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Help out at our glamping site nestled in the mountains of Central Portugal

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    ***UPDATE 2025***
    Please do not apply unless you match one of the the positions listed below.

    1) Chef : July & August 2025
    Looking for someone who can cook for up to 25 persons.
    We host a shared dinner in our bar/restaurant 6 days a week (Sundays are off).
    You will be working on your own. You must be independant/autonomous, very organised and have some experience in a similar position.
    In the previous years, we used to offer a main course only. No specific skills needed in baking/desserts.

    ***Thank you for your interest.***


    Hello, Olá, Salut!
    I'm Julien, the owner of this open-air hotel and rural camping.
    I come from Paris, France, where I used to live until I decided it wasn’t fun enough.
    On November 2010, I took the road to Portugal, driving my old German ambulance with the dream to build a small haven nestled in nature to host worldwide travellers and guests.
    I bought this land more than 10 years ago now. It is 5Ha and we are located just 3km away from the medieval village of Penela and 25km away from Coimbra, the former capital of Portugal.

    *Please do note that our site can be considered as pretty remote if you do not have your own vehicle.
    The closest shop to do basic grocery shopping is 2km away on dirt tracks. Bigger supermarkets like Lidl or Continente are 15km away ( in Condeixa-a-Nova).
    You cannot access our site with public transportation. You would have to walk 3km, or take a cab, or we can pick you up from the local bus station in Penela when you arrive.
    There are only few buses running from Penela, mainly during week days. They go to surrounding villages, to Condeixa-a-Nova and to Coimbra.
    The nearest train station is in Coimbra.
    The nearest airport would be in Porto or Lisbon (+/- 2 hours driving from here).

    Our business is divided into two main activities:
    - Our traditional Nature Camping : guests bring with their own gear (tent, caravan, vans, motor home) to stay with us in designated areas with pitches. We welcome our camping guests all year long.
    - Our Open-Air Hotel : we have 11 accommodations units spread around our land (including bells tents, lodges, an A-frame, a tiny house and guests houses). Some units have private bathroom and kitchen, some don't and use the shared facilities listed below. This glamping activity is mainly running from April to October.

    Besides the accommodations units, here is a list of our shared facilities:
    We have one building for the bathroom facilities, an outdoor kitchen for the guests to cook, a bar open all day long during the high season where our guests can come for breakfast, coffee, snacks and dinner, and an infinity pool. We have high-speed WIFI around the bar/pool area.
    We also have a chicken paddock, a field with goats, a green house, a vegetable garden and a dog.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Farmstay help
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    I'll be happy to share some of my experiences and travel tips with you and to listen to yours.
    I am also always eager to learn new things/facts/skills, and I will be happy to teach you things that could be useful to you.
    Besides, you might get the chance to exchange with some of our international guests and/or your co-workers, which can be very interesting and rewarding if you are curious about others' cultures.
    During your free time, you can also experience the life of authentic Portuguese villages in Central Portugal. In short, there is always something to learn from someone and somewhere, and you will do it in a very beautiful and peaceful environment.

  • Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

    Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

    This host offers accommodation and payment.

  • Help

    Help

    We can divide our year into two periods:

    - From November to May, it is the low season.
    We need to fix everything that needs to be fixed after the high season, we need to maintain our land, and we work on new projects. Most of the time, we need manual skills during that time of the year.
    We work a lot with wood (wooden decks, wooden stairs, wooden fences, wooden furniture's), so we are always happy to host a skilled woodworker. Besides, at times we need handy persons/gardeners to help us with painting, electricity, building garden stairs, fixing fences, pruning trees -we have many olive trees!, chopping and shredding wood, brush cutting etc.).

    - From May to October, it is the high season with a very busy peak in July and August.
    During that time of the year, the work is very much customer-oriented. We dedicated all our time and energy to make their stay the best one ever. It includes perfectly clean facilities and accommodations. This is when we need highly professional cleaners to join our team.
    Some years, with might need a chef to cook dinner for our guests or a barista to stay behind the bar and serve our guests hanging out by the pool during the day.

    We provide free accommodation and pay at least the minimum wage according to the Portuguese regulations. Helpers are responsible for their own food expenses.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    French: Fluent
    Portuguese: Fluent

    This host offers a language exchange
    The most used language here is English, then a lot of the guests are from the Netherlands, Germany, France and Portugal.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    You are hosted in a vintage caravan. You will be provided with warm duvets if you don't have a sleeping bag in your backpack, and an electric heater during the cold months. You have access to the shared bathroom facilities with permanent hot water. It is the same building that our guests use.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We are located 3km away from the medieval village of Penela, in Central Portugal.

    Here is a non exhaustive list of activities you can do during your time off:
    - Local markets for an authentic Portuguese experience (every Thursday morning in Penela).
    - Hiking around (the GR26 hiking trail passing through our site!) or mountain biking.
    - Wine testing "Terras da Sicó" (3km away).
    - Spa retreat: jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish baths, pools, and massages (4km away).
    - Tree climbing (6km away).
    - Natural pool and waterfalls: Fragas de São Simão, Praia Fluvial da Louçainha (8 to 20km away).
    - Visit the most preserved Roman ruins in Portugal: Conímbriga (13km away).
    - Explore schist villages like Talasnal (30km away).
    - Visit Coimbra, the former capital of Portugal, famous for its universities and Fado (30km away).
    - Surf spots/ beach in Figueira da Foz (60km away).
    - Visit Tomar and its Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (60km away).

    We are also happy to share with you some of our best recommendations to eat out.

    Please note that most of the activities listed above are not reachable with public transportation.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    Yes you can work online as a digital nomade from my place. We have high-speed WIFI around the bar/pool area.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    We have plenty of space for you to park and live here in your own campervan.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

Host ref number: 918416734122

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Photos

The image depicts a serene rural landscape with rolling hills, trees, and houses, set against a blue sky with white clouds on a sunny day.
The image depicts a serene outdoor setting with a pool, surrounded by lush trees and a wooden deck, where people are gathered, enjoying the scenery and each other\'s company.
The image depicts a serene scene of a white tent situated on a wooden platform, surrounded by lush trees and foliage, exuding a sense of tranquility and natural beauty.
The image depicts the interior of a large tent with a cream-colored fabric ceiling, featuring a central pole and a floor covered with blue rugs and mattresses.
The image depicts a tent with a wooden deck and railing, featuring a table and chairs, situated in a serene outdoor setting with trees and a clear blue sky.
The image depicts the interior of a tent with two beds, a nightstand, and a small table, showcasing a cozy and organized space with a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The image depicts a cozy room with a bunk bed, a sofa, and a window, featuring a ladder, a small table, and two chairs, bathed in natural sunlight.
The image depicts a serene scene of a group of people gathered in a wooded area, with a goat lying on the grass, surrounded by trees and a clear blue sky.
The image depicts a serene campsite with a yellow van and trailer, surrounded by trees and a dirt road, set against a clear blue sky.

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