Villa Hibiscus – Armação de Pêra, Portugal
On the outskirts of the Salgados nature reserve, and right on Praia da Galé, Villa Hibiscus sits in gardens with a large terrace. It enjoys the best of both worlds – a peaceful location, but close to the bars and restaurants of its neighbours. The protected reserve is full of walking and cycling trails, whilst the beach and coastline offers fabulous water sports opportunities. Hibiscus is low slung and beautifully designed for Mediterranean living.
The cool interiors are eclectically and colourfully decorated with objects from Asia and Africa, and rooms are filled with light. Outside, the gardens and terrace are the main focus, with their sun loungers and hammocks, looking out over the expansive Atlantic.
At A Glance
Villa
Why We Love It:
For the wide terrace and pool facing the beach.Sleeps:
Ten in five en suite bedrooms.Style:
Contemporary boho chic.Service:
Self-catered with continental breakfast & daily housekeeping.Location:
On Praia da Galé, between Armação de Pêra and Albufeira, 15km from Albufeira – 28km from Faro airport and 270km from Lisbon.Swimming:
A large heated pool and Galé beach.Children:
A perfect villa for families.rooms
Each of the five bedrooms has an en suite bathroom. The Master Bedroom and a further three rooms all have king size beds. The fifth, and slightly smaller room, is a twin.
service & extras
The villa comes with a continental breakfast each morning and daily housekeeping. If you’d like your fridge stocked before you arrive, this can easily be arranged. Guests can cater themselves, or use the restaurants and bars of Vila Vita Parc. There are also the services of a private chef and butler, as well as a driver.
facilities
The villa has a very well-equipped and open plan kitchen, with a large terrace and outside dining table that can seat up to ten, and a barbecue. Guests staying in Villa Hibiscus have the use of many of the facilities and restaurants of Vila Vita Parc. There are a total of ten restaurants and six bars, serving traditional Portuguese and international cuisine, including Ocean which holds two Michelin stars.
activities
This is a beautiful part of the Algarve to visit and explore. Pretty fishing villages and plentiful beaches along the coast, whilst inland, you’ll find castles, hilltop towns and lots of trails for hiking or cycling. At Vila Vita Parc, there’s a multitude of water sports, tennis, cookery lessons and wine tasting. The Algarve has its fair share of excellent golf courses – a total of 36 to choose from. Rent a boat for a day and spot dolphins, or go big game fishing.
Not far away is the stunning Ria Formosa Natural Park, with river canals and islets. There’s horse riding, hot air ballooning and off the beaten track jeep safaris.
family
With the beach on the doorstep and two water parks close by, there’s no shortage of family activities on and off the water.
Armação de Pêra
West of Albufeira, Armação de Pêra sits around a large sandy bay, interspersed with little coves – the beach being a magnet for families. The old part of the village is lined with cobbled streets, contained within fortified whitewashed walls. The fishing boats are still pulled up onto the beach each morning, where there catch then makes its way to the many restaurants, here and further afield. At the headland of Nossa Senhora da Rocha, there’s a medieval fortress and tiny chapel, and the start of a spectacular coastal path.
Location
Villa Hibiscus has the beauty of being right on the edge of Salgados nature reserve, with its protected wetlands and close to Armação de Pêra, - 10km from Vila Vita Parc, and an ideal location for exploring the Algarve.
