When you think about the Douro valley, what does immediately pop in your mind? The staircase-like vineyards? Picturesque little villages? The river Douro snaking between the mountains? Steamy comfort food? A glass of Port wine? Probably a few of them since travelling around the Douro is a sensory experience.
No matter the season, Douro is a great destination and below we'll show you why.
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Nazaré is a coastal town located in the central part of Portugal, a region known as Beira Litoral. It comprises 3 main areas - Pederneira, Sítio da Nazaré and Praia da Nazaré - and other smaller and more recent neighbourhoods.
In Nazaré there is an undeniable connection to the ocean. During a long time fishing and its related industries were the main income source and Nazaré was also a summer holiday destination because of the chilled vibe and nice beaches. However, this tendency shifted when the bombs of Praia do Norte became known worldwide and winter became the prime time to visit Nazaré. This odd mix ageneates a cool and laidback atmosphere and has put Nazaré in the map when it comes to tourism. Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is a protected area with 145 square km that includes not only an incredible natural heritage, but also very rich historical sites. It's close proximity to Lisboa, explains why it used to be the chosen holiday retreat for the royal family and many other wealthy families, who longed for fresh air during the summer.
Nowadays it remains a perfect relief from the hustle and bustle of the city and a great place to disconnect and get immersed in nature, no matter the season. Even winter is a great time to visit it, mainly due to the fact that during the colder months it is very quiet and the misty landscapes become even more magical. These are some of the reasons why you should visit Sintra Cascais Natural Park! Gastronomy varies widely across the country, but codfish is a constant. When travelling around Portugal you'll find at leat one version of bacalhau in every single menu and we must tell you they're all delicious.
But why do you eat dry salted cod when you have so much fresh fish, you might ask. Well, it's a tradition and we love it like that. Portugal has a very long history when it comes to fishing and during the Discoveries overseas the Portuguese learnt that dry salted cod kept its properties and resisted to the long journeys, turning into a tasty and reliable food source. It started to be consumed by the lower class, but soon its reputation grew and it became a reference in the Portuguese gastronomy. After soaking it in water to loose the excess salt, it can be cooked in countless different ways and in this post there are 12 for you to choose from. The islands of Pico, Faial and São Jorge belong to the central group of the azorean archipelago and they're known as the "islands of the triangle" since they form a triangular shape when connected.
Although located close to each other, they're three very distinct islands with a lot to see and do and together they perfectly sum up some of the best reasons to visit Açores: nature, biodiversity, hiking, beaches, great meat, fresh fish and seafood, wine and welcoming people. Easy for some, urgent for others and unthinkable for some more. We're all different and each person has perceived, endured and overcome the harshest phase of the pandemic their own way. There's no rights or wrongs here, but the truth is for most people COVID was (and still is) a confusing invisible threat that created havoc at a global scale. Getting our heads around it was a struggle, but getting back to normal isn't an easy task either. That's why we decided to write about it, but specially about why travelling can be a solution to ease back to living life at its fullest.
EN | The pandemic has hit the travel industry hard, so we've been investing in new ideas that allow us to keep doing what we do best: planning unique trips in Portugal. Now more than ever it's important to support our local partners and work together to ensure authentic tourism stays strong. PT | As restrições impostas pela pandemia criaram sérias dificuldades a todas as pessoas e empresas na área do turismo, por isso temos apostado em novas formas de viajar que nos permitam continuar a fazer aquilo que realmente gostamos: criar viagens únicas em Portugal. Agora, e mais do que nunca, é importante apoiarmos os nossos parceiros e trabalharmos juntos para promover um turismo mais autêntico e de qualidade.
Portugal is a fantastic destination for family trips, no matter the type of traveller you are. Across a relatively small country, there are natural parks, stunning beaches, great waves for surfing, beautiful mountain tops, interesting cities, winemaking regions, rural landscapes... you name it. Families out there, have you been to Portugal? If not, come over and bring your small children, teens and grown up kids! Despite being a small country, Portugal comprises diverse landscapes which are a joy to explore hiking. Discovering our country on foot is a great option for many reasons: it's free, it's healthy, it enables you to disconnect from the online world, it provides a close contact with nature and it's a sustainable way of travelling. Plus it's a great gateway to get to know the local people, learn about the historical and cultural heritage and also taste the local gastronomy. After all, it's the sum of the parts that makes Portugal such a complete and inspiring destination.
The best seasons to hike are Spring and Autumn, not only because the landscapes are particularly pretty, but also because the temperature tends to be milder. There are many hiking trails throughout the country, including in the archipelagos of Açores and Madeira, with different lengths, difficulty levels and duration. This means there are options for all sorts of hikers, from first timers to experienced ones. In this journal post we hand-picked 10 hiking trails that we believe are a must and below we tell you why. "Summer? But it's still Winter! There's plenty of time to sort the holidays... Plus we're in a pandemic..." Yep, that's true. But the truth is COVID seems to be here to stay and it's possible to travel in a safe way provided all the healthcare and safety measures are followed. Also the current offer won't be similar to the one you'll find later on.
Despite being cautious or carefree, planning ahead is always a good call. It gives you something positive to look forward to, it's great news for those relying on the tourism industry (which has been hibernating for a good while), there are more and better offers, loads of great deals and, on top of it all, flexible cancellation policies. As we see it, it's actually the perfect timing to plan the so anticipated summer holidays. After all, when the weather is grey and gloomy, we crave for warmth and long sunny days... |
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