Markádia — Hotel in Alvito

This was our third visit (June 2017). If you want organised activities, luxury camping, lots to do - this is NOT for you! What you get is camping (tent,caravan or motorhome) in a most beautiful rural location set amongst the shade of old evergreen oak trees on a series of headlands overlooking a deep blue lake with sandy/gravel shores. Every time we have visited it has been uncrowded (May/June) with one of the three toilet/shower blocks almost to ourselves.These blocks are older style but clean with loads of hot water. The staff at Reception, the Shop and the Restaurant are all friendly and welcoming. Reception has a selection of free secondhand paperbacks to help yourself to. The Shop has enough essentials to eat simply each day - fresh bread to previous day's order. The Restaurant has free Wi Fi in the vicinity whilst it is open. The Lake (The Barragem de Odivelas) is accessible from wherever you choose to camp - and you are free to camp anywhere on this very large peninsular. We took an inflatable canoe and used it to explore the lake and find deserted inlets to cool off and swim in. There are two restaurants, the one in the middle of the site had a perfectly acceptable but limited evening menu and the food we ate was delicious with good portion size. The other Restaurant is close to the pool and a short walk across the end of the inlet by reception and "uphill" - we didn't sample that one - too hot to walk up to once we relaxed and lazyness crept in! This is a place to relax. Choose some shade because it is usually pretty hot here. The "Barragem" as the name suggests is a reservoir and the water level varies from year to year. 2016/17 winter was a dry one and so the water was lower (a bit of a gravelly walk) than usual. There are very colourful Blue Magpies on site which are tame enough to perch on the far side of a picnic table. There are canoes and windsurfboards for hire. Tennis, mini golf and horse riding for a fee. No motorised boats are allowed. There are a few permanent Portuguese Caravans (used at weekends mainly) on site - but these are few and far between. A good mix of friendly Dutch, German, Spanish, Portuguese and the occasional Brit use this site. We got a 10% discount with a CCI card at the time we stayed - approx. 22 Euros per night for a tent, two adults and vehicle...

Unbeatable "natural" camping experience. Just like camping in the forest (plus toilets).

We camped here for 5 days during Eastern 2017. The camping is just a piece of "montado" forest and you can pitch your tent wherever you want, but at least 10 meters from the nearest tent. Even though the camping was nearly "full", we had plenty of space and privacy, and magnificent views of the water, which was only 10-20m away. Toilets are spacious, not crowded, and surprisingly clean. Warm water and toilet paper was always abundant. All in all we think this is our best camping so far, we will certainly come again!

Things to consider: -Shopping: The nearest "real" supermarket is in Viana do Alentejo, some 20-30 km away, and they have fresh fish and meat and any other think you could need. The store in the camping has very restricted items, opens only two hours per day, and you have to ask for bread one day in advance. -Temperature was just perfect in eastern, and you could even bath in an acceptably warm water; however, I wonder if the place would be too hot in summer? -Swimming pool is open only in summer, but the two restaurants were open...

A wonderful campsite on what now looks like a natural landscape on a lake.

Set on a peninsular next to a reservoir the site offers many choices of unmarked pitches with supurb tranquil views over large expanses of water , either with beautiful sun rises or sun sets and always with long pink evening skies.

Vehicle access is excellent and including high top and extra long , heavy RV's across the Barragem de Odivelas .

Plenty of new 16 amp power supply points and fresh water points , three very nice shower and wc blocks that are regularly cleaned , a well stocked shop open twice a day , launderette , water service and car wash area .

A restaurant with superb views over the reservoir is a pleasant 15 minute walk away still on campsite land offers a large menu with good value for money , especially considering the lovely terrace and views.

Good access to swimming , kayaking , sailing and easy going for walking , hiking or cycling within the campsite and surrounding area.

Truly Markadia is a very nice setting for either a short stop over or extended stay.

Mark...