There's plenty to do!
For the active there’s plenty to do! Swimming, canoeing and fishing are available for children, beginners and experienced enthusiasts alike right on your doorstep, while a vast sparsely populated countryside dotted with small Alentejan “montes” set amidst hillsides of cork trees awaits all walkers; we’ll even provide the dogs if you want some company!
The Quinta is also a draw for star-gazers, for, with a Bortle reading of 3, there are really very few other places that match it for clear, unobstructed open skies with pretty well zero light polution.
Many guests stay just for the peace and relaxation the Quinta offers, and there's a Yoga Shala,
a heated Yurt
a solar-heated Whatsu Massage Pool
and a Sauna on the property if you want to pamper yourself.
Birdwatching
The surrounding countryside is a patchwork of Cork Oak forests, ("Montados"), and self-sufficient homesteads, small farms and eucalyptus forests. It is in a wonderful birdwatching area and the Quinta's owner, Frank, is a professional Birdwatching Guide who's been running guided birdwatching and photography trips throughout the whole of Southern Portugal for over 35 years.
Here's a small video detailing a simple week's birding, but of course we can do shorter stays - and longer ones - should you wish.
1 week's birding at the Quinta
You can come on your own, with a partner or friend, in a group of your own making or with an Agency Group - in fact anyway you like!
Take a look at our Portugese Bird Watching Galleries hosted on Flickr here, or a larger selection of Frank's pictures from around the world can be seen on EyeEm here.
If you want to know what's about at various times of the year visit the Quinta's Birding In Portugal site. There's over a thousand pictures of the various species we see in the area in the Taxonomic Galleries.
2025 Retreat and Activity Weeks
There's no problem coming on your own or with a group of friends, all ages and proficiencies are welcomed and we have various Retreats in '25, such as "Printmaking in Portugal" run by Lucy Gell and "Cyanotype by the Lake" run by Marie Therese King, and Erin Stevenson's "Do Good Movement" is returning for a 5 day Retreat on the 29th May. There's a fuller description of all of these on our Retreats page.
If you're interested in joining any of the above please book direct with Marie Therese, Lucy or Erin through their websites.
Yoga and Shiatsu Massages
We offer "Well Being" courses with accredited therapists and even have our own resident Shiatsu masseuse and Vibrational Sound Healer, Frank's wife, Daniela, who is always on hand and willing to smooth away those city stresses - even when the Quinta is not running one of it's definitive courses. There is also a large, open-air Shala available with mats etc for anyone to use at anytime and a 50 sq mt wood-burner-heated Yurt if it's ever chilly.
Canoeing & SUPs
Canoes are included in the price of your stay, and there are SUPs, (Stand Up Paddleboards), also included. With a coastline just short of 250 kms there’s plenty of scope for exploration, and with no currents these water-based activities are as safe and enjoyable as you can get - and the water's warm, with an average summer temperature in the high 20's C, (low 80's F), so no need for wet suits - just remember to bring your sun block or lotion!
Hiking & Walking
With so much empty countryside to choose from nearby, there are many miles of hiking trails through unspoiled terrain around, and the cork forests surrounding the Quinta are abundant with wildlife. Whether you like to put the miles in with a "heads-down hard-hike" or just wish to walk, smell the flowers and listen to the chirp of birds and buzz of bees, there's a wealth of choice for anyone's wishes.
Motorcycling
However it's not just nature and water lovers who benefit from the Quinta's geographical location in this sparsely populated region. The roads of the area, with beautiful sweeping curves and very little traffic, bring motorcyclists from all over the world and the Quinta's staff are always on hand to promote their favourite rides!
Golf
Golf is a sport enjoyed at its best in sunshine and generally good weather. Portugal and the Algarve in particular is world famous for its wonderful golf courses and the country is therefore a popular destination for golfing holidays. There are plenty of courses within an hour or so’s drive but two of the best are Palmares Golf, (located between Portimao and Lagos), and San Lorenzo Golf Course, (located just to the west of Faro). The former offers a wonderful combination of dunes and hills while the latter is currently rated number 1 in all of Portugal and indeed is regarded by many as one of Europe’s finest. You will find more information on these and other golf courses on the Algarve on Algarve-Portal.com
Fishing
The Quinta’s lake is an excellent fishing location. The two main species on our doorstep are Wide Mouth Bass and Carp, and there’s no need to weigh yourself down with equipment as we have local professional Fishing Guides, complete with boats, rods, tackle and all the extras.
Authentic Cuisine
There is a professional chef at all times, with breakfast, lunch and dinner all available for guests. Much of the excellent home-made food is fresh from the organic garden; honey from the hives on the hillside, free-range eggs from our local chickens, bread baked daily with flour from the local mill and, of course, fish from the lake. There's more information on this page.
The style is "International Home Cooking" , i.e. our meals are prepared on site with, as far as possible, local ingredients. There's lashings of it - you won't go hungry - and it's not from packets.
