The first destination in Portugal dedicated to astrotourism was born in 2007: Dark Sky® Alqueva, created by Apolónia Rodrigues, who is a pioneer in developing astrotourism destinations in Portugal. Specialized in sustainable tourism and future tendencies in tourism, the creation of the concept and brand Dark Sky® was the best way to develop and implement different skills in a destination and to contribute to a better future.
Certified in 2011, it is the first Starlight Tourism Destination in the world as well as the first cross-border Starlight Destination in the World. It covers an area of 10,000 square kilometers around the Alqueva Lake, including Portuguese and Spanish council areas. Having had the quality of the sky certified, Dark Sky® Alqueva offers a diversity of daytime and night-time activities.
Within the certified territory, Dark Sky® Alqueva implemented The Official Dark Sky® Observatory in Cumeada, a village near Reguengos de Monsaraz. This Observatory is equipped with cutting-edge telescopes for solar and astronomical observations and has a certified team to receive stargazers. These provide a unique visual experience, from observing the planets to exploring the craters on the moon, moving on to the deeper sky with a cosmic journey among the nebulae, the galaxies, and the swarms of stars which rise above us in one of the finest skies in the world.
The wide-open spaces around Alqueva also offer a wide variety of activities which supplement the pleasures of observing the skies – experiencing an incredible variety of sensations and tastes, such as relaxing at sunset as you enjoy a cocktail or taking part in a blind wine-tasting by starlight. Outdoors, surrounded by nature, you can go walking, enjoy horseback excursions by moonlight, or participate in astrophotography workshops, whether you are already passionate about it, a beginner, or someone more experienced.
Miguel Claro, the official astrophotographer of Dark Sky®, is dedicated to capturing and spreading the beauty of the night sky which stands above incredible landscapes that naturally express the diversity of cultural and architectural heritage of Alqueva´s region. A concept that makes the perfect connection between the Night Sky and the elements on planet Earth itself. Enhancing in an educational and scientific way the Universe, which full of stars, stays unnoticed for most of the people who nowadays are living in big light polluted cities. As a consequence of it, they seem they had lost their personal connection with the skies above. These images have the power to captivate them and ignite their lost passion and desire for being again under the mesmerizing presence of a pristine starry darkness, like the one we can offer in the Dark Sky Alqueva reserve.
Beyond these activities, Dark Sky® Alqueva also has a network of partners – the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route – who are specialists in different areas and ensure that a package of different activities can be tailored to the requirements of each client to provide unforgettable moments from sunrise to the end of the most star-filled night in the Alentejo. Among these, you can choose between activities as distinct as night-time canoeing, excursions by boat, balloon rides above the Alqueva, stand up paddle boarding, team-building, orientation, yoga, and sports events, among many others. The official Dark Sky® Alqueva partners can only be found on the website (www.darkskyalqueva.com), and these are the only ones that can work using the registered brand Dark Sky®.
Due to the success of Dark Sky® Alqueva as a concept, brand, and its contribution to sustainable development, since 2017, the Dark Sky® Association has received requests from other regions in Portugal. The potential integration implies a previous study to evaluate the quality and availability (cloudless) of the night sky and the touristic offer, but also the interest in promoting a strategy to decrease light pollution.
So far, the Network of Dark Sky® Destinations in Portugal has been created under the Dark Sky® concept and brand and includes Alqueva, Aldeias do Xisto, and Vale do Tua, representing the South, Center, and North of Portugal’s countryside, approximately around 13,000.00 square kilometers. Dark Sky® Aldeias do Xisto and Dark Sky® Vale do Tua are being developed in partnership with regional organizations, respectively ADXTUR and ADRVT, joining the Dark Sky® concept and brand with their important work and strong brands.
Each Dark Sky® has its thematic complementary offer under a protected and certified night sky. In Alqueva, the activities are influenced by the Great Alqueva Lake, the biggest artificial lake in Europe, but also complemented by products linked to wine, gastronomy, and the rich heritage and special landscape with ecosystems as interesting as “Montado” and “Estepe.”
The main mission of Dark Sky® is to protect the night sky as a resource for destination sustainable development, but also and above all, to raise awareness of the importance of protecting this resource from the growing problem of light pollution, respecting and preserving it in a delicate way as a delightful heritage of humanity!
Dark Sky® Alqueva Awards: To date, Dark Sky® Alqueva has received more than 40 international and national awards, including six World Travel Awards at the European and global level.
