Paraiso Escondido

Sao Teotonio, Alentejo
Hotel
+351 912 470206
Visit owner's website

From
€250 - €350
per night

Immerse yourself in nature, wildlife, sustainability and slow food high up on the edge of a National Park

Bedroom

10 rooms

Sleeps

Rooms sleep 2

€250 - €350 per night

The Experience

Take the steeply winding road up and up, through Eucalyptus and Cork Oak forest, to emerge at this traditional-style, modern Alentejo house fronted by a sparkling swimming pool with amazing views. Whether you choose to stay in the house, a suite in the beautiful grounds or a bungalow on stilts high in the trees you’ll unbend nicely.

Connecting with nature, and yourself, is the aim. Find quiet spots outdoors for doing yoga or meditating, take a stroll around the grounds or strike out for wonderful walks and spot rare birds. Return to cosy wood fires, an honesty bar and farm-to-table food, including veg and fruit from the owners’ garden in season. A passion for sustainability is apparent in design and food.

The closest beaches are 15-25 minutes by car and include Zambujeira do Mar – Western Alentejo has one of the wildest and least developed coastlines in Europe and the Rota Vicentina coast path runs nearby. You’re close to lovely, unspoilt villages where you’ll find some of the best food in Portugal.

Paraiso Escondido - Gallery

We think you'll love

  • Being so high up for wonderful views
  • Feeling completely surrounded by nature
  • The total peace and quiet
Paraiso Escondido - Gallery

You should know

  • Once you're here it's an effort to go anywhere else
  • You need a car to get to beaches and restaurants
  • It's not for those seeking nightlife

Essentials

  • EV charger
  • Swimming pool
  • Hot tub
  • Garden
  • Open fire / woodburner
  • Breakfast included
  • Breakfast available
  • Meals available
  • Vegetarian meals
  • Parking on premises
  • Free parking nearby
  • Accessible by public transport
  • WiFi
  • Television
  • Spa
  • Central heating
  • Limited mobility
  • Wheelchair access
  • Mobile reception
  • Hob
  • Bar
  • Barbecue
  • Licensed premises
  • Paid parking nearby
  • Air conditioning
  • Relaxation areas
  • Washing machine
  • Tennis court
  • No smoking
  • Credit cards
  • Working farm
  • Owner has pets
  • Pets welcome

Family friendly

  • Baby monitor
  • Books and toys
  • Children welcome
  • Babies welcome
  • Stair gates
  • High chair
  • Fire guard
  • Cot available

Nearby

  • Pub/bar within 3 miles
  • Restaurant within 3 miles
  • Shop within 3 miles

Activities

  • Bikes available
  • Food courses
  • Kayaking
  • Other courses
  • Sailing
  • Surfing
  • Wild swimming

Accommodation

Pricing

Nightly price
from €250
5 Suites for 2
From €270
3 Doubles
From €250
2 Cabins for 2
From €300

Information

Booking information

Check in
From 2.30pm
Check out
12pm
Other details
Children over 11 welcome.
Closed
Rarely.
Owner has pets
Animals living on the property
Meals
Breakfast included. Dinner available on request €35 per person. Wine and drinks available at extra cost. Restaurants nearby.

Reviews

We spent a wonderful week here in September/October. Berny and Glenn were the consummate hosts and it was a real treat to stay in their beautiful home and enjoy their warm hospitality, superb breakfasts and evening meals. Perfect for a relaxing ‘do nothing’ holiday or a fabulous base for getting out and exploring the local area, with a wealth of walking opportunities on the nearby attractive wild Atlantic coast. This very special place is on our list for an essential return visit.

Ros, Weare, Axbridge

This place is absolute heaven. Warm and helpful hosts, Berny and Glen have created a tranquil retreat that is a balm to every sense - the rooms are exquisite and the food delicious and super nutritious . Set on a hilltop with glorious views, Paraiso is within easy driving distance of the wild and beautiful west coast beaches. Berny and Glen are an invaluable source of local information and recommendations and we enjoyed several really memorable seafood suppers overlooking the Atlantic. Our third visit in 2 years , and we’ll be back !!

Sally, Exeter

My husband and I had a much needed restorative holiday at Paraiso Escondido! It really is a hidden paradise. The area is a little known part of southern Portugal with a wild and stunningly beautiful coast great for walking. Its beaches are mainly deserted apart from surfers. The hotel is lovely with tasteful furnishings and comfortable accommodation. It is set on hills so the approach is steep and quite rough in a Eucalyptus forest, but is very peaceful. Our hosts looked after all our needs and were extremely knowledgeable about the area with good advice. You definitely need a car!

Avril, London

We are looking forward to our imminent third visit to this unique retreat having discovered Paraiso Escondido just over a year ago. Berny and Glen are warm and generous hosts and have created a stylish and tranquil haven in which to relax and unwind. Set on a hilltop affording spectacular views of Alentejo countryside it is also within easy driving distance of the most beautiful Wild West coast beaches and charming seafood restaurants. Berny and Glen are extremely helpful and happy to make informed and excellent suggestions for places to visit/see/eat. The breakfasts and evening meals are fab!

Benedict, Exeter

Berny and Glenn are such kind and attentive hosts. The whole setting is beautiful and relaxing, the dinners are sublime and I had the best night sleep in a long time! Wish we could have stayed longer.

Ella, Bristol

A great place to relax and unwind! Berny and Glenn are very welcoming and the food was exceptional! We really enjoyed our stay.

