At Vale das Borboletas, we are building more than just a community — we are nurturing a living, breathing sanctuary where everyone who blooms differently can come home. Nestled in the beautiful and wild heart of Alentejo, we’ve created a space for unique people — especially young adults from Portugal — to feel safe, empowered, and fully themselves. A place where we celebrate diversity not as an exception, but as a foundation for everything we do.

We live together, work the land, take care of heritage, and co-create a vibrant culture of support, honesty, creativity, and emotional intelligence. We practice radical honesty and radical care. Here, queer people are not just included — we are central. And those who walk with us in friendship and respect are just as welcome.

We are artists, gardeners, healers, cooks, builders, dancers, and dreamers. Some stay for a while, some for longer. Our shared life is shaped by cooperative decisions, shared responsibilities, and collective dreams. There is no private ownership of the land or houses — we live in stewardship, caring for what has been entrusted to us.

 What makes this place different is not just the people or the vision — but the feeling: of arriving somewhere where you are enough, exactly as you are.

We are moving from dependence to autonomy, from survival to celebration. This means creating a life of strength, joy, beauty, and purpose — not just for ourselves, but as a beacon to the world. We believe peaceful coexistence, radical diversity, playfulness, and love are not luxuries but essentials for a thriving world. We are committed to living in harmony with our surroundings, respecting the laws of the country we live in while practicing self-governance, cooperation, and equity.

We know that queerness and diversity are still misunderstood in many places. That’s why we engage with our local neighbors in empathy and mutual respect, offering bridges of understanding rather than walls of defense. We believe change comes not just through resistance but through example.