Casas Por do Sol

What inspired you to buy a property in Portugal and turn it into a place for guests?


It started in a slightly unexpected way. The mother of my ex-wife lived in Nicaragua, and because of the political situation we wanted to bring her closer to us.

More broadly, we had many friends who had already bought properties in Portugal and kept telling us: Go. It’s beautiful — great food, great weather, wonderful people. At first, we even imagined creating a small retreat, almost like a mini boutique hotel. But life changes, plans shift, and in the end I got divorced, took over the project, and completed the construction myself.

What remained constant was the intention: to create a beautiful holiday home — a place to escape to, slow down, and enjoy Portugal: the food, the light, the ocean, and that very particular ease you feel here.

And how did you end up choosing this specific location near Ericeira?


Honestly: by accident. We took a wrong turn — a navigation accident — and suddenly found ourselves driving along the coast in beautiful weather, with flowers everywhere. The atmosphere was so striking that it immediately stayed with us.

Once you’ve been here, you don’t really want to leave. It has this special balance: it’s calm and grounding, but at the same time, you feel the power of the ocean. That contrast fascinated me, and I completely fell in love with the area.

It was an untouched plot of land in a beautiful landscape — the last piece before nature opens up, with only a few houses behind. In front, you have vineyards and open views, and a walk down toward the ocean. So we built everything from scratch.

Did you work with an architect? And what was your vision for the design?


Yes, we worked with an architect — but the core vision came from us: what we wanted to build, how it should feel, and how it should sit in the landscape. The architect supported us as a technical partner: translating the concept into drawings, planning, and execution.

From the beginning, we knew we wanted separation and space — not one large building, but two distinct units. Initially, the idea for the second house was a creative studio. But fairly early on, we realised: if it’s this special here, you want to share it — to “duplicate” the experience in a way. So we created two independent houses: the larger L-shaped main house, and a smaller studio-style garden house.

To you personally, what makes this place so special?


First and foremost: the combination of privacy and convenience. You have peace, nature, and ocean views — but you’re not isolated. You can choose complete quiet, or you can be at a restaurant easily.

There’s also a gravel path that lets you walk down to the ocean for a swim. In fact, you don’t really need a car once you’re here: you can walk up to the supermarket and bakery, and walk down to the sea. That’s rare — this feeling of being tucked away, yet still connected.

And I also love that it works year-round. The main house has underfloor heating, so it’s genuinely comfortable in winter too. It’s not just a summer stay — each season has its own charm, and even January or February can be wonderful. It’s a place you can escape to outside of the crowded high season.