Spirala Ecovillage

Spirala Ecovillage is a regenerative camping site, experimental community hub and event venue on 10.4 hectares in São Miguel de Acha, Castelo Branco District. A group of like-minded friends started it because they wanted a grounded, conscious place to gather. It has since grown into a multicultural space that connects individuals and communities with each other and with nature. The facilities are built from local, natural materials: dry toilets, outdoor showers and a communal kitchen, all set up for low-impact living. The site is largely off-grid but has electricity, drinking water and Wi-Fi. Snakes, turtles, frogs and fish live in the natural swimming pond. Spirala is a non-profit-driven organisation and puts much of its revenue back into looking after the land, regenerating the environment and preserving biodiversity. The community practises syntropic agroforestry to heal the soil, rebuild food forests and create abundance through cooperation rather than extraction. It works with local and international innovators to develop regenerative techniques. As an eco-hub for learning, cultural exchange and community building, Spirala runs workshops and activities for all ages, including Qi-Gong, Ecstatic Dance and Yoga. It also hosts festivals such as the Mud Re Terra Festival, which brings together music, nature, workshops and families. People come for a short retreat, a workshop or a festival, or stay longer to experience community life.