TradiCampo Eco Country Houses is located on São Miguel Island, the largest island in the Azores (Portugal). Set in the Northeast, these houses are surrounded by breathtaking scenery, including coastal landscapes and beautiful reserves.
There are four accommodation options in total; Tradicampo Casa da Fonte, Tradicampo Casas do Pátio, Tradicampo Casa da Talha, and Tradicampo Quinta das Cycas. Casas do Pátio consists of two cottages, while Quinta das Cycas has four units.
Each property is decorated beautifully and offers plenty of amenities, including WiFi and an outdoor area. Some houses even have access to a shared swimming pool.
TradiCampo Eco Country Houses has sustainability at the forefront of all it does and plays a huge role in terms of the local community. This makes it the perfect base for exploring São Miguel Island!
Their story
Tradicampo Eco Country Houses is a family business run by Ricardo Peixoto and his wife. They started out in 2008 with three houses: Casas da Fonte, Casa da Talha and Casas do Pátio that welcomed their first guests in July 2009. Ricardo wanted to find a rural location with stunning sea and mountain views with buildings that are not out of character from an architectural point of view.
They acquired the latest addition, Quinta das Cycas in 2016, where he took up reconstruction work of original Portuguese country houses that lasted for five years. They rehabilitated the existing architecture using traditional materials and techniques and added new construction that fit the aesthetic and the functionality. Traditional antique furniture was also duly recovered along with complementing contemporary solutions.
The gardens have a mix of ornamental plants, some of them endemic, and fruit trees, typically used in the backyards of rural Azorean houses.
Their sustainable performance recognized by Green Key every year since 2012. Read more about them here.
READ ON – How to Spend the Best 4 Days in TradiCampo
Sustainability actions
Lowest impact construction and operation
- This property preserves traditional architectural features that are present in local housing.
- Through project development, construction, and renovation, the ‘mitigation of the environmental footprint’ is taken into account.
- TradiCampo actively cooperates with entities involved in the local area, specifically official bodies, local authorities, and environmental organizations.
Highest level of energy efficiency
- All houses have thermal insulation (this includes double windows, ceilings, and some walls).
- Sanitary hot water is heated by solar panels, while interior water is heated through a biomass heat recuperator.
- The property’s water system and natural ventilation system mean there’s no need for air conditioning.
- The water filtering process and heating for the on-site swimming pool are done throughout the night, and the energy is nearly entirely supplied by geothermal power stations.
- All appliances at TradiCampo are class A or A+ and lighting is sustained by low-consumption lamps.
- Water and electricity consumption are regularly recorded, and appliances are switched off whenever possible. Regular checks are also carried out on appliances and equipment.
- One of their houses (Quinta das Cycas) can use solar panels and a wind turbine to produce its energy.
Pioneer in waste management
- Flush toilets are set to a max of 6 liters and all the taps, including showers, are low-flow.
- Wastewater on the property is forwarded to a public basic sanitation system.
- Rainwater collection tanks are used to water the garden.
- Composting of green waste (which originates from gardening) is promoted.
Using organic and chemical-free products
- This property doesn’t use pesticides or fertilizers in their gardens.
- TradiCampo also doesn’t purchase equipment that has CFCs.
- They use disinfection and cleaning products which contain biodegradable chemical agents.
Actively protects nature and community
- TradiCampo recruits local staff and promotes local products and services to its guests, which helps the local economy.
- When possible, this property works to establish partnerships with local organizations and institutions, which helps them to communicate and accomplish their initiatives.
- Tradicampo is committed to reducing its environmental impact. The company gets involved with environmentally conscious initiatives (as well as promoting them), which aim to increase awareness and preserve the environment.
- Ensures its service providers comply with good practices and safety requirements in terms of sustainable tourism, and have the necessary certifications.
- This property communicates its environmental policy to its customers.
Most Popular Activities near TradiCampo
- Explore the Nordeste region: Multipe lookout points (called miradouro) along the coast, Moinho Do Felix Trail, Jardim Botânico da Ribeira do Guilherme, Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeirões, or Gorreana Tea Plantation.
- Enjoy a day in Furnas: try the famous cozido (stew cooked in the fumaroles), walk around Lake Furnas, go up to the Miradouro do Pico do Ferro, visit Parque Grená, Mata Jardim José do Canto, or the Terra Nostra Botanical Gardens
- Whale watching in Ponta Delgada
- Visit Sete Cidades and hike around the double lakes.
- Visit Lagoa do Fogo.
- Dip in one of the hot springs on Sao Miguel island.
- Go to one of the black sand beaches for a relaxing day.
READ ON – 9 Azores Islands, a Guide to Help You Choose and more Portugal Islands You Can Actually Visit
Best Time To Visit TradiCampo
- Summer in the Azores falls between June and August. Temperatures are at their highest and rainfall is less likely, but rain still occurs for roughly 5-7 days of each month.
- September is one of the best months to visit São Miguel Island, as crowds start to disperse, temperatures are still pleasant, and it’s an excellent time of year for whale-watching.
- November to February sees the highest amount of rainfall, experiencing an average of 14-16 rainfall days.
HOW TO GET THERE – read our guide on Azores airports and how to rent a car in the Azores