Continue reading »]]> Santa Maria Island is the most southern and the warmest of the Azores Archipelago. It is like a little Portugal with a tropical climate in 97 square kilometres in the middle of the immense Atlantic Ocean. The West reminds the landscapes and plains of the Alentejo and the Algarve; the East has mountains full of vegetation similar to the North region of continental Portugal and to the other islands of Azores.

The exact data is not known but everything suggests that Diogo Silves, a Portuguese navigator, discovered it in 1427. What is known is that Gonçalo Velho Cabral has arrived to Santa Maria with a dozen crew fellows on 15 of August 1432, day dedicated to Our Lady of Assumption. In honour to the Virgin Mary, he has given the island her name, Santa Maria. A few years later came the first mainlanders to Praia de Lobos, followed by many others, especially from the southern regions of Portugal. The houses architecture is very similar to the one we encounter in Alentejo and Algarve, clearly observed by their chimneys.

Santa Maria was also port of call in Christopher Colombo’s return from his first journey to the Americas. The legend claims the reason for that stop was to for fill the promise to pray to Our Lady in the first land he would see. After he has landed it is said, he was captured and remained governor’s prisoner until he explained the reasons for his scale. It was in the village called Anjos where today the natural swimming pools visited by little schools of fishes are the delights of all.

You will notice when you arrive in Santa Maria that almost everyone speaks English. A good part of the inhabitants of the island migrated to the United States and Canada in the 60’s or has family there. The airport, initially built by the Americans as a logistic base in World War II, is another reason and continues being one of the pillars of the economy of the island, developing commerce and tourism; You will also notice that the island is very clean and its inhabitants proudly keep their houses well painted and traditional basalt garden walls bordered white with detail.

Although it is small, the island has a lot to see and do and consider at least one week so you can enjoy the most of it. Vila do Porto is the only municipality. The village goes from the Marina in nearly a single street 2 miles long, but there you will find everything you may need: pharmacy, restaurants, markets, stores and services. In Vila do Porto the main attractions are the medieval buildings, like the Forte de São Braz, a fortress and the several churches of the village. Also include the Centro de Interpretação Ambiental Dalberto Pombo in your visit plan and discover some more about species and fossils found on the island.

Other smaller towns sprinkle the island with the white of the houses and their stripes around the doors and windows traditionally collared differently depending on their village.

Close to Anjos, on the North side of Santa Maria you will find the Barreiro da Faneca, also known as Red Desert, a protected area of red clay soil with basaltic lava and volcanic ash, which developed local pottery and was largely exported to the neighbour island of São Miguel.

The two only sandy beaches on the island are at Praia Formosa and Baía de São Lourenço. Praia Formosa is just a couple of miles from Vila do Porto and is a long stripe of golden sand. Baía de São Lourenço has also natural swimming pools where you can swim with the fishes and an amazing landscape of typical vines confined in basalt corral walls. The beaches and natural pools of Santa Maria Island have lifeguard surveillance during summertime.

In Malbusca just next to Praia Formosa, stands the Ribeira dos Maloás, a small water stream, with a 15 meter waterfall, about 220 meters from the ocean. It is one of the most beautiful visible remaining of the volcanic origin of Santa Maria. To get there you have a pedestrian route signalled as Calçada do Gigante, the name locals give it, which means giant’s path.

The southernmost point of the island is called Ponta do Castelo with the Gonçalo Velho Lighthouse, next to Maia village. The Vigia da Baleia viewpoint is just above the lighthouse and one can enjoy the magnificent ocean view. It is part of a viewpoint net used to search for whales, when hunting them was legal, to process in the factory close by. Now these viewpoints are used to locate whales and dolphins for cetaceans watch boat tours. There are several operators that can take you. Best time is August to late September when the water is warmer.

Maia is a village in a small bay between steep cliffs coloured by a puzzle of vines in corrals and the intense blue sea. It has also natural swimming pools and is the place to see the Aveiro waterfall.

