Waking Life is a space for artistic experimentation, spirited self-expression and collective imagineering of the type of society we could cultivate if there was freedom to diverge from default reality. But in a communal space, default reality has some useful pointers to guide us, like ways of moving around, finding information and taking care of each other and our shared environment.
Covid-19 and collectivisation of germs
Besides a possible test, a vaccination or recovery certificate to travel to Portugal, there will be no restrictions to enter Waking Life (woop woop). Please think twice before traveling if you have symptoms of easily contagious illnesses. Should you start feeling unwell during the festival, make sensible decisions that minimize risks of others getting whatever it is you have.
Safe.r
Waking Life is meant to be a warm, welcoming space for any gender, racial, ethnic, sexual, age, class identities. To create a truly vibrant, safer environment, we must respect each other’s boundaries, seek consent and be mindful about how we communicate and interact with others. Respect each other’s space and support whenever necessary. React or talk with one of the Caretakers or the Avózinha crew in case you see discriminatory behaviour, be they sexist, homophobic, or any other form of bigotry. Freedom of expression and celebration of difference is a collective responsibility.
Privacy
Feel free to take a picture every now and then, but don’t expect to take your experiences home on a camera. Please try not to film, especially not on the dancefloor: not everyone likes to be caught on camera while partying (seriously, it’s a major vibe-killer for a lot of people) and it is disruptive for the engaging artists. In all circumstances respect people’s privacy, be mindful and read the room.
Safety
Keep an eye on each other and yourself. Locate the first aid, emergency meeting points and emergency exits on your map upon arriving in case you or a fellow traveler would be needing them later on. Bring a small first aid kit if you can. Of course, our medical team will be of assistance for people with physical or psychological issues at any time. There are quiet places to relax and have a rest.
Fire
Portugal alone accounts for more than half of all forest fires in the EU. It’s strictly forbidden to make fires of any kind (bbq, camp fires, candles, …) on site. If you see anyone making a fire, please inform them about the risk and ask them to put it out. Be extremely careful with cigarette butts too, put them in your portable ashtray. Locate the nearest fire extinguisher to your camp in case of an emergency. It’s forbidden to use camping gas for by now obvious reasons.
Lake
Because of the increasing drought conditions in Portugal, the water level of the lake is low this year. So, very important:
The lake is not a washing area, and certainly not a toilet! Those who decide to carry out their biological needs in the lake can be removed from the terrain at any time. Use biodegradable sunscreen only, and even better, rinse off before swimming. We want to refresh ourselves in a clean lake – not an oil spill. Swim safe, sober, and only by daylight. Our Baywatch team will keep an extra eye too. For safety reasons, it’s forbidden to swim at night. Don’t dive.
AvĂłzinha
When humans are likely to enter altered states it is important to have a calm, cosy, protected space, with people who know how to care for you. Avózinha is the place to seek advice, and receive support during tricky psychedelic experiences or altered states of consciousness. Warm, grandmotherly vibes is what you’ll find in our risk-reduction, psycare place.
Caretakers
The Caretakers are performers, tripsitters, or simply empaths with an eye for anticipating the needs of others. The essence of this squad is to help curating a spirit of collective care, and showing how a mindful community tends to its members. If you see or experience anything uncomfortable, or just need a listening ear, don’t hesitate to approach one of the Caretakers. We will communicate later about how to reach and recognise them.
Sustainability
Be aware of how your consumption and travel impacts the environment and try to take action accordingly. All initiatives concerning sustainability are most welcome.
Read: 2019 Sustainability Report.
Leave no trace (but positive)
Please keep the site and its surroundings clean by planning ahead, leave what you find, don’t leave stuff behind, dispose of your waste properly, respect nature (do not throw cigarette butts on the floor, please!) and be considerate to other participants. It’s just that easy.
