//who we are
A New Standard
of Care
Vaelera is where clinical excellence meets curated recovery. Built on precision, trust, and experience. A system designed not only to treat, but to elevate.
Think world-class healthcare in Portugal, combining the precision of experienced specialists with the comfort of a fully managed international experience.
Transport and logistics
Flights, transfers, and stays arranged
Transport and logistics
Flights, transfers, and stays arranged
Trusted clinical partners
Accredited hospitals, preferential rates
Trusted clinical partners
Accredited hospitals, preferential rates
Transparent Pricing
Your all-inclusive quote in writing, before you book a flight
Transparent Pricing
Your all-inclusive quote in writing, before you book a flight
Recovery and physiotherapy
Rehab support whenever it's needed
Recovery and physiotherapy
Rehab support whenever it's needed
Gonçalo Vaz Pinto
An orthopedic surgeon, specialist certified by the Portuguese Medical Association (Ordem dos Médicos), Gonçalo provides the clinical expertise behind Vaelera’s provider network and upholds the highest standards of clinical credibility.
An orthopedic surgeon, specialist certified by the Portuguese Medical Association (Ordem dos Médicos), Gonçalo provides the clinical expertise behind Vaelera’s provider network and upholds the highest standards of clinical credibility.
Diogo Drummond Borges
With a background in Internal Medicine and an MBA, Diogo leads Vaelera's operations, overseeing patient coordination, compliance and the commercial side of the business from end to end.
//MANDATE
It's not a service
It's a way of thinking
about care
Most medical tourism feels like a compromise.
Vaelera was built so it doesn’t have to.
Most medical tourism feels like
a compromise. Vaelera was built
so it doesn’t have to.
Higher Health® is the foundation of Vaelera. It’s more than treatment, it’s transformation. Higher Health® means addressing not just the procedure, but everything around it: your recovery, your mobility, your everyday life afterward. It’s the physical elevation of healing well.
Higher Health® is the foundation
of Vaelera. It’s more than treatment, it’s transformation. Higher Health® means addressing not just the procedure, but everything around it: your recovery, your mobility, your everyday life afterward. It’s the physical elevation of healing well.
The functional elevation of moving freely again. And the elevation in quality of life that comes from doing both, in one of Europe’s most beautiful settings. At Vaelera, Higher Health® isn’t a tagline. It’s the standard we hold every partnership, every patient journey, and every outcome to.
The functional elevation of moving freely again. And the elevation in quality of life that comes from doing both, in one of Europe’s most beautiful settings. At Vaelera,
Higher Health® isn’t a tagline.
It’s the standard we hold every partnership, every patient journey, and every outcome to.
“We want to elevate the way patients travel and receive care. We want to make each journey unique.”
Dr. Gonçalo vaz Pinto
DR. DIOGO Drummond BORGES
“We want to elevate the way patients travel and receive care. We want to make each journey unique.”
//who we are
A New Standard
of Care
Vaelera is where clinical excellence meets curated recovery. Built on precision,
trust, and experience.
A system designed not only
to treat, but to elevate.
Think world-class healthcare in Portugal, combining the precision of experienced specialists with the comfort of a fully managed international experience.
Transport and logistics
Flights, transfers, and stays arranged
Trusted clinical partners
Accredited hospitals, preferential rates
Transparent Pricing
Your all-inclusive quote in writing, before you book a flight
Recovery and physiotherapy
Rehab support whenever it's needed
Gonçalo Vaz Pinto
An orthopedic surgeon, specialist certified by the Portuguese Medical Association (Ordem dos Médicos), Gonçalo provides the clinical expertise behind Vaelera’s provider network and upholds the highest standards of clinical credibility.
An orthopedic surgeon, specialist certified by the Portuguese Medical Association (Ordem dos Médicos), Gonçalo provides the clinical expertise behind Vaelera’s provider network and upholds the highest standards of clinical credibility.
Diogo Drummond Borges
With a background in Internal Medicine and an MBA, Diogo leads Vaelera's operations, overseeing patient coordination, compliance and the commercial side of the business from end to end.
//MANDATE
It's not a service
It's a way of thinking
about care
Most medical tourism feels like a compromise.
Vaelera was built so it doesn’t have to.
Higher Health® is the foundation of Vaelera. It’s more than treatment, it’s transformation. Higher Health® means addressing not just the procedure, but everything around it: your recovery, your mobility, your everyday life afterward. It’s the physical elevation of healing well.
The functional elevation of moving freely again. And the elevation in quality of life that comes from doing both, in one of Europe’s most beautiful settings. At Vaelera, Higher Health® isn’t a tagline. It’s the standard we hold every partnership, every patient journey, and every outcome to.
“We want to elevate the way patients travel and receive care. We want to make each journey unique.”
