modern daily life it can feel like it is just one long battle for your attention. You're pulled in every direction and everyone wants a bit of your time, your energy, your attention, but attention is possibly our most valuable resource. Use it wisely, intentionally, and you may find yourself feeling more grounded, present, and connected to daily life.
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