We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The Tripadvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.
Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.
The listings of booking offers for each property take into account the compensation paid to us by our partners. Prices shown may be for varying room types. Prices displayed are the lowest available, corresponding to the least expensive room type available, as provided from our partners as of the time of the user’s search.

Paradise In Portugal

Quinta do Barranco da Estrada, Santa Clara a Velha 7665-880 Portugal
avatar-imageavatar-imageavatar-image
Traveller (391)
Room & Suite (79)
Pool & Beach (25)
What is Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best?
This award is our highest recognition and is presented annually to those businesses that are the Best of the Best on Tripadvisor, those that earn excellent reviews from travellers and are ranked in the top 1% of properties worldwide.
Learn more

View prices for your travel dates

Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.

About

#1 of 2 guest houses in Santa Clara a Velha
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
2023 Travellers' Choice Best of the Best
GreenLeaders Platinum level
The essence of the Quinta is a small, intimate, holiday retreat for peace and relaxation. It boasts a blend of traditional hospitality, "International home-cooking" cuisine and a friendly atmosphere with excellent, friendly service. Set in a beautiful lakeside location, the Quinta is surrounded by unspoiled countryside with a wide variety of wildlife and rare birds in its gardens and surrounding countryside. In short it's Paradise in Portugal.
Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool / beach towels
Yoga classes
Free breakfast
Boating
Canoeing
Children's playground
Wifi
Yoga room
Sauna
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Kid-friendly buffet
Kids' meals
Outdoor dining area
Special diet menus
Wine / champagne
Hiking
Snorkelling
Windsurfing
Fishing
Table tennis
Walking tours
Board games / puzzles
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Highchairs available
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Airport transportation
Taxi service
Full body massage
Massage
Baggage storage
Outdoor fireplace
Outdoor furniture
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
Sun umbrellas
First aid kit
Umbrella
Laundry service
Show more
Room features
Blackout curtains
Desk
Dining area
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Coffee / tea maker
Oven
Bidet
Separate dining area
Sofa
Private bathrooms
Tile / marble floor
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Electric kettle
Walk-in shower
Bath / shower
Show more
Room types
Mountain view
Landmark view
Pool view
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
3.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Languages Spoken
English, French, German, Portuguese

Location

Quinta do Barranco da Estrada, Santa Clara a Velha 7665-880 Portugal
Name/address in local language
Paradise In Portugal
481Reviews0Q+A100Room tips

Reviews
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.