Don’t forget to visit Pico Alto, the highest point of the island. From its 590 metres you have a 360 degrees astonishing view. You will also be amazed by the intense smell of the flowers and trees and the different colours of Santa Maria: the blue and turquoise from the ocean, the gold and brown from the West plains and the several tones of green sprinkled with yellow flowers from the vegetation of the East.

There are a few very well kept forest parks around the island where you can spend a wonderful day surrounded by green lush vegetation and trees, like the Fontinhas Forest Park close to Pico das Cavacas, or Valeverde Forest Park, near Vila do Porto. Parks in Santa Maria have barbecue facilities that are usually full of wood ready to cook your lunch .There are also signalled pedestrian routes passing through them.

Most of the islands traditions and festivities are religious with special devotion to Our Lady of Assumption, patron of Santa Maria and the Holy Ghost, which has a beautiful baroque church in Santo Espiríto village. Festivities go from April to September in different places of Santa Maria and if you get the chance to go to one “Império” don’t miss it. It is a religious tradition that includes the crowning of a child as emperor of the Holy Ghost and the free distribution of the Império soups, a typical soup served with a especial bread.

There is also more contemporaneous festivities such as an annual music festival in August, the “Marés d’Agosto”, that attracts lots of tourists to Praia Formosa.

Santa Maria attractions don’t stay just in the island. There are three islets around with a very important role in the nesting of endemic and migrating birds. The Ilhéu do Romeiro also deservers a visit for its interior port and interesting stalagmites and stalactites formations.

Further, at 37 kilometres from Santa Maria, the Ilhéu das Formigas is a set of eight islets with a lighthouse and a reef bank called Dollabarat. The surrounding waters are ecologically rich and are shelter and preferred place for breeding and feeding of many species including sharks, turtles and several cetaceans. Several operators can take you to Formigas and Dollabarat for a boat tour or for diving. Santa Maria has hotels in Vila do Porto, several rural tourism accommodation units spread around the island and camping facilities at Praia Formosa. Food is generally good and tasty and people are incredibly friendly.

Don’t miss trying the famous Santa Maria’s melons and biscuits. There are several activities to include on you must do list such as trekking, canyoning, para-sail, surf, windsurf, sports fishing and definitely diving.

It seems that the world crisis hasn’t arrived in Santa Maria. You can feel it in the children’s laughter, in the adult’s mood which is generally nice and polite, in the “good mornings” on the street, in the old ladies that don’t miss a good conversation and especially in the honest smiles you get everywhere you go. Safety is not yet a concern and you can still hitch hike anywhere in the island if needed. It’s a good way to get to know some local people, good stories, places to see and things to do.

-Where to stay in Santa Maria Island.

-Where to eat.

-How to get there.

-More about diving in Santa Maria Island.

