From April 22nd to 25th, the CaraMaps team went to Vagueira, a small town in the center of Portugal, to participate in the second national campervans meeting, organized by the association CamperVan PT. We had the opportunity to meet itinerant travelers and learn more about the motivations that pushed them to switch to this way of life!
What is the second national campervans meeting ?
In 2022, for its first national meeting of Portuguese itinerant travelers (van, camper and motorhome), the Campervans PT association succeeded in gathering more than 100 crews of passionate campers traveling in converted vans and camper vans and motorhome, placing at the heart of the event the values of sharing and fraternization. This year, the association decided to repeat the experience once again, in the exceptional area of Vagasplash!
In 2023, more than 150 crews came for this event. The program included a walk along the beach of Vagueira to clean the beach, an exhibition of vans, a craft fair, a prize-giving ceremony for the best van, live concerts and moments of fraternization around community dinners and campfires.
All the participants were very glad to participate in these moments of sharing and exchange of experiences , and some of whom agreed to give us their time and to open up about their lifestyle as itinerant travelers. Discover in exclusivity, in this article, 9 interviews of Portuguese travelers who share theirs adventures and their tips! 😃
Interviews of the crews who came at the national campervans meeting
The freedom, the possibility to discover new people, the fact of not living in monotony are so many reasons that pushed travelers to switch to a more nomadic lifestyle and to be reunited for this second national campervans meeting! Today we invite you to know a little bit more about these extraordinary people who accepted to discuss with us!
Maria and Tozé / @bamos.ali_vanlife
Hello you two! To start our interview, can you tell us your first names? And the name of your team on Instagram?
@bamos.ali_vanlife: We are Maria and Tozé, and our name on Instagram is bamos.ali_vanlife!
What motivates you most about this lifestyle?
@bamos.ali_vanlife: The freedom that this lifestyle offers and the fact that we can travel more economically!
Name two or three values that represent you as travelers?
@bamos.ali_vanlife: Respect for nature and getting to know new people.
What phrase or quote best describes your team?
@bamos.ali_vanlife: “Being free”, simply as that!
What is your favorite music or type of music when you are travelling by van?
@bamos.ali_vanlife: The band Queen!
In which country or region do you travel the most?
@bamos.ali_vanlife: Portugal and Spain!
What is your dream destination?
@bamos.ali_vanlife: Scotland.
Do you frequently do actions to preserve the environment when you travel? If so, do you have an example to give us?
@bamos.ali_vanlife: Yes, we often collect waste near rivers when we travel.
Do you know the CaraMaps application? If so, what do you use it for?
@bamos.ali_vanlife: We follow CaraMaps on social media and we use the app to search for a place for example.
🚐 Feel free to follow Maria and Tozé’s adventures on their Instagram account bamos.ali_vanlife!
Fátima and José / @van-nette1990.pt
Hello crew! Can you introduce you to our community? And give us the name of your team on Instagram?
@van-nette1990.pt: We are Fátima and José, and our name on Instagram is @van-nette1990.pt!
You also gave your name a name, didn’t you?
@van-nette1990.pt: Yes that’s right, we called our van “Vanette”. “Van” for van and “Nette” because our van is actually a Nissan Vanette!
What motivates you the most in this lifestyle?
@van-nette1990.pt: What motivates us is the freedom, the fact of meeting new people and going on an adventure. We are used to travel now.
What are two or three values that represent you as travellers?
@van-nette1990.pt: Adventure, knowledge and freedom.
What phrase or quote best describes your team?
@van-nette1990.pt: “Traveling is about making memories”.
What is your favorite music or type of music when you travel by van?
@van-nette1990.pt: Metallica and Guns N’ Roses!
In which country or region do you travel the most?
@van-nette1990.pt: In our country, Portugal.
What is your dream destination?
@van-nette1990.pt: We would like to visit other regions in Portugal, Spain and also France.
