Beautiful 3 bed Family Villa W/Pool, Tranquil Rural nr village .
Casa do Riacho is a traditional Algarvian style villa, built in 2009 by the current owners, who know the area well and feel they have created the perfect place to quickly relax by themselves with friends and family all year round. In the foothills of Santa Catarina, it is with in easy reach of the A270 São Bras/Tavira road and is situated a little way up a country track/lane in a rural area, convenient and well positioned for local shops and a variety of restaurants. The villa is furnished comfortably and to a very high standard. It includes free WiFi, two way air conditioning, a log fire, TV, CD and DVD players and an iPod dock. The villa is quiet, peaceful and the private rural location is stunning, surrounded by hills, unspoilt countryside and amazing views, with fabulous wildlife, yet is just a short walk from the local shops which caters for all the usual provisions. It is within close reach of Faro Airport (20 mins) , with easy access by car to numerous beautiful sandy beaches such as Fuseta (15 mins) and Barril (20 mins) and the local towns of Tavira (15 mins), Olhao & S. Bras (10 mins), Loule (20 mins) and is only 6km from the A22 motorway jct 15, linking the whole of the Algarve coast with Spain and Lisbon (the Spanish border is less than a 20 min drive). Additionally, the villa is 30 mins drive from many of the region's best golf courses, including those of Vilamoura, Vale do Lobo, Quinta do Lago to the West and Benamor, Monte Rei, Quinta da Cima, Quinta da Ria, Castro Marim, Quinta do Vale to the East, plus it is in very easy reach of the Central and Western Algarve tourist attractions including Zoomarine, the water parks and many historical places of interest. The Colina Verde 9 hole gof course and leisure club is just 15 mins drive. A horse riding centre is situated on the out skirts of the village and offers wonderful treks through the unspoilt countryside and rolling hills. The villa boasts 3 good sized bedrooms with plenty of cupboard space (and hairdryers) and 3 bathrooms (2 en suite and one adjacent). It comfortably sleeps up to 6 people in two double rooms and one twin bedroom (babies cots available on request). The fabulous 8 x 4 metre clear water swimming pool is unfenced and is located at the front of the villa, from which there are spectacular hillside views. There are several lovely terraces on which to sunbathe and dine alfresco. The pretty mature well tended gardens, including carob and olive trees, offer additional natural shady areas to relax.. The immediate surrounding area has wonderful country trails for keen walkers and the area in general attracts cyclists, horse riders (riding close by) and bird watchers. The small local town of Santa Catarina is conveniently just a short walk/drive away. It offers several mini mercados/small supermarkets, a bank, pharmacy, health centre, fresh fish and fruit shop, newsagent, cafe/bar cum lovely bakery, offering many choices of fresh bread and locally baked cakes. There is a very good and very reasonably priced traditional Portuguese restaurant, O Constantino, 400 metres/a couple of minutes walk from the villa and many others within a very short drive. The nearest main (and reasonably priced) large supermarket is less than a 10 min drive away. There are several others within easy reach too including an Aldi and a Lidl 95 mins). The new Mar Shopping Centre in Loule is just 20 mins drive, where there is a big Designer Outlet, Ikea and a lovely enclosed mall
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The villa is built/furnished to a high spec and guests are asked to treat it with respect. All activities on the premises are at the guests' own risk.
Day of arrival check in is from 4PM Luggage can be dropped off before check in time.
Check out on departure is before 10AM
Occupancy:
Maximum occupancy: 6 (pls check re babies and infants)
Families are very welcome. Pls check suitability for babies, infants and children.
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number 23989/AL
About the area
Tavira
Located in Tavira, this villa is in a rural area and near a water park. Olhao Harbour and Faro Marina are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Cabanas Beach. Travelling with kids? Consider Centro de Artes e Ofícios and Centro Cultural e de Inovação de Bordeira. Discover the area's water adventures with nearby swimming, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding and cycling.