Mind the trees
Our first 5000 baby trees have been requiring a lot of care, and most of them are now growing where soon will be your camping grounds. In this new cohabitation, we need to cultivate a sense of collective responsibility and care. Please watch out where you walk, prance and pee, your attention and mindfulness will be an important variable in determining how many trees will make it through their first and toughest summer.
(Waste) collection point
Before you go, earn your waste deposit back by handing in your full (and recycled) bags of waste you generated. Make sure to bring along your garbage deposit ticket. Didn’t produce much waste? Great! You can also fill up a bottle or container with cigarette butts. Collective treasures, collective trash : ) Here, you’ll also find a collection point. If you have food, a tent (we hope this won’t happen) or other useful materials you won’t be taking home again: bring them there, so they can come in handy for other people.
Weather / Health
Temperatures in Alentejo in August can fluctuate between 25 and 40 degrees Celsius. Wear (biodegradable) sunscreen to protect your skin from sunburns and drink enough water to keep yourself hydrated. This is a hot area, germs dig that and can spread quickly. Wash your hands regularly and be careful sharing drinks or smokeables. If you feel like you might be getting a flu, rest, tell a friend and be smart about it, i.e. don’t go making out with whoever agrees.
Water
Drinking water is available for free at the water points spread across the site. Water is a valuable resource, use it wisely. Please be careful with your water usage and only use what’s necessary. Take short (revigorating) showers and refresh in the lake.
Food
We aim to reduce our environmental footprint as much as we can. One of our ways of doing this is offering a wide variety of fresh veggie food, locally sourced if possible.
Disability access
Waking Life wishes to offer a unique, accessible experience to all participants, including people with disability. However, bear in mind that the festival terrain is rough and gets very hot in the month of August. Therefore, we are offering an extra ticket to any person with disability to bring along one person to assist you, free of charge. If you wish to apply or receive information on guidance dogs, parking, camping or anything else, please get in touch via info@wakinglife.pt.
Cashless
The currency at Waking Life is Klingeling (€1 = 1KL). You can acquire Klingelings at one of the ticket counters, in exchange of cash (at the info point), or paid by card. After Waking Life, you have two weeks to reclaim any remaining value. We have no ATM, be sure to bring enough cash and your bankcard.
Refunds
After Waking Life, you have two weeks to reclaim any remaining value at wakinglife.pt/refunds (between August 25, 00:00 and September 7, 23:59). You can also donate your leftover Klingeling, they will be directly invested in the land regeneration project.
Glass
Please don’t bring glass to the grounds, it increases risk of injury and fires. Try to bring a stainless-steel water container instead.
Pets
Sun, dehydration, noise and people can increase stress and health problems of your pets. Therefore it’s not allowed to bring them to the festival.
Pirate shops
Bring anything you wish to share with fellow participants, we’re creating this experience together! Note that it’s not allowed to sell anything at or around Waking Life, unless you are a registered vendor. Pirate shops will be taken down and removed from the terrain.
Confetti
It’s fun to play with confetti & glitters, but they are not environmental friendly and a real pain in the ass to clean it all up, literally. Therefore: please leave them at home.
Sound systems
Own sound systems on the campsite or at the parking lot are prohibited.
Liability
You enter the site at your own risk and responsibility. The organization cannot be held accountable for any material damage that may occur on the site.
Location
Crato is situated in Northern Alentejo, one of the most deserted regions in Southern Europe. A mythical place where the boundaries of time and space are limitless. A place with hidden realities waiting to be unveiled, in the water that entertains and cures, in the great open spaces in the midst of nature.
Carpooling
We highly encourage carpooling to those who have the possibility to do so! In our Hitch a Ride group you can offer empty seats to or from Waking Life to fellow travellers or ask them to share their ride with you.
Getting there by plane
The closest major airport is in Lisboa. It’s a smooth drive from Lisboa which will take you just a bit over 2 hours. Rental cars in Portugal are pretty cheap. Other possible airports are Porto (3h45min), Faro (3h30min), Madrid (4h30min) or Sevilha (3h30min).
