Muxima

Rooms

Divided between Casa da Eira and Casa do Monte, each of the seven guest rooms is individually decorated in rich colours, and with carefully-crafted furniture and decorative objets.

The original farmhouse, Casa da Eira, is a long building with thick outer walls made of the region's traditional taipa. Here you’ll find the three double rooms: Ouro, Ceu and Tamara. Each is big and airy; Ouro lacks a terrace, but Tamara and Ceu have gorgeous blue daybeds and views over the forest.

The four suites have a separate living room with a sofa or mezzanine beds, and a private kitchenette. During our latest revisit, we stayed in the Large Family Suite – Terra – which has space for up to 5 adults and is the only suite found in the Casa da Eira building – we loved the terracotta-coloured bathroom, oversized wicker lampshades and large leather trunk.

The remaining three suites – Gloria, Roma and Alva – are found in Casa do Monte, which is located a few hundred metres further into the forest, on top of a hill with breathtaking views of the valley. On a previous visit we were charmed by the Moroccan lanterns in Gloria Suite. Also, our toddler loved being able to clamber onto the low daybeds in the living room. We enjoyed the sense of peace and escapism, but it could feel isolated for folk who prefer plenty of company.

Whichever option you choose, you’ll get a private entrance and a slice of terrace with comfy cane seating and heather blinds for shade. Polished concrete floors hide surprisingly effective solar-generated underfloor heating, and those thick outer walls mean that even in the height of summer a fan alone will keep you cool.

All rooms are spotlessly clean and have decent-sized shower rooms. Freestanding sinks are set into shiny screed surfaces and there’s a simple hanging rack for your towels. You’ll also get organic locally made handmade soap and lotions, full of local herbs and essential oils (you'll be pleased to know you can buy these to take home too).

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• WiFi

Eating

Just beneath the main house, the breakfast casita is the epitome of 'going bush' at Muxima. Resembling a breezy beach shack with views out across the valley, it has low adobe walls, a corrugated tin roof with heather matting, and wooden shutters which can be dropped down according to the season.

A big buffet breakfast is laid up along its wooden counter and small tables are painted in bright, cheerful colours. It’s a wonderfully sociable affair, where guests often sit and chat for hours over fresh local bread, homemade jams, cheeses, yoghurts, fresh fruit, olives and hummus. Each day there’s a different (and delicious) homemade cake (orange and sage during our latest stay). This is the time to talk to Paula and Jelle about the day ahead; they are always generous with their time.

If you've booked a suite you may choose to make use of its small kitchenette. Simply equipped with pots and pans, crockery, a small fridge, an electric hob, a juicer and mini-dishwasher - perfect for families needing to feed babies and kids on demand (you can ask for a microwave on request).

Otherwise, you'll need to drive for lunch and dinner. Aljezur is less than 5 minutes away and has a local food market, a large supermarket and various eateries. This attractive small town has a huge ex-pat population (about a third!) so expect to hear a good deal of English being spoken.

Paula and Jelle's restaurant recommendations include Pont a Pé (in the centre of Aljezur) for traditional Alentejo cooking with friendly owners and welcoming prices, and veggie bistro MO (also in Aljezur), offering hearty, healthy vegan and veggie dishes to keep the hungriest of surfers satisfied. We enjoyed a romantic meal at VÁRZEA, and Arte Bianca is great for tasty takeaway pizzas.

For pre- or post-dinner tipples, Muxima's honesty bar provides the perfect excuse to watch day turn to dusk on your terrace, and they have a lovely selection of Portuguese natural wines.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Honesty bar
• Kids' meals

Activities

• Enjoy the tranquillity of this beautiful retreat: swim in the eco-pool, arrange a massage or a yoga lesson, seek out one of the many benches and hammocks hidden among the trees
  
• Don your walking boots and explore the 28 hectares of forest
  
• Kick back on the beautiful sandy beach at Amoreira. It sits at the mouth of a river, so there are calm shallows and rock pools for little ones, as well as great surfing conditions for older kids. While you’re there, treat yourself to a fish lunch at the Taberna do Gabriel
  
• You can also watch the surfers and windsurfers ride the waves at Monte Clerigo; lessons are available for the uninitiated
  
• Birdwatch: there are masses of feathered things in the forests surrounding the farm and the breakfast casita makes a perfect hide at dawn or dusk
  
• Across the main highway is the Southwest Algarvian Natural Park and the Vicentina Coast; host to 200 bird species and 750 known plant species, of which 46 are exclusively Portuguese with 10 endemics not found anywhere else in the world
  
• Learn how to make natural remedies and cosmetics with a local herbalist; ask about workshops centred around nature's pharmacy
  
• Within 5km of Muxima you can also go fishing, riding and diving (the B&B can arrange); a bit further afield are boat trips for dolphin watching

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Scuba diving
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Wildlife
• Windsurfing

Kids

Paula and Jelle, who have 4 children themselves, are genuinely welcoming and love to have families here. High chairs and travel cots can be set up with ease. There's plenty to do on the farm and in the surrounding forest, before you even start exploring the nearby area and beaches. Kids will love it, whether they're learning to surf, visiting the resident donkey, playing in the Wendy house and the climbing frame, settling into the mezzanine beds or swimming in the eco-friendly pool.

The only extra cost to be aware of is the small supplement for extra beds and cots (see rates).

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

The suites have kitchenettes and plenty of space for extra guests, plus those in Casa do Monte offer added seclusion and privacy. We'd recommend the Roma and Gloria suites (in Casa do Monte) for families with 1 or 2 children (they have space for 2 extra beds in the living room area). For those with 2 children or more, the Terra suite is the biggest overall and can hold a total of 3 extra beds. Note that all rooms have showers only, but baby baths are available on request.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: Just over 1 hour
• Medical attention: 10 minutes
• Nearest shop: 5 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Muxima is just inland from the southwest coast of Portugal, 3 minutes by road from the small town of Aljezur.

By Air
The nearest airport is Faro (100km). You could also fly to Lisbon (238km) or to Sevilla in Spain (314km), both approx 3-4 hours' drive from Muxima. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
When travelling from Faro Airport, most people hire a car (see below) and drive down the motorway towards Aljezur. It takes just over an hour, but beware of the tolls.

By Car
Muxima is quite remote so you will probably want to hire a car. Bear in mind that the property is accessed via a track when choosing your vehicle - see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Portugal and getting around