Quinta da Ribeira
Ancient olive groves on the rolling plains of Alentejo
About this host
Quinta da Ribeira sits on 40 hectares of red-earth Alentejo plain, where olive trees planted three generations ago still bear fruit every autumn. The harvest runs from late October through November — a slow, meditative rhythm of hand-raking and hand-picking under wide Portuguese skies. Groups work alongside the family and two local labourers, learning to read the olive by eye and taste before it is pressed. Evenings end with the estate's own oil drizzled over fresh bread.
The story behind this place
João's grandfather planted the first trees here in the 1950s, when the Alentejo was still a land of cork and wheat. The olives outlasted everything — the dictatorship, the drought years, the exodus to Lisbon — and João returned from a city career to keep them going. He built one simple guesthouse for the groups he hoped would come one day.
Crops & season
Harvest window
October – November
Open for groups
Blabla
18 September 2026 – 30 September 2026
Our harvest season
15 October 2026 – 15 December 2026
We allow one group per week. Minimum stay is 4 nights, so we can work 3-3,5 days in the field, depending on your arrival and departure times.
Accommodation & meals
farmhouse
A restored farmhouse sleeping up to 18 in shared rooms, with a large kitchen and outdoor terrace. Linen provided.
Meals included
Communal breakfast and dinner prepared with farm produce. Packed lunch on harvest days.
Good to know
Relatively flat terrain — suitable for most fitness levels. Sun protection essential in October. This is a sample listing to give you an idea of the kinds of hosts on the platform.
Trip details
- Group size
- 6–10 people
- Season
- Oct–Nov
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Accommodation
- ✓ Included
- Meals
- ✓ Included
No payment required — we'll match you personally.
Ready to bring your crew to Portugal?
Sign up as a group leader and tell us about your team. We'll personally match you with the best available dates.