Glamping at Figueirinha Ecotourism

Figueirinha Ecotourism is a self-sustainable rural tourism. In 2009. In 2013, a Glampp tent will be introduced, according to the Glamping (Glamorous Camping) philosophy.

Figueirinha Ecotourism – An Alentejo’s coast refuge open to Glamping (Glamorous Camping)

Project for a Glampp tent installation

Supporting this initiative will invite to you to lunch, to participate in a workshop or sleep a night in Figueirinha Ecotourism

Figueirinha Ecotourism it’s not only a place to stay, a place where you can enjoy the nature in a property within the frontiers of the National Ecological Reserve, but it’s mostly a family home where hospitality spirit and agreeable relationships are cultivated, things we consider fundamental for the wellbeing of those who look for a return to the origins, to daily life simplicity. In a 1,975 hectares land called Herdade da Figueirinha dos Condados, Freguesia de Relíquias, in the county of Odemira, there is space for retreats that will clean both body and soul, for gastronomic gatherings based on Mediterranean food and touristic incursions to the most beautiful and wild beaches on the planet, right here in Vicentina Coast.

We like to think that even in this place where the link to nature is total, everything is possible. In the warm embrace of simple human relations, almost all wills, almost all the needs are fulfilled. In a place where the Alentejo is more rural, comfort was not left apart in the Ribeira, Serra and Forno rooms, supported by solar panels that assure the complete energetic self-sufficiency and a biological pool that gives pure moments of relaxation.

Spread around the world, Glamping is already a tendency that attracts all sorts of travellers and it’s also reaffirming itself as an ecological friendly lodging. In areas where the cost of energy and construction materials is too high, the Glamping option has the advantage of resourcing to nature elements, like solar energy, alternative treatment of biodegradable residues and permaculture. In some cases you will sleep in a safari tent, a tepee used in the past by North American Indians or in a Mongolian yurt.

Glamping allows you perfect contact with nature in an extraordinary way. It’s an opportunity to relax and refill your energy. Instead of waking up and getting out of the door of a house, you’ll get out straight to the fields and the fresh air.

Suddenly far away from everything to allow an absolute silence and rest, Figueirinha Ecotourism is, however, close from everything you need, at your will. Wireless Internet, creative writing workshops, olive collecting, culinary classes in which highlights the homemade liquors, pedestrian and equestrian treks, canoeing in the Mira river, are some of the many options for child and adults.

Figueirinha Ecotourism represents the achievement of a dream. Paula Carvalho Silva and Alexandre Coutinho acquired the Herdade da Figueirinha dos Condados in the middle nineties, with the aim of transforming it, later, in an auto-sustainable rural tourism place. Over more than a decade, Figueirinha was a holiday and a weekend refuge family and friends far away from the city. The venture started by the monte recovery, a centennial house menaced by ruin and, in 2009, began the old dependence rebuilding project, into a house designed for rural tourism, opened to the public the 1^st April 2012. In 2013, a Glampp tent will be introduced, for a Glamping (Glamorous Camping) purpose.

The Glampp project

Herdade da Figueirinha will be the Glampp project-pilot location. Glampp Ecosystem 40 is a 40m2 Glamping module, energy self-sustainable, with the use of solar energy and will use permaculture concepts for the solid waste residues. The Glampp module also offers the possibility to monitor all the tent technical sub-systems, such as the solar energy accumulation, tank levels and other sensors or specific systems required (for instance, RFID control access). Consumer reports or alarms sent by e-mail will also be possible or Cloud technical data access, making Glampp adequate for a self-sustainable ecotourism product. The Glampp tent uses sustainable materials, such as FSC certified wood and recyclable materials.

For more details look for the websites www.contra-a-corrente.pt or www.glampp.com

About the author

Alexandre Coutinho – Freelance journalist, 49 years, born in Lisbon, where he completed his Mass Communication degree. He started working in 1986, in the newspaper O Jornal, moving in 1988 to the Expresso Economy folder, as an editor (1998-2000), where he worked until the end of 2010.

Since 2007, he is also the editor of Sirius Magazine. In 1995, he founded the webpages Viagens no Meu Planeta and Volta ao Mundo de Faca e Garfo, in the Janela na Web site; and, in 2009, the blog Vida na Terra, at Expresso online webpage. Besides several works to other newspapers and magazines, he is the author of the book “O Mensageiro de Fidel”, “Como se Faz um Presidente”, “Chevrolet em Portugal”, “Microcrédito em Portugal – Uma Nova Oportunidade” (the last two with co-author Paula Carvalho Silva); “Auto Palace – Um Século de Vida” (with co-author Ana Pinto da Costa); and “A Irmandade dos Romeiros” (with co-authors Luís Filipe Mota Machado and Pedro Mota Machado). He edited for Expresso the colective work “50 Lojas com Histórias”. In 2011, he published the books “F-16 Falcões e Jaguares” and “100 Anos Chevrolet” – the first with the photographers co-authors André Garcez and Paulo Mata; and the second with co-author Alda Rocha; in July 2012, he published the book: “Opel Ampera – Nova era na mobilidade eléctrica”, with pictures from Luís Viegas; and, in May 2013, his last book "TAP Air Portugal", with co-authors Alda Rocha and André Garcez. He’s the co-founder of the publishing house Contra a Corrente.

Budget and due dates

Images

Documents

• Orçamento de madeiras para três tendas Glampp

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• Orçamento do sistema de energia solar para três tendas Glampp

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