Traveller rating
  • 444
  • 31
  • 4
  • 2
  • 0
Time of year
Traveller type
Language
  • More
Selected filters
  • Filter
  • English
Popular mentions
Sort by:
Most Recent
avatar-image
T W wrote a review Nov 2023
1 contribution
We stayed four nights at the Quinta do Barranco da Estrada to relax and do some birding with host Frank McClintock, an accomplished birder and wildlife photographer. Our room was spacious, clean, and comfortable. The Quinta is “off the grid” but everything ran without a hitch on their solar and generator powered system. The meals at the Quinta were excellent, as co-host Daniela is an accomplished chef. Frank took us birding on the Alentejo plain south of the Quinta, along rural roads, and also along the Atlantic coast. We were there in October, the tail end of birding season, but we saw lots of birds. The Quinta is situated on a ridge top up an unpaved but well-maintained road a couple of miles from the nearest town and overlooking a huge reservoir lake. Steps from the Quinta lead down to the water. The premises have a lush garden that attracts birds and butterflies. Quinta staff met us at the Santa Clara-Saboia train station when we arrived and took us back to the station for our return trip to Lisbon. There is also local taxi service. Another couple who stayed there while we were there drove their rented car to the Quinta. In short, the Quinta do Barranco da Estrada merits the name the hosts bestowed on their business: “Paradise in Portugal.” We had a good time there and enjoyed interacting with the hosts and with the other guests.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
Lucy G wrote a review Nov 2023
Derbyshire, United Kingdom5 contributions2 helpful votes
+1
I have visited 'Paradise in Portugal' many times and each time it never ceases to impress. The beautiful home of Frank and Daniela McClintock! Frank is an expert in his knowledge of the area and with his passion for wildlife it makes for a wonderful experience. The accommodation is so comfortable, spacious and sensitively decorated. The home cooked food is amazing and all prepared by Daniela...I love it all! She is so talented. The gardens at the Quinta have been designed, cultivated and maintained with wildlife in mind and my favorite time to visit is in the Spring when swallows surround the Quinta. If paradise is what you are looking for...this is certainly it! I look forward to visiting again soon.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
Pamela F wrote a review Oct 2023
2 contributions1 helpful vote
La Quinta was a very nice place to stay, with comfortable rooms, great service and very good meals. The reservoir was very refreshing after a long day of birding. We participated in four full-day and one half-day birding tours with both Frank and Tony, covering coastal, wetlands, mountains and plains. We brought a scope with us in addition to our binoculars, which was very helpful. Our total bird species for the trip was 112 species.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
Chris&Nicole wrote a review Oct 2023
Wirksworth, United Kingdom10 contributions
The Quinta was a fabulous place to stay, so relaxing, and in such beautiful surroundings. Frank and Daniela's hospitality was wonderful and they made us feel very welcome. The food was always so delicious (thank you Daniela!) and very thoughtfully catered for a gluten-free diet. Frank is an excellent and very knowledgeable bird guide, ably supported by Tony, and he took us to see some amazing birds during our week's stay. A special mention also for Frank’s dinner time playlists, which took us back to much of the music of our youth!
Read more
Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
Gill E wrote a review Oct 2023
1 contribution
+1
Truly a little bit of paradise. We were there on a printmaking holiday but had plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful lake and gardens.Top memory: an early morning swim as pine scented mist rolled across the lake. Delicious food ! Thanks for everything Frank and Daniela!
Read more
Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
Wendy N wrote a review Oct 2023
1 contribution
If your idea of a holiday is to escape to the countryside of southern Portugal, while still having amazing internet connectivity then a stay at the Quinto do Barranco do Estrada, Santa Clara is well worth adding to your list, either if you simply want a place to relax and wind down for a few days but especially if you are interested in the birds and wildlife of the area as owner Frank McLintock leads birdwatching tours. He was taking an American couple around the area when we first arrived. We were there with Lucy Gell who has run printmaking weeks at Paradise in Portugal for the last few years. I’d seen her advertise it on her website and thought that it would be a lovely way to spend a week away in the sunshine of a Portugal and I wasn’t disappointed. We were collected from Faro airport by Frank and Elias and taken back by Frank who took us on a detour so we could see the flamingos in the pools at the edge of the airfield. One more highlight for me was the morning bird watching walk we did with Frank, where Frank spotted a range of birds for us that we wouldn’t see in the UK, including Red Rump swallows flying by the dam I particularly enjoyed the choice of breakfast and lunch and being able to choose what I wanted. So a big thank you to Daniella for the three meals a day she served up for us and also thank you to Frank, Elias, Dulce and David for making our stay such a wonderful experience.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
Bernard B wrote a review Oct 2023
2 contributions
My wife and I had a wonderful holiday in the perfectly-named “Paradise in Portugal”, she on a print-making course and I exploring on a mountain bike kindly loaned by the endlessly genial and knowledgeable host, Frank. We loved the scenery, the location and the whole ambience of the place. It is so easy to wander down to the lake to go for a swim, take out a canoe or go paddle-boarding. Frank, who is an authority on birds in Portugal, guided us through our first proper birding expedition and very enjoyable it was. We can’t overlook Daniella and her team’s wonderful home cooking – Portuguese in style with vegans, vegetarians and general eaters catered for. All the guests ate at the same time at the same table which helped everyone to meet everyone else – a very sociable arrangement and a definite plus. Five stars isn’t enough!
Read more
Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
Welshcobrider wrote a review Oct 2023
5 contributions2 helpful votes
Can't recommend this place highly enough if you want to get away from it all. Lives up to its billing as "a small, intimate, holiday retreat for peace and relaxation with traditional hospitality and excellent service". A beautiful, tranquil, remote setting with lush gardens, comfy accommodation and a warm welcome from wonderful hosts. Its like visiting favourite relatives who want you to enjoy your stay, and make sure you are well fed ! Continental style buffet breakfast with freshly squeezed orange juice, buffet lunch with big choice, and a candle-lit 3 course evening meal. I'm a vegetarian and was well catered for. Meals are served "en famille" so you can chat to other guests and the team: Frank has some great stories and book recommendations! Comfy bed with plenty of pillows, clean rooms, lovely gardens with shady and sunny spots to relax in. Swimming /paddle-boarding/canoeing in the lake. Big lounge with books, board games and a guitar available. The wi-fi works well. Frank and Tony are enthusiastic birders and love sharing their knowledge- they even got me enthused when I thought I wasn't interested in birds! Frank added in a short detour to take us to see flamingos on our transfer to Faro airport- and pointed out several other species as well. Watching the flamingos take off and fly was a special sight.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
David C wrote a review Oct 2023
Orillia, Canada5 contributions1 helpful vote
+1
We thoroughly enjoyed the birding trips, meals, meeting different people at the communal meals, gardens and facilities. Frank was very accommodating and made airport transfers easy. Frank and Tony went out of their way to try to find the best birding areas and their knowledge of the local birds was outstanding.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
Vivien K wrote a review Oct 2023
1 contribution
+1
Lives up to its name, it really is Paradise. Just driving down the rough track from Santa Clara and getting the first view of the Quinta and lake warrants a “Wow” and it doesn’t end there. It is a place of sheer peace and tranquility and for bird watching outstanding. Frank is an excellent spotter and photographer and knows exactly where to go to find the birds. Together with Daniela and their staff they provide a unique, friendly, relaxing ambience and Daniela’s catering is amazing, she is a wonderful chef. Altogether we had a fabulous time and would recommend it to all birders and bird photographers and we would love to go again. Should mention that there are other facilities centred round the lake namely swimming, canoeing and paddle boarding or just lazing around.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip: Book early
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Previous
123456
Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the Santa Clara a Velha area.
PRICE RANGE
£127 - £129 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
quinta do barranco da estrada hotel santa clara a velha
LOCATION
PortugalAlentejoBeja DistrictSanta Clara a Velha
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

Claim Your Listing

PARADISE IN PORTUGAL - Updated 2024 Prices (Santa Clara a Velha)

Frequently Asked Questions about Paradise In Portugal
Which popular attractions are close to Paradise In Portugal?
Nearby attractions include Igreja De Santa Clara-a-velha (2.1 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Paradise In Portugal?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Paradise In Portugal?
Top room amenities include a bidet, blackout curtains, and a desk.
What food & drink options are available at Paradise In Portugal?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Paradise In Portugal?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Paradise In Portugal?
Yes, guests have access to a sauna and yoga classes during their stay.
Does Paradise In Portugal have airport transportation?
Yes, Paradise In Portugal offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are pets allowed at Paradise In Portugal?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Paradise In Portugal?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, French, German, and Portuguese.
Does Paradise In Portugal have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the lake view available here.
Is Paradise In Portugal accessible?
Yes, it offers facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.