Aqua Ventura

What an amazing place and lovely hosts! Felt home right away.
I have a very complicated diet I need to follow, and was so so happy that they were able to provide that for me. The dishes Violetta made for me there inspired me and I make them back home as well now.
This is a place I can recommend to all! Mainly because of the amazing combination of nature, the food, the honorable hosts, Jonathan and Violetta, and the activities you can do. And the way they take the time for you.
I visited for the yoga retreat which was absolutely amazing.
P.s. they have a pool, a very comfortable bed and spacious rooms AND an extra outside shower with a view :)
P.p.s. I was happily surprised about the fair prices for the activities.

Awesome walking holiday! Jonathan, Violeta, and Isabella are wonderful hosts. The property is amazing, and well as the entire surrounding area. The walks were challenging, but not extreme. The stops on the beaches for swim were a great way to cool off. Even if you do not like swimming, the beaches are a beautiful place to have a rest and eat lunch. Speaking of lunch, the food is incredible. Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and incredible dinners. A great trip for a wellness break and fun in the sun!

I stayed at Aqua Ventura for a yoga retreat, the rooms are lovely with super comfy beds, it’s super quiet, the sky at night looks amazing there and it’s well situated to drive to lots of lovely beaches nearby. Violetta and Jonathan are great hosts and Violetta’s cooking is amazing! Would love to return.

We booked a walking and swimming holiday with KE Adventure
and stayed with Jonathan and Violeta here. Their home is beautiful and they really made us feel welcome. Jonathan and his daughter Isabella are great guides and Violeta is an amazing cook who prepared delicious food for us every day. I hope we can return one day.

We stayed 6 nights at Violets & Jonathan beautiful place. From the beginning we felt really at home. For all the activities in the area they provided us with very special and local tips (location, activity, restaurant-wise). We did an amazing hike at the coastline, saw a lot of amazing beaches (Jonathan gave us tips for the different weather situations.). We were also able to rent bikes directly at the farm. There was also the possibility to do yoga. Would definitely come again with friends/family.

Amazing cycling holiday. Beautiful location in the hills in a little heaven built by owners. Comfortable rooms with bathrooms, and a main area for meals and relaxing. (All solar powered). Great view of the stars at night. The cycling is aimed at the leisure rider. Jonathan was very flexible and based each day around us. The challenges for me were the gravel tracks and the heat (higher than normal in Oct). Jonathan is a considerate teacher and helped with mountain bike techniques. He adjusted the rides to earlier in the day to avoid the worst of the heat. The "aqua" in the name is a clue. Be prepared to head to the beautiful beaches and have a go in the waves. The food is amazing thanks to Violeta's outstanding skills and recipes. Also there was a day to relax in Lagos mid-trip. Lovely place to walk around with lots a good restaurants and a wonderful sunset from the lighthouse (picture). We booked the cycling holiday through KE Adventures.

Aqua ventura is definitely a place to retreat from the busy world and connect with nature. The property was built and designed by the hosts Violeta and Jonathan with great attention to detail and a focus on sustainability. There are 18 beds in small, individual and very clean rooms/bungalows, making it an intimate place that is about connections and not just service. Viloeta's cooking skills are unique, she attaches great importance to regional ingredients, preferably from her own garden. Jonathan is the best guide for hikes in the area and water sports activities. Both pay great attention to life in harmony with the nature. The location of the accommodation is absolutely quiet in the middle of cork oaks but to the closest beaches it's only a 10-15 min drive by car. My stay with them as part of a yoga retreat was unforgettably beautiful for the second time already. I would definitely like to come back.

We have never repeated a holiday except for visiting Aqua Ventura. We've now done the family adventure week 2x! This is truly a special place hosted by the most incredible people. The activities are fantastic and adjustable to the individual level. The meals are unbelievably great, varied and plentiful, all prepared with love by Violetta and her helpers. This is a family run independent business which makes a massive difference in the pride and care that goes into every aspect of the stay, ensuring all the guests have a wonderful time. I cannot recommend this holiday and these hosts enough!

Violeta and Jonathan were incredibly warm hosts. I was there for a workation and was able to work remotely in a wonderful and inspiring atmosphere. In the mornings and evenings I could admire the sunrise and sunset on the beach nearby, enjoy long walks, watch the surfers and paragliders. It's a place of inspiration and magic that makes you feel at peace. Jonathan has great tips and offers for walks on the south and west coasts of the Algarve, exceptional leisure activities and local restaurants. The guests all have the same spirit and I had a lovely sense of community as a single person. In the mornings and evenings we met in the African hut to cook. Without obligation and as it suited us, there were always nice and funny conversations. The bungalows are a dream and very stylishly furnished with attention to detail. I slept like a baby. I will come back next time, then for a longer time. I am also planning to organise a workation for digital nomads and remote work combined with yoga or surfing there. Absolutely heartily recommended.