Dr. Gonçalo vaz Pinto
DR. DIOGO Drummond BORGEs
// journey
From first inquiry
to treatment
and recovery
//01 EMBARK
Free Coordination Call
Tell us about your situation.
We review your case and answer every question.
No pressure, no obligation.
//02 Plan
Our partner specialists
Our specialists review your records to confirm candidacy and map your treatment and recovery before you arrive.
//03 travel
Travel & Procedure
Travel to Portugal to receive the care, expertise and treatment you deserve
//04 recover
Return Stronger
After your procedure and recovery period in Lisbon, you fly home with full post-operative guidance and follow-up support.
// journey
From first inquiry
to treatment
and recovery
//01 EMBARK
Free Coordination Call
Tell us about your situation.
We review your case and answer every question.
No pressure, no obligation.
//02 Plan
Our partner specialists
Our specialists review your records to confirm candidacy and map your treatment and recovery before you arrive.
//03 travel
Travel & Procedure
Travel to Portugal to receive the care, expertise and treatment you deserve
//04 recover
Return Stronger
After your procedure and recovery period in Lisbon, you fly home with full post-operative guidance and follow-up support.
// Specialties
One System.
Every path to care.
From orthopedics to fertility, every specialty runs on the same standard: board-certified specialists, transparent pricing, and one coordinator with you from first consultation to follow-up. Explore what Vaelera coordinates below.
20.000+
20.000+
Orthopedic
Surgeries
10.000+
10.000+
Plastic Surgeries and
Aesthetic Procedures
Plastic Surgeries and Aesthetic Procedures
15.000+
15.000+
Dental Procedures
Dental Procedures
30+
30+
Years of Experience
in IVF treatments
Years
of Experience
in IVF treatments
Performed by our clinical provider partners
Performed by our clinical
provider partners
Healthcare is getting more expensive. Waiting lists stretch for months. Insurance coverage is shrinking. And through all of it, patients are left to navigate the process alone.
Vaelera coordinates care at JCI-accredited private hospitals in Portugal and a network of specialist surgeons to deliver the standard of care you deserve, at a fraction of the cost, with every logistical detail handled for you.
Vaelera connects you with Portugal's leading orthopedic surgeons - specialists in joint replacement and sports medicine, trained and accredited to international standards. Every case is reviewed personally, ensuring you get the right treatment plan for your specific condition.
Whether it's knee or hip replacement, ACL reconstruction, or sports injury repair, our surgeons combine surgical precision with a focus on full functional recovery - so you don't just get better, you get back to moving the way you used to.
Total Hip Replacement
Surgical replacement of a damaged or arthritic hip joint with a prosthetic implant, addressing the pain and mobility loss that come with advanced osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or a previous fracture that hasn't healed well. The procedure is performed by a credentialed orthopedic surgeon using established implant systems, in a JCI-accredited hospital with a private recovery room and a structured post-operative physiotherapy plan built into your stay. Your surgeon reviews your imaging and confirms candidacy before you travel, so there are no surprises once you arrive.
Healthcare is getting more expensive. Waiting lists stretch for months. Insurance coverage is shrinking. And through all of it, patients are left to navigate the process alone.
Vaelera coordinates care at JCI-accredited private hospitals in Portugal and a network of specialist surgeons to deliver the standard of care you deserve, at a fraction of the cost, with every logistical detail handled for you.
Vaelera connects you with Portugal's leading orthopedic surgeons - specialists in joint replacement and sports medicine, trained and accredited to international standards. Every case is reviewed personally, ensuring you get the right treatment plan for your specific condition.
Whether it's knee or hip replacement, ACL reconstruction, or sports injury repair, our surgeons combine surgical precision with a focus on full functional recovery - so you don't just get better, you get back to moving the way you used to.
Total Hip Replacement
Surgical replacement of a damaged or arthritic hip joint with a prosthetic implant, addressing the pain and mobility loss that come with advanced osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or a previous fracture that hasn't healed well. The procedure is performed by a credentialed orthopedic surgeon using established implant systems, in a JCI-accredited hospital with a private recovery room and a structured post-operative physiotherapy plan built into your stay. Your surgeon reviews your imaging and confirms candidacy before you travel, so there are no surprises once you arrive.
Healthcare is getting more expensive. Waiting lists stretch for months. Insurance coverage is shrinking. And through all of it, patients are left to navigate the process alone.
Vaelera coordinates care at JCI-accredited private hospitals in Portugal and a network of specialist surgeons to deliver the standard of care you deserve, at a fraction of the cost, with every logistical detail handled for you.
Vaelera connects you with Portugal's leading orthopedic surgeons - specialists in joint replacement and sports medicine, trained and accredited to international standards. Every case is reviewed personally, ensuring you get the right treatment plan for your specific condition.
