Violeta and Jonathan are two amazing hosts and their lodge is a very special place! Ideal if you want to be surrounded by nature and still pretty close to all the point of interest in South West Algarve. They also organize lots of activities (bodysurfing class with Jonathan highly recommended!) and gave us excellent recommendations for beaches and small towns in the area. They also organise a pizza night which was nothing short of awesome, Violeta is a great chef! If we are in the area again we will definitely go back.

Marco Contaldi

We had a family holiday at October half term staying with John and Violeta at their ecolodge, and doing many of their activities.  This is without doubt one of the best family holidays we have had and I cannot recommend it enough.  Staying with John and Violeta was like staying with great friends who totally look after you: they cook fantastic and delicious family meals, often using produce grown in their own vegetable garden, and they keep you busy most of the day doing fun activities, but in a very relaxing way.  With the activities we could do as much or as little as our comfort zones allowed, and yet John was very good at pushing some of our fears further away so we always felt we had achieved and learnt something.  The accommodation was super clean and cosy and we could always help ourselves to drinks and snacks in the kitchen.  It really was the best holiday - we'll be back!

A really nice place to enjoy nature. Wonderful owners who designed the whole farm with lots of love!
It has something of a festival setting. You have a small lake, some adventure stuff like a ball to swing, a table tennis courtor or a BBQ area. There are different types of accommodation, from tiny houses to tree house or just a mud house. I would like to come again! :)

What an amazing stay at Aquaventura! I really enjoyed everything there:the beautiful spot, the mindful eco housing, the delicious  food from the farm and above all the exceptionally welcoming, hosts Violetta and Jonnhatan and their family!
Also, I really recommend the yoga-surf combo stay there. Just perfect :10 min from the ocean an outdoor yoga space and lovely Yoga teachers Jenni and Igor share so much knowledge and love through their yoga practice!
Thanks so much for the beautiful moments!
All you need to feel good and recharged, fit and relaxed is There. Stop wondering, just go and enjoy!

First yoga retreat at aqua Ventura with Jenny and Igor from 'The jewel of yoga' has been an amazing experience! Great food from the garden, beautiful accommodation, wonderful landscape, eye-opening Yoga classes and most of all lovely people, cats and dogs <3 please more of that !

I had amazing holiday here! The activities were great as Jonny pushed me as much as I wanted to be pushed which led to a personalised experience. The food is also amazing quality and  Violetta takes home cooking to another level. The two are so nice and very passionate which leads to great convo and such a friendly atmosphere. I cannot recommend this place enough.

We really enjoyed our stay at Aqua Ventura! The hosts are very warm and friendly. We rented bikes, had an ocean course where we went bodysurfing and bodyboarding, and they serve great breakfast. Also the accommodation, we stayed in the sun cottage, was so lovely. It's not for large people but it was very complete and cozy. We really recommend staying here and we would love to go back when we're in Portugal again.

Went to a yoga retreat there back in Sept and it was a simply magical place and very picturesque and clean and the food was absolutely lovely. Great hosts and a very special place to stay. Thank you

We stayed at Aqua Ventura for a 5 day yoga retreat in November 2021. It was glorious - unbelievable hosting from Violeta and Johnathon and such delicious, home cooked, restaurant-quality food. It's set in a beautiful environment in the bush with easy access to loads of amazing beaches both on the south and west coast. The accommodation is so cosy and comfortable and the land is full of amazing wildlife, walks and views. We also hired mountain bikes for the day which was a great adventure. Can't recommend enough for family vibes and a warm experience. Also lovely friendly dogs 🐶

We came to stay for a couple of nights, but stayed for three weeks in the end. Such a wonderful wholesome place to be. Jon and Violeta are the nicest hosts and felt like family to us. We just left, but miss them and their beautiful tranquil aqua Ventura already.

Johnny & Violeta are the most superb hosts! So easy going you feel like you’re staying with family. Such a beautiful location, the most incredible food and the best off grid living one could ask for. I will be back for many many retreats! Thank you so much for welcoming me with open arms ♥️

Beautiful place and amazing hosts. The accommodation was really comfortable and the food was incredible the whole week we were there. Lots of activities are on offer here and I felt really at home. Would love to come back!