Continue reading »]]> Movies like “The House of the Spirits” brought to Cape Espichel actors like Jeremy Irons, Meryl Streep or Glenn Close. “The Hidden Circle” has brought us Cameron Diaz and Christopher Eccleston in a dramatic scene from the movie. “Hornblower”, a film made on the coast of Sesimbra, Arrábida and Cape Espichel; “Gulliver’s Travels”, “007 In Her Majesty’s Service,” “The Convent” with Caterine Deneuve and John Malkovich, “The Dance of Diamonds” who first introduced the famous song “Strangers In The Nigth”, have increased the list of names who have come here to shoot. With this festival, Carlos Sargedas, owner at Falcão Azul Inc., intends to continue to promote these sites for major motion pictures, showing the world “our” tourist potential, enhancing the international image of Arrábida, Sesimbra and Cape Espichel, attracting new investment in tourism, trying to address the expected flows after the promotion and continuation of this annual event. At the heart of this festival is the conference “Tourism and Cinema” considered as an opportunity for development and promotion of research on the connection between cinema and tourism and will bring to us people who are somehow linked to the two sectors, professional or academic, as is the case of students of tourism or film, as well as directors and producers. To this end, Falcão Azul Inc. has established a partnership with the IPA – Autonomous Superior Institute for Polytechnics Studies, in the context of their courses, particularly in the post-graduate course in Film Documentary, and developed a number of studies, producing and promoting knowledge experiences in various areas of film production, post production, performance, sound, image and web design, graphic design and many others. The Festival objectives are to reward films and audiovisual works that effectively promote tourism, in any of its multiple dimensions: to promote the implementation of good practices in tourism, according to the assumptions of social responsibility and sustainable development; and encourage young people to engage in directing and producing travel movies. The Festival accepts, selects and shows audiovisual productions of three genres: Advertising Movies, lasting up to 2 minutes; Dissemination / Promotion Movies, lasting up to 15 minutes; Documentaries or report movies lasting up to 65 minutes. The jury will award with a trophy, the best films: Best Documentary; Best Dissemination Film / Promotion; Best Advertising Film. The jury also distinguishes with a trophy, the movies that stand out in the following technical and artistic categories: Best Photography; Best Music / Soundtrack; Best Script / Screenplay; Innovation; Best Visual Effects and Post – Production. The Arrábida Grand Prize will be awarded to the film that the jury considers to be the best among all the movies that integrate the Festival nominations (shortlist), regardless of the specific category that competes. To participate in the Festival movies must have been produced in the last two years and must be in Portuguese, English or Spanish. Films in any other language must contain English subtitles. The deadline for receiving films is March 30, 2012.

Regulations, Inscriptions and other informations at the Finisterra official website.

Continue reading »]]> Although the origins of Fado are unknown and there is much speculation about it, it is undoubtedly the Portuguese national song. Many say it is sad, some say it’s melancholic, others say it is rebel. We say it is the most emotional musical genre, which is differentiated from all other genres by that soft “trinar” of the Portuguese guitar and “Saudade”. We could try to explain what “trinar” means, but only listening. “Saudade” is an emotional feeling, untranslatable into a single English word. It means to miss someone, something or some place and it is present in a great number of Fado lyrics. The lyrics are usually very emotional and some even a little sad and slow, but there are also joyful lyrics that you can even clap your hands or dance to the sound of it. Another interesting fact is that there have been composed thousands of Fado melodies and lyrics since the “classics” but, they still persist and a true Fadista (fado singer) knows most of them. Many melodies are singed with different lyrics adapted to the singers taste or emotional state. Lisbon is, supposedly where Fado was born, in the typical neighbourhoods around the castle with their narrow cobblestone streets but everyone will tell you it is simply Portuguese. All over Portugal everyday there’s Fado, in concerts, contests, in restaurants over dinner, in local holydays celebrations, in groups of friends we call “Tertúlias”, or even spontaneously while showering. While staying in Portugal, you can listen to Fado in several restaurants called “Casas de Fado”, in Lisbon typical neighbourhoods like Alfama, Bairro Alto, Castelo, Madragoa or Mouraria.

Continue reading »]]> Presenting and debating relevant issues in the practice and development of nature tourism and sports in Portugal, already tracing the steps of the three past editions of the congress, the Desnível Adventure Sports Association and the Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies, are organizing the IV International Mountain Congress – Nature Tourism and Sports (CIM2011). The event will be held between 18th and 20th November 2011, at the Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies. The CIM2011 main goal is to bring together different stakeholders in these fields and to foster debate about topics related to mountain, tourism, and nature sports, given the growing importance of nature tourism and the increasing development of adventure sports. Participation in outdoor activities has experienced an upsurge, at the same time that there has been a major rise in the number of those responsible for promoting these activities, both at associative/institutional and private levels. As a result, there are now growing concerns about mountain regions, especially with regard to protected areas. Examining the potential of entertainment and adventure sports in promoting and reinforcing social integration, autonomy and citizenship, with special regard to populations, is also a concern. Sustainability is therefore a key issue in developing these activities, together with quality of the services provided and the safety of participants, without neglecting the involvement of economic environments and locals. The legislation applied to the tourism sector and to associations and companies related to nature and adventure tourism is relatively recent in Portugal, yet sufficiently developed to establish constructive debate in order to present solutions aimed at filling legal gaps and at addressing some of the sector’s weaknesses. Besides introducing different mountain sports and promoting knowledge and experience exchange among participants, trainers and professionals, the main objective of this congress is also to gather, in a wide debate, the different players that interact in the mountains’ rich and preserved environment. Analysing and discussing relevant models in training, certification and accreditation of professionals and trainers in nature tourism and sports, as well as providing insights into and reflecting on techniques and specialised knowledge in the practice, organisation and promotion of these activities and fostering dialogue about aspects related to the risks inherent in the practice of nature and adventure sports are also important matters to be debated at CIM2011.  Innovation, technical issues, health, physiology in nature sports, nature tourism, tourism related companies, their problems and practices, and risk management, are some of other topics of this forum. In this fourth edition, CIM seeks to provide continuity to this event, to strengthen the underlying internationalisation dynamics of the event’s mission statement, and to foster the promotion of work and research undertaken both in the academic and business fields.