Had a wonderful October break, walking in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park with Aqua Ventura. Early October very warm sunny days and welcome breezes. Short steep ascents and descents rewarded with magnificent scenery and a chance to cool off in the sea. Our stay was relaxing and comfortable with the most delicious home cooked food.

Over years we have made a lot of trips and on my to-do was to treat my self to a yoga-retreat and give my self a new experience and wow, staying at Aqua Ventura was like staying with great friends and family that you miss when you go home. Besides an amazing yoga-retreat with a bunch of great people and teachers we also found Violeta & Jonathan that I find myself missing, wanting to go back, introduce my kids to them and well, if you are looking for something nice, calming and great fun in a beautiful place then Aqua Ventura is the place to go. Violetas cooking, Jonathans knowledge about water, waves and the beautiful surroundings of Aqua Ventura gave us memories for life!

We had stayed with Jonathan and Violeta as part of a walking group in Oct 18 and had really enjoyed the walking and staying at the Lodge and wanted to go again. Our proposed return in 2020 had to be cancelled because of travelling restrictions but we made it back to Aqua Ventura in the Western Algarve National Park in Oct 21. On this trip we concentrated on cycling the back roads and trails of this wonderful landscape of rugged countryside and breath taking coastline as well as fitting in some trips to some excellent beaches for swimming and bodyboarding. Jonathan guided the bike rides and produced some wonderful routes for us to enjoy and be challenged by. Violeta led the team back at the lodge producing fantastic food at every meal and maintaining a wonderful relaxed atmosphere for us all to enjoy.

An excellent stay with two wonderful hosts and we look forward to being able to return again in the future to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and comforts of the Lodge and the fun and enjoyment the area can offer.

We have just returned from our holiday at Aqua-Ventura that as a family we will always remember as the best and most exciting time together.
Jonny and Violetta, along with their family and volunteers, are the most amazing hosts and fun people to be with. Jonny’s skill, enthusiasm and expertise ensure that whatever your ability you will get the best out of each day. We were challenged to try new activities in a safe but exciting way, building confidence as the week progressed.
Violetta’s cooking is fantastic, catering for all tastes. She certainly knows what adults and children enjoy. Not only is she a great cook, she knows how to throw a party, dance and involve everyone.
Aqua-Ventura is a truly magical place for excitement and relaxation in a beautiful unspoilt part of Portugal where there are plenty of opportunities for adults and children to make new friends. Our grandchildren loved the freedom to explore the farm often accompanied by the most friendly dogs you could ever meet.
It’s easy to see why people return.

Sophia 11yrs - I will never forget this experience, everyone there is so lovely. Everyone should experience it at least once in their lifetime.
Elizabeth 8 yrs - it was very exciting and every day was an adventure. Chocolate and Alana are such friendly dogs who I loved playing with.

John and Carolyn Carpenter

Lovely place in the middle of nature where you feel the good vibes and energy of beautiful surroundings and lovely people. Jon and Violeta are warm and kind and make you feel very welcome. Really open and pure, always time for a talk about life and all kind of other things.
I booked first for 5 nights, but it felt so good to be here so I extended my stay for another 7 nights. Every time when I came back in my cottage it felt like home. The kitchen is great to meet other people and they have a shared living room where you can just sit and relax, read, use internet and enjoy the coziness of a fire when its cold outside.
Aqua Ventura is really close to beautiful beaches, where you can surf or just enjoy the beach. And easy to drive to Lagos and Sagres.
I will absolutely recommend this place. Just surprise yourself and give it as a little gift to yourself you will not regret :)

I just had one of the most amazing holidays at Aqua Ventura !! one week yoga and surfing retreat at a very beautiful ecological place with an amazing vibes!! The host ( Johnny and Violeta) are one of the most beautiful people i have ever met !! so warm and welcoming and full of love and wisdom and sense of humerus and stories to tell !! the food that they serve is mostly made of vegetables they grow in their garden. The quality of food is mind blowing and you will feel and taste all the love they put into their cooking !! I will defenitly go back !!

We visited as a family of 4 (Mum, Dad, Daughter-17, Son-14) for the family activity holiday from 30th July- 6th August 2022. It was 7 days of pure bliss. I'll separate this review into a few sections so you can really appreciate the vast beauty of what is provided in the holiday.

