Location and Surroundings
Surfing holiday from 231,- EUR
The Costa de Prata and the region Centro de Portugal
In terms of climate, the Costa de Prata offers a great compromise between the often extreme heat in the Algarve in summer and the windy and humid areas in the far north of Portugal. More than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year give the Costa de Prata a breathtaking and extremely diverse landscape with plants that bloom all year round. The huge mountain ranges of the Serra da Estrela rise inland, while the coastal region fascinates with its charming fishing villages, bays, salt lakes, wide beaches and its unique dune landscape. The water-dominated landscape of the Ria de Aveiro lagoon makes the area a unique recreation zone that is perfect for water sports, boat trips or a visit to the beach. With its ornately painted boats, numerous Art Nouveau houses and the quiet atmosphere, this region is one of the most beautiful travel destinations in Portugal. In addition to the good surfing conditions all year round, the Costa de Prata offers the best opportunities for sport and relaxation in every season and a rich cultural and culinary program.
Ria de Aveiro
The lagoon landscape of the Ria de Aveiro, which runs parallel to the sea for more than 50 kilometers, is the heart of this region. The large amount of water makes this area a unique recreation area, where you can practice water sports and make boat trips or simply enjoy the beautiful beaches. It is very popular to experience the city, the river and the lagoon from the sky with a motor plane. The lagoon came into existence in the 16th century as a result of the dropping sea level. A lagoon landscape has developed from the small canals, which today offers a habitat for many animals and plants. The lagoon is home to various aquatic organisms such as lamprey, mussels, eels and cockles, which in turn serve as food for the storks, herons and flamingos that are native to the region. Some birds of prey also like to come to the rich table at the Ria. If you like, you can explore the Ria on one of the old kelp boats that were traditionally used for tang fishing in this region. The algae were used by the farmers as fertilizer for their fields, but today there is more and more industrially produced fertilizer, which is why nowadays most of the traditional boats, that are similar to venetian gondolas, are used for tourism. During the gondola rides on the canal you come across salt gardens, rice fields and drying plants for stockfish.
Aveiro
The district’s capital Aveiro has about 78.500 inhabitants and is located between the cities of Porto and Coimbra. The Venice of Portugal, as the Portuguese call Aveiro, has a large network of canals, on which the ornately painted „barcos moliceiros“ (sea kelp boats) drive around and offer tours for tourists.
Aveiro’s bishopric is a very special place where old meets new. The city is characterized not only by its spectacular canals, but also by its magnificent churches, a large number of Art Nouveau houses and many houses whose facades are covered with ornately painted tiles (azulejos). On the outskirts of the city and on the other side of the port entrance is the Dunas de São Jacinto nature reserve.
The city of Aveiro has a wide range of cultural offerings such as museums, an opera and beautiful gardens and parks. In addition to the free BuGa bicycles, the municipality of Aveiro also offers pedal boats for rent, with which you can glide peacefully along the lake Lagoa da Fonte Nova.
Aveiro can also boast with its very good shopping facilities and doesn’t need to hide when it comes to nightlife either. The student city offers great restaurants and a fish market that is known far beyond the city limits (Mercado do Peixe). The great vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the city are also worth a try.
There are also interesting bars and pubs, but also disco and concert goers get their money’s worth here. You don’t have to worry about the prices either, because in Portugal a coffee only costs 50 cents, a beer a maximum of one euro and a lunch menu with starter and dessert is available for less than nine euros.
Praia da Barra
Praia da Barra is located between the dunes of São Jacinto and the beach of Costa Nova. This beach is the most visited in the region, which is due, among other things, to the good surfing conditions all year round, its beautiful restaurants and beach bars and the gigantic lighthouse from 1893.
The Farol da Barra lighthouse, which marks the entrance to the port of Aveiro, is a real gem. At 68 meters, it is not only the highest lighthouse in Portugal, but also one of the largest in Europe and worldwide. After climbing the 271 steps, you can enjoy a great view over the entire lagoon and the region.
Praia da Vagueira
Praia da Vagueira is our home beach. The beach, like the entire region, has been spared from mass tourism and is known for its wide secluded beaches and wonderful dunes. The extensive beach of Praia da Vagueira offers not only excellent bathing and water sports facilities, but also a very traditional spectacle.
