Cabana do Lago
ALENTEJO / HOME / TRIED & TESTED
There’s something eternally appealing about going ‘off grid’, retreating to a remote lodging cut off from the real world where life is stripped-back & simple. To satisfy the solitary seekers, Cabana do Lago appears in the form of a comforting & nostalgic vermillion wooden cabin on Santa Clara Barragem. Inspired by the lake cabin that Picasso spent days of solitude in, painting & creating, this is the ideal antidote to city life (or perhaps modern life in general).
Once an old family refuge, the place has been lovingly restored, renovated & rebuilt with resilience by the owners of Casa Nas Dunas in Comporta, Sarah & Lopo. They spent a year on-site watching where the light fell, how far the water rose, how the moon reflected on the water. In the main ‘house’, complete with white wooden shutters, rooms are filled with repurposed furniture, old books & tiles found amongst the rubble of the former ruin.
Nestled on the hillside, a private wooden ‘suite’ sits separately, intimate & isolated, occupying a front-row seat to the lake & landscape beyond. While this cabin’s bathroom is simple (a compost loo is a gentle reminder of simplicity), there is, of course, a ‘proper bathroom’ in the main cottage with all the usual amenities. An additional outdoor shower means alfresco bathing after a day spent lolling in the sun, dipping in & out of the freshwater lake from the wooden dock, is a welcome refreshment. This is a new sort of luxury where back to basics never looked chicer.
Room Service
Location: Santa Clara Barragem, North Algarve.
Price: On Request with minimum stay applicable.
Sleeps: Four people in the main cabin and two in another.
Highlights: Isolation is the magic word at Cabana do Lago, for those wanting to disconnect & go back to basics in order to reset & regain perspective.
Our favourite room: The rooms in the cabin itself are cosy & warmer in the cooler months with the log burning fire going while a separate module is graced with sweeping views from the bed.
Services: The cabin is completely self-catered & as it is so isolated, no turndown or other services are provided. A small boat is provided to explore the lake & is a real treat for golden hour when the water is at its calmest.
Designed by The owners renovated the property themselves from an old family cabin, they are the creative hands behind Casa Nas Dunas in Comporta so you can rest assured that each detail has been thought of.
Photography by Design Escapes.
The Neighbourhood: Once you’re here, you’re here, unless feeling the current of the water beneath your boat as you seek out forms of life on the banks of the lake.
Things to know: The cabin is a boat ride & a car journey away from the nearest amenities so come prepared. The kitchen is stocked with essentials but make sure to check what’s available before your stay. Bathrooms have hot water however be aware of your usage.
Cabana do Lago is a member of the Design Escapes Community, tried & tested by us.
The Map
Cabana do Lago is located in an isolated location, on the Santa Clara Barragem, around a one and a half-hour drive from Faro followed by a thirty-minute boat ride. Fly to Faro, rent a car & take a road trip.