Florence, Bristol

This is a truly remote spot - you're high on a hillside with wonderful views and very friendly hosts who go the extra mile to make sure you relax. Wound up city dwellers will love the peace and quiet.

Nicola, Sawday's Inspector

We were greeted with a beautiful view and a very warm welcome from our superb hosts Berny and Glenn. We stayed in Cidreira, a luxurious wooden bungalow on stilts blessed with a magnificent vista across the valley. By day we relaxed by the pool and each evening were treated to some truly delicious and creative food, accompanied by Glenn's impressive collection of Portuguese wines, all prepared and served in the stunning main house - the style of which reflects Bernie's creativity and attention to detail. We had an amazing time - Paraiso Escondido really is a very special place.

julia, Liphook

Such a wonderful place! My husband and I stayed here for 3 nights and we treated ourselves to a stay in one of the brand new bungalows as a wedding anniversary treat. We knew the bungalow would be special from the website, but the view from our terrace took our breath away! We spent several hours spell bound by the view, and star gazing at the unpolluted sky at night. I was so inspired by the view I even did yoga on the terrace every morning. Berny and Glenn are the most welcoming hosts, the guesthouse is beautifully done and the food delicious. We very much hope to return!

Wendy, Bath

A place crafted with love and courage! A location that is absolutely fantastic : relaxing with all the pleasures including homemade food! A coast that feels like 50 years ago: wild and still not crowded good surfing, walking or just enjoying a dip in the atlantic! Berny and Glenn are just unique- dont tell everyone- it is a gem! Go and find out for yourself

Willem, Rome

From the minute we arrived we knew this was a very special place to stay. We had such a warm welcome and the owners Bernie and Glenn went out of their way throughout our stay to ensure that we had the very best experience. The attention to detail of every little touch makes Paradiso stand out from the rest. It is a beautiful, relaxing and calming place to stay where the owners really do care. The food was delicious and the accommodation beautiful. We had one of our best holidays here and we will no doubt be back.

Samantha, London

We had a wonderful 10 day stay in July with out two teenage boys. Berny & Glenn are so much more than hotel hosts, we felt like we became friends! They can't do enough to make your stay perfect! The breakfasts were AMAZING -freshly squeezed OJ, fruit platter, local cheese & ham & cooked to order (by Glenn) fabulous scrambled eggs! We had several dinners -the young chefs created incredible 3 course dinners, all beautifully served. Our boys loved the pool & the two dogs, Candy & Zulu! The new kitchen/lounge extension & bedrooms had all been designed with Berny's creative flair. We'll be back!

alison, Twickenham

Paraiso Escondido is truly a hidden paradise. It is located in a beautifully unspoiled part of Portugal with stunning beaches and pretty villages to discover. The property itself is nestled on top of a wooded hill with comfy, well-appointed rooms, a pool and plenty of space for lounging around. Berny and Glenn are the perfect hosts who invite you to feel at home with their friendly welcome. Their catering is fantastic, we loved the hearty morning breakfasts, delicious cups of tea, fabulous 3-course evening meals and Portuguese wines.

Sam, Cambridge

Read more reviews

Location

The neighbourhood

The house is high on a plateau on the edge of the Costa Vicentina National Park, one of Europe's most protected coastal areas. You can head for beaches which are popular with surfers, like Carvalhal, Odeceixe and Villa Nova de Milfontes or explore further and discover unspoilt beaches nestling among the cliffs and rocks. The almost total absence of high-rise hotels is a joy. Inland is even sleepier so explore the Alentejo countryside with its cork trees, olive groves and quiet villages. Stop for Porco Alentejano, Secretos de Porco Preto, fresh fish and shellfish from the unpolluted coastline, the freshest vegetables and some very fine world-class wines.

Local points of interest from Berny Serrão & Glenn Cullen

  • The South West Alentejo and the Costa Vicentina National Park is one of the finest preserved stretches of European coastline, from Porto Covo in the Alentejo, to Burgau in the Algarve. The Park can be visited by walks along the famous Rota Vicentina.
  • The Rota Vicentina comprises 400km of Fisherman’s Trails and Historical Routes.The beautiful River Mira is nearby and has been acknowledged as the cleanest river in Europe. Canoeing and boat trips can be arranged.
  • Many bird species can be seen, such as rare fish eagles. The rarest species is the white stork, given that this is the only place in the world where they build their nests in the seashore rocks.
  • The beaches are highly popular amongst surfers, and are some of the finest in the country. There are a tremendous variety of natural and unspoiled beaches, including long stretches of sand and small beaches nestled between the cliffs and rocks
  • The Alentejo is still relatively undiscovered and is often referred to as the Tuscany of Portugal with its beautiful sun drenched rolling landscapes dotted with sleepy villages surrounded with cork trees and olive groves and its wonderful gastronomy.
  • Food lovers will enjoy some of the best seafood and shellfish from the unpolluted waters of the Costa Vicentina.The wines from this region are a hidden gem, with many wonderful Wineries producing world-class wines.

Introducing

Berny Serrão & Glenn Cullen

Berny (an artist) grew up in Mozambique and South Africa and her paintings, many inspired by her Asian travels, are dotted about the house. Glen (born in Australia) has also worked and travelled in many different countries. They're both passionate about sustainability and have installed solar panels to provide hot water and collect rain water which is channeled into a lake for irrigating the lawns and vegetable garden. Berny and Glen's inspiration and driving passion is to share with their guests this very special part of the world and to allow them to utterly relax here.