The “Arte Xávega” is an artistic fishing method. The main source of income for the population is still fishing, and fish are still caught on this beach in the traditional way. To pull the weighty nets through the water and onto land, teams of oxen and now also tractors are used. Due to the excellent environmental quality, this beach has been awarded the “Blue Flag” annually since 2009 and has been awarded the “Golden Beach” by the National Portuguese Society for Nature Conservation (Quercus) because of the high quality of the water. Numerous cafes, restaurants and beach bars ensure your physical well-being.
By the way, Praia da Vagueira and the surrounding beaches are certified as “Estação Náutica”. The state seal guarantees tourists that the beach is perfect for high-class water sports such as surfing.
Sanitary facilities and showers are available on the beach.
Praia da Costa Nova
A significant part of the beauty of this region can be attributed to Costa Nova. From there the long sandy beach runs past Praia da Vagueira to Mira in the south. To the north, the beach ends at the large pier directly at the lighthouse. Beach lovers can take endless walks here. Like Praia da Vagueira, Costa Nova is surrounded by the sea and the lagoon Ria de Aveiro. The lagoon landscape contrasts with the often powerful ocean. The calm lagoon waters offer excellent opportunities for sailing, kite and windsurfing or to explore the lagoon on the SUP.
Serra da Estrela
The Serra da Estrela is the highest mountain range on the Portuguese main land and with its fabulous scenery it offers the perfect atmosphere for a relaxing day in a natural surrounding in every season. The mountains Lousã, Açor and Caramulo have excellent cycling and hiking trails as well as some via ferrata. Overall, the nature park has a trail network of around 375 kilometers, which provides different levels of difficulty for hikers and bikers. For the very brave, the Serra offers the opportunity to explore the mountain range while mountaineering, rafting, canoeing or paragliding. No matter how you experience this region, the beauty of the Serra da Estrela gives visitors an intensive access to nature.
The crystal-clear water resources of the glacial lakes and the water that gushes from the thermal springs offer a wonderful refreshment in summer. In winter, the partially frozen waters in the summit region are a pure feast for the eyes. In the winter months, these mountains are the only spot to practice winter sports in Portugal. There are slopes of varying difficulty with lift operation, some of which even have snow cannons. The highest point of the mountain range is at 1,993 meters in Torre, where you can really feel the amazing silence. Of course, this impressive landscape is also the habitat of many rare animal and plant species that visitors should take into account.
The mountain range has many springs where you can drink extremely pure water. Some of the sources transform into well known rivers such as the Rio Mondego, Rio Vouga or the Rio Alva. The names Vale do Rossim, Loriga, Louso or Manteigas stand for beautiful valleys and canyons that are definitely worth a visit.
Coimbra
The university town on the Rio Mondego has about 100,000 inhabitants. The former capital of Portugal has a number of magnificent buildings and old architecture. Coimbra is home to the oldest university in Portugal, where all of the country’s student traditions come from, and traditionally, students wear long black Harry Potter-style coats. In the characteristic, narrow streets of the city, stylish, traditional cafes invite you to discover Portugal’s world of sweets. Coimbra’s nightlife is also impressive. Every evening the students meet at the Praça da República to move to one of the numerous night clubs and party all night long.
Porto
Porto is the country’s largest city after Lisbon and has recently become a real tourist magnet. No wonder, after all, the city at the river mouth of the Rio Douro has a lot to offer. Countless cafes, world-famous restaurants and of course the port wine factories make Porto a first class destination.
When strolling through the city, you should definitely walk over one of the high bridges that cross the river. The Ponte Dom Luis I bridge is particularly spectacular because the floor is almost transparent and provides plenty of thrills at lofty heights. The bridge was built in 1886 and was the longest arch bridge of its time. It was planned by the French Gustav Eiffel and the German Teophile Seyrig. You can even cross the old town with a cable car. The bird’s eye view gives you a unique view of the charming houses on the Rio Douro.
One of the city’s most famous attractions is the Livraria Lello library, which opened in 1869 and is one of the most beautiful libraries in Europe.