Aqua Ventura is one of the most special places we’ve ever been! Truly an unique stay, in a very peaceful, quiet and beautiful area. The place is very eco-friendly as it runs completely on solar power, and it has an amazing veggie garden (with the most tasty fruits). Jonathan and Violeta (the owners) are super kind and welcoming, they make sure you have a lovely stay. They know the area very well, and they have great tips/facilities to do the best activities  (eg. hiking, surfing, cycling, kayaking, etc). The most beautiful quiet beaches are only a short drive away. We would definitely recommend Aqua Ventura if you’re looking for an unforgettable stay! We hope to be back soon to this special place :)

We will definitely come again. It was exactly what we needed after some tough months at work. We found the peace we were looking for! The hosts Vio and Jon are wonderful and offer a lot of activities and support.

Julia LS

Just got back from the most amazing yoga and surf retreat, hosted at Aqua Ventura. The owners of this place, Jonathan and Violeta, are the most beautiful people you can meet. Besides being extremely kind and caring, they've provided us with the most amazing home cooked meals every day (breakfast, lunch & dinners). I'm celiac (with a strict obligatory gluten free diet) and all the food has just been incredibly delicious and very safe. It's all vegetarian, mostly home grown and something different every single day. Tip of the week: never skip dessert! (they are sooo good!)
Would highly recommend going here, not just with a retreat, but also just to experience the little oasis they've created. Close to the beach, yet you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere (with amazing wifi in there common area - for "working from home" if needed..). A place to truly relax, recharge yourselves and feel nourished.

We had stayed with Jonathan and Violeta as part of a walking group in Oct 18 and had really enjoyed the walking and staying at the Lodge and wanted to go again. Our proposed return in 2020 had to be cancelled because of travelling restrictions but we made it back to Aqua Ventura in the Western Algarve National Park in Oct 21.  On this trip we concentrated on cycling the back roads and trails of this wonderful landscape of rugged countryside and breath taking coastline as well as fitting in some trips to some excellent beaches for swimming and bodyboarding.  Jonathan guided the bike rides and produced some wonderful routes for us to enjoy and be challenged by.  Violeta led the team back at the lodge producing fantastic food at every meal and maintaining a wonderful relaxed atmosphere for us all to enjoy.
An excellent stay with two wonderful hosts and we look forward to being able to return again in the future to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and comforts of the Lodge and the fun and enjoyment the area can offer.
David Nichols

I just had one of the most amazing holidays at Aqua Ventura !! one week yoga and surfing retreat at a very beautiful ecological place with an amazing vibes!! The host ( Johnny and Violeta) are one of the most beautiful people i have ever met !! so warm and welcoming and full of love and wisdom and sense of humerus and stories to tell !! the food that they serve is mostly made of vegetables they grow in their garden. The quality of food is mind blowing and you will feel and taste all the love they put into their cooking  !! I  will definitely go back !!

I spent an unforgettable week in this magical place. Life reduced to its essence with warm people, fantastic food in breathtaking surroundings. Jonathan and Violeta take care of their guests and their farm with heart and soul. I was here for the healing yoga retreat with Igor and Jenny, two incredibly inspiring people who take yoga to a whole new level. The combination of yoga, meditation and this special environment made this week an extraordinary experience! Thank you and see you next time!

 Just got back from the most amazing yoga and surf retreat, hosted at Aqua Ventura. The owners of this place, Jonathan and Violeta, are the most beautiful people you can meet. Besides being extremely kind and caring, they've provided us with the most amazing home cooked meals every day . I'm celiac and all the food has just been incredibly delicious and very safe. It's mostly home grown and something different every single day. Tip of the week: never skip dessert!

Would highly recommend going here, not just with a retreat, but also just to experience the little oasis they've created. Close to the beach, yet you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere. A place to truly relax, recharge yourselves and feel nourished.

