Our Wellbeing Travel consultant Artemis visited Monchique Resort & Spa in Portugal and gives us the feedback from her visit.
Location, Location, Location!
Monchique Resort & Spa is a hidden gem tucked in the forested mountainous region of the Algarve, away from the hustle and bustle of the coastal tourist towns yet just 20 minutes from the beach.
I felt immediate peace stepping out onto the large balcony looking out across the mountain scenery. With its elevated position the air feels fresh and mild avoiding the humidity of the coastal regions.
Easy to get to just an hour from Faro, so a perfect choice for a long weekend.
Exercising in nature
The group activity schedule makes the most of the surrounding nature. There are three guided walks a week ranging from 4, 8 and 14 km to accommodate all fitness abilities. The walks are also an excellent way to make friends with others staying at the resort whilst also learning about local culture and history of the region.
My favourite activity in the schedule was the forest bathing. You are taken to a beautiful rural cork forest location filled with the character of old barns and farmhouses. After a short, mindful walk you reach an elevated cliff top location with beautiful views and complete peacefulness. You are then guided through some breathing exercises and visualization mediation to reach a state of deep zen!
The newly built yoga deck is nestled in a quiet valley surrounded by forest. Perfect to relax into the guided yoga and meditation classes with the sounds of nature surrounding you. The yoga teacher Gustavo is extremely skilled at teaching a class with different abilities to keep everyone challenged and engaged whilst making the class accessible for beginners.
There are plenty of cycle and walking trails accessible from the hotel for some independent exploring.
Spa time
Although the spa is slightly cosy in terms of size, I was pleasantly surprised with the facilities and the quality of the treatments. I opted for a full body aromatherapy massage and had one of the best massages I have experienced from therapist Paloma. She made me feel nurtured and looked after whilst using advanced massage techniques to really loosen my tight muscles in a pleasant way.
The thermal spa circuit and indoor pool is adults only so you can always escape here if the kids get too much by the main pool. The thermal spa circuit consists of different water jets, sauna, steam bath, warm loungers, and foot baths. I could have stayed there for hours.
Dining experience
Monchique has a couple of restaurants to choose from. As a Wellbeing Escapes guest, you are offered the specially curated Wellness Menu to keep away from temptation. The portion sizes are large, so you definitely will not feel hungry here.
If you don’t want to stick to a healthy diet you can enjoy buffet dinners (offering some Portuguese delicacies) or eat in their a al carte restaurant which serves fresh, local produce.
The fish dishes are especially delicious here.
Home away from home
The standard rooms here are impressively sized suites with a living room with large smart TV, fully equipped kitchenette, two bathrooms, dining area and large balcony with table and chairs!
I would highly recommend Monchique as a resort to do a long stay and work from as the rooms feel like home away from home. What better place to work from than these balcony with fantastic views?
Who should go here?
Monchique is perfect for outdoor nature lovers looking for an element of wellness.
It is also a popular choice with families with kids’ clubs, activities, and pools on offer plus the large, self-catered suites accommodate families well.
Friends and couples will also feel at home here looking for an introduction wellness holiday whilst still having the option to wine and dine without restrictions.
Top Tips
I highly recommend upgrading to a Panoramic room to take advantage of the stunning views of forest, mountains, and the sea in the distance.
Take a trip to the quaint local village of Monchique famed for its detoxifying alkalising mineral water and thermal waters. Take some water bottles to top up with this health boosting water directly from the source. One of the three guided walks will take you through the village, ask reception of details.
Take a drive to the highest point in the Monchique mountain range, Fóia. At 902m it has some jaw dropping views of the cork forest and coast below.
Please call us on 020 3735 7555 if you would like to find out more about the hotel.
Why Wellbeing Escapes?