By Waking Life shuttle
Waking Life shuttles drive between Lisbon (4h), Porto (5h) and Madrid (7h) airport and Waking Life. For all departure and arrival times, have a look at the transport overview page. For tickets, go here.
By public transport (bus)
Daily buses drive between Lisboa Sete Rios < > Crato and Portalegre, which will take you about 3 hours. For all departure and arrival times, have a look at the transport overview page. Get tickets at www.rede-expressos.pt.
By public transport (train)
There’s a daily train driving between Lisboa Santa < > Crato, which will take you about 3 hours. For all departure and arrival times, have a look at the transport overview page. Get tickets at www.cp.pt.
Local shuttles
Shuttles drive regularly between Waking Life < > Crato and Portalegre. For all departure and arrival times, have a look at the transport overview page.
By car from Lisboa
From Lisboa, take the A1 and exit to A23 Torres Novas. Take exit 15 for IP2 to Portalegre. Continue on IP2 until you see exit N245 to Crato. When you get near the village of Crato, road signs will guide you the way to Waking Life.
By car from Porto
From Porto, take the A1 direction Lisboa and take exit 11 towards LousĂŁ, then take the exit onto A13 towards LousĂŁ. Exit on IC8 and get on the A23 in Castelo Branco. Follow A23 and take exit 15 for IP2 to Portalegre. Continue on IP2 until you see exit N245 to Crato.
By car from Madrid
From Madrid, take the A5 towards Placencia and Portugal. Take exit 51 towards Cáceres and keep following. After 70km, take exit 551 for N521 towards Malpartida de Cáceres, Portugal. Continue on N-521, then take N359 and IC13 to Crato, Portugal.
By bike
If you’re looking for some adventure, come to Waking Life by bike! We’ll make sure that good ol’ two-wheeler of yours receives a warm welcome.
Before and after Waking Life
Portugal is a fascinating country with a diverse culture and a unique personality; including its rich history, exquisite cuisine and its people’s love for music and art. Alentejo, one of the most authentic regions in the country, is known for a heritage enriched by a variety of cultures and landscapes of unique beauty, its local traditions, timeless villages, rewarding walks and good wines. If you can, we’d highly recommend sticking around for some time…
Camping
Regular camping is included in your ticket. The campsite opens on Wednesday August 17th, 12:00. We kindly ask you to leave the site before Tuesday August 23rd, 12:00.
Tents and campers
We will have a campsite for tents, and one for participants coming with campervans. No cars will be allowed on the campsite and campers have to park at the designated parking areas. Be aware that the land can be uneven in some places and it is your own responsibility to decide if your vehicle is suitable for the terrain.
Register your campervan
Coming by camper? Parking your camper vehicle is free but it is mandatory to register. Please fill out this form so that we can get a better idea about the amount of space we need to provide for campervans.
Creative camps
Participate! It’s so much more fun. Participants who would like to set up a creative camp are happily invited to do so. This could be literally anything; from a morning workout followed by tea and biscuits, a space for bedtime stories or a karaoke bar, to nude speeddating or a ping-pong tournament – you name it.
Shade
The opposite of hot sun. Used in a sentence: “The hot sun in your tent”. And yep, she burns here as well… To guarantee enough shade, we are setting up several shade spots across the camping. Even though we will double the amount of shade on the camping, it will not be possible to cover the entire area. We’d like to encourage everyone who can to bring their own shades.
Showers
Showers will be located at walking distance. Here you’ll also find refreshment points which offer drinkable water. Please be careful with your water usage and only use what’s necessary.
Waste
Upon entering the terrain you will receive two garbage bags. One for plastic, one for mixed waste. Please keep your camping spot and the festival site clean – it’s a piece of cake if everyone does their own share! Earn your waste deposit back by handing in your full (and recycled) bags of waste along with your waste deposit ticket.
Camping shop
Pass by our camping shop for local products, bio-degradable sunscreen, fresh bread, cheese, earplugs, tobacco and other useful things.