“Be one with Alentejo and do it with all your heart”. That´s the proposal from Cam & Vera, two New Yorkers that fell in love with this region so much that decided to settle down here and build their dream of a place where all guests feel like staying at a friend´s house. The property is surrounded by nature and all kinds of trees, the sound of birds and sheep bells will follow you all day long. The guest houses and the rooms were meticulously decorated one by one with personal pieces, antiques and handmade objects by local artisans or family members. Here you can relax deeply or experiment new activities every day. You´ll have the best of the beach, and the countryside, not to mention the raw charm of our small village, Cercal do Alentejo, at a short walking distance. Quinta Camarena’s food concept is a homemade fusion with local, fresh, bio and artisanal products. The wines are all from sustainable local small producers.
Sustainability
Food & Wine are very important for Quinta Camarena and the support to local community is a crucial part of their concept. They use fresh, artisanal products from small local suppliers. The veggies and fruits are from their trees or from small local sustainable farms.
Quinta Camarena do not believe in, sell, or encourage, the use of single-use plastic bottles on the property. That’s why they invite you to enjoy unlimited access to their own tap water that tastes great and is safe for drinking. Reusable glass jars are stocked in every room.
The accommodation discourages the use of plastic in general on the premises and having replaced small containers for refillable shower gel and shampoo containers. The accommodation also offers bio local, artisanal soaps in every room.
Water is heated from solar panels and by 2021 all electricity will be from solar energy. Quinta Camarena also use efficient interior LED lamps and solar lights for the exterior.
The design and architecture are inspired by the heritage and surroundings of the region. They try to be creative and use sustainable materials with a preference to those that are locally sourced and recyclable. You will find many furniture and décor pieces that were made by themselves, transforming existing objects, wood from their trees, bottles, etc
Recycling is taken very seriously and the hotel encourage all the guests to do the same. All organic residuals are used for compost in order to fertilize the soil . If you want to get to know more or show it to your children, Cam and Vera would be happy to show you.
Facilities
- Swimmimg Pool;
- Gardens;
- Indoor / outdoor gym;
- Outdoor yoga platform;
- Space for internal / external events;
- Bar & Eatery – Breakfast, Brunch, Happy Hour and Homemade Dinner;
- Kitchen for guest use;
- Rental bicycles;
- Laundry service.
What to do
Explore the incredible beaches nearby and try Surf, SUP or Kitesurf lessons. The region is rich in walking paths and cycling routes.
Discover the historic villages and their incredible architecture. Explore the street markets and the natural landscapes in the surroundings, and you can do it on your own or with a local guide.
For more adventurous people there are other activities such as horseback riding, boating in the Atlantic Ocean or on the river or even climbing.
For those who want to get to know the culture and tradition of the region, there is a chance to visit local artisans, where you can take pottery classes.
For the most greedy, they can also learn how to make bread and cheese, or visit a winery to taste good local wine.
How to get there
Train – For those coming from Lisbon, you can take the train to Ermidas do Sado. Contact the accommodation to pick you up from the station, as it’s still about 40 minutes to your final destination.
Car – Quinta da Camarena is about 1h25m from Lisbon. Take the A2 and head south. Exit at exit 10 towards IP8. After the toll, follow the signs for the IC1 towards Ourique. After about 11 km turn towards Cercal. In the Vila, be aware and turn on Rua Sebastião Sobral Figueira. Follow the signs indicating “Turismo Rural” and you will arrive at your destination.