Do you frequently do actions to preserve the environment when you travel? If so, do you have an example to give us?
@van-nette1990.pt: Yes, we always try to recycle our waste and we try to respect all the rules regarding the environmental protection.
Do you know the CaraMaps application? If so, what do you use it for?
@van-nette1990.pt: We follow CaraMaps on social networks and we use the mobile application when we need to find a place. We also like to check out the routes shared by the community and the level!
🚐 Find Fátima and José on their Instagram account @van-nette1990.pt!
Ana, José and Matilde / @van__jam
Hello crew! Can you tell us your names? And the name of the team on Instagram?
@van__jam: Hello! We are Jose, Ana and Matilde and our Instagram account is van__jam. We called ourselves “Jam” because it represents the initials of our three first names.
Did you give a name to your van?
@van__jam: No. We want it to be our daughter Matilde who gives it a name when she will get older!
What motivates you the most in this way of life?
@van__jam: We like the fact that we are free, that we can go on adventures, and above all we want to give our daughter a different life experience. We don’t want her to be a stay at home kid.
What are the two or three values that represent you as travelers?
@van__jam: Adventure, freedom and family!
What phrase or quote best describes your team?
@van__jam: “Live every moment as if it was your last”.
What is your favorite music or type of music when you travel by van?
@van__jam: We love to listen to reggae music, especially the band Natiruts.
In which country or region do you travel the most?
@van__jam: We travel a lot in Portugal and especially in the Alentejo region.
What is your dream destination?
@van__jam: The Nordic countries.
Do you frequently do actions to preserve the environment when you travel? If so, do you have an example to give us?
@van__jam: Of course! If we arrive in a place and there is a lot of waste, we pick it up.
Do you know the CaraMaps application? If yes, how do you use it?
@van__jam: Yes! We follow CaraMaps on social media and we like to use some of the features of the app such as creating a route, searching for a place and also the level!
🚐 Follow all the adventures of Jose, Ana and Matilde on their Instagram account @van__jam!
Carolina e Rúben / @vanillaconnosco
Hello team! To start our interview can you tell us your names? And the name of the team on Instagram?
@vanillaconnosco: Hello! We are Caroline and Rúben and our Instagram account is @vanillaconnosco. We wanted to give the name “vanilla” because it’s a play on words between the word “van” and “ia” (“was” in Portuguese)
You live in your van, isn’t that right?
@vanillaconnosco: Yes we live in our van and we are currently renovating another motorhome.
What motivates you the most in this way of life?
@vanillaconnosco: It’s mainly the fact of being free that motivates us. But also the fact that we don’t have a schedule, that we have our own rhythm and that we can travel with our dog!
What are two or three values that represent you as travelers?
@vanillaconnosco: Friendship and discovery.
What phrase or quote best describes your team?
@vanillaconnosco: “With us it’s always the verb to go”!
What is your favorite music or type of music when you travel by van?
@vanillaconnosco: We love rock and soul! But we’re more of a talkers when we travel than a music listeners! We like to comment on landscapes! Otherwise we listen to podcasts on various themes (humor etc…).
In which country or region do you travel the most?
@vanillaconnosco: We have traveled a lot in Switzerland and Spain, and now it’s Portugal !
What is your dream destination?
@vanillaconnosco: We want to do a tour of Europe again! Turkey is also a destination that makes us dream !
Do you frequently do actions to preserve the environment when you travel? If so, do you have an example to give us?
@vanillaconnosco: We recycle our waste and when we arrive on a spot we pick up all the waste we can find!
Do you know the CaraMaps application? If so, what do you use it for?
@vanillaconnosco: Yes, we only know the Instagram account of CaraMaps!
🚐 Find out more about Caroline and Rúben’s lifestyle by following their Instagram account @vanillaconnosco!
Ugo and Joana / @saponavan
Hello crew! Can you introduce yourself to the community?
@saponavan: Hello! We are Ugo and Joana and our Instagram account is @saponavan. We also travel with our cat!
