OceanBlue Portugal, near Sagres, Portugal - Explore & Book

"At the tip of southwest Europe, Costa Vicentina Natural Park is one of Portugal’s least-developed regions: a wild landscape of jagged cliffs, hidden coves, gently forested hills and sun-beaten villages. It's only an hour from Faro, yet it feels worlds away. For boat builder Sean and personal trainer Lucy, it's a perfect setting for their OceanBlue dream: leading small groups on off-the-map adventures to beautiful places. Their striking white villa, set among wild gardens overlooking the sea, is split into four self catering apartments. Interiors are modern and bright, with simple Scandi-style kitchens and azure tones running throughout. Shady terraces lead out to the main pool, where you could spend your days in blissful recline. But it would be a shame to miss out on discovering the natural beauty around you. There are stunning clifftop hikes, gentle rivers to paddle, twisting valleys to ride, and a glistening coast to explore on a slick catamaran (Cheetah no.500, handbuilt by Sean). Guided activities are optional and tend to be led in small groups adapted for all ages, abilities and levels of adventure. When it comes to beaches, the sandy bays of the south coast are walkable, and the surf beaches of the west coast are 20 minutes by car. And if, after an active day, you don’t then feel like cooking, it’s a gentle stroll to cute-as-a-button Burgau village (0.5km), where beachside tavernas make gourmet treats out of fresh-as-you-like seafood. We went to OceanBlue feeling a tad apprehensive about an active holiday; we left feeling completely reinvigorated and longed for more time - both of us utterly charmed by this wild corner of untouched Algarve. Highs A great place to come as a couple, with friends or as a familyThe gorgeous setting in a natural park, with walking and biking trails right from the door, and beaches 5 minutes awayWonderful activities exploring under-the-radar spots: guided mountain-bike rides, paddleboard tours and catamaran trips to secret coves. Do as much or as little as you'd likeThe local village of Burgau is a gem, home to a lovely beach and some great tavernasAn easy, laid-back atmosphere, sparked by fabulous hosts Lucy and Sean Lows The villa is a little tricky to find, especially if arriving at night - make sure you print out Lucy's instructions before comingThere's a blind bend when driving out from the villa - use the mirror mounted on the wall oppositeKitchens don't have ovens or much in the way of storage space but are fine for preparing simple meals. There's a communal BBQ and a bar and seating area by the poolYou'll need to bring beach towelsThe owners have small friendly dogs, but these can be kept away from communal areas" - Lucy Richardson