Former Viana do Castelo campsite to become glamping and motorhome park

FeelEverywhere is investing €4 million to convert the former Orbitur campsite in Viana do Castelo into the FeelViana Nature tourism complex. The project, set to open in May 2027, includes 17 glamping units, 42 motorhome pitches, a wellness area, a restaurant, and a performance training center. It is expected to create 32 direct jobs. The concession runs for 20 years, renewable up to 30.

Soul Campers Vanlife Portugal, a motorhome rental company in the Algarve, avoided closure due to widespread support after the theft of four vehicles. The four motorhomes were stolen from a warehouse in São Brás de Alportel but were recovered days after owners Tânia and Pedro issued a desperate appeal for help. The owners thanked friends and strangers for sharing the alert, which enabled the vehicles to be located and the business to continue.

On Thursday, August 13, 91 people were fined in Vila do Bispo, Portugal, for illegal camping or using motorhomes. Another 21 were penalized for ignoring traffic signs. The operation ran from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, involving the National Republican Guard, the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), and the local council. Authorities are tightening enforcement in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park; in June, 92 people were fined for similar violations.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and border closures, many motorhome travelers are unable to return home. In Portugal, ferries to the UK have been cancelled, campsites are closing, and authorities provide no guidance. Travelers, mostly elderly and at high risk, are left without options to leave the country or find parking.

In Portugal, a group of 20 local residents conducted night raids on camper vans and tents in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, targeting illegal campers. The group claimed authorities have failed to address the issue and took direct action, waking up violators on three beaches in Vila do Bispo. The raids were filmed and shared on social media. The president of the Alentejo and Algarve Camping Association urged authorities to take measures against illegal camping.

Faro municipality officially took over the city's campsite on Monday (November 25), the same day most campers began leaving the site they had called home for years. Their departure was 'peaceful' although a considerable amount of trash was left behind, which municipal services have started removing. Some campers were given extra days to remove all their belongings so the municipality can finally 'open the campsite for everyone'. Mayor Rogério Bacalhau refused to describe the end of the dispute as a 'won battle', stating the goal was to create a project for the area, not to fight. The renovation, representing an investment of €450,000, will involve cleaning and reorganizing the campsite, renovating electrical and water networks, and creating green areas. The park will have 200 tent pitches, including 84 for large tents, and 24 pitches for motorhomes, with plans to open to the public by the end of 2020.