Wild Camping in Portugal

Can I wild camp in Portugal?

• Yes, wild camping is once again allowed in Portugal, with exceptions. As per amendments to Portugal’s Highway Code articles 48 and 50-A approved in July 2021, “overnight stays in motorhomes approved by the IMT (Institute of Mobility and Transport) for a maximum period of 48 hours are allowed”. Wild camping is still banned on lands belonging to the Natura 2000 network, protected areas and areas covered by the Coastal Development Plans. Violations on these lands can result in a fine between 120 to 600 euros.
• Before you wild camp in Portugal, be sure to read our article the Best Campsites in Portugal. These are a great alternative to wild camping. They offer stunning views, excellent amenities, easy access, and peace of mind. Many are located along the coastline and throughout the interior and rarely require advanced booking.
• Turismo de Portugal offers information regarding legal overnight stays called Asa's. You can empty your toilets and wastewater and charge your batteries for only a few euros a night. Portugal has been rolling these out throughout the country and they are proving really popular.
• New projects like Homecamper, Camperland, EVAZION, and PORTUGAL EASYCAMP allow people to offer their own land with facilities similar to camping sites, which is a great idea for camping in Portugal. There are also Facebook groups like Vanlife Portugal, where people offer up their own land to camp; many have a volunteer scheme where you can pay for your stay by volunteering.
  

At Siesta Campers, the leading company for campervan hire in Portugal, we strive to make this lifestyle accessible and sustainable for all. The very idea of ‘wild camping’ conjures up a great spirit of freedom, skinny dipping in icy cold lakes, gathering firewood for your evening campfire and roaming through forests without seeing another soul. What’s not to love? Well, yes there is a new law, but do not worry! There are plenty of ways to capture the essence of being in the wild, especially with the new variety of emerging camp spots nationwide.

Wild camping in Portugal generally means swinging off of the main road and heading down a winding dubious track while following your Park 4 Night app, and then there it is, the idyllic spot you’ve always dreamed of, the spot you’ve seen on Instagram a thousand times. It opens out to a wonderful sea view, vista, and a deserted beach all to yourself. All of this for free; it costs nothing, but that’s just not true. There have been some ecological consequences, and the land needs some time to recover.

 

Wild camping in a motorhome 10-20 years ago in Portugal was pretty harmless. The majority of intrepid wanderers that made it off of the beaten paths were hippies and adventurous surfers; they believed in carrying poop shovels, buried their own crap and were few and far between. The experiences they sought were not a fleeting cheap holiday, an instagramming career promotional trip or a gap year, they were actively living in harmony with nature as a way of life. Their use of plastic waste was limited, and they made sure the wild camp spots were cleaner than before they arrived.

We’re not saying environmentally conscious campers no longer exist. But, it’s time for us to revive the spirit, to educate campers to be more active in preserving our beautiful natural habitats. We will send you on your way with your camper and extra bin liners! Before you leave your favourite natural spaces, please consider filling a provided bag with rubbish. Working together, we can all do our part to keep our beaches free from plastic before it gets dragged back into the sea. It only takes a few minutes, it's great for the environment and will surely make you feel good too. Try it!

In 2022, we announced our transition towards sustainability, which, in addition to helping reforest areas of Portugal damaged by wildfires, includes a variety of actions to help preserve sensitive areas, such as offering our guests portable chemical toilets at a very low price.

 

Effects of wild camping on local communities

Many people ask, “Why doesn’t the government create facilities like toilets, rubbish bins, etc?”

The fact is, we all enjoy the West Coast because of its wildness. Its status as a nature reserve prevents the rise of wall to wall hotels like many parts of the Algarve and Spain. These parks are not designed to be parked in or lived in and yes, it is illegal to park here out of designated camp areas. To license any building works in these areas is extremely difficult due to environmental concerns. Turismo de Portugal, the tourist authority, has been playing catch up with the rapid influx and, along with some EU funding, has put together very low-cost parking facilities with places to empty toilets and fill them with water. Read more about this here: ASA's

Portuguese associations, including the campervan rental association, have been lobbying the government to provide more facilities and allow camping in public places for up to 48 hours if your van comes equipped with a toilet. The ACP automobile association have also been very vocal about changing the law to allow motorhomes with bathrooms to stay outside of campsites without being fined. Turismo de Portugal is worried that this law may have a negative effect on those wishing to visit the interior of the country, which has limited camping infrastructure. Wild camping or freedom camping in New Zealand works very well with the right infrastructure. So, for now, It is partially legal to wild camp in Portugal, but let's see if the new law can be further adjusted. It's currently a hot topic with ongoing positive debates. We'll continue to update this article as new information becomes available!

 
Portugal is a very sparsely populated country. It's quite easy to get lost and spend the night in a remote area. Often, you're more likely to see a family of wild boars than a local policeman! The police are generally friendly and may just ask you to move on, but there is a possibility of a fine. So, why risk it? There are many great alternative options. If you're wondering where and when camping is allowed in Portugal, read on.

 

Alternatives to wild camping in Portugal

We are all very excited at Siesta HQ about the creation of projects which show that the desire for freedom and adventure can peacefully coexist with local communities and the natural world. These culturally enriching experiences come at a very reasonable price:

• Campspace - Discover private campsites nearby 
• HomeCamper - Private Camping Rentals, Gardens and Backyards for rent
• EVAZION - Community of responsible nomadic travellers and exceptional private spots
• PORTUGAL EASYCAMP  - Stay on farms & vineyards. Combine a beautiful location with wine tastings
• ASA's - Municipal camp spaces provide basic facilities so you can enjoy a night out in town. These cheap Portuguese campsites cost just a few euros per night.
• Campanyon - authentic micro camps and private camps in Portugal.

 
4 reasons why we believe staying in a campsite is important:

1. Beautiful natural habitats on the West Coast are degrading. Delicate ecosystems, including shrubs and fauna, are being crushed as vehicles drive further into the undergrowth looking for parking spots. Just because you have a 4x4 camper doesn't mean you must test it by going off-road into ecologically sensitive areas. By choosing to stay at a campsite, we can stop and reverse environmental degradation.

2. By staying in a campsite, you are helping the local community. Campsites are owned by local people, employ people from the area, and are maintained by local companies.

3. Respect the locals. They see their favourite wild places, where they grew up, turned into free camping spots, and they cannot park next to the beach themselves. Don't hog the best parking spots, and don't take up more than one parking spot.

4. You may think your van looks super cool with its full roof rack and extreme off-road tyres (it’s your home. After all, it’s only normal that you admire your handy work). Personally, we love their look, too! It’s where we started. However, to others, it can look like a 3-ton delivery truck that has last seen service ten years ago. Yes, we’re sorry to say it, but it ruins the look of this wonderful wild natural habitat. Stay at a campground, carry less gear and downsize from your big motorhome or RV to a campervan.

Conclusion

At Siesta Campers, we strive to steer our community in the right direction. For starters, before handing over each van, we ask our customers to respect the land and the people who live there. We provide guides and offer suggestions for beautiful campsites and innovative projects leading the charge towards preservation efforts and eco-tourism. We organize beach and park cleanups and spread awareness on proper camping etiquette. On a larger scale, we’re evaluating and are currently involved in several reforestation initiatives and began the conversion of our fleet with the arrival of our VW ID. Buzz electric campervan to further minimize our impact. If you’d like to get involved, please follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter. We can and we must be better. Will you join us?