Moncarapacho Museum and Chapel - 13 min drive - 10.7 km
Estoi Palace - 16 min drive - 16.0 km
Getting around
Tavira Station - 15 min drive
Faro (FAO-Faro Intl.) - 31 min drive
Restaurants
Café da Vila - 9 min drive
Restaurante Avenida - 9 min drive
Restaurante António - 11 min drive
Moss - 9 min drive
Luis Do Prego - 8 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does Beautiful 3 bed Family Villa W/Pool, Tranquil Rural nr village . have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.
How much does it cost to stay at Beautiful 3 bed Family Villa W/Pool, Tranquil Rural nr village .?
As of 10 April 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Beautiful 3 bed Family Villa W/Pool, Tranquil Rural nr village . on 26 December 2025 start from NZ$543, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is Beautiful 3 bed Family Villa W/Pool, Tranquil Rural nr village . pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Beautiful 3 bed Family Villa W/Pool, Tranquil Rural nr village .?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Beautiful 3 bed Family Villa W/Pool, Tranquil Rural nr village .?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Beautiful 3 bed Family Villa W/Pool, Tranquil Rural nr village .?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Beautiful 3 bed Family Villa W/Pool, Tranquil Rural nr village . located?
Located in a rural location, this family-friendly villa is within 6 mi (10 km) of Municipal Swimming Pool, Centro de Artes e Ofícios, and Costume Museum. Moncarapacho Museum and Chapel and Old Town are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We had a perfect holiday, the villa was superb,great views no hitches, plenty of room, kitted out with everything you could possibly need, tasteful decor, great pool and exterior layout, we could not fault the whole trip.
Verified traveller
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 11 August 2023
It means so much to receive positive reviews like this. We are so grateful for the feedback and it gives us huge pleasure to know that our guests have enjoyed every aspect of their stay, which is of upmost important to us as the villa owners.
Lovely property - well decorated.
Great pool and surrounding patios. Nice garden.
Secure.
Aircon and fly screens great. Facilities great.
Easy access to shops, towns, markets, beaches, hills.
Manager and husband very friendly and helpful - thank you.
Nearby restaurant very friendly with good food.
gerry a.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 11 August 2022
Hello Gerry, thank you so much for your kind words and importantly, we are thrilled you enjoyed staying at our villa. You have been wonderful guests and we hope you’ll come back again. All the very best, Lisa and Charles
Archival
10/10 Excellent
N S.
7 August 2014
Does what it says on the tin
A very smart, we'll presented property. It is exactly as described in the property details. Nicely located for access to places of interest on the Algarve. Families with children should not be put off by the pool arrangements and gardens unless their children can't swim or are badly behaved and/or don't do as instructed, in which case steer clear. Lovely south facing terraces. The cleanest property we've ever rented in the past 10 years. Local village is quiet but offers the basics - bakery, cafés/bars, small shops etc. We were a party of adults, would we return? Yes.
N S.
Response from VrboOwner on 2 May 2020
Hi Nigel
Thank you very much for your review. We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay in our villa, and the Algarve. It would be lovely to see you again in the future. Thanks again for taking the time out to give us some feedback, very best wishes from The team.
Verified
8/10 Good
Luther C.
2 August 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in
Santa Catarina stay
I will have to agree with most of the other reviews about this property, nice house, nice location, nice views... Lorraine was great to come and meet us after we gained access to the property. She explained how everything worked. The weather was hot, so it was great to have air conditioners and a pool...a plus was having a television with BBC because we were able to enjoy Wimbledon. We stayed at the property almost two weeks and we had a great stay with the exception of the last few days because we could not use the pool because no one came to clean it, so it started to get cloudy and green. We texted the management company a few times and called. Spoke to a lady and was told that the pool maintenance guy should be out, but no one came, which was unfortunate because we specifically rented this property because of the pool. Also, we figured that the drive up to the property was going to be a dirt road, but it was a rougher, rockier terrain than just a smooth dirt road. The car bottom scraped trying to get to the property. When we left the property, we took the passengers to the local village first to wait, then went back to the property for the luggage because the terrain was so rough. The roughness of the terrain to get to the property should have been listed on the vrbo.com listing because it is an issue the owners/property management probably know of and visitors should know ahead of renting the property.
