We have a dream. A place in the forest. A cabin in nature, where guests can truly disconnect. Surrounded by trees, quiet, and the kind of air that makes you breathe differently. We’ve been calling it Yuna Cabin. And just like when we started Yuna, the search has already taught us a lot.

The house

A few weeks ago, we came across a house. Twenty minutes from Yuna, an enormous Yucca in the garden, valley views that stopped you in your tracks, 4,000 m² of land, and a natural spring flowing at the entrance. After the first visit, we were convinced. This could be it. You could split the building into two apartments. The charm of an old granite Minho house was right there. Something new can never quite replicate that — at least not right away. Like this insanely cool old Yuca below!

But there is always the unknown to a potential new project. We lack some specific knowledge but luckily our trusted contractor does! So we invited him to check out this place and give us his honest feedback and that changed a lot!

He loved the place. And then the numbers came.

Two new kitchens. New floors. Bathrooms, electrics, windows. His conclusion: the renovation costs would likely match what it takes to build a new house form scratch. And a new build gives you an AA++ energy label, which is now required for an AL permit. No surprises for years. An existing building, however charming, can’t promise that. It was hard to hear. But we were glad we asked. We crossed it off the list and moved on.

The land

Diogo from Find Land Portugal had already put together a long list of plots we haven’t visited yet. So we planned a full day: ten plots between Yuna and Ponte de Lima. By now, we look at land differently than we used to. Access roads for larger vehicles. Electricity nearby. Distance from forest areas because of fire risk. We’ve learned to think practically first.

After a full day, we found one plot that had everything. Quiet. No barking dogs. Close to facilities. Mountain views, vineyards, a small stream running through the land, and olive trees. We looked at each other and both knew immediately. This is ours.

We messaged Find Land Portugal. And then Diogo delivered the news: the slope makes it complicated. Building on uneven ground isn’t just a technical challenge — it’s a very expensive one. To create a flat area for a house, terrace, pool and parking, you need to hold the ground back with retaining walls. On a slope, your foundation can’t sit on a simple flat slab either — you’re looking at deeper footings, extra reinforcement, sometimes piles. Then there’s the drainage. In Northern Portugal, with its heavy rainfall, water management isn’t optional. Get it wrong and you’re asking for trouble. And the access road — easy to underestimate, but a tricky slope can turn a simple driveway into a serious cost. It all adds up fast, and in ways that aren’t obvious at first until someone who knows the challenges of doing a project on a hill tells you. 


Yet again, another dream crushed by reality… ;'(

We’ve been here before

When we started Yuna, we found what felt like the perfect piece of land. We told the seller we wanted to buy it. He looked at us calmly and said: we’re not actually selling. This, while the listing was live on Idealista. We had already pictured everything in our heads. A good vibe killer for sure, but also a lesson: “it’s gonna be a bumpy ride for sure!”.

Now we know what to expect and being aware that it’s part of the process, we move on with new positive energy! So we keep looking. The list from Diogo still has plots we haven’t seen yet. The right piece of land is out there, somewhere, we just have not found it yet…

The story continues and we will keep you guys posted!