Beaches:
Gelfa beach is undergoing a €1.5 million 'makeover' for the 2010 season, with toilets, changing rooms and other facitlities, refreshments and wooden walkways across the dunes giving easy access to the nearby Forte de Cão, the protected woodlands of Pinhal de Gelfa and the family seaside resort of Vila Praia de Âncora further along the beach. Already a beautiful beach, it looks like becoming an even more perfect holiday spot.
From here, the many safe and clean beaches of the Costa Verde stretch for miles - surf beaches, sandy, rocky, wide, discreet, romantic beaches - you can go to a different one each day to suit your mood. At Afife there's a surfing beach (& a surf/body boarding school for tourists); at Caminha a beach with one side on the Atlantic, the other on the River Minho; or you can hire a ferryman to take you out to a deserted island; on Serra de Arga there are fresh mountain pools and waterfalls; and there are also warm, sheltered river beaches on the Rivers Lima and Minho.
Touring the countryside and historic towns:
For rugged, wild countryside, visit the Peneda-Gerês National Park, or go further to the Douro Valley. Gelfa lies at the base of Serra d'Arga (784m), and the villages and country lanes in its hills offer a landscape from an earlier era. History, churches and monuments, culture and nightlife abound in a dozen towns within a short drive, or for more sophisticated entertainment, there's the Casino at Póvoa de Varzim. For the more active, there's karting, canoeing, surfing, 10-pin bowling, fishing, cycling and horse riding. A visit to the World Heritage City of Oporto is a must, as are the traditional local Romarias, with folklore, singing, dancing, decorative crafts and the famous cuisine of the Minho region. And there are restaurants galore, serving the famous Minho dishes.
Special gastronomic days out:
We have arranged some special days out with Vita d´Aurum (the 'golden life'): you can treat yourselves to one of a range of special packages that are based on the region's famous cuisine and spectacular wines.
'Afternoon Delight' - a mini-cruise on the Douro River and a 'Royal' dinner in a first class restaurant.
'Port Party' - Open bus tour of Porto’s historic centre, followed by a Port Wine tasting and a tour of the wine lodge.
'Gourmet Day' - Lunch in a traditional Manor House, wine tasting in a Port Wine Lodge, and a 'Royal' dinner in the heart of Porto's historic centre.
'Golden Day' - Scenic train trip to Régua, in the heart of the golden Douro Valley, lunch in the city's finest restaurant overlooking the river, and a restful cruise back to Porto.
Unforgettable food and wine, tremendous surroundings and a truly relaxing and stress-free way of experiencing the best of Portugal. Treat yourself!
Other Activities:
Karting