Whether it's knee or hip replacement, ACL reconstruction, or sports injury repair, our surgeons combine surgical precision with a focus on full functional recovery - so you don't just get better, you get back to moving the way you used to.
Total Hip Replacement
Surgical replacement of a damaged or arthritic hip joint with a prosthetic implant, addressing the pain and mobility loss that come with advanced osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or a previous fracture that hasn't healed well. The procedure is performed by a credentialed orthopedic surgeon using established implant systems, in a JCI-accredited hospital with a private recovery room and a structured post-operative physiotherapy plan built into your stay. Your surgeon reviews your imaging and confirms candidacy before you travel, so there are no surprises once you arrive.
Don’t See What You’re Looking For?
Portugal’s private medical system covers a wide range of specialties beyond those listed here. If your treatment need isn’t covered above, submit a free case evaluation and we'll check whether we can coordinate your care.
Book a free call
//Principles
five principles
one standard
From the first consultation to the morning you return home. These five principles govern every decision we make on your behalf.
//01
Quality of Care
Hand-picked surgeons. JCI-accredited private hospitals. Nothing less.
//01
Quality of Care
Hand-picked surgeons. JCI-accredited private hospitals. Nothing less.
//02
Personalized Care
One coordinator who knows your name and your case. Every reply within 24 hours.
//02
Personalized Care
One coordinator who knows your name and your case. Every reply within 24 hours.
//03
Complete Care
Surgery, travel, stay and rehab, arranged as one. And we’re still here once you’re home.
//03
Complete Care
Surgery, travel, stay and rehab, arranged as one. And we’re still here once you’re home.
//04
Transparency
One written quote before you book a flight. No hidden fees.
//04
Transparency
One written quote before you book a flight. No hidden fees.
//05
Discretion
Private from first call to final follow-up. Your records are seen only by your care team.
//05
Discretion
Private from first call to final follow-up. Your records are seen only by your care team.
WHAT PATIENTS
SAY ABOUT US
I was amazed and grateful for the professionalism, attentiveness and compassion I met again and again
in the doctors, nurses and people
of Portugal.
Brad W., Salt Lake City, UtahI was amazed and grateful for the professionalism, attentiveness and compassion I met again and again
in the doctors, nurses and people
of Portugal.
Brad W., Salt Lake City, UtahI had ACL reconstruction surgery in Portugal after tearing my ACL, and I had a really positive experience throughout the whole process. The medical team was professional, attentive and reassuring, and I felt very well looked after both before and after the surgery. Everything went smoothly and I was really impressed with the standard of care I received. I would definitely feel confident choosing healthcare in Portugal again.
Virginia B.I had ACL reconstruction surgery in Portugal after tearing my ACL, and I had a really positive experience throughout the whole process. The medical team was professional, attentive and reassuring, and I felt very well looked after both before and after the surgery. Everything went smoothly and I was really impressed with the standard of care I received. I would definitely feel confident choosing healthcare in Portugal again.
Virginia B.From very knowledgeable doctors that are able to focus on your personal health outcomes, to the newest equipment being readily available. The ability to see a specialist without long waits and having doctors tailoring treatments to your unique situation without the over prescription of pharmaceutical solutions. I have lived and experienced both the US and UK health systems and by far this is the one others should be striving towards.
John M., New YorkFrom very knowledgeable doctors that are able to focus on your personal health outcomes, to the newest equipment being readily available. The ability to see a specialist without long waits and having doctors tailoring treatments to your unique situation without the over prescription of pharmaceutical solutions. I have lived and experienced both the US and UK health systems and by far this is the one others should be striving towards.
John M., New York
//FAQ
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING.
ANSWERS WORTH READING.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING.
ANSWERS WORTH READING.
Everything you need to know about getting medical care in Portugal through Vaelera, from safety and credentials to logistics and what happens after you’re home.
Everything you need to know about getting medical care in Portugal through Vaelera, from safety and credentials to logistics and what happens after you’re home.
Safety, surgeons and hospitals
Safety, surgeons and hospitals
Cost, payment and insurance
Cost, payment and insurance
Planning your trip
Planning your trip
Complications and aftercare
Complications and aftercare
// GET IN TOUCH
YOU TRAVEL
WITH PURPOSE
YOU RECOVER
WITH STRUCTURE
YOU RETURN
HOME STRONGER
Ready to take the first step?
Tell us what you need. Your first conversation is private, clear, and without obligation.
ETYMOLOGY
ETYMOLOGY
Vaelera — from Latin Valere.
To be strong. To be healthy.
Vaelera — from Latin Valere.
To be strong. To be healthy.
© 2026 Meteoric Waves, Lda. · Vaelera®
Registered with Turismo de Portugal - RNAVT 13471
Vaelera® and Higher Health® are registered trademarks in Portugal