Paradise in Portugal

As soon as you arrive at Quinta do Barranco da Estrada you know this place is special; the view over the lake greets you as you leave the car park.. and what a view! It sets the tone for a laid back, totally relaxing stay. The owners, Frank and Daniela, along with their families and staff, have worked hard to create a haven, it's beautiful. And it's their home. Abundant wildlife (Frank is a bird guide and expert on the natural world), swimming in the lake, country walks (usually accompanied by their dogs!), paddleboarding, or maybe just reading in the many shady spots around the lush garden, there's as much or as little as you would like to do. And then there's the food.. Daniela prepares delicious and varied breakfasts, lunches and dinners, no one goes hungry here; there's more too, so try it - it's Paradise in Portugal!

We have just returned home after a fantastic relaxing break at The Quinta Do Barranco da Estrada. We were delighted by the peace and quiet, wild swimming in the lake (and paddle boarding), and nurtured by the delicious home cooked fare, daily siestas and good books. We surprised ourselves by our early morning trips to the hide to spot the beautiful Golden Oriole's, and Franks enthusiasm and expert knowledge persuaded us to take a very enjoyable half day trip to spot more birds. Portugal was experiencing record temperatures and was on high fire alert, but we never felt too hot, and slept soundly each night. We travelled to and from the Quinta from Faro by train which was very straightforward and in-expensive. Many thanks to Frank and Daniela for looking after us so well.

Truly paradise in Portugal. Went here for a yoga retreat and was blown away. Frank and Daniela are the most beautiful people with the most beautiful sanctuary (a little slice of heaven). From the cozy rooms, beautiful views and landscaping, divine home cooked meals by Daniela, serene fresh water lake with kayaks and paddle boards, the serene sounds of beautiful birds and of course the dogs: Wiggles, slim and jack jack. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to meet Uncle Harry 😉. I can’t say enough good about this place and the people that live and work there. What a beautiful escape from the hustle and bustle. I hope I make it back one day

A wonderful creative holiday in an amazing place. Great food and a wonderful place to experience the remote and quiet off grid existence that Frank and Danielle are offering in their home.

We stayed at “Paradise in Portugal” for 7 nights in mid-April for a birding focused vacation. Our bird guide, and Quinta owner Frank, picked us up at the Faro airport and we were birding shortly after. No real check-in, they just took us and our luggage from the car into our room. We did get a key later but never felt the need to lock our room. We stayed in the Androhina (Barn Swallow) room. It is a king room that also has a small room with bunk beds attached. Nicely decorated with a birding theme. The rooms are not climate controlled, and they needed to bring us a portable heater since we had unseasonably cold weather. The water pressure was on the low side, but the water was safe to drink and there was plenty of hot water. This room is more private than the rest of the rooms as it is at the end and the only people that go down there are staff. All the rooms overlook the large lake and the gardens on the grounds. Meals are buffet for a light breakfast and heavy lunch. They do family style with a fixed menu at a fixed time, all at one table, in the evening. They were great at meeting our dietary needs and Danella is a great cook that made sure we saw good variety. It is not really practical to go somewhere else to eat…they are very remote. They have paddle boards, a kayak, and a canoe to enjoy the lake along with a small pool. The birding with Frank was great. We saw over 100 species on our various outings over the week. There is a lot of driving for the bird tours, but he takes you to different habitats to see a wider variety of birds. Overall, great trip. Elias was great to chat with while he dropped us off at our hotel near the Lisbon airport at the end of the trip.

On my first day at Quinta do Barranco da Estrada, I felt I had stepped into wonderland! The huge open window of the dining room offered a breathtaking view of plants, flowers and the lake below whilst swallows swept through the sky. Everything was so well organised; we were met at the airport and then driven through the stunning Portuguese countryside. Frank, Daniela and their friendly team looked after us all so well and we quickly began to recognise the birds and plants in the garden and beyond. Our meals in the gorgeous dining area were delicious and filled with fresh produce from the garden. I didn’t want to leave my room with its hand painted desk and its goldfinches that visited the tree outside every morning. The beautiful doggies appreciated the humans as much as we appreciated them. We did lots of teary hugs at home time. Good dogs! We will be back for more walks and swims next year! It’s such a perfect place for a retreat and I can imagine any group enjoying all that the Quinta has to offer. After our lovely printmaking we swam and explored the lake on paddle boards and canoes.