Other Activities

Surfing

If you fancy surfing or a day at the beach, then the coast is a couple of hours drive away on the new motorway. Portugal has a huge variety of waves and swell size and as a result makes an ideal surfing location for surfers of every ability. It is a good place to learn to surf with lots of places offering surf lessons and packages.

Situated west of Spain, Portugal picks up north, west and south swells, making surf conditions very consistent. During winter the swell size is around the 6ft mark but can get to 15ft or more, making it a spot for those looking for challenging surf. There is surf throughout the summer months and you can expect waves of 3-5ft.

www.aveirosurf.com

Paragliding

The Serra is regarded as one of the best places for paragliding in Western Europe. In 2004 the world paragliding/parapenting championships were held here. For more information visit www.skiparque.pt

Swimming

Another alternative is to go swimming, 10 minutes walk from the campsite is the river Mondego which has lots of natural pools to swim in.

Sightseeing

Portugal is a country blessed with an amazing variety of landscapes, customs, cuisine, and architecture. There’s genuinely something for everyone. Portugal’s historic villages are among the country’s best kept secrets.

Built from granite and schist, and located in the heart of the country, they have witnessed over 900 years of Portuguese history. But while the villages are amazingly peaceful places to visit, they have not always been so tranquil.

In the past these villages, perched high on hilltops, played a crucial role in protecting the surrounding lands. Their vantage point made it almost impossible for would-be invaders to approach undetected. It was a hugely effective form of defence. Over the centuries, Moors and Christians, Spaniards and Portuguese, have all tried to take the villages for themselves. And as a result each village has its own spell-binding tale to tell. One such example is the village of Almeida, whose formidable fortress capitulated to the French in the 19th century after heroically resisting for 17 days.

Whether you want to experience Portugal’s breath-taking landscapes, its historic fortresses, or the warmth of its people, the villages offer it all.