You called your van “sapona”. Can you tell us why?
@saponavan: Yes we wanted to call it “sapona” because it’s the affectionate nickname my father gave me when I was little (Joana).
What motivates you the most in this way of life?
@saponavan: The freedom, getting to know new people and going on new adventures! But it’s mostly freedom that drives us!
What are the two or three values that represent you as travelers?
@saponavan: Experience and minimalism!
Which sentence or quote best describes your team?
@saponavan: “It’s easier to live than to dream”.
What is your favorite music or type of music when you travel by van?
@saponavan: We enjoy every kind of music.
In which country or region do you travel the most?
@saponavan: We travel a lot in Spain and Portugal!
What is your dream destination?
@saponavan: Turkey and Morocco.
Do you frequently do actions to preserve the environment when you travel? If so, do you have an example to give us?
@saponavan: Yes, we always recycle our waste.
Do you know the CaraMaps application? If yes, what do you use it for?
@saponavan: Only the CaraMaps Instagram account but we have already used the app to search for a location.
🚐 Follow Joana and Ugo’s adventures on their Instagram account @saponavan!
Gabrielle and Guilherme / @thecarpentervan
Hello you two! Can you introduce yourselves?
@thecarpentervan: Hello! We are Gabrielle and Guilherme and you can follow us on our Instagram account @thecarpentervan.
Did you give your van a name?
@thecarpentervan: Yes we named it “the carpenter van” since we work in it, it’s our carpentry workshop!
What motivates you the most in this lifestyle?
@thecarpentervan: The freedom to go where you want and to be who you want to be.
What are the two or three values that represent you as travelers?
@thecarpentervan: The experience and connection to nature.
What phrase or quote best describes your team?
@thecarpentervan: “Let’s go camping”!
What is your favorite music or type of music when you travel by van?
@thecarpentervan: We love listening to Brazilian rap and reggae.
In which country or region do you travel to the most?
@thecarpentervan: We travel mostly in Portugal.
What is your dream destination?
@thecarpentervan: Norway, Italy and Spain.
Do you frequently do things to preserve the environment when you travel? If so, do you have an example to give us?
@thecarpentervan: As we work in wood we always try to reuse materials. We also have a habit of collecting waste. On a trip to Australia we noticed that there, people naturally picked up trash, even when it wasn’t theirs! We try to do the same here in Portugal!
Do you know the CaraMaps application? If so, what do you use it for?
@thecarpentervan: Yes, we use the social networks and the mobile application! We especially use the location search and community shared routes.
🚐 Check out the adventures of this adorable couple by following their Instagram account @thecarpentervan!
Danielle and Joel / @camposdaniielle and @joelsilva
Hello crew ! Can you introduce yourself to the CaraMaps community?
@joelsilva: Hello! We are Danielle and Joel and you can follow us on our respective Instagram accounts @camposdaniielle and @joelsilva.
What motivates you the most about this lifestyle?
@joelsilva: Getting to know new people, being able to explore more places than when we travel by plane, getting to know unknown places and traveling cheaper!
What are the two or three values that represent you as travelers?
@joelsilva: Freedom and adventure.
Which sentence or quote best describes your team?
@joelsilva: “Small house but big garden”!
What is your favorite music or type of music when you travel by van?
@joelsilva: We really like the Brazilian singer Vitor Kley, Brazilian music and pop.
In which country or region do you travel to the most?
@joelsilva: Portugal.
What is your dream destination?
@joelsilva: We would love to travel to Norway and also do a road-trip in the United States.
Do you frequently do environmental actions when you travel? If so, do you have an example to give us?
@joelsilva: We are vegan! We also helped clean up the beach in Comporta, Portugal.
Do you know the CaraMaps application? If so, how do you use it?
@joelsilva: We only know about the CaraMaps Instagram page!
🚐 Find Danielle and Joel on their social media @camposdaniielle and @joelsilva!
