Our story

We are Iris and Alvaro – together with our two children, we have been happily running Quinta da Vala since April 2025.

Our journey to Portugal actually began many years ago. In 2012 we took a trip together that made us feel there was so much more to discover in the world. Yet, like so many others, we simply continued our lives in the Netherlands: good jobs, a lovely home, a warm social network. Everything went the way it was supposed to.

And still, there was always that little voice: is this it, or could life be different?

In 2016 we bought our first small holiday home on the North Holland coast, which we renovated entirely by ourselves. Not long after, a second one followed. We discovered how much joy it gave us to transform a house into a warm, welcoming place, and how special it felt to host guests there. Their stories, their happiness, sharing the surroundings with them – that gave us energy.

But life grew busier. Two demanding jobs, a family, and running two holiday homes: it was simply too much. Yet we knew one thing for sure: what truly makes us happy is creating beautiful places and sharing them with others. So we decided to change course.

Alvaro was the first to quit his job, and we started searching for a place of our own with enough rental opportunities to live from. In the Netherlands that turned out to be impossible within our budget, so we looked further. Portugal drew us in: the climate, the space, the people. During our very first trip through the Algarve we saw, on the last day, a severely neglected farmhouse: Quinta da Vala. Full of mold, cracks, and leaks. But also full of character and possibilities.

We fell in love. Still, it took over one and a half year of negotiations, doubts, obstacles, and unexpected setbacks before we managed to actually buy the quinta. Thanks to friends, family, and a few important Portuguese contacts, it finally became possible. And so, on April 24, 2025, we officially became the owners.

From that moment, a lot has changed. The weeds gave way to a green lawn, the swimming pool sparkles again, and the apartments now have new floors, bathrooms, and kitchens. The old walls still breathe history, but now wear a fresh new look. And every day we continue to work, with love and care, to make Quinta da Vala a place where guests immediately feel at home.

For us, this is not just a rental project. It is a dream come true; a place where our family lives, learns, and grows, and where we can share our passion for hospitality and the good life.

We warmly invite you to come and experience it for yourself. Discover the peace, the space, and the charm of Portuguese life.

Bem-Vindo a Quinta da Vala.