The evening sunset marked the start of a beautiful evening at the Algarve, and the view from the rooftop terrace was a picture to be seen. As the sky faded into dark hues of peach and the soft whistles of the birds tweeting started to settle down, a group of strangers, myself included, gathered around yoga mats for a guided meditation.
The session was led by the calming voice of the hotel’s in-house spa therapist, and after days of immersing myself in spa treatments, daily exercise, and delicious food, amongst this circle of strangers, I felt more present and transformed than ever. But I guess this is the magic of Solar Alvura. It’s not just any hotel; it’s a place to transform, a place to peel back the layers, a place to truly reset and become anew.
Hotel
Located deep within the countryside roads of the small farming village of Moncarapacho lies the impressive gated property housing Solar Alvura, a new health and wellness hotel in Portugal. From the moment you arrive and drive onto the cobbled stone, throughout hectares of agricultural farmland, you are instantly immersed in nature. Lavender shrubs, carob and orange trees are scattered around the land, where you may see their pet rabbit hopping happily.
The once derelict building, unoccupied for the last ten years, has since been revamped, renovated and renewed – boasting 21 rooms, a restaurant, an infinity pool, spa, a hammam and yoga tent for outdoor classes.
Entering the grand hotel lobby, filled with modern and contemporary furniture amid the manor house style décor, I was greeted by a friendly staff member who offered me refreshments before checking in. Although the property is large in scale, there is a warm and homely feel about the atmosphere. I chose a glass of ginger-infused water, and as I flicked through the guestbook, filled with praises from guests, I knew I would be in for a special kind of stay.
Solar Alvura was founded by celebrity weight-loss and diabetes reversal expert, Dr Eva Osmond, whose dream was to create a retreat with specialised programmes to help guests to achieve their health and wellness goals.
When you enter a programme, you are greeted by Dr Eva herself who will put you through an assessment and discuss your goals and outcomes for your stay. The hotel’s carefully tailored programmes, bespoke low-calorie menus and various classes and treatments ensure that every experience will facilitate your personal goals, whatever they may be. With an in-house doctor monitoring, weighing and looking after guests onsite, joined by a team of nurturing practitioners, you feel that you are in safe hands.
From personal trainers to yoga teachers, therapists, chefs, and waiters, it felt like each person I spoke to had a passion for helping you reach your goals. And by the look of it, the guests could feel this too – with two women extending their stay whilst I was there. I spoke to a lady who attended the hotel’s weight loss programme. Her initial stay was for seven days and she ended up staying 13. She said: “What Dr Eva is doing is revolutionary. It’s a reboot camp. Here, I learned to create healthy habits. I never knew I could eat these types of delicious meals I had here and still lose weight.”
Room
The rooms have a unique, contemporary French theme with vintage furniture, plush white linens, tiled floors and white marble bathrooms.
My room overlooked the south of the property where I could see views of agricultural farmland stretching for miles. With two tall window frames flooding light into the room, my room was bright and vibrant. Inside, I had access to all the essential amenities which included a barcode menu for spa treatments to order at leisure.
Their fragrant lavender soaps and olive shampoos are reminiscent of the abundance of lavender shrubs scattered around the property and the scent of the olive shampoo will stay with you even after you leave.
Food and drink
The food was definitely a highlight for me and was prepared by Michelin-trained chefs who have worked with Dr Eva to create a revolutionary low-calorie menu bursting with flavours from locally sourced ingredients.
Each meal is carefully curated by a passionate team of chefs using innovative techniques to create bespoke dishes catered to the diet requirements of each guest. For those visiting the hotel on a weight loss programme, meals are a pleasure one must experience in person. Dishes are served swiftly by a team of attentive waiters, followed by the chef who will come and personally greet you and explain exactly what is in each dish, adding an element of excitement to each serving.
On the menu could be a ratatouille-filled squash on the side of a zucchini-scaled golden seabream. Whilst dessert could be a deconstructed cheesecake on a bed of protein biscuits, made with ricotta cheese and yoghurt, leaving no room for FOMO during this luxury dining experience.
The head chef greets each guest with a smile and, during your stay, you even get an opportunity to watch him during the curation of his latest dish in a group cooking class. The dishes often contain ingredients we all know and love with a dash of creative flair. Think fruit salad soaked in fermented juices mixed with mint and ginger in a vacuum pack for 48 hours – just to enhance the taste of the fruit.
Spa and wellness
In addition, you can indulge in the spa which offers an abundant menu of treatments that promise to enhance your overall experience. Scanning the menu barcode in your room will give you access to a wide range of treatments, from Lymphatic drainage massage to reflexology and a highly recommended hot stone massage. The spa comes equipped with a beauty bar, gym, steam room and hammam to cater to all of your wellness needs.
After your treatment, you can dip in the infinity pool and dry off by the sunbeds for a nap before dinner.
To do
The hotel is bursting with activities for guests to enjoy as part of their programme or at their own leisure. With Portugal’s beauty lying in its low tides and endless coastline, the water activities were indeed a highlight and a great addition to a wellness trip.
Dolphin watching for instance, was a deeply calming activity. As you speed away from the mainland and out to sea, I found I was forced to be present, and mindfully aware of my surroundings. A morning trip to Moncarapacho, can do this to you, as you enjoy a 10-mile walk along the marshes surrounding Fuseta Beach, taking in the morning rays and enjoying the serene peace of the town.
In a nutshell
The location, the programmes, the treatments, the staff and the food makes this hotel one of the most unique and transformational health and wellness stays.
I left with a sense of ease, feeling even lighter than when I arrived. But what was most surprising is that I became more mindful of what I eat, paying more attention to what I consume daily and how often I invest in my own well-being. For me, this is what makes a place stand out, it alters your perspective in a positive way which, in turn, impacts your way of being. As they say, health is wealth, right?
Factbox
Address: Pes do Cerro, 223M, 8700-124 Moncarapacho, Portugal
Phone: +351 925 009 405
Website: solaralvura.com
All imagery supplied by Solar Alvura Health Hotel
