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Monte Velho Retreat Centre is an excellent choice for hosting and attending retreats. Located in the middle of the Natural Park of Costa Vicentina Offering a romantic environment alongside many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay. You’ll enjoy relaxing rooms with hammocks with ocean and forest views. There are two circular shalas for gatherings and classes. Monte Velho offers vegetarian and vegan catering for its groups. Looking to explore? Then look no further than Museu do Mar e da Terra da Carrapateira, which is a popular Carrapateira natural history museum – and it is conveniently located a short distance from the inn. Enjoy your stay in Carrapateira!
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this is PARADISE. i was here for a retreat and i'm so thankful for having the opportunity to stay at this magic place. admidst a wonderful landscape,with the few over the ocean and most delicious vegan food, the interior and atmosphere are so wonderful. a place for the soul. THANK YOU!!!
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Date of stay: March 2023
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Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from MONTE VELHO CENTRE CENTRE, Guest Services / Front Office at Monte Velho Retreat Centre
Responded 12 Sept 2023
Thank your for your visit and the beautiful words! We hope to host you again soon!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stayed here for a week with my 2 teenage children. Very rural setting - a mile off road -with beautiful views. Breakfast only, buffet style continental taken on terrace. Excellent local bread and fresh orange juice. 8 rooms only. Very relaxed, simple and quiet -a stylish, rustic , laid back vibe with bright mexican fabrics and lots of hammocks for lounging. Donkeys on site for kids to ride. Like most of the guests, we went for the surfing - hotel is ten minutes drive from good surfing beach with several surf schools. Lots of other beaches within easy distance. Young owner Henrique ( a surfer) and his family are charming and speak excellent English. Off road setting up a hilly track can be a bit daunting in the dark driving back from dinner and not much choice of restaurants in immediate area. Some evenings we had a picnic - bought cheese and fruit in local village and ate it on our patio. Being on the Atlantic side, can be quite windy. Would certainly go again.
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Date of stay: July 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Monte Velho was a five star experience for us, and a real find. If the phrase “getting there by dirt roads” puts you off, you will probably want to consider another place. The resort grounds are located hillside with grand vistas of the Atlantic and nothing but pine nut orchards between you and the closest village, Carrapatiera. It is an absolute beauty of a location, and the buildings - the horse stables, the retreat center, the guest houses, the kitchen gardens, all – are laid out with an excellent, artistic eye. Not your place, though, if you are expecting a swimming pool, or even a TV. The rooms, though ‘primitive’ in some sense, are – as the grounds are - decorated with an exceptional sense of style and cosmopolitan set of expectations. This could be driven by the clientele for the yoga retreat center there, or possibly by the owners, but we couldn’t be sure.
We love this corner of Portugal anyways; the local seafood, the Portuguese themselves, the surfers, but most of all the national seashore there. The sea and cliffs there are just world class. And the Monte Velho perfectly reflects this spirit. Best I can describe it is a Santa Fe sense of class and style, combined with a local laid back, salt-of-the-earth sensibility.
Good mix, obviously, for us. Henrique, our host, was a great guy and got us plugged into the right restaurants in Carrapatiera and the best places to explore along the coast. He also talked us into eating Perceves, to which we are eternally grateful. Our bet is that Henrique is the architect behind this charming retreat. But we never met Vera, so we will have to reserve our praise for our second visit. Oh yes, we are going back.
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Date of stay: June 2014
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We chose to stay at Monte Velho because the paddock/horses for Holistic Riding program is within view from the resort. The resort is about 5km from Carrapateira off the main road heading towards Vila do Bispo - about 3km from Carrapateira, look for signs on the left for Monte Villarinha and a picture of a horse and turn left into the small paved road. Only about 1km down that road that the Monte Velho sign appears. The resort should put up its sign on the main road for people to find it easily. Then drive straight up to the gate to reach the resort.
We arrived quite late at night due to flight delays, and Paulo was kind to wait for us. There are 12 suites - spacious for up to 5-6 people, and we stayed in the one next to the main dining area. Breakfast is served quite late at around 9am, and probably because this a place to relax and there is no rush for anything. Nearest town place for other meals is within the Carrapateira area, and there really are only 4 or 5 restaurants/cafes.There are some stunning views of the ocean from one end of the resort, and one can explore the surrounding area full of pine trees on bicycles available at the resort.
Our daughter really enjoyed the Holistic Riding program conducted by Andreas, and I would really recommend his methods for building self-confidence through riding and getting to know the horses. Thanks again Andreas, and we look forward to coming back again in the future.
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Date of stay: September 2012
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amazingly pleasant, peaceful and in harmony with nature. The opposite of the stress, noise and confusion of normal hotels or resorts. The owner, Henrique, is an outstanding person and everything reflects his positive attitude and empathy. Very close to great surf beaches
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Date of stay: August 2012
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The 1-2 km dirt road approach to Monte Velho is nothing short of impressive (however, be wary of trucks and a certain proprietor riding his motorbike :-)). Our welcome was informal and friendly. A brief tour of the premises and the key to our room and we were left to explore for ourselves.
