Motorhoming in Portugal-

[Emmit]

I have been looking at the website organised by the Camping Car Club of Portugal ie.

Áreas de serviço

CampingCar Portugal - O Portal Português de Autocaravanismo

campingcarportugal.com

On the site it shows all the places where one can park up in the country.

In the 'dynamic' map on the site it shows two specific types of area's.
One is named, 'Special Conservation Area' shaded Red on the map.

The other is named 'Special Protection Zone' and that is shaded yellow.

Can anyone please explain to me what they mean in regard
to motorhoming.?

Having looked the map, I see that there are places to park indicated within those area's.
Invariably, those places are on private land ie garages and supermarkets.

Are those places beyond the reach of the Authorities?

Guidance please.

 

[Imala615]

It appears there is no motorhome parking in those red and yellow areas, ZEP red ,ZPE yellow.

Natura 2000 Network​

ATTENTION: The parking of motorhomes is prohibited in the areas of the Natura 2000 Network (ZEC and ZPE), protected landscape areas and areas covered by the "Border Coast Ordering Plans" ***(POOC), outside authorized parking spaces. Infraction subject to a fine between 60 to 300 euros.

Article 50-A of the Portuguese Road Code, prohibits overnight or *"Parkamping" of the motorhome in areas of the Natura 2000 Network (ZEC and ZPE), protected areas and zones covered by the "Border Coast Ordering Plans" (POOC), except in places expressly authorized for this purpose.
Outside the ZEC, ZPE and POOC, if there is no municipal regulation that prevents it, motorhome overnight stays are allowed for a maximum period of 48 hours in the same municipality, with the exception of places expressly authorized for this purpose, for which there is no overnight time limit .

* Overnight - The stay of a motorhome or similar, with occupants, between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am.
** "Parkamping"(not parking) - The parking of the vehicle with an occupation of space greater than its perimeter;
*** POOC - The POOC cover a strip along the coast, which is called the land area of protection, with the maximum width of 500m from the sea to land boundary and a maritime protection strip up to the 30m bathymetric, with the exception of areas under port jurisdiction.​

 

[Imala615]

Couple of good links for the Algarve.

Homepage | RAARA

autocaravanalgarve.com

Albufeira.com - A Porta de Entrada para o Algarve

O portal de Internet onde encontrará toda a informação necessária para a sua próxima visita a Albufeira no Algarve, Portugal. Diretório de Negócio, Mapas locais, Guia de Praias, Informação útil, Previsões do tempo, Webcam ao vivo, Ofertas de Imobiliária, Atividades para Grupos, Calendário de...

albufeira.com

 

[garry55]

National Parks are a definite no go - a couple we were talking to whilst we were staying in Tomar got landed with a 200 Euros fine for wild-camping on the coast in a National Park. He was all for saving money - his wife, quite correctly - pointed out that the cost of the fine would have got them at least 10 nights on "proper" sites!

 

[Nigel Crompton]

I'm in the western Algarve now; Lagos and west.

We've had several enjoyable winters here but it's not what it was when we last visited 4 years ago before we moved to Spain. Most of the coastal P4N locations are now categorised as 'day only', some have been removed completely* and there are beach car parks with no campervans AT ANY TIME signs where we've previously overnighted. This trip we haven't overnighted anywhere in Portugal that's not 'official'

The large encampment in Lagos on the open ground next to the former offical aire (closed) has been cleared, so it seems that the authorities are serious.

There are several new 'stop-over' sites inland obviously created to take up the slack; we are currently at the long established Figureria** place.

We haven't been to any of the remote beaches on the west coast between Sagres and Aljezur on this trip; they're well off the beaten track and mostly used by vanlifing surfers - they may be getting away with it

We'll not be back; lots to see and do elsewhere ...

*At Boca de Rio at least the rules seem to be obeyed, having left at dusk and arrived for breakfast on several days no-one has obviously stayed overnight.

** And space is tight; full nearly every night, and you can't book unless you do it pre-season....

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[Baggydave]

I'm in the western Algarve now; Lagos and west.

We've had several enjoyable winters here but it's not what it was when we last visited 4 years ago before we moved to Spain. Most of the coastal P4N locations are now categorised as 'day only', some have been removed completely* and there are beach car parks with no campervans AT ANY TIME signs where we've previously overnighted. This trip we haven't overnighted anywhere in Portugal that's not 'official'

The large encampment in Lagos on the open ground next to the former offical aire (closed) has been cleared, so it seems that the authorities are serious.

There are several new 'stop-over' sites inland obviously created to take up the slack; we are currently at the long established Figureria** place.

We haven't been to any of the remote beaches on the west coast between Sagres and Aljezur on this trip; they're well off the beaten track and mostly used by vanlifing surfers - they may be getting away with it

We'll not be back; lots to see and do elsewhere ...

