Xisto Sentido 

The drive to Martim Branco is scenic and hilly, you really get the feeling of being off the beaten track. As you drive into the village, it’s like taking a step back in time – a true rural experience. The village is very secluded and isolated and there are a series of walks in and around the accommodation with a river running through the base of the village. Xisto also provides a very unexpected and wonderful swimming pool!! It was hard to believe this facility had been created in the surrounds when you first arrive. We made a call and in no time, we were being shown into our unit. From the outside, you would never expect such an interior – it provided all the comforts you could ever need, very well executed and considerate of the environment it was in. There is no taverna in the village but Gustavo provides a shared area by his wood fired bread oven where you can light a fire and cook outside. We had a kitchen as well, sadly, we hadn’t stopped en-route to purchase some food for supper!! We’d certainly recommend making sure you bring something to eat with you. We did have some wine and snacks, so surviving until Gustavo’s breakfast was never going to be a big challenge. Gustavo was such a wonderful host at breakfast. We get the impression he is very well accomplished in and around the kitchen – we were offered home made bread, jams and preserves. It also appears Gustavo tries to keep it local and fresh which we loved. We were sad, we only had the 1 x night and too many other spots to get to during our trip. It would be nice to arrive with more provisions, take some of the forest walks and become more in touch with the serenity on offer.