The rooms are very (very) basic, but have everything that you need. Signs of the hotels’ eco-friendly efforts are everywhere. Our suite had a lounge area with a couch, desk and chair and an extra bed (which came in handy when lazing about in the evenings). Our bathroom was ample in size with a great shower and was kept clean throughout our stay (cleaners visit daily). A massive bed dominated our impressive bedroom. The suites are filled with abstract paintings (by a local artist I believe) which are available to purchase. The suites have a lovely area outside which includes a huge thatched lounger and a hammock.
The view from all the rooms over the shrub covered hills changes depending on the time of day, mornings and sunset are particularly impressive. A breezy wind keeps the rooms and outside areas very cool.
As the hotel is quite small it is generally very quiet, only occasionally will you hear a neighbour or a donkey neighing from just down the hill (it’s definitely worth visiting them, they are very friendly and enjoy the attention).
Breakfast is basic but good, comprising mostly of bread, cheese, yoghurt and cereals. A special treat is the varying slices of home made cake (the lemon is particularly tasty). Endless glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice (really good) are also provided, as well as tea and coffee.
A car is essential for your stay at this hotel. It’s a good 4 or 5 km’s to the nearest beach (Praia do Amado). The beaches are very impressive and pleasantly empty, mostly only visited by the local surfers. Praia da Bordeira, a few more km’s north of the hotel is stunning. Access from the road requires you to wade through a crystal blue river (only knee deep); however, there is access from up the hill as well.
We had a few disappointments with restaurants so be careful. If you are keen on good food you will need to hunt around (and drive fairly far). It must be said though that all the seafood is of outstanding quality, it is mostly the preparation and side dishes that vary in quality. Sitio do Rio is fairly close (near Praia da Bordeira). It is informal and unfussy but the food is of very high quality and it’s very affordable. The service often left a bit to be desired, but the staff are few and the tables many so it’s understandable. For a treat visit A Eira do Mel in Vila do Bispo. The food is outstanding as is the service and atmosphere. Dinner at this restaurant was by far our most enjoyable.
When we left the guys at the hotel left out some fresh coffee and packed us some cake for our early morning journey back to Faro. Leaving Monte Velho and Portugal was heart wrenching, a clear indication of how absolutely fantastic our holiday was.
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Date of stay: September 2007
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We really loved this place : quiet, lost in the nature, close to wonderful beaches. We chose the holistic package, available for families only in August, which combine yoga for adults, surf for children, and the possibility to add other activities (work with horses, additional surf or yoga lessons). Our family loved it ! We would recommend this place to people who like nature, and ocean, and do not want to be in crowed touristic places.
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Date of stay: August 2017Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I spent 16 beautiful days at Monte Velho. Everything was lovely!! Vegetarian food was exceptional-thank you for taking such good care of us in all regards.
I hope our paths will cross again in the future. Wishing you all success in your future endeavours!!
Namaste Christine
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Date of stay: May 2017Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Some of the best times of my life have been spent with dear friends at this resort. An easy drive in your rental car from either Lisbon or Faro airport, it is a surfers paradise and a rustic nature resort. Friendly, private, sublime and remote are some adjectives I find to describe it. Food lovers will love the local fare, and hikers/walkers will love the beaches, dunes and cliffs of the surrounding areas. This is a place to get in touch with ones soul and disconnect and also recharge. It is wonderful for families.
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Date of stay: December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is the place you will continue to dream of long after your stay there. The incredible tranquility of this resort surrounded by pine forests, hiking trails, natural beaches and incredible surf, makes it the ideal place to escape from the craziness of the real world and remove yourself from it all. The energy and spirit of the Monte Velho is a reflection of its owner Henrique, and wonderful staff, all committed to working in harmony with the surrounding environment. The rooms are beautifully and naturally furnished, spacious and private. Everything you could want from nature is at your fingertips - endless hiking and biking trails, beaches and surf, your own private swimming lake, and even horse riding the natural way. The view from the house offers you the chance to observe the impeccably kept happy horses of the holistic riding centre, which are owned and trained by Andreas. During your stay you can experience becoming one with the horse and enjoy holistic riding lessons and meditational explorations of the surrounding landscape on horseback. The two beautiful yoga shalas are a yogis dream if you are looking to participate in classes or run a yoga retreat, with gardens and small pavillions dotted around the property for meditation, pranayama or personal asana practice. Breakfasts are healthy and fresh and can be enjoyed from the terrace overlooking the stunning views around - this resort offers everything money cant buy!
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Date of stay: July 2013
Value
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Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Carrapateira area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
monte velho nature hotel carrapateira
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Monte Velho Nature Resort
LOCATION
PortugalAlgarveFaro DistrictCarrapateira
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
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