Praia do Canal Nature Retreat
Praia do Canal Nature Retreat is a boutique spa hotel situated amid a wild landscape within a 220-hectare nature reserve in Costa Vicentina.
Praia do Canal Nature Retreat uses traditional materials with natural or thermal performance that harmonise with the surroundings while reducing external lighting to lessen its impact on local wildlife and the natural balance.
Our experience in the ground floor 45m² Junior Suite was perfect, with a luxurious marble en-suite, a cosy living room with a sofa and armchairs, and a lovely garden patio that provided views of the surrounding nature and the ocean.
We thoroughly enjoyed breakfast at Vermelho. Highlights included the array of Portuguese and French pastries that were brought to your table and the perfectly cooked a-la-carte eggs. Breakfast was delicious but also beautifully arranged, featuring tableware from Vida Dura.
One of the standout elements in the hotel’s decor is the pencil and graphite artwork ‘Garça Vermelha’ (Red Heron), signed by artist Bárbara Gil.
Also, in the hotel’s lobby, you will find a beautiful ceramic panel created by Maria Ana Vasco Costa, a renowned artist specialising in sculptural objects and site-specific artworks.
We thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast at the hotel, which offered both buffet and à la carte options.
The Moroccan-inspired outdoor lounge area is adjacent to the Azeitona restaurant and offers a stunning balcony view overlooking the swimming pool.
Elisabeth Lincot's installation, Lagrima de Loros, graces an exterior hearth at Vermelho with glazed and colourful ceramic bird heads.
Enjoy healthy light meals and refreshments at the hotel's poolside restaurant Zimbro.
Praia do Canal Nature Retreat is a five-star spa hotel with minimalist architecture in the heart of the stunning Costa Vicentina, in Algarve.
The hotel offers 50 spacious rooms and suites with balconies and outdoor terraces overlooking the ocean, plus an additional three larger suites - two Family Suites with two bedrooms and a private pool and the Grand Suite Rooftop with a rooftop plunge pool.
Praia do Canal Nature Retreat has an ample reception area with a lounge, two restaurants, a cocktail bar, two outdoor lounge areas, a huge infinity pool, a fully equipped gym, and a spa with an indoor and outdoor pool, two massage rooms, a Turkish bath, two saunas with forest views, and relaxation zones.
We thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast, which offers buffet and à la carte options. The cheesecake is still freshly embedded in our memories, while the artisan vegan camembert is an impressive feat.
Surround yourself in the resort's 220 hectares of pristine nature, indulge in wellness treatments, or explore the wild and rugged coastline with its beautiful Rota Vicentina trails through hiking, cycling, horse riding, motorbike, or jeep safari.
Awesomeness
The surrounding nature is a tonic for the soul.
50-metre pool overlooking the forest and ocean.
Breakfast perfection.
Relaxed spa experience - accommodates only six guests at a time.
The complimentary sweet treats were seriously good.
Bear in Mind
Food is expensive for Portuguese standards, but everything was delicious.
A glitch with room service not being available at 2am, put a dent in an otherwise perfect experience.
Spa closes at 7pm.
The outdoor pools are not heated.
Rooms are located outside main building - buggies are available on request.
Minibar only available upon request.
Praia do Canal Nature Retreat is a five-star spa hotel with minimalist architecture in the heart of the stunning Costa Vicentina, in Algarve.
The hotel offers 50 spacious rooms and suites with balconies and outdoor terraces overlooking the ocean, plus an additional three larger suites - two Family Suites with two bedrooms and a private pool and the Grand Suite Rooftop with a rooftop plunge pool.
Praia do Canal Nature Retreat has an ample reception area with a lounge, two restaurants, a cocktail bar, two outdoor lounge areas, a huge infinity pool, a fully equipped gym, and a spa with an indoor and outdoor pool, two massage rooms, a Turkish bath, two saunas with forest views, and relaxation zones.
We thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast, which offers buffet and à la carte options. The cheesecake is still freshly embedded in our memories, while the artisan vegan camembert is an impressive feat.
Surround yourself in the resort's 220 hectares of pristine nature, indulge in wellness treatments, or explore the wild and rugged coastline with its beautiful Rota Vicentina trails through hiking, cycling, horse riding, motorbike, or jeep safari.
Praia do Canal Nature Resort is a five-star hotel immersed within the natural park of Costa Vicentina.
Praia do Canal Nature Retreat is a short drive to the charming village of Aljezur, beautiful wild beaches and authentic, no-frills restaurants.
Relax in your suite’s patio, in the spa or by the hotel's impressive 50-metre outdoor main pool with breathtaking valley and ocean views. The poolside Zimbro restaurant features a delicious health-conscious menu that is available all day.
The hotel's Azeitona Restaurant provides a contemporary twist on Portuguese cuisine, using locally sourced produce from the Alentejo and Algarve regions.
For those wanting to immerse themselves in the local culture and traditions, the hotel offers a range of unique and authentic experiences, such as visiting regional wineries and distilleries, picking fruit, tasting barnacles with Portuguese sparkling wine, or taking cooking classes with the Chef.
Discover some of our favourite things to do in Costa Vicentina below by scrolling down.
Relax at the Esteva Spa, which features London-based Elemis treatments, a heated indoor pool, an infinity outdoor pool, two massage rooms, a Turkish bath, Finnish and bio saunas, and indoor/outdoor relaxation areas. Cool off in a cold plunge tank or with a bucket of ice water.
Enjoy a workout in the gym. Yoga classes are available upon reservation.
Explore the paths around the resort and immerse yourself in the wonderful scents of pine and sounds of birds.
The truth is, every local seems to have a different favourite beach, so our advice is for you to try to discover yours! This is 100% part of the fun of visiting Costa Vicentina. Take your time to stop by at all or most of them. We genuinely love all the beaches in Costa Vicentina, but the ones we tend to visit the most are Castelejo, Vale Figueiras, Monte Clérigo, and Arrifana.
Discover hiking routes and trails on the excellent Rota Vicentina website. You will find a dedicated network of walking and cycling trails in Costa Vicentina.
Two of our favourite places in Aljezur to eat by the beach are Restaurante da Praia on Arrifana Beach and O Sargo on Monte Clérigo Beach - both are great for grilled fish, poke bowls, ceviches, and so on.
We also like O Paulo, Arrifana, for fresh fish and seafood.
To eat cataplana (a Portuguese seafood dish cooked and served in a unique clam-shaped copper pot), we like Eira do Mel in Vila do Bispo. And when it comes to traditional Portuguese food, our go-to is the classic Ponte a Pé restaurant in Aljezur.
For pizza, our go-to place is Arte Bianca, which has three branches in Aljezur, Arrifana, and Sagres.
Praia do Canal Nature Retreat
Herdade Vale dos Polvos
8670-156 Aljezur
Portugal
LOCATION
Praia do Canal Nature Retreat is located in the heart of the Vicentine Coast Natural Park in the Algarve West Coast, a 10-minute drive from the village of Aljezur and 15 minutes to Praia do Canal beach.
BY AIR
The closest airport is Faro airport. From there you can organise a transfer, take a taxi (Uber, Bolt etc. widely available) or hire a car. Hiring a car is highly recommended to explore the region and the beautiful beaches and villages nearby.
Faro (FAO) – 103km
Lisbon (LIS) – 311km
Porto (OPO) – 600km
© Photos by JO&SO.
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