I’ve been in the mood for glamping for a long time. The idea of staying by nature and sleeping in a dome sounded too damn good. That’s why I took advantage of a visit to Costa Vicentina to spend the night at Reserva Alecrim – Eco Suites & Glamping. And so it was about time for me to have my first glamping experience in Portugal.

Glamping is a recent concept, which is basically characterized by being a kind of more luxurious camping (glamping + camping = glamping).

The reserve is near (about 20 minutes by car) Santiago do Cacém. It is simply perfect for a weekend getaway for those coming from Lisbon or Costa Vicentina as was my case.

There are other types of accommodation besides domes – from safari tents to eco-suites or cottages.

Although I haven’t had the opportunity to enjoy it, the reserve offers a range of activities in the vicinity. So just ask at the reception what kind of activities are available.

As soon as we arrived at the reception, we were taken to our dome. Each dome has a designated parking space. The domes are placed on a kind of wooden platform, where there are some chairs/sliders and a table. It is the ideal scenery to spend some beautiful moments in the sun or to have breakfast in the morning. 

When entering the dome, I find it hard not to be enchanted. Firstly, a simple and modern but beautiful decoration. Secondly, we had at our disposal everything we needed for a few days well spent. The dome has a kitchenette where you can cook if you want.

We unpacked our bags and immediately went to explore all that the reserve has to offer. We started by the pool area, where there are several spaces to rest a bit. If an infinity pool already sounds good itself, imagine another pool – this time a natural one. In this natural pool, there are water lilies and some frogs. There is also a bar by the pool where, in addition to drinks, you can order homemade pizzas.

A little further away, there are also two natural lakes. These are perfect for those more adventurous and not afraid to swim with the frogs. If you are not the adventurous type (and also a bit afraid of frogs), you can also stop here just to watch a beautiful sunset. The space has several wooden platforms where you can sit and just enjoy.

Meanwhile, they have opened another pool (this time heated) under a kind of an open dome.

However, the best was yet to come. It was the next day when we received breakfast outside our room, and we were simply amazed. The breakfast was very well served and brought a huge variety of products. Besides the usual (bread, puff pastry croissants, milk and yoghurt), it also included seasonal fruit, fresh cheese, and natural orange juice, among others. 

And what’s even better about having breakfast in a basket delivered outside your room? The products were mostly homemade and of high quality. Unfortunately, breakfast is not included in the initial rate of the stay. This is the only point with which I do not agree much, as the basic rate is already a little bit on the pricey side. Even so, I think it’s really worth adding it to your stay… after all, it’s not every day that we can have breakfast like this.

After this visit, I am only sure of one thing: my glamping experience at Reserva Alecrim was too short, and I will certainly return! So if you are looking for a place to experience glamping in Portugal, I recommend Reserva Alecrim without any doubt!

• [Sines] O Bejinha (€): truly traditional, this restaurant is inside the Port of Sines. As you would expect, the speciality is fish (VERY fresh!!). There is no menu, so when you arrive the menu is the fish of the day. We opted for the grilled sardines which were simply delicious. And whenever the dish is empty, they bring more freshly grilled and warm sardines.
• [Sines] Cais da Estação (€€): with plenty of room available, the restaurant offers both fish and meat dishes at a relatively affordable price.
• [Vila Nova de Santo André] Ginger Café (€): if you are looking for a lighter and toast-based meal, Ginger Café is a good option. On weekends, you also have a brunch option. The menu is quite varied (I recommend trying the natural juices).

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