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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  We have just returned from our 3 night stay and we couldn’t recommend this place more. We were extremely looked after and the hosts/staff went over and above to ensure... read more we had an enjoyable stay, particularly as we were traveling with our 10 months old. The food was delicious, and the lodges were very well spaced out it felt like we were in our own private space. The views were spectacular and we felt a real sense of tranquility. My only suggestion would to be to take an extra layer for the evenings, as it was early June it did get cold during the night. We will be retiring.

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    Peach0923
    June 11, 2021
  • star rating  Really enjoyable week and lovely hosts and food. Accommodation and facilities great. BUT the electronic village church bell chiming every half hour, 24 hours a day was terrible! What should... read more have been a restful week was actually quite exhausting, even for me, who would usually sleep through anything!

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    Nick J
    September 10, 2016
  • 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  We stayed from saturday to saturday. It’s been a great time, in a wonderful place, with warm and friendly people all around.
    If you like doing Yoga, it’s also possible... read more in their wonderful yoga shala. We had the luck, having Elise as an excellent teacher.
    Last but not least, the unique delicious dinners, one shouldn’t miss!

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    X4041DTmichaele
    July 11, 2019
  • 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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    Loren W
    June 6, 2016
  • star rating  We enjoyed a family trip here in July and I would agree with many of the comments made in previous reviews.

    The accommodation was as described - a safari... read more tent with good facilities including a much needed fridge for the heat. If going, you really need bug spray or a mosquito net as we were bitten quite a bit and our citronella wasn't strong enough. The paths between the house and the pool can be steep and loose rocks caused a few wobbles every now and then so if you have mobility issues this may not be ideal for you.

    The pool was lovely though it could get quite crowded so if you want relaxation you had to go either first thing or on a Saturday which seemed to be prime changeover day.

    Because there are volunteers, service is very laid back so be prepared for this relaxed vibe.

    Menno's cooking was great and worth doing.

    I would also recommend a car as there are no shops within walking distance, you need to catch a cab if you want milk or ask the hosts to arrange it for you.

    There is some noise in the valley, the church bells, if the dogs get rowdy barking and local events. This didn't upset us though it did impact upon our sleep so if you are a light sleeper I would agree with the ear plug comment made by another reviewer.

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    ViBoLondon
    August 25, 2018
  • star rating  Vinha da Manta is not a place to stay, it’s an experience. All you want to do here is calm down, sit back, enjoy the view and relax. And so... read more we did.
    Even a (very) rainy day was not so bad, because it’s also nice to just stay in for a day (okay, our kids will disagree there).
    The dinners are delicious and the owners and volunteers will make the most of your stay. We’re hoping to return in the future (and stay longer).

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    mienepet
    June 25, 2019
  • 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  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  We have just returned from Vinha da Manta having spent 10 days in Cachoeira lodge with our daughters aged 3 and (almost) 5. The accommodation is really magical, combining all... read more the best bits of camping - waking up to sunlight and birdsong and generally feeling at one with nature, with the comfort and practicality of having actual (comfy!) beds, a functioning kitchen and a plumbed toilet. We have spent many afternoons enjoying dinner on the terrace which overlooks a stunning mountain range and gazing at the blanket of stars as night descended upon the valley. However, the highlight of the stay has got to be the warm hospitality of Jacqueline and Menno and the wonderful team of volunteers who made us feel at home. In particular, the dinners Menno lays out for guests every other night are epic. Menno's cooking is a modern take on the middle-eastern kitchen which he combines with local ingredients as well as dishes inspired by the family's asian travels. Dinners are served communally and often end up with guests staying up late, chatting and drinking.

    Travelling with young children we were struggling a little to find age appropriate activities. The river beach is amazing but you really have to take care because the rocks are very slippery. The natural pool is great, but not ideal for toddlers. Likewise the farm tracks between the main building and the lodges are slippery underfoot and steep, which led to the occasional fall. This is not to discourage parents from taking young children, but they should be prepared. The kids loved playing with the cats and dogs and generally running around the main house. Our eldest also had a wonderful experience horse-riding led by Jacqueline and one of the volunteers. We really enjoyed morning yoga with Elise - a wonderful start to the day!

    Overall, I would definitely recommend Vinha da Manta for those seeking an unusual stay in a stunning location and a truly relaxing break.

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    solomonirene
    July 15, 2018

Vinha Da Manta

+351966011630 Chamada para a rede móvel nacional

info@damanta.nl

Quinta do Barata, Faia, Guarda

Licence 136342/AL

COPYRIGHT © 2018 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED VINHA DA MANTA