More Information and incriptions at www.cim-estoril.com

Continue reading »]]>  

“The Ocean at… Coruche” (“O Mar em Coruche”) is the exhibition Portugal Diving and the Coruche Municipality invites you to attend, from November 2nd to 30th, at the Coruche Museum and the Swimming Pools Building Lounge. Coruche, standing in between the ocean and inland, has long been benefiting on the Sorraia River navigability. The Sorraia is an important main water course, affluent of the Tagus that connects Coruche to the Atlantic Ocean. Proving it, are the numerous sea related roman artifacts at the Museum.  After the last great water rise, 5000 years ago, we intend to bring back the ocean to Coruche.

This Underwater Photo Exhibition’s author, Alexandre Grácio, gathered some of his work, which could reflect, in few images, the marine biodiversity he could observe is his many journeys in different places of the globe, with a special enhance to those captured in Portuguese waters. This exhibition is part of the 2011/2012 Municipality Educative Project, whose main goal is to introduce marine life to populations once touched by the sea.

Guided visits and sessions, preformed by the photographer can be booked, and everyone can have a glimpse at diving and underwater photography, on Saturday the 12^th, on the Swimming Pools Building, with diving baptisms and underwater pictures from everyone. Just fill the inscription form and get ready to have fun!

So, if you are around Coruche, and even if you’re not, it’s a not to miss. Gather some friends and book a guided visit and get to know the photographer and ask him all your questions, or why not have your first underwater picture taken at in Coruche?

Information and bookings can be made through the Coruche Museum telephone number: +351 243 610 820/826. You can also contact the Portugal Diving team here.

More about Coruche (Portuguese only)

Continue reading »]]>

Graciosa means gracious and no other name would fit so perfectly this small volcanic Azorean island. Arriving from any European country you will have the feeling you are in some topical place with a soft hot and wet climate. Mass tourism hasn’t reached the island and is the perfect place to have a deserved rest. The island has its own rhythm. To enjoy the most try to adapt that rhythm and try not to be very demanding with the service as the islanders are still engaging tourism as an economic activity. Santa Cruz da Graciosa is the capital of the only municipality of this 62km2. Monte da Senhora da Ajuda has the most astonishing view overlooking the city and the local bullfight plaza as well as the endless Atlantic Ocean. Praia is the most famous beach of the island. The only sand beach has dark sand but still, is very comfortable. From the beach you see the port where the ferry and all cargo ships stop to provide the islanders with everything they need from the main islands. The windmills are a must see. Most have been fully recovered and there is a couple that can be rented for holiday. The houses are mostly made with volcanic dark rock contrasting with the white painted walls. Everything is well kept and clean. Even the lighthouses remain habited and still have an enormous importance in the maritime traffic. Experience the view at the Senhora da Victória Lighthouse overlooking the whale shape rock formation called Ilhéu da Baleia that has become a brand of Graciosa Island. Graciosa looks much smaller then it really is. