The location and surroundings..…
Set in quiet, calm grounds with stunning views over unspoilt wild valleys and hills to the sea in the distance. Perfect escape for those seeking privacy, peace and quiet and the freedom of clothing optional…..truly a place to dream and make dreams come true!
Shared only with the owners (who live in a separate part of the house) the pool and hot tub are surrounded by pretty gardens inhabited by birds and wildlife. There are sun beds and recliners with the benefit of a cool shady pool house if you need to shelter from the hot sun. Swimming under the stars and in the moonlight is very special!
In addition to the pool area there are also a number of secluded areas around the grounds with seating and even a hammock and swinging chair….perfect to relax, read, snooze or just ‘Be’!
Leaving the road and climbing the meandering track the property feels miles from anywhere but it is close to the quaint and friendly village of Santa Catarina, 15 minutes drive to Tavira with its character, excellent restaurants and naturist beaches and 30 minutes to both Faro airport and the Spanish border.
The property is self catering and can be booked for a maximum of two visitors on an exclusive basis.
Please note the property is on a hillside with many steps and some rugged paths and is therefore not suitable for everyone.
The accommodation…
The apartment is self contained, consisting of large living room, bedroom, conservatory, kitchen and bathroom.
Externally there is a large poolside terrace for your use with recliners, sun umbrellas, pool and hot-tub, together with dining area with table, seating and barbecue ….perfect for alfresco cooking, dining, enjoying the panoramic views and star gazing our wide, dark skies….it is not unusual to see a shooting star!
The living room has a comfortable sofa and armchair, dining table and chairs, air-con, TV with Netflix, and CD player.
The bedroom boasts a very comfortable super king (180cm) bed, good storage and air-con but many of our guests sleep with doors and windows open to enjoy the fresh air, breezes and total peace and quiet!
The kitchen is ‘small but beautifully formed’ with a fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, two plate hob, microwave/grill, kettle and toaster. It is well equipped for cooking and eating. There is an iron and board.
The bathroom has mains shower over the bath, toilet, bidet and twin sinks.
All towels and bedlinen as well as pool/beach towels are provided. There is also a cool box for shopping or picnics. Wi-fi is throughout the property.
Visitor Reviews
Here is a selection of some of our reviews
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Louise & I spent the most relaxing two weeks we’ve probably ever had at the villa in July 2023.
The final off-road approach to it hinted of something special & we were not disappointed. The remote rural location, warm terraces & stunning views, afforded us total privacy in which to enjoy the pool & attractive gardens uninhibited by clothing & convention.
We particularly loved the quiet naturist beach on Ilha Deserta, 35 minutes from the villa & a short, exhilarating RIB ride from the quayside at Faro’s old town, where we spent long days at peace with nature, as if on our own private island.
Both Tavira & Faro offer plenty of opportunities for evening dinner & drinks. Preferring to explore Tavira’s back streets, we found several excellent restaurants offering fantastic food & wine. Artefact is not to be missed & the rooftop cocktail bar A Ver is a very special place.
Returning to the villa after dark, we eagerly shed our clothes, then heading to the still warm loungers, pool & fantastic hot tub, it was pure delight to gaze upwards at the starlit sky & actually physically feel the tranquility of the location.
Our sincere thanks go to John, an excellent & very considerate host; our accommodation, the grounds & pool were extremely well maintained, spotlessly clean & well equipped… & yes, we have booked for 2024.Colin & Lou
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We enjoyed a wonderful week staying at John's beautiful villa. It gave us exactly what we had hoped for, peace and serenity within beautiful surroundings. The villa itself was ideal for us, containing everything we needed. Not having to pack a hairdryer or beach towels, nor having to iron any clothes before packing was a bonus! John's beautiful garden and pool was a pleasure to wander around, having a number of hidden areas to sit and enjoy the view or lay reading enjoying the warm sun. Having read all the other reviews there is very little extra to be added, they all sing the praises of the Villa, of John, and how he hosts. Every word is true and we can't wait to be able to book a return visit! Thank you so much John. Martinne & Stephen, Cornwall, UK.
Martinne & Stephen
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We planned two weeks in Portugal and really wanted to visit the naturist beaches we’d read about. When we found John’s guest house listed on a Portugal Naturist website, we couldn’t believe how beautiful the photos were. When we arrived, we were thrilled to find that the place is even more beautiful in person. The private guest space was spacious and comfortable, with a large bedroom, living room, and kitchen. We had exclusive use of the pool during the day, but it was even more fun chatting with John in the evenings. The setting and grounds are completely private, high on a hilltop, with beautiful views all around. It’s only about 15 minutes to the interesting town of Tavira, slightly longer to the naturist beach Praia do Barril. It’s really a wonderful environment to relax and enjoy the area. Thanks so much to John for everything (including rushing over to airport to bring us forgotten passports). Note that it’s about a 3 hour drive from Lisbon, so flying to Faro is a better option, if possible. We would love to come back another time!