Luther C.
Stayed 13 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 August 2023
We are always grateful to receive reviews from our rental guests and we take on board any resulting comments and suggestions. We strive to ensure everything is as perfect as it can be in order to provide the best possible holiday experience at our villa.
We are lucky to engage one of the best villa management companies in the Eastern Algarve to take care of our villa and clients and their pool cleaning team is especially skilled and diligent. They organise pool cleaning visits once at least and usually twice a week. Unfortunately, the extreme heatwave this particular summer has caused many problems for villa pools. It’s vitally important at any time of the year that guests do not enter the pool smothered in sun cream and lotions and particularly so in very hot weather, especially when the pool is not especially large and a fair few people are in and out of the pool regularly. The oil/cream forms a layer on the surface of the water and the heat builds up beneath it and this can cause the water to go cloudy. The villa has a very good and conveniently located shower at one end of the pool for this very reason. Prevention is the best policy and so our managers explain to all our guests on arrival that they must shower before entering the pool for the above reason. There is also a reminder notice displayed on the wall, prominently visible on entering the villa . Our guests are also advised that it takes a lot of chemicals and a good few days to clarify a cloudy pool and as a result, no swimming is permitted during this time.
The villa is located in beautiful rural foothills and is reached by a public partly unmade road, very much in keeping with other villas in tranquil locations in the surrounding area. Two thirds of this road has a smooth concrete surface, including the immediate area outside the villa entrance. The unmade part further down the road does require vehicles to drive slowly, as would be normal on any similar road. No issues have been reported previously and Tavira council, who is responsible for it, inspects and maintains this road. However, we respect and thankful for our clients’ suggestion and will ensure this issue is made clearer in our villa description, by priority.
The Owners
We’ve been so lucky to welcome such wonderful rental guests at Casa do Riacho again this summer and it’s always great to hear they have enjoyed their vacations so much. We are continually grateful for the lovely reviews and responses.
we hebben een leuk verblijf gehad met onze familie
Susy G.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 23 August 2022
It’s always a great pleasure to receive such a positive response. We are thrilled our guests had a wonderful holiday and it will be lovely to welcome them back in the future.
Das Haus ist wunderschön. War mit meinen erwachsenen
Kindern da - da ist es schon sehr komfortabel mehrere
Bäder und eine Menge Platz zu haben.
Wir haben uns sehr wohl gefühlt, man benötigt auf alle Fälle ein Auto, aber dann sind die Strände, Einkaufsmöglichkeiten ect. gut zu erreichen.
Maison très agréable, spacieuse. Très belle piscine. Environnement très calme. Nous avons passé une très belle semaine de vacances entre amis.
Je recommande vivement cette maison pour des vacances en famille ou entre amis.
Verified traveller
Response from VrboOwner on 24 March 2020
What a lovely review! Our guests' comments are very important to us and we strive to ensure everyone who holidays at Casa do Riacho enjoys their stay to the full and has everything they could possibly need.
Quelle belle critique! Les commentaires de nos clients sont très importants pour nous et nous nous efforçons de faire en sorte que tous ceux qui passent leurs vacances à la Casa do Riacho profitent pleinement de leur séjour et disposent de tout ce dont ils pourraient avoir besoin.
Verified
10/10 Excellent
salvatore b.
2 September 2018
Merveilleux
Cadre calme discret reposant avec tout le confort
Piscine agréable
Vacances reposantes et si l envie de visiter vous prend tout est proche et accessible
Personnel discret et efficace
Vacances à conseiller et à refaire
salvatore b.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 24 March 2020
Thank you very much for your kind review and we are thrilled you had such a wonderful holiday at our villa. You were great guests and we’d love to welcome you back again soon.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Con Harrington
27 February 2016
The photos do not do it justice!!
