37°23'48.3"N 8°23'11.9"W

Rooted
in Rhythm.

Boutique Stay · São Marcos da Serra
Inland Algarve · Portugal

Here, you don't stay to escape life.You stay to feel it again.

Alma do Vale is a two-room boutique stay tucked away in a valley, surrounded by nature in the inland Algarve. With cork oaks, open hills, a pool, good food and wine, and plenty of space to spend your days exactly as you like.

This is not a resort. Not a retreat. Not a bubble outside your life. It is a place where your own rhythm finds its way back to you. Swim before breakfast, head to the coast, open a book, find a long lunch somewhere, walk through the hills or simply pour a glass of wine on your terrace and see where the evening takes you.

Discover the stay→

“All life is rhythm.
Without rhythm, there is no flow.”

The Stay

Two carefully considered spaces. Both with everything you need, and nothing you don't. Generous beds, private terraces and thoughtful details that make it easy to settle in.

Discover our rooms

The Studio

35m² · from €185/night · minimum 2 nights

The Studio is our most spacious stay, with a separate sleeping area, comfortable living space and a generously sized bathroom with a rain shower. A fully equipped kitchenette and private terrace give you everything you need to make yourself at home, whether you're staying for a few nights or a little longer.

2 guests (+ child under 3)

• King-size bed

• Fridge & induction hob

• Coffee & tea station

• Small living area

• Private terrace & lounge

• Luxury rain shower

• Bathrobes & towels

• Climate control (heating & cooling)

The Grounds

Space to move in.
Space to do nothing.

Garden Dining

Start the day with breakfast in the garden and come back to the table for dinner in the evening. Seasonal, local and made with care, with good Portuguese wine to go with it.

Yoga & Gym

Our outdoor yoga deck and gym are yours to use throughout your stay. Roll out a mat, join one of our yoga sessions or fit in a workout whenever you like.

Pool & Lounge

A 10-metre saltwater pool surrounded by nature, with loungers and plenty of shaded space around it. Swim, cool down or find your spot and spend the afternoon by the water.

Nature & Trails

Alma do Vale is surrounded by nature, with walking trails starting right from the property and plenty more to explore in the surrounding hills.

Sunset deck

Set above the valley, our new sunset deck is a place to take in the view and watch the sun disappear behind the hills. Bring one of our picnic baskets filled with local favourites.

Coming 2027.

Garden & Terraces

Across the grounds you'll find different terraces, seating areas and quiet corners, surrounded by cork oaks, fruit trees and the changing landscape of the valley.

Featured In

“A place where you truly unwind,
where nothing is expected of you,
and that immediately feels like home.”

Barts Boekje

Read the full article→

Experiences

A little extra if
you feel like it.

Staying in doesn't mean doing nothing. And heading out doesn't have to mean ticking off the Algarve's highlights. We've collected a few things we love doing here ourselves, from a massage at home and a good bottle of Portuguese wine to taking a mountain bike into the hills. And if you feel like heading further out, we'll happily point you towards the places we keep going back to.

01 — MASSAGE & TREATMENTS

Feel like a massage or treatment? We'll ask our local therapists to come by, so you don't have to leave the valley.

From €50

02 — MOUNTAIN BIKES

Take one of our bikes and head into the hills. We'll show you a few routes to get you started.

€25 per day

03 — WINE TASTING

Join us for a guided wine tasting in the valley, featuring local Portuguese producers and a selection of small bites.

From €47,50 p.p.

04 — OUR TIPS

Restaurants we love, beaches we return to and places worth the drive. Ask us where to go and we'll happily share our favourites.

The one that
made us stay.

The Valley

Alma do Vale is tucked away in a small valley near São Marcos da Serra, surrounded by cork oaks, rolling hills and nature. Its central location makes it easy to explore the south, west and east of the Algarve, while back in the valley, life feels a world away from its busier parts.

It is not a bubble outside of life. It is life. A place to catch your breath, but also to taste, to move, to explore and make plans. To stay close to home one day and head out the next. That's what Rooted in Rhythm means to us: the freedom to find your own balance between exploration and relaxation.

SIMPLE · SLOW · ALIVE

Where are
we located?

Tucked away, but well connected. Alma do Vale's central location makes it easy to explore different sides of the Algarve – from the south and west coasts beaches to nearby towns, villages and the mountains.

São Marcos da Serra — 10 min

Alte Waterfall & Spring – 30 min

South Coast — 40 min

Silves — 40 min

Monchique — 40 min

Loule – 45 min

West Coast — 60 min

Faro Airport — 60 min

The final stretch to Alma do Vale takes you along an 2 minute unpaved country road. A little bumpy in places, but also the moment where the outside world starts to disappear and the valley begins.

Finding your way to Alma do Vale

Our Story

We searched
for this for
two years.

We're Niels and Carlijn. After two years of searching in Portugal, we arrived in this valley with our dog Alloe and knew this was the place. Alma do Vale wasn't a business plan looking for a building. We fell for the valley first, and the rest followed.

We come from the Netherlands, with a background in hospitality and a love for good food, wine, yoga, being outside and bringing people together. Those are the things that naturally found their way into Alma do Vale, simply because they're the things that make us happy too.

Portugal finds its way into a stay at Alma do Vale: the morning bica, long lunches, local wines, seasonal ingredients, and the makers and producers we've come to know along the way. You'll find some of it here in the valley, and we'll happily point you towards the rest. Not a curated version of Portugal, but the Portugal we're getting to know every day.

Book your stay→

Niels & Carlijn with dog Alloe at Alma do Vale

Something specific in mind?

Alma do Vale can be more than a place to stay. From celebrations, honeymoons and private dinners to shoots, events and collaborations. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll see what we can make happen.

This is what
they told us.

Reviews

“It was simple, thoughtful and beautiful. But more than that, what was special was getting to experience a glimpse into their lives and what they've created as a family. There is love at the core of this place, and you can feel it.”

– Chentell – Hawaii

“Alma do Vale is everything we had hoped for and more. The food was incredible, from breakfast to dinner paired with the most amazing wines. Niels and Carlijn are thoughtful hosts and have a profound love for the space they have created.”

– Jade – UK

“You can feel the ambition and passion. We had breakfast and dinner, the food was super tasty and the whole experience was better than I could have imagined. I highly recommend experiencing it for yourself.”

– Will – Portugal

“It’s a very special place run by two amazing people. I’ll be dreaming about the breakfasts for a long time! After visiting Portugal all of my life, I have never stayed somewhere like this and I can’t wait to come back!”

– Lucy – UK

Rootedin Rhythm.