A few days before my birthday, at the end of October, we decided to take a weekend getaway to the Alentejo countryside. We found... Montes Bastos Estate We found a great price on Booking (135 euros for two nights with breakfast for the four of us) and, as there was still last-minute availability, we decided to take advantage of it. We left home on Friday, October 24th, around 6 pm and arrived there around 9 pm, as we encountered some traffic near Lisbon.
Even though it was late, we were greeted very warmly by Mrs. Lídia. She accompanied us to our room—spacious, cozy, and with a separate living room where the children slept on the sofa bed—and also showed us the main areas of the estate: the breakfast area, the common room for guests, and even where the boys could play ping-pong the next day. Our room overlooked the pool, but we only realized this clearly the following morning when the sun illuminated everything.
Saturday began with a lavish breakfast, ...prepared with care by Lídia. Afterwards, we started a ping-pong marathon, petted the farm cats, fed the black pigs with acorns that had fallen on the ground, and observed the sheep and cows from afar. To top it all off, we even went kayaking and caught two fish in the dam—which, of course, we released back into the water because they were small. It was one of the highlights of the trip!
Despite a light rain in the middle of the day, nothing disrupted our plans. When hunger struck, we followed a recommendation from the hotel and went to the restaurant. The Wave, ...where we ate incredibly well and paid a price we'd never see in Cascais. Ah, those delicious and inexpensive corners of Portugal that I love discovering so much...
We took advantage of the children falling asleep in the car and made a quick stop by. Ourique to visit the castle. The castle itself wasn't anything special, but the view from up there was nice.
Afterwards, we returned to the farm, played some more ping-pong, rested, showered, and went to dinner. We sat at the same table as breakfast, but this time with homemade dishes prepared by a partner restaurant, chosen that morning with Dona Lídia. A simple, tasty, and uncomplicated dinner—exactly what we wanted.
On Sunday, we repeated the ritual: breakfast, more ping-pong, more petting the cats, more acorns for the pigs, more fishing in the dam – this time without a kayak, and Paddy even managed to ride his bike. The adult bikes and Juju's bike weren't in good condition, but Dona Lídia mentioned that the estate will undergo renovations in the winter and spring, so everything indicates that the space will be renewed next year. I'm sure the indoor pool will be amazing!
After checking out, we took a break in Grândola to have lunch at the restaurant Taverna D'Vila — tidier and more expensive than the day before — and also to fulfill a wish of mine: to meet the Mama Adama, an alpaca sanctuary in the heart of the Alentejo region. I already had this tour on my list to do with the children and I was very happy to be able to fit it into this birthday trip.
I contacted them through the website and exchanged messages with the owner to confirm the visit. At 5 pm, there we were, with plenty of food in hand to feed alpacas, goats, and even horses. The owner, a Dutchman named Paz, created the space for rescuing animals in difficult conditions in several European countries.
We paid 65 euros for the four of us and stayed for about an hour. At first I thought it was expensive, but I soon realized it was worth every euro: the place has a special energy, the animals are visibly well cared for, and a good portion of the proceeds from visits and stays is reinvested in rescuing more animals. A beautiful endeavor.
I left there feeling emotional and reflective—thinking about my role in the world as I continue to help build software—and wishing them every success. I highly recommend a visit!
In the end, they were Two quiet days, just the four of us., Rediscovering simple activities we don't usually do in Cascais and, above all, reconnecting as a family. Although it was already autumn, the weather cooperated: no heavy rain, no excessive cold. Perfect for enjoying everything at a leisurely pace. It was exactly the trip I wanted: relaxed, without schedules, without rushing, without excesses — just good, simple, and personal moments.
Our trip in photos