From the moment we enquired about hiring this beautiful home, we were well and truly taken care of. The owners, Lisa and Charles were extremely helpful, as well as the local staff who oversee the home. We were met by Lorraine, who looks after the property with her husband, Luis, and they could not have been more helpful. We were welcomed by the gorgeous smell of the burning open log fire. We preordered a welcome hamper, and as it was New Year's Day, Lorraine even provided extras such as wine and groceries so we could cook that evening, which we paid her for.
The villa is extremely spacious. There is a large utility which has a washer and a fridge in. This leads to the excellently equipped kitchen....honestly, there is nothing you won't find in there! We actually ate in every evening as it was so well equipped. After dinner, load the dishwasher and relax. The kitchen leads through to the dining area which has a bookcase and board games aswell as a beautiful sideboard and a beautiful rocking chair in an open space leading out to the terrace. Off the dining area is a double bedroom with a bathroom opposite. Stairs lead upto the wonderful master bedroom. This is an extremely large room and has an ultra modern glass walk in shower. A highlight of the room is a large terrace which overlooks the beautiful unspoilt countryside and the ocean in the distance. Back downstairs, a few steps lead down to the lounge which is so homely and cosy. There are two sofas and a chair, with a large table. The main feature of the room is the open log fire. The fire and surround is truly stunning. We designated one of our party to collect the logs from the log store at the back of the villa and clean the fire out each morning. There is also a CD player and a TV and DVD machine....not only that, but a large selection of CDs and DVDs to accompany these. We took some DVDs with us and it was so cosy after dinner to relax in the lounge with the log fire burning away. There is an amazing light feature which hangs from the high ceiling. Off the lounge is a spacious twin room with an ensuite bathroom with bath and shower. This room has a window overlooking the pool and has a beautiful chair which was lovely to sit and read in. All of the bathrooms have heated towel rails too!
Outside is just as stunning, a beautiful med style garden with cacti, various terraces to sit on and a beautiful pool...even in January we dipped our feet in! The views from the villa are breathtaking too.
Con Harrington
Response from VrboOwner on 24 March 2020
Thank you for your wonderful review. It was a pleasure to have you stay in our villa and so happy that you all enjoyed your stay. This is a really great detailed reveiw and will help our future guests with a visitors view of the house and service that we offer. Love to see you back soon.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Paul J.
7 July 2015
Beautiful
This was the first time my wife and I had been to Portugal and we were not disappointed. It is a truly beautiful country with friendly people and very reasonably priced excellent restaurants. We were delighted with every meal. The icing on the cake for us was this stunning home. It is very well kept, close to all amenities, private, welcoming and comfortable. We loved sitting on the terrace in the evening overlooking the pool and the grounds, and then retiring to the comfort of the 'sunken' living room. An absolute pleasure. We cant wait to come back.
Paul J.
Response from VrboOwner on 24 March 2020
Hi Paul,
Thank you for your kind words, we are most pleased that you had such a wonderful stay! Our door is always open, and we hope to see you again soon.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
15 September 2014
Fabulous
Beautiful villa and setting. Very secluded with lovely pool and plenty of garden tables, chairs and sunbeds. The villa is luxuriously equipped and we had a wonderful relaxing holiday. Car required, but numerous nearby restaurants.
Response from VrboOwner on 24 March 2020
Hi Ann, we are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay at the villa and that your were pleased with the facilities and amenities on offer. We are always super happy to know our guests have had a great time. That's our job! Thank you very much for taking the time out to give us your feedback, please come back and see us again. Best wishes to you and your family from The Team
Archival
10/10 Excellent
13 September 2014
Peaceful, relaxing and close to Faro
I stayed in Casa do Riacho last year for a last minute getaway. It was just what I needed. The villa seems very new and incredibly clean & tidy. There is so much space inside and out, and there are some beautiful views of the hills, with the ocean in the distance. There was a lovely sized pool (it was a bit too cold to swim in October) and a really nice patio & varanda to eat lunch / read a book / sunbathe.
