Adventure activities around Porto
If you're looking for a weekend trip, don't think twice and pack your bags for Porto! A city with the perfect size for a weekend and with urban and fresh vibes that you will love! But Porto is much more than Francesinhas and boat tours along the Douro River. So if you want to live a weekend full of adventures, keep reading! This article will give you some ideas for adventure activities in Porto that you shouldn't miss!
Porto is the second most important city in Portugal after Lisbon. The city is located in the north of Portugal, on the right bank of the Douro, a river that separates it from her neighbor Vila Nova da Gaia, where are located all the wineries of the Porto region.
The list of reasons to visit Porto is long: the colorful streets with their tiled facades, the astonishing views from the different bridges such as Dom Luís I Bridge, the Livraria Lello... Without forgetting, of course, the delicious gastronomy standing, besides the Franceshinha, the pastels de nata, and the Port Wine.
But in addition to this, did you know that 100 kilometers from Porto we find the only National Park of Portugal? The Peneda Gerês National Park. This park is between the regions of Alto Minho and Trás-os-Montes and it's a paradise for hiking lovers. Among 70 thousand hectares we found a wide variety of fauna and flora, highlighting amazing forests such as the centenary oak grove Mata da Albergaria, the most important of the Peneda Gerês National Park; the most beautiful waterfalls of Portugal as Cascada del Arado or Cascada de Fecha de Barjas and nice villages as Soajo o Lindoso.
Porto is the great mix between a very dynamic city and the perfect dose of nature. If you don't want to miss this unique side of Porto and the region, in this article you will find some adventure activities in Porto, great for those who are looking to live incredible adventures different from classical tourism.
Canyoning at Peneda Gerês National Park
There's no better way to start discovering the region than with a funny canyoning in Peneda Gerês National Park. This park is one of the favorites of Portugal for canyoning and climbing along with Magic Mountains/Arouca GeoPark. You will discover one of the canyons of the park while jumping into the water, abseiling, and even sliding down zip lines! Can you imagine a funnier way to enjoy nature? The best of all is that everyone can enjoy this canyoning, even children from 10 years old with a minimum fitness level.
Surf lessons at Matosinhos Beach
Portugal is well known for being one of the best countries in Europe for surfing. Even if the most famous area is Algarve, it's also possible to surf near Porto. Surfing at Matosinhos Beach is a great choice as it's the largest beach in the area. This beach is perfect for all levels as it has two different surf spots: one sheltered by a large breakwater, ideal for surfers with some experience, and another with much more consistent waves, great for learning.
Rafting down the Paiva River
Would you like to go rafting in one of the clearest rivers in Europe? The Paiva River rises in the Sierra de Leomil and it runs through Portugal, crossing Arouca Geopark until it flows into the Douro. There are different ways to enjoy this river by crossing the river through the famous Passadiços do Paiva and the bridge 516 Arouca. But if you are looking for adrenaline and adventure try to do rafting down the Paiva River! A 2-hour rafting that starts in Espiunca, 1 hour away from Porto, and that offers a lot of fun thanks to the natural obstacles such as waterfalls, waves, or jumps that you will find along the way. It's a rafting level III-IV so be prepared for the adventure!
Trekking along the Pena Route in Covas do Monter
If you would like to know Porto's countryside and you are a hiking lover, there's no better way to do it than with a trekking along the Pena Route. A 12-kilometer trek that will take you along the tracks of the amazing mountain villages of Covas do Monte, Covas do Rio, and Aldeia da Pena, a majestic triangle very well-known in the trekking world. The instructor will pick you up in Porto and bring you to Covas do Monte, to start an incredible hike where you will enjoy fantastic views of high mountains, deep valleys, and extremely varied landscapes.
Off-Road Buggy Tour to Castro Mozinho Ruins and Quintandona
Are you an engine and car lover? In that case, you will enjoy this off-road buggy tour from Porto. This 3-hour guided tour will allow you to discover the surroundings of Porto passing by the vineyards of Aveleda, the charming village of Quintandona, from the 13th century, and the Roman ruins of Castro Mozinho. Ready to explore the lesser-known side of Porto at high speed?
As you have seen, there are a lot of activities in Porto to explore the city and the surroundings and every one of them will give you a completely different view of Porto and the region. Do you want to go deeper? In that case, don't miss these activities in Peneda-Gerês National Park and these in Porto! Besides, if you want to discover other areas not so known of Portugal, this article about the must-do activities in the Arrábida Natural Park can be very useful!