Your Journey to Community Living
Three phases, at your own pace. No pressure. No long-term contracts. Just an open door to a living project.
Three Phases, Your Choice
Whether you're curious, exploring, or ready to commit—there's a phase for you. Move at your own pace.
Experience Stay
1–7 nights of immersion. Farm tours, stargazing, community meals, walks. Meet the project and the people before deciding anything.
Extended Stay
1–12 months (renewable). Private space plus shared facilities. Full participation in farming, nature, and community life. Flexible monthly terms.
Cooperative Member
Formal membership in our cooperative (cessão de uso model). Indefinite use rights, transmissible and inheritable. Democratic voice in governance.
Each Phase Explained
Phase 1: Experience Stay (1–7 nights)
Cost: €800–1,200 per week (all-inclusive)
What's included: Accommodation in a private guest room, all meals, farm tours, guided stargazing, community social events, Wi-Fi, use of shared facilities.
Purpose: Taste the daily rhythm. Meet founders and other guests. Understand if this lifestyle fits your vision of active retirement.
No obligation: A trial, nothing more. Many guests return for Extended Stays.
Phase 2: Extended Stay (1–12 months, renewable)
Cost: €1,200–2,000/month (all utilities and community services included)
What's included: Private studio or one-bedroom unit, full kitchen, bathroom, heating/cooling, electricity, water, internet, all shared facilities, community events, farm access.
Participation: Join farm work, gardening projects, birdwatching expeditions, stargazing, governance meetings, cultural events.
Flexibility: Month-to-month renewable contracts. You can extend or leave with 30 days' notice.
Phase 3: Cooperative Membership
Entry cost: €80,000–150,000 (one-time investment in the cooperative)
Monthly fee: €500–800/month (utilities, maintenance, operations, community programs)
What you own: A cessão de uso (usufruct right) to a unit on the estate. Not property ownership, but indefinite use rights that are inheritable and transferable to family or the cooperative.
Your voice: Voting member in cooperative governance. Participate in decisions about farm operations, community projects, admissions, and investments.
Why the Cessão de Uso Model?
A cessão de uso (usufruct right) keeps land in collective stewardship while giving you absolute security and freedom. Your use rights are:
✓ Indefinite — as long as you want or can stay
✓ Inheritable — pass to your children or designated heir
✓ Transferable — return to the cooperative or nominate a successor
✓ Protected by Portuguese law — legally binding, enforceable
This model is used across Europe's leading cohousing communities and ensures both member security and land conservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book an Experience Stay?
Contact us at info@activeretirement.eu or call +351 285 107 010. We'll discuss your interests, preferred dates, and any questions. Bookings are confirmed with a deposit (50% of stay cost, refundable if you cancel within 14 days).
What if I want to try an Extended Stay after an Experience Stay?
Perfect! Many guests do exactly this. After your Experience Stay, we'll discuss which unit might suit you and the terms. Extended Stays are designed to help you transition gradually into community living, with no long-term contract required.
Is the cooperative membership open to non-EU citizens?
Yes. You'll need a Portuguese tax ID number (NIF) and appropriate residence status (D7 visa for retirees is common). We assist with administrative processes. We welcome EU and non-EU members equally.
Can I rent out my unit if I'm a member?
No. The cooperative operates on the principle of primary residency. Your unit is for your use, not as a commercial rental. However, if you need to temporarily relocate, you can request to return to an Extended Stay arrangement while maintaining your cooperative membership.
What happens if I want to leave the cooperative?
You can resign at any time with 90 days' notice. Your investment (cessão de uso entry cost) is partially recoverable based on the cooperative's reserve fund and your length of membership. The cooperative has first option to nominate a successor you support, or your right reverts to the cooperative.
Are there other successful agricultural cohousing models I can learn from?
Yes! Trabensol (Madrid, Spain) and Knarrenhof (Netherlands) pioneered senior cohousing. Färdknäppen (Sweden) combines cohousing with social enterprise. Our model builds on decades of European cohousing success while adding agriculture and Dark Sky astrotourism—making Active Retirement unique.
Ready to Experience Active Retirement?
Start with a 3–7 night immersion. No obligation, just genuine encounter with land, sky, and community.
Book an Experience Stay