The Garden
Aldeia Manga awaits you with a garden spread out over 7,000 m², featuring bananas, guavas, papaya, mangos, bamboo and all manners of flowers and other plants.
There are shady spots with tables and chairs below the large mango trees, inviting you to linger and relax after your hiking adventures. There's also a hammock for those who prefer to sway in the breeze. The hooks and hammocks are stowed in each bungalow. These are a wonderful way to while away the hot summer days, since there's always a slight breeze under the trees.
Sunbathing fans can make themselves comfortable on the large, natural grass lawns. There are plenty of options for sitting or lounging, a favourite pastime during the cooler winter months in particular.
Guests with a rental car can bring their vehicle to the upper part of the grounds on a private car park.
The Swimming Pond
After an extended hike or a longer stroll, there are few things better than a dunk in our swimming pond. It was cleared by hand, has a surface of aprox. 100 m² (15 meters long, 7.5 meters wide) and up to 2.5 meters deep. A non-toxic rubber foil serves as the bottom liner.
Our water preparation process is conducted entirely without chemicals. We instead purify the water naturally using UV-C light and a sponge filter. The immersion pump does have to run around the clock, but is inaudible. This technique allows us to use the valuable moisture for watering plants.
Algae on the side walls, small fishes and the occasional frog who finds our pond a lovely place to abide only add to the atmosphere. The water is nearly crystal clear and invites guests to come relax. An underwater bench provides a handy place to sit and read while having a soak, although there's plenty of enjoyment to be had from simply looking out at the mountains and ocean. The pond is also big enough to allow for a few laps. There's a staircase to make it easier to get in and out of the water, although the algae can make it a bit slippery. Please remember to be cautious. We've got something for those who enjoy an outdoor shower as well: we've installed an outdoor shower directly next to the pond.
The Energy
We in Aldeia Manga make a concerted effort to use primarily natural resources. This naturally also applies to our energy supply. 60 percent of our power needs are met through solar energy. This ensures that our stores of foodstuffs will remain safely cool and unspoilt even in the event of a power loss.
We have solar cells on several places of the lodge with a total of 16kW Solar-Power, producing about 95% of our overall energy consumption.
Intelligent inverters with a total power of 16kW select automatically between our energy sources. If the solar energy isn't enough to meet our needs (cloudy weather or at night), then the system draws from two lithium battery banks with 35kWh total capacity. If all two options fail, then the systems uses the public power grid.
Animals, Insects & Co
We at Aldeia Manga are living in the middle of nature. A tremendous variety of plants grow here. There are also insects and spiders — the Paúl Valley alone is home to 160 species of spider.
Some of the animals also occasionally find their way into the bungalows and houses. This is an inescapable part of living amid unspoilt nature. But there's no need for fear: none of the ants, spiders or geckos are a threat to people. They're actually beneficial, since they eat flies and mosquitoes.
Since there are actually few mosquitoes here, and those primarily during the rainy season, we have consciously decided to forgo mosquito netting on the houses. Anyone who reacts strongly to mosquito bites should be sure to bring along natural insect protection cremes or oils for trips during the rainy period (August – October).
The one bug to be avoided is the large centipede — the 'bite' of the centipede is quite painful, similar to a bee sting. You're unlikely to encounter a centipede here though, and even if you do, just keep calm. These animal only attack in self-defence. They're much more likely to just run away if they encounter humans.