Deb and Gary, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Just back from a perfect couple of weeks in John’s idyllic villa. It is difficult to accurately convey the atmosphere of peace and tranquility that surrounds the fabulous property in this beautiful part of the world. It was a true oasis of calm and a great antidote to our busy lives back home. The standard of the apartment exceeded our already high expectations, likewise the pool area and gardens which are all put at the guests’ exclusive disposal. The pool itself is spotlessly clean and has nice wide loungers around and a shady pool house with more seating and a table. I particularly enjoyed the terrace a few steps down from the pool which allowed uninterrupted views across the countryside for my morning yoga session. Behind the poolhouse there is a swing seat under a shady carob tree that is the perfect place to sit and read. Most of all though we enjoyed the freedom of a naturist lifestyle in complete privacy with John joining us, at our invitation, for an evening swim, beer and chat that we very much appreciated. He otherwise stayed in the background but was always on hand if we needed anything - in short, the perfect host and a true gentleman. We could not recommend this place too highly, it is truly spectacular. August 2022
Simon and Sarah, UK
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If you're looking for a small slice of paradise then this is it. The holiday we'd planned was cancelled at the last minute and, with only a day to organise an alternative, we found John's villa and it's like it was meant to be. The villa itself has everything you could wish for and the photos really don't do it justice. As for the pool, grounds and hot tub - they are sensational. The whole place is imbued with a wonderful energy and the setting is a true haven of peace and tranquility. We wanted to relax, recharge and enjoy just 'being' together - this was the perfect place to do just that. We loved exploring Tavira - it's a gorgeous little town with some great restaurants - and Praia do Barril is a an incredible beach that's well worth a visit. John was the perfect host - going above and beyond what was required when our flight was delayed. He was always there when we needed anything yet perfectly discreet and never intrusive. Honestly, we couldn't have wished for anything different and we're already planning our next trip. July 2022
Tommy & Polly UK
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It was a delight to stay in your holiday annex, the villa is in a superb location with fantastic views and so peaceful and quiet, we were sorry to leave. The pool is wonderful for cooling off in the hot afternoons There are some great places to visit and the choice of restaurants within a 30 minutes’ drive are great. The towns of Olhao, Tavira and Fuseta on the coast are lively, during the day and in the evening, cultural events abound at this time of the year. The mountains inland hold some delightful homely restaurants with great local cooking and reasonable priced with amazing views Loule and Silves are great inland towns with the great Arab/Moroccan restaurant in Silves called moSaiko Hopefully we will be able to make a return visit soon as it’s a great place to relax and take in the tranquillity of the surroundings June 2022 22
Iain & Rosemary UK
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Just returned from our second holiday. An excellent short break and we would reiterate our comments from last year. Plenty of sunshine and much relaxation. Would highly recommend and will no doubt return.
Mike & Sue UK
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“We have just returned from Portugal having had a perfect holiday at John & Denise’s villa.
The apartment was spotless and extremely well-equipped- like a home from home. The washing machine was much appreciated and the bed very comfortable.
The days were hot and sunny and we enjoyed the pool, sitting on the terraces looking at the amazing views and watching the sunsets. The location is very peaceful and ideal for a relaxing holiday. It would have been tempting to spend our days enjoying the pool and garden but we did venture out most days. We particularly liked Tavira and the naturist beach Praia do Barril is lovely with miles of soft white sand.
Many thanks to John & Denise who are the ideal hosts, giving us complete privacy but always there when needed. We had some lovely chats with them both. We hope to return!!”September 2021
Mike & Sue UK
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We have just returned from our second stay at Casa Paciencia, our first visit was September 2021, we enjoyed our stay so much we had to return. There is something very special about the situation of this holiday apartment, up in the hills overlooking countryside and a view to the coast. Sitting in the conservatory with the doors open for a soft breeze and looking over the sparkling lights on the hillside is magical. The accommodation is as described and very comfortable, the bed is super comfy. The pool and gardens including the cool pool house are wonderful. Apart from shopping for food we don’t really leave during the first week of the holiday just chilling and swimming by the pool However there is plenty to see and do locally we loved Tavira including Ilha Tavira and Praia do Barril, also Loulé and Sao Bras. Spoilt for choice of local restaurants, good food and very reasonable priced. As other reviewers have said John is the perfect host, staying in the background but happy to give advice and suggestions if asked. We love Portugal and particularly the wonderful Casa Paciencia
Phil and Cherie UK
Rates & Availability
Dates | The Apartment - maximum 2 people |
April & May June - August September & October |
£950 per week £1,025 perweek £950 perweek |

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