*At Boca de Rio at least the rules seem to be obeyed, having left at dusk and arrived for breakfast on several days no-one has obviously stayed overnight.

** And space is tight; full nearly every night, and you can't book unless you do it pre-season....

Hi
Like yourselves we don’t think we will return to Portugal, it just doesn’t feel the same. We looked forward so much to our visit, first for 4 years, but it’s lost its sparkle for us.
Villa real was nice but our usual long term site of cabanas just felt Uninviting. We stayed on the new aire at taveria which was ok but impossible to get into town on a mobility scooter. You also cannot park in the market carpark even daytime.

We left the van at faro Camperstop & flew home for Christmas. Restaurant at front of site is great & value/ food excellent.
When we got we headed to Spain which we really like & are still able to park/ stay no problem.
Currently at Lorca on a Camperstop for 1e a night inc electric. Town is nice & easy to get around.

 

[PaulW2]

I'm in the western Algarve now; Lagos and west.

We've had several enjoyable winters here but it's not what it was when we last visited 4 years ago before we moved to Spain. Most of the coastal P4N locations are now categorised as 'day only', some have been removed completely* and there are beach car parks with no campervans AT ANY TIME signs where we've previously overnighted. This trip we haven't overnighted anywhere in Portugal that's not 'official'

The large encampment in Lagos on the open ground next to the former offical aire (closed) has been cleared, so it seems that the authorities are serious.

There are several new 'stop-over' sites inland obviously created to take up the slack; we are currently at the long established Figureria** place.

We haven't been to any of the remote beaches on the west coast between Sagres and Aljezur on this trip; they're well off the beaten track and mostly used by vanlifing surfers - they may be getting away with it

We'll not be back; lots to see and do elsewhere ...

*At Boca de Rio at least the rules seem to be obeyed, having left at dusk and arrived for breakfast on several days no-one has obviously stayed overnight.

** And space is tight; full nearly every night, and you can't book unless you do it pre-season....

It was a bit of a free for all in the past, with a substantial minority behaving badly, so that all sounds like ... progress.

 

[jumartoo]

I'm reading this Portugal thread with interest.

We used to go to Portugal annually, around February +/- a week or so either side. We went to run in an annual competition, where we met all our Portuguese friends. We're no longer competing, so we no longer go. We're still in contact with our friends though, and lots of them have motorhomes after our influence

From around the turn of the century we could park anywhere and everywhere we wanted. Welcomed by everyone we met. Ten years on, and our lonely spots suddenly had five or six others already there. Fast forward another ten years and the same places were rammed.

Bans arrived.

I'm just hoping that Spain doesn't go down the same "banning" route.

 

[Baggydave]

I'm reading this Portugal thread with interest.

We used to go to Portugal annually, around February +/- a week or so either side. We went to run in an annual competition, where we met all our Portuguese friends. We're no longer competing, so we no longer go. We're still in contact with our friends though, and lots of them have motorhomes after our influence

From around the turn of the century we could park anywhere and everywhere we wanted. Welcomed by everyone we met. Ten years on, and our lonely spots suddenly had five or six others already there. Fast forward another ten years and the same places were rammed.

Bans arrived.

I'm just hoping that Spain doesn't go down the same "banning" route.

Me too. We are more than happy to pay to stay on aires. If we park for free we always spend on a meal or shopping in local shops. It’s only fair.

 

[garry55]

Conversely, we loved Portugal. We stayed on some great sites (Isla de Faro and Sao Martinho do Porto were stand outs) and had some great free camping, albeit away from the coast. But not all of Portugal is on the coast. We'll be back sometime soon

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[jumartoo]

Conversely, we loved Portugal. We stayed on some great sites (Isla de Faro and Sao Martinho do Porto were stand outs) and had some great free camping, albeit away from the coast. But not all of Portugal is on the coast. We'll be back sometime soon

Most of our Portugal parking around our competitions, before and after, was way inland.

Unfortunately, it's not now as easy as it was.

 

[garry55]

Sorry - I'm not privy to how it used to be - I was only passing on my view from our first motor home trip to Portugal last year. Of the 3 countries we visited (France, Spain and Portugal) it was my personal favourite.

 

[jumartoo]

Sorry - I'm not privy to how it used to be - I was only passing on my view from our first motor home trip to Portugal last year. Of the 3 countries we visited (France, Spain and Portugal) it was my personal favourite.

I'm glad you liked Portugal. It really is a nice country to visit.

 

[Arnside037]

I'm thinking of visiting the northern coast - Bilbao to Porto to Salamanca to Bilbao- after the grandkids get back to school in September. What will the availability of Aires and campsites be at that time of the year? Will it be chock a block with Dutch and Germans?