I would recommend that you rent a car. The same issue with a lot of places in Portugal, things like supermarkets tend to be situated in isolated locations so a car would be really helpful.
The nice bars & restaurants are only a 10 - 15 minute drive away. The local town near the villa is small but handy, and just 10-15 minutes away is the bigger town of São Brás that has everything you could need. The beaches are about 15-20 minutes away, and the airport is about 20-25 minutes away.
I would definitely come back to this villa again. I was so relaxed after spending the week. I just hope next time I can do it in the heat of the summer!
Response from VrboOwner on 24 March 2020
Hi VicHi .. We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay in Casa Riacho. We do endeavor to ensure our clients are happy from initial contact to the end of their stay so we really appreciate your your feed back. Thank you for taking the time out to write a review for us, and please come back and visist us anytime, you will be very welcome. Thanks again and best wishes from The Team.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
13 September 2014
PERFECT ROMANTIC RETRETE
This was a holiday organised by our kids as a romantic 10 days for just the two of us
It was simply the best holiday we have had in 25 years, no kids no mess and no one to worry about or to entertain
We ate out at some of the reasonably priced restaurant's nearby for a couple of nights but actually preferred to cook back at the villa and have the evening to ourselves
The villa was superb, beautiful inside and out, and with the addition of the swimming pool it was ideal for us to relax and imagine this is what life should be like
The villa was spotless on arrival and easy to keep clean, we had everything we needed including the most important cork screw for the local wines
I think it's going to a long time before we top this holiday
Response from VrboOwner on 24 March 2020
Hi Mike.. wow how romantic! We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay in Casa Riacho. What lovely kids you have arranging that for you. We do endeavor to ensure our clients are happy from initial contact to the end of their stay and it is great to get your feed back on that. Thank you for taking the time out to write a review for us, and please come back anytime, you will be very welcome. Thanlks again and best wishes from The Team.
About the host
Hosted by Happy Homes Algarve
We are Lisa and Charles Davies - a professional couple who reside in the South of England. Having had strong family and business connections with Portugal for more than 30 years, we spent a number of years finding the perfect location to build this idyllic villa, which we completed in 2009, to our own very high specifications (at the time not with rental in mind). We continue to spend as much time as our schedule allows at Casa do Riacho with our family and friends and are very happy to share the experience with others who may appreciate it as much as we do, when we can't be in residence.
Why they chose this property
Having spent so many years visiting the Algarve, we know it intimately and believe we have uncovered a hidden gem! The Eastern Algarve is very unspoilt and much quieter the the touristy Central and Western part of the region, yet still within very easy reach of it when the desire takes us to make a visit. We were so lucky to find a suitable plot just outside the small, friendly and tranquil town of Santa Catarina to build our dream villa. We feel its location is perfect ie. close to the airport and within easy reach of many amenities and connections to the rest of the Algarve, other parts of Portugal and a stone's throw from the Spanish border. For us, the villa is home from home and we feel relaxed the moment we arrive here. Feedback from our guests suggest they have the same experience.
What makes this property unique
Beautiful, well equipped and completely self contained, luxurious, home from home. Private and safe location, not overlooked, quiet/rural but not far from civilisation, walking distance (10 mins max) from the small town of Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo. 15 mins drive from the Tavira, which in our opinion is the most unspoilt and beautiful town in the Algarve, a short drive to beautiful sandy and uncrowded beaches and central to amenities. You will get a real taste of Portugal here . The restaurant prices are not as inflated as Central and Western Algarve, yet it is within easy reach of these areas by car. In our opinion it's far more beautiful and relaxing. The local people are lovely, friendly and many speak English.