Food
Wow, the food. I unfortunately didn't get any photos of Violeta's amazing cooking because I was too busy devouring it. However, no photos are needed to remember how good it was. Violeta was superb at accommodating everyone's needs (my brother and I are vegetarian and there were pescetarians and dairy- free people in our group). We were provided with three fulfilling meals most days, apart from a few where we ate out for lunch/ dinner. We ate well every day and there was a consensus among everyone that the food was delicious.

Activities
Johnathan and the guides showed amazing organisation skills and adaptability every day when it came to making sure the whole group was doing something they enjoyed. As well as organising the set activities, they also allowed for change to suit everyone (People who couldn't cycle had a trip in the bus to the beach, those scared of heights did art at the farm on the rock climbing day etc). The group a wide variety of ages, with two young children of 7 and 8, who were always included and managed to complete most of the activities with the rest of us. The actual activities included cycling, Rock climbing, surfing, kayaking, hiking, t- shirt painting and a boat trip. It was impossible to be bored this holiday and each day we came back to the farm shattered but wholly content and elated.

The farm
As you can see from the gorgeous photos I have attached, the accommodation is amazing. The farm is peaceful, serene and beautiful. Violeta and the volunteers work hard to keep the place clean, the communal facilities such as the african showers and central lounge and dining area are unique and beautifully decorated. The rooms themselves are cosy and well equipped, each has an en suite bathroom with a shower and toilet. The outside area has so many hammocks and a swinging seat which was my favourite place to read. There is also a table tennis table which obviously incited many cross-family competitive rounds of table tennis.

Hosts
I have probably never met such accommodating hosts as Violeta and Jonathan, they said at the start of our visit 'our house is your house, whatever you need, ask' and they truly meant it. I felt so welcomed and at home, they went above and beyond to meet our needs. I'll include Chocolate, Lana, Lily and Blackie in this section because they also made sure my stay was unbeatable. The two dogs and two cats mentioned above were an amazing surprise bonus to the holiday, they became my best friends and are amazingly chill and friendly. Chocolate even followed our group into the village to sit by our table as we ate at a restaurant, he sat there happily watching and then came back with us.

Overall, I hope it's clear how good this holiday was and iI want to thank everyone involved in making it so special.

I cannot overstate how wonderful our week at Aqua Ventura was. We did the Family Adventure week, and it was so much fun for both the kids (10 & 14) and the adults. Every day, every activity was fun and wild, while also being inclusive for everyone. Johnny and Violeta are marvelous hosts. The food was incredible, with lots of home-grown fruits and vegetables, and the setting is very homely. They make you feel like part of the family.
The location is remote enough to be totally relaxing but still easy tog et to, and the rooms were roomy, clean and lovely.
This is not the last time we will come here and enjoy Portugal and the amazing hospitality of Aqua Ventura.

Go to Aqua Ventura to be close to nature. Go for the feeling of peace and tranquility, for the sea, the surf.

Go for the hiking, the biking, the climbing, the pirating in the kayak to stunning secret beaches.

Go and learn from Johnny’s wisdom, the kindest expert guide who will help you be your best.

Violetta will make you laugh and smile, and drool for her delicious food.

Go so your kids can become obsessed with their kids (and Dylan can beat you at cards. And everything else)

Go so you can meet the family in Portugal you never knew you had.

Go and experience the magic yourself because a review can never do it justice… and count the days until you can return.

Anna, Manchester

Aqua Ventura is one of the most special places we’ve ever been! Truly an unique stay, in a very peaceful, quiet and beautiful area. The place is very eco-friendly as it runs completely on solar power, and it has an amazing veggie garden (with the most tasty fruits). Jonathan and Violeta (the owners) are super kind and welcoming, they make sure you have a lovely stay. They know the area very well, and they have great tips/facilities to do the best activities (eg. hiking, surfing, cycling, kayaking, etc). The most beautiful quiet beaches are only a short drive away. We would definitely recommend Aqua Ventura if you’re looking for an unforgettable stay! We hope to be back soon to this special place :).

Just got back from the most amazing yoga and surf retreat, hosted at Aqua Ventura. The owners of this place, Jonathan and Violeta, are the most beautiful people you can meet. Besides being extremely kind and caring, they've provided us with the most amazing home cooked meals every day (breakfast, lunch & dinners). I'm celiac (with a strict obligatory gluten free diet) and all the food has just been incredibly delicious and very safe. It's all vegetarian, mostly home grown and something different every single day. Tip of the week: never skip dessert! (they are sooo good!)
Would highly recommend going here, not just with a retreat, but also just to experience the little oasis they've created. Close to the beach, yet you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere (with amazing wifi in there common area - for "working from home" if needed..). A place to truely relax, recharge yourselves and feel nourished.