Beginners Silent Meditation Weekend
Beginners Silent Meditation Weekend
Up to 8 in group
Nov 27 - 29, 2026
Retreat Highlights
- Beginner-friendly – no meditation experience needed
- Guided Ānāpāna meditation sessions to train concentration
- Introduction to paññā, the practice of wisdom
- Daily mindful movement and walking meditation in nature
- Evening discourse and Q&A
- Watercolor painting or journaling
- Detox juice, mindful brunch and healthy meals included
- Closing sharing circle at the end of the silence
- Shared accommodation on the property
- Pay what feels right (€250–400), reach out if you need a lower rate
About this Retreat
Your Guides
Elena is a Pilates instructor with over 10 years of experience, a passionate meditation practitioner, and a mother of three boys. She has been with her husband, Maxim, since the age of 19, and together they founded Heart of Madeira.
Her meditation journey began at 21, when Vipassana helped her overcome years of insomnia. Since then, she has completed nine 10-day Vipassana retreats, and meditation has become an important part of her life.
For Elena, Heart of Madeira is a place to share the practices that bring more joy, balance, and creativity into everyday life. She loves meditation, Pilates, dancing, sewing, and exploring new ways of connecting with herself and others. Her dream is to create a welcoming community where people can slow down, enjoy nature, share their experiences, and inspire one another.
Details of this retreat
We invite you to spend a weekend in silence, surrounded by the beautiful eucalyptus forest in Camacha, Madeira.
For two days, we’ll step away from conversations, phones, and everyday distractions. Through meditation, mindful movement, creativity, and connection with nature, we’ll create space to turn our attention inward, allow our nervous systems to settle, and reconnect with ourselves.
This retreat isn’t about becoming a better meditator, achieving a particular state of mind, or having some extraordinary spiritual experience. It’s simply an opportunity to observe ourselves, notice our thoughts and emotions, and discover what happens when we stop filling every moment with activity.
For two days, we’ll step away from conversations, phones, and everyday distractions. Through meditation, mindful movement, creativity, and connection with nature, we’ll create space to turn our attention inward, allow our nervous systems to settle, and reconnect with ourselves.
This retreat isn’t about becoming a better meditator, achieving a particular state of mind, or having some extraordinary spiritual experience. It’s simply an opportunity to observe ourselves, notice our thoughts and emotions, and discover what happens when we stop filling every moment with activity.
Schedule
Nov 27 · FRI - Arriving in the Now
17:00 - 18:00 Arrival time
18:00 - 19:00 Dinner
19:30 - 20:30 Welcome circle, meditation foundations and beginning of noble silence
Nov 28 · SAT - Stepping into Stillness
6:00 - 7:00 Early bird meditation session (optional)
7:00 - 8:00 Morning meditation session
8:00 - 9:00 Mindful movement
9:00 - 10:00 Detox Juice
10:00 - 11:00 Walking meditation in nature
11:00 - 12:00 Mindful Brunch
12:00 - 14:00 Time for rest, reflection and simply being
14:00 - 15:00 Ānāpāna meditation session I (training of concentration)
15:00 - 17:00 Water color painting or Journaling
17:00 - 18:00 Mindful Dinner
18:00 - 19:00 Discourse and Q&A
19:00 - 20:00 Ānāpāna meditation session II
Nov 29 · SUN - The Art of Simply Being
6:00 - 7:00 Early bird meditation session (optional)
7:00 - 8:00 Morning meditation session
8:00 - 9:00 Mindful movement
9:00 - 10:00 Detox Juice
10:00 - 11:00 Walking meditation in nature
11:00 - 12:00 Mindful Brunch
12:00 - 13:00 Time for rest, reflection and simply being
13:00 - 14:00 Ānāpāna meditation session III
14:00 - 15:00 Introduction to paññā (training of wisdom)
15:00 - 17:00 Discourse, end of noble silence and sharing circle
17:00 - 18:00 Dinner
18:00 Packing and saying goodbye
17:00 - 18:00 Arrival time
18:00 - 19:00 Dinner
19:30 - 20:30 Welcome circle, meditation foundations and beginning of noble silence
Nov 28 · SAT - Stepping into Stillness
6:00 - 7:00 Early bird meditation session (optional)
7:00 - 8:00 Morning meditation session
8:00 - 9:00 Mindful movement
9:00 - 10:00 Detox Juice
10:00 - 11:00 Walking meditation in nature
11:00 - 12:00 Mindful Brunch
12:00 - 14:00 Time for rest, reflection and simply being
14:00 - 15:00 Ānāpāna meditation session I (training of concentration)
15:00 - 17:00 Water color painting or Journaling
17:00 - 18:00 Mindful Dinner
18:00 - 19:00 Discourse and Q&A
19:00 - 20:00 Ānāpāna meditation session II
Nov 29 · SUN - The Art of Simply Being
6:00 - 7:00 Early bird meditation session (optional)
7:00 - 8:00 Morning meditation session
8:00 - 9:00 Mindful movement
9:00 - 10:00 Detox Juice
10:00 - 11:00 Walking meditation in nature
11:00 - 12:00 Mindful Brunch
12:00 - 13:00 Time for rest, reflection and simply being
13:00 - 14:00 Ānāpāna meditation session III
14:00 - 15:00 Introduction to paññā (training of wisdom)
15:00 - 17:00 Discourse, end of noble silence and sharing circle
17:00 - 18:00 Dinner
18:00 Packing and saying goodbye
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Getting Here
Directions
You fly to Madeira International airport and the retreat space is 20 minutes away by car.
Accommodation
We have three 2-bedroom houses that can fit up to 5 people and 1 apartment that can fit 2 people. Each house has a full kitchen and a shared bathroom.
Full Price (includes meals, all activities and shared accommodation)
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Our 4 acres retreat is located about 750 meters above the sea level, nested in a valley of eucalyptus trees on a dead end road. We have 4 houses, tipi, yurt and professional kitchen with 20 people seating capacity. The retreat has direct access to the Madeira trail network.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
What's Included
- Three daily group meditations
- Mindful movement & stretching
- Digital detox
- Accommodations
- Healthy meals
What's Not Included
- Airfare
- Shuttle
- Additional Activities
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