Joaquim and Concessão / @serranos_on_road
Hello you two! Can you introduce yourselves to the CaraMaps community?
@serranos_on_road: Hello! We are Joaquim and Concessão and you can follow our adventures on our Instagram account @serranos_on_road.
What motivates you most about this lifestyle?
@serranos_on_road: It’s mostly making new friendships that drives us!
What are the two or three values that represent you as travelers?
@serranos_on_road: Adventure, contact with nature and human contact.
Which sentence or quote best describes your team?
@serranos_on_road: “Live in the moment”.
What is your favorite music or type of music when you travel by van?
@serranos_on_road: We love the 80’s and the music from Alentejo region (the singer Luis Triga Cheiro for example).
In which country or region do you travel the most?
@serranos_on_road: Spain !
What is your dream destination?
@serranos_on_road: We would like to travel to Morocco, but in small towns and villages only.
Do you frequently do actions to preserve the environment when you travel? If so, do you have an example to give us?
@serranos_on_road: Yes, we do a lot of actions to preserve the environment, it is very important for us. We throw away our vehicle’s waste water in the right places, we collect waste, we recycle etc.
Do you know the CaraMaps application? If so, what do you use it for?
@serranos_on_road: Yes we follow CaraMaps on social networks and we use the mobile application. The features we use the most are “search for places” and “add a place or activity”.
🚐 Go ahead and follow Joaquim and Concessão on their Instagram account @serranos_on_road!
Mateo and Isabel
Hello team! Can you introduce yourself to the CaraMaps community?
Mateo and Isabel: Hello! We are Mateo and Isabel. We don’t have an Instagram account yet but it will be soon!
What motivates you the most in this lifestyle?
Mateo and Isabel: Discovering new places and being free!
Name the two or three values that represent you as itinerant travelers?
Mateo and Isabel: Respect for nature, tradition and people, learning new things, sharing experiences.
Which sentence or quote best describes your team?
Mateo and Isabel: “It is not the people who make the trips but the trips that make the people”.
What is your favorite music or type of music when you travel by van?
Mateo and Isabel: We like to listen to electronic music, reggae, cumbia! In fact, we love world music!
In which country or region do you travel the most?
Mateo and Isabel: Spain and Portugal!
What is your dream destination?
Mateo and Isabel: We want to travel to the Balkans.
Do you frequently do actions to preserve the environment when you travel? If yes, do you have an example to give us?
Mateo and Isabel: Yes, we pick up garbage as soon as we arrive on a new spot.
Do you know the CaraMaps application? If yes, what do you use it for?
Mateo and Isabel: Yes, we use the CaraMaps feature “search a place”.
We would like to thank again all the crew members for trusting us, the volunteers of the Campervan PT association for making this national meeting of Portuguese campers possible, and all the staff of the Vagasplash service area for their incredible welcome!
Did you like the experience of your road trip offered by CaraMaps and the tips from the community? Share your best anecdotes and your photos of the places you visited and more with the 100% collaborative application CaraMaps 😊
Check out our other blog articles such as “Let’s meet João and Mónica and their vintage motorhome Parreirinha“, Top 10 tips for a greener travel ” and many more!
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Eles são maravilhosos e super talentosos!!! 😍❤️
Parabéns por todo sucesso!!! Merecem o mundo!!!
Eles são!😍
Aproveite a sua viagem com CaraMaps😄🚐
Acompanho a @thecarpentervan desde o início e compartilhar todos o processo é sensacional!!!
😍😍
Aproveite a sua viagem com CaraMaps😄🚐
Sensacional!!! Abre porta para sonhos essa matéria!!!
Que bom que gostaste do nosso artigo! É isso mesmo o objetivo de CaraMaps: valorizar os membros da nossa comunidade extraordinária e compartir as experiências de cada um!😍
Aproveite a sua viagem com CaraMaps! 🚐🌬️