Lima Nature

A naturist mini-campsite set within a large garden, on a hilltop at 380 metres in the hinterland of Viana do Castelo, in northern Portugal. It is run by a family — the father, Manuel, who bought the land more than twenty-five years ago when it was little more than rock, and his two sons — and the garden is the real reason to come: five hectares planted with more than a hundred species, ponds with water lilies, palm trees, flower beds and vistas tended one by one. Space is limited, deliberately so: ten pitches for tents and two for small caravans or motorhomes (the access is narrow and practically impassable for large vehicles), plus a room in the guesthouse and a geodesic dome with a private garden and an outdoor hot tub. In all, the site hosts an average of thirty-five people. There is a pool, a self-service bar, wifi, laundry, camping equipment rental and walking trails in the surroundings; no entertainment programme, the stated concept is to unplug. The rules require nudity in the pool and the pool area, prohibit taking photos and filming, and keep an explicitly family tone, with sexual behaviour forbidden. Opinions are almost always enthusiastic: silence, starry skies, personal hospitality and meticulous care of the greenery. Booking ahead is a must: the site expressly asks guests to call in advance and does not accept unannounced arrivals.