Villa Papaya

A Comporta-Styled Villa Duo under the Coastal Pines of the Alentejo

With an inviting heated pool and deck on the sand near its contemporary structures, and a tranquil location a few minutes’ drive from the beach, this bright, airy villa duo offers beach house vibes, minus the busy sun-baked scene.

Situated on an 18-acre lot some four kilometers outside Carvalhal village, the property does laid-back luxury right. Two sleekly furnished living areas extend under the main villa’s high-pitched wood ceiling, one set up for cozier TV and fireside times, the other a minimalist modern entertainment space combining the kitchen, bar, dining and sitting rooms. Glass sliders around the house, in common areas and bedrooms, open to wood deck spaces that in turn open to an unspoiled country lot, and there’s a barbecue for outdoor cooking.

Layout

Half a dozen bedrooms in the main house are styled to be equally sleek and spare. Two king bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms with showers (one with an in-bedroom soaking tub). Three identical rooms have pairs of twins, and one is a bunk room ideal for the kids. The four rooms with single beds share two bathrooms.

Inside the private annex, a kitchenette adjoins the lounge space, and there’s a bedroom for two with an en-suite bathroom.

Around

This home is located only four kilometers from Carvalhal and double that to the beaches of Comporta. Beachgoers love Carvalhal’s sands for their free-and-easy vibe compared to the beaches of Comporta and Melides. Carvalhal town is one of seven towns in the the Herdade de Comporta, a zone of rice paddies and the wetlands of the Sado Nature Reserve. Dune-backed and flanked by rice paddies, Carvalhal's family-friendly beach also has a well-loved traditional waterfront restaurant, and there are beach loungers and umbrellas available for a fee. Nearby Pego Beach is a remote-feeling, four-kilometer stretch of golden sand surrounded by a pine forest, with a destination restaurant for those in the know. Sal Restaurant is a family-run domain of grilled fish and freshly caught seafood. Dolphins jump in the waters offshore, and the waves make the entire region a surfing hotspot for pros and beginners alike, well-served by surf schools and local guiding companies.

Nearby Comporta (about 10 minutes north) has become a favorite playground of global nomads who’ve ridden in on the coattails of fashion designers, international architects, entrepreneurial urbanites, and modern art collectors. Comporta is well loved for its easygoing elegance and trendy artisanal boutiques, lively galleries and handful of cute cafes. And Melides, also nearby, has become a favorite of design-conscious shoppers who delight in the burgeoning selection of galleries, workshops, and carefully curated boutiques. This mostly unspoiled region remains undeniably beautiful despite its popularity—a green landscape of vineyards and cork oak fields, rice paddies and groves of glinting olive and orange trees. Lovers of the laid-back and rugged will thrill with horseback rides along the rolling surf, and the area’s golden sands extend for miles, backed by dunes, cliffs, and wind sculpted pines and the protected lagoons, their waters rich with birds and wildlife, include nearby Lagoa de Santo André and the Lagoa de Melides.

Location

Carvalhal, Alentejo, Portugal. Nearest airport: Lisbon (1½ hours)

Best time to visit

April to October