• Vinha Da Manta
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With kids

During the school holidays, Vinha Da Manta is the perfect environment for children of all ages to make new friends and let their imaginations run wild, building dens, interacting with nature and enjoying the freedom to run around in a safe and special environment. In the evening they can eat with their newfound friends, as we make kids dinners which are served at their own table with healthy food specially designed for their taste. Then, while adults afterwards can have the whole evening for more gourmet-style dining, they can play hide and seek or run around and have fun. Freedom to roam. No cars. No rules.
At night they will be so comfortable, tucked up with duvets and pillows in our full size camp beds with thick mattresses, or proper cots for babies.

Our natural swimming pool has been carefully designed for everyone to enjoy. At 20 metres long, serious swimmers can really get going. The pebble beach and its surrounding rocks and plants is a wonderful, natural environment for kids to explore. Dive off the special diving platform (3 m deep), hear the frog’s chorus, or play a board game under a tree on the day bed whilst listening to the water. Your kids won’t want to get out! Not that it matters, because with absolutely no chemicals, you can rest assured that the water won’t harm their skin.

Plentiful toys, games, and a tree swing. Hide in the woods, chase frogs, hunt for glow worms or do a guided kids ride on the horses. Vinha Da Manta is a safe place for them to run wild, make friends, and be themselves. Our resident pets love a cuddle, including our retriever Toffee, our various cats, and our four horses. July and August also has weekly kids-yoga activities.

The Mondego River has many wonderful swimming spots, with beaches, rocks for exploring, and shaded areas for unwinding. The opportunities for spotting wildlife with your kids such as kingfishers, otters, water voles, and herons are endless. Or why not spend a memorable day canoeing down the Mondego, finishing up at a lovely beach spot for a picnic and a swim? A highlight of most people’s holiday, we can arrange a tailor-made canoe trip suitable for your family’s abilities.

If culture is your family’s thing, there are numerous ancient hilltop villages and towns. The region has 15 fortified villages in the surroundings, each with their own ramparts and spectacular ancient castles as well as a variety of prehistoric rock carvings, with the world famous archeological museum of Vila Nova de Foz Coa just a half hour’s drive away.

Newsletter

Our reviews

  • star rating  Wat een heerlijke plek is Vinha da Manta! We zijn er nu 2 keer geweest en beide keren was het genieten. Het warme welkom van Jacqueline en Menno, de rust... read more en de relaxte sfeer, de ruime tenten met keuken, terras en veel privacy, de mooie...Meer

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    avatar thumb Eligab
    December 5, 2018
  • star rating  This was one of my most favourite places that I have visited. It was just beautiful. The Fonte lodge with the dipping pool and being a little higher in the... read more hills was just wonderful. Somewhere you can just relax in peace and tranquility with a lovely aray of sunshine overlooking such s beautiful setting. What really makes this place are Meno, Jacqueline, family and the volunteers. They invite you in to their home, their paradise with ease and make you feel so incredibly welcome and comfortable. As soon as you arrive they are ready to assist and offer you a well needed drink, offering to assist with taking luggage to the lodge and then walking with you to make sure you settle in. The food and dinner setting is to die for. Our first night home made pizzas were being made in the wood pizza oven and were lovely. The wood fire was on and the drink was flowing and there were a lovely group of guests to speak to and enjoy hearing stories from. The selection of toppings and salads were great. The continental breakfast the following morning was enough to get you ready for the day and there is no better setting to enjoy a cappuccino with. We also had our own food that needed cooking the following evening and all were really inviting allowing us to use their ovens to cook them, offering a beer and then... This was one of my most favourite places that I have visited. It was just beautiful. The Fonte lodge with the dipping pool and being a little higher in the hills was just wonderful. Somewhere you can just relax in peace and tranquility with a lovely aray of sunshine overlooking such s beautiful setting. What really makes this place are Meno, Jacqueline, family and the volunteers. They invite you in to their home, their paradise with ease and make you feel so incredibly welcome and comfortable. As soon as you arrive they are ready to assist and offer you a well needed drink, offering to assist with taking luggage to the lodge and then walking with you to make sure you settle in. The food and dinner setting is to die for. Our first night home made pizzas were being made in the wood pizza oven and were lovely. The wood fire was on and the drink was flowing and there were a lovely group of guests to speak to and enjoy hearing stories from. The selection of toppings and salads were great. The continental breakfast the following morning was enough to get you ready for the day and there is no better setting to enjoy a cappuccino with. We also had our own food that needed cooking the following evening and all were really inviting allowing us to use their ovens to cook them, offering a beer and then spending time with you to tell us their life journey to arriving at this place in the world. Meno cooked some amazing food the following night, I tasted the most amazing chicken, lavender and peach dish complemented by stunning roasted carrots, cauliflower rice, and potatoes. It was again amazing food overlooking an amazing setting with great company. All guests ate together and it was such a lovely evening. I only stayed for a few days but incredibly sad to having had to leave. I miss the place already. We booked to return next year before we left, that's how much we loved it. Can't wait to return. Thank you for a lovely few days. More

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    avatar thumb A TripAdvisor Member
    June 3, 2016
  • star rating  Excellent place, at the border of sierra d'estrella. Several walks available, both short and easy or longer. Very friendly staff. Chef worthy food by the owner. And his son is... read more learning fast to follow his footsteps. Chill natural pool on the premisses.

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    paulsP6345JN
    August 31, 2016
  • star rating  Vinha da Manta is in a wonderful location, our children, aged 9 and 5, had an amazing week and we felt that they were safe and happy roaming the hillside... read more and playing with the other kids. They absolutely loved it and really did not want...More

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    avatar thumb JoanneDaveOscarIsis
    September 2, 2015
  • star rating  Wij hebben met onze groep wandelmeisjes (allen 60+ en deels 70+-ers) een heerlijke wandelweek gehad in en om Vinha da Manta. Jacqueline en Menno hebben alles gedaan om het ons... read more naar wens te maken, zij hebben een prachtige programma voor ons samengesteld. Prachtige wandelingen in...Meer

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    avatar thumb Ellen M
    July 8, 2018
  • star rating  First impressions , for me as we arrived, were a little 'off' . It gave a 'messy' impression and for someone like me that takes a little time to come... read more to terms with. But after a couple of days we all settled in as a family with both the hosts and the other guests. We were treated with exceptional kindness and the kids, 10 and 8 absolutely loved it . It's a way of living and it involves togetherness and bonds become tight and caring with both hosts, guests and the volunteers working there. Something we all miss after our departure . There's plenty of pets to play with and the kids went riding twice and also helped walking the dogs . Most days we hung out by the natural pool watching frogs and dragon flies and chatting to other guests. The dinners this place cook are absolutely amazing and pizza night tops it all. Kids get their own yummy dinner before the grown ups and it's like a big party every time and really brings this place together. Most guests are Dutch and my husband and I agree that the Dutch are very sorted and fun people to be around. They organise walks as well and I went on one through the Montego Valley. Hard work through the bushes going mostly down hill in 35 degrees but with great views and a sense of adventure! The walk took a... First impressions , for me as we arrived, were a little 'off' . It gave a 'messy' impression and for someone like me that takes a little time to come to terms with. But after a couple of days we all settled in as a family with both the hosts and the other guests. We were treated with exceptional kindness and the kids, 10 and 8 absolutely loved it . It's a way of living and it involves togetherness and bonds become tight and caring with both hosts, guests and the volunteers working there. Something we all miss after our departure . There's plenty of pets to play with and the kids went riding twice and also helped walking the dogs . Most days we hung out by the natural pool watching frogs and dragon flies and chatting to other guests. The dinners this place cook are absolutely amazing and pizza night tops it all. Kids get their own yummy dinner before the grown ups and it's like a big party every time and really brings this place together. Most guests are Dutch and my husband and I agree that the Dutch are very sorted and fun people to be around.
    They organise walks as well and I went on one through the Montego Valley. Hard work through the bushes going mostly down hill in 35 degrees but with great views and a sense of adventure! The walk took a good couple of hours and a bit and at the end we were met by volunteers from the camp who brought us a lovely little picnic by the river. We all had a well deserved swim and got back to camp in the afternoon.
    The possible down side about Vinha da Manta is that if you don't want nature every day and need a little culture and a shop or two, there isn't much to see. Our best outing was Viseu which is an hour away. Great cathedral and castle and and plenty of both silly and good shops. Guarda, nearest to the camp site is just about ok and has a good cathedral but otherwise nothing much. The old bit of town is small and the surrounding concrete mess is not so great. Porto is 2 hours away and we loved it. Stunning buildings and packed with hipsters and art and great food. Make a day of it ( if not two!).
    If you are able to really relax and read and do nothing you will be perfectly fine at Vinha da Manta. It is a truly special place that will stay with us forever. It feels like family to us and the kids have expressed deep wishes of wanting to go back.
    Highly recommended . More

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    Cat F
    August 19, 2016
  • star rating  We stayed a full week at Damanta and we were sorry that we could not stay any longer. Menno and Jacqueline are very nice hosts that are warm, friendly,... read more and know how to cook! You feel part of the family the moment you enter their...More

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    avatar thumb DeMies
    July 3, 2015
  • star rating  Een week bij Menno en Jacqueline en je komt helemaal tot rust. Wij hebben in het huisje Vinha da Horta gezeten. Een prachtig uitzicht, een fijne plek, relaxte sfeer en... read more s’avonds heerlijk eten maakte dit alles tot een geweldige week. Nogmaals dank hiervoor! Arno en...Meer

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    avatar thumb dijk2018
    June 19, 2018
  • star rating  I have never felt so immediately welcomed as I did at Vinha da Manta. Menno and Jacqueline (and their kids) went out of their way to make my stay amazing.... read more Not only was the hospitality amazing, the food was incredible and the views were great. I had an amazing time getting to know both Menno and Jacqueline and their three sweet kids. I am already looking forward to my next visit. Thank you for treating me like a good friend and for making me not want to leave! Hopefully this is a 'see you soon'!

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    lorenw887
    June 6, 2016
  • star rating  Glampling is not for everybody, but if you enjoy nature and fancy giving glamping a try, then you won’t be disappointed at Vinha da Manta! The standard is very high!... read more The tents (lodge) are very spacious with a wonderful terrace/veranda to enjoy the views. The...More

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    avatar thumb VDRBO
    August 9, 2015
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