Octant Évora Debuts Perdiganito Reserve and Enhanced Nature Experiences

Alentejo, Portugal (September 9, 2024) Octant Évora, located on 27 acres within the UNESCO-listed city of Évora in Portugal’s Alentejo region since 2021, opens now its doors to the Perdiganito Reserve. Nestled amidst the stunning landscapes of Europe’s largest reservoir, the expansion project covers six hectares and offers an array of new features designed to preserve the natural reserve’s authenticity while offering unique experiences for couples, families, and children. 

The Land of Explorers

The first stop is the Land of Explorers, an imaginative space dedicated to the hotel’s youngest guests, designed to help them foster a deeper connection with nature. This area offers interactive experiences such as stargazing, a story tree, swings, wooden houses, hammocks, a rope bridge, sundial, and more. Enhancing the immersive natural experience, the hotel grounds also feature an on-site farm where animals roam freely, encouraging children to observe and interact with them during their visits. In July and August, children can participate in dam tours, knot workshops, archery, pottery, ropes courses and yoga during the day. At night, guests can experience flag hunting, night orienteering, and moonlight movies.

Sunset Trails and Swing Cabanas

Adults can enjoy a variety of trails, each offering a unique way to experience the reserve: the Western Trail, leading to the adults’ area, is perfect for early morning tranquility; the Eastern Trail is ideal for capturing stunning evening views; and the Lake Trail offers a scenic path along the reservoir, perfect for leisurely strolls. Nestled in the middle of nature, guests can find three wooden swing cabanas designed as resting areas, ideal for picnics, nature observation, and even intimate marriage proposals.

Reservoir Deck and Observation Towers

At the center of the Perdiganito Reserve’s is the versatile, 110-square-meter Water Dam Deck. It serves as a venue for memorable picnics, weddings, safari breakfasts, or casual lunches, with guests able to order picnic baskets in advance to enjoy drinks and nibbles in the heart of the Alentejo landscape. The deck also features sofas and loungers to relax and enjoy typical Alentejo siestas. Additionally, the hotel can arrange on-demand yoga and personal training sessions on the deck. Further down the path guests can find the five-meter-tall Observation Tower offering a unique vantage point across the Alentejo plains and for observing the night sky – home to Portugal’s “mountain of stars” and some of Europe’s least polluted skies, the Alentejo region is best seen at night.

“The new Perdiganito Reserve is Octant Évora’s new natural refuge for the whole family, and it reinforces our commitment to nature preservation and respect for the traditions that shape this region. We invite you to come create lasting memories, rediscover the connection with the land, in these six hectares where we preserved the fauna and flora of Alentejo,” says Sérgio Duarte, General Manager of Octant Évora.

Designed by architect Teresa Barão, Octant Évora’s latest outdoor space emphasizes authenticity with its choice of materials and offers a serene retreat from urban life, encouraging guests to reconnect with nature and admire the expansive plain leading to the Monte Novo reservoir. To enhance guests’ stays, Octant Évora recommends activities such as horseback riding, bird watching, exploring the Perdiganito ruins, and indulging in wine and local delicacies. Additionally, guests can enjoy hot-air balloon rides or explore the surroundings by bicycle as well as taking part in an array of learning experiences on offer at the hotel.

Part of the boutique hotel collection Octant Hotels, launched in May of 2022, and nestled just outside the UNESCO World Heritage city of Évora, the hotel honors its surroundings by seamlessly integrating contemporary living with rustic charm, fostering a harmonious environment where humans, flora, and fauna coexist. The hotel features 56 rooms, including three family rooms with bunk beds and private outdoor spaces with pools and gardens, and 16 spacious villas for exclusive use. Guests can enjoy amenities such as five outdoor pools (including two for families and three adults only), a gym, and a spa offering an indoor pool, sauna, two treatment rooms, and a Turkish bath. At À TERRA restaurant, seasonal dishes are crafted from locally sourced ingredients, many of which are harvested on-site from the educational farm, vegetable garden, olive grove, and orchard.

For more information, please see https://evora.octanthotels.com/en/