A major stargazing destination in Portugal, the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve, has been recognised in the Tourism Experience category at the 5th edition of the Tourism Leaders Awards 2026, shining a light on a region where dark skies are treasured.
Located in the Alentejo region, where a mild climate and rural community help to provide 286 nights per year of exceptional visibility, Dark Sky Alqueva is an important hub for celestial observation, with experts as well as astrotourists following the progress of meteors, planets, and the northern lights across the night sky.
The destination received the Tourism Leaders award in recognition of its work to promote astrotourism, maintain low levels of light pollution, and high atmospheric quality, and its dedication to preserving the night sky was all applauded.
Heavily involved in that effort is astrophotographer Miguel Claro, who uses photography to capture astronomical phenomena, raising awareness, and building appreciation of the night sky. He told Euronews, the award drives visitor numbers, with arrivals “very much guided by the awards we receive. The Starlight seal, for example, tests quality. It is not merely an opinion; it is a certification that scientifically proves that quality.”
Visitors to the 10,000-km2 area around the Alqueva Great Lake, which embraces 11 Portuguese municipalities and parts of Spain, are able to see night sky phenomena with the naked eye or telescopes that normally would only be invisible with photography or far more specialist equipment.
As well as the recent Tourism Experience award and being the first destination to receive the Starlight Seal (certifying the location’s exceptional night sky observation conditions and sustainability credentials), Alqueva also won Europe’s Leading Attraction at the 2025 World Travel Awards.
But, despite the enthusiasm and the community of night sky aficionados it has built, Alqueva needs more government investment, Claro says. The reserve has lost out on projects it has conceived and proposed, seeing them implemented at other, less suited venues, because it has lacked backing from central Portuguese authorities. “Portugal could be a pioneer in many projects if we had more support. We feel that investment has been growing, but we need more help,” Claro said.
A destination growing in popularity, Portugal’s Alentejo region also boasts the best beach in Europe for 2026, as chosen by travel platform European Best Destinations. As previously reported by Travel Tomorrow, the coastline at Praia de Monte Clérigo took first place in the ranking thanks to its “natural beauty, accessibility, atmosphere, environmental preservation and overall visitor experience.”
Those criteria behind the success of the two Portuguese attractions are further proof of travel consumers’ desire for authenticity, nature, and the ability to switch off from everyday pressures.