Thank you so much for a fun filled wee, meeting new friends, taking on new challenges and eating delicious food. It was amazing from start to finish and a huge thank you to you and your team for making it so special.
Keep having fun - stay well - and we hope to see you again.
The Caseys, 12 August 2016


Jono and Vio have set up a loverly finca in the Algarve. I’ve visited once and went on some superb walks and bike rides, mainly along the coast which is stunning. I loved their place in Spain, but the coastline in the Algarve is wild and beautiful. I can’t recommend it enough. They are running a casting workshop this November( 2016) which I think will be a great opportunity to learn a new skill but also to enjoy the farmstead, the food,
the friendship and the coastline.
Julia Cowie, April 2016



We had a fantastic stay in the African Nature Cottage. It's a remote place, away from day to day life in a beautiful forest. The smell of the forest is great and just the sound of nature and nothing else. Plenty of activities in the surroundings. Violeta and Jonathan are great hosts, made us feel very welcome. Thanks, if we come back to the Algarve we hope we can stay here again!
Anton

The BEST! I read every review, researched every option, stop searching this is the best. John and Violeta’s place is a small slice of heaven! It’s beautiful, is an understatement. I actually told my husband, I’ve never seen this many stars in all my life - amazing. Breakfast was delicious! J + V made great recommendations for us everyday. We loved the interaction with other guests. We beach hopped all over the Algarve from their place and it was easy. Perfect, stop now and book it!
Lauren

Such a wonderful place. If you like rustic, off grid charm in an utterly beautiful and secluded area really near to some amazing surfing beaches with friendly and helpful hosts then this is the place. We were only sad we didn't book it for longer. The daily morning welcome from the dogs was also top notch!
Aletia

Cet endroit est un petit paradis!! Nous avons été accueillis comme des membres de la famille par Violeta, Jonathan, leurs enfants et leurs animaux (2 chiens et 4 chats affectueux) L'endroit est zen, isolé et tranquille, mais tout près d'une multitude de plages magnifiques (à moins de 30 minutes). Le site est autosuffisant et écologique (énergie solaire). La maison commune est coquette et confortable avec sa grande terrasse et sa cuisine commune est super bien équipée. Notre chambre (African Nature Cottage) était super propre et très confortable. Et la douche africaine est un must!! Si nous retournons au Portugal, nous y reviendrons pour un plus long séjour (3 jours, ce n'était vraiment pas assez!) afin de pouvoir revoir ces gens super sympathiques et profiter davantage de ce site exceptionnel.
Catherine

Notre séjour chez Jon et Violeta s'est très bien passé. Le cadre est magnifique, les maisonnettes sont soignées et joliment aménagées. Les enfants (3 et 1 an) se sont très vite sentis à l'aise avec nos hôtes. Nous avons apprécié particulièrement la douche africaine extérieure, les hamacs et le fait de pouvoir cuisiner dans 2 cuisines communes bien équipées.
Gerda

Violeta and Jonathan created a little paradise in this place, we enjoyed our stay a lot. Everybody (and every animal) were so friendly and kind! We stayed at the treehouse, which was even better that what we expected, in the middle of nature, very clean and comfortable. Also breakfast and dinner were quite tasty. All in all we can definitely recommend it, must be one of the best BnBs we ever stayed at!
Alexander

This is a perfect place to disconnect and get close to the nature. We love the surroundings and the quietness. This is a very special place and Violeta and Jonathan and their children are amazing - they have a very forthcoming attitude and are very helpful.
Hannah And Sebastian

Violeta and Johnny have built a very special place from the ground up in the most beautiful location. Our family has been traveling through Spain and Portugal for the last month and our stay with them was a highlight for us all--the lake, the swings, the outdoor shower!!! Breakfast each day was delicious and we were fortunate enough to have dinner there one night. The most beautiful beaches are only a short drive and Johnny and Violeta are full of helpful suggestions. What a treat it is to return to their property after a day on the beach and take a shower looking out at the trees and valley. They make you feel at home, and what a lovely home it is!
Vanessa

Absolutely lovely place to relax and enjoy nature, close by beaches, hiking, biking, friendly people and life in general. Hosts are super helpful and lovely people. Laid-back atmosphere. We stayed 5 days but easily could have stayed longer. Unique place!
Rami

It was a perfect week at Violetas place. The room was tidy and studded with lovely details, just beautiful. There were lots of possibilities to relax and for having fun (the lake, the swings, the hammocks - just a lot to discover). One highlight is the real the real nature experience (you may get even surprised by a little bat in your room :-)). Violeta and her family welcomed us open-minded and open-hearted. To meet Violeta, her family and their way of life was a great pleasure!
Eva