Orvalho
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The Retreat

A house with a story

Built in 1894 by a family of cashew traders, left quiet for half a century, and brought back to life by hand.

Story

Since 1894

  1. 1894

    A cashew trader's house

    The Rodrigues family build a house of laterite and teak above the orchard, facing the Ghats.

  2. 1961

    Quiet years

    The family moves to Bombay. The house is shuttered, the orchard is kept by the same village family for three generations.

  3. 2015

    Four years by hand

    Restoration begins with a conservation architect and craftsmen from across Bardez. Nothing is demolished that can be mended.

  4. 2019

    Orvalho opens

    Twelve rooms, a garden spa and a kitchen led by a chef from Siolim. Orvalho is Portuguese for the morning dew on the orchard.

Laterite, teak and tile
Design

Made of this place

Laterite cut from the hill behind the house. Oxide floors laid by the last two craftsmen in Bardez who still know how. Teak from a shipyard that closed in the seventies. Ceramics thrown in Bicholim, cotton from Kerala, and paint mixed from lime and the red earth of the garden.

Included

Every stay includes

  • Breakfast every morningOn the balcão, in your room or by the pool
  • Airport transfersReturn transfers for stays of four nights or more
  • Sunrise yogaDaily on the plateau, mats and shawls provided
  • Afternoon chaiWith bebinca and nankhatai at four
  • Bicycles & lanternsFor the orchard lanes and the walk to the river
  • Fast Wi-FiFibre throughout, if you must
Places

Close by

Mapusa Friday market15 min from the houseMapusa Friday marketSpices, sausages, cashew and bebinca, every Friday morning.
Chapora river mouth25 min from the houseChapora river mouthWhere our boatman keeps his boat, and the best prawns on the coast.
Old Panjim35 min from the houseOld PanjimPainted houses, azulejos and century-old bakeries in the Latin Quarter.
Ghats forest trails20 min from the houseGhats forest trailsWaterfalls, hornbills and cool green shade from June to January.
The Road

Getting here

Forty minutes from Manohar International Airport (GOX) at Mopa, fifty-five from Dabolim (GOI) and twenty-five from Thivim railway station. We collect every guest; the last kilometre is a red-earth lane through the cashew orchard.

Socorro Hill Road 18, Bardez North Goa 403 501, India

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Guest Book

In their words

From 312 verified stays.

★★★★★
“The quietest, most beautiful week we have had in years. We came for the pool suite and left talking about breakfast.”
Ananya & Karan, MumbaiPool Suite · March
★★★★★
“Every detail is considered but nothing feels precious. The staff remembered how we take our coffee by the second morning.”
Sophie Laurent, LyonGhats Suite · January
★★★★★
“We took the whole house for my mother's seventieth. Twelve of us, three generations, and not one thing went wrong.”
Meera Pinto, BengaluruCasa Orvalho · December
★★★★★
“The waterfall walk and the sunset sail were the two best days of our honeymoon.”
Rohan & Ishita, DelhiBalcão Room · November
★★★★★
“A real Goan house, not a resort pretending to be one. Mesa is the best meal we ate in India.”
James Whitaker, LondonGhats Suite · February
★★★★★
“Our children still talk about roasting cashews in the orchard. We are already planning next year.”
The Kamat family, PuneCashew Cottage · April
Questions

Good to know

When is the best time to visit?

November to March is dry, warm and clear. The monsoon (June to September) is green, dramatic and very quiet; the spa and the kitchen are at their best then, and our rates are lowest.

How does the deposit work?

A 30% deposit, paid securely online, holds your dates. The balance is settled at check-in by card, UPI or bank transfer. You may also pay the full amount when you book.

What is your cancellation policy?

Cancel up to 14 days before arrival for a full refund of your deposit. Within 14 days the deposit is kept, but we will always try to move your dates instead.

Are taxes included in the price?

Nightly rates are shown before tax. GST is added at the government rate (18% for rooms above ₹7,500 a night) and every figure is shown before you pay.

Do you welcome children?

Yes, in the Cashew Cottages and Casa Orvalho, which have second bedrooms. The Balcão Rooms, Ghats Suites and Pool Suites are designed for two adults.

How do I get there?

We are forty minutes from Mopa airport (GOX) and fifty-five from Dabolim (GOI). We collect every guest; transfers are included for stays of four nights or more.

Can non-residents dine or visit the spa?

Yes, by reservation. Mesa, the chef's table and the spa all take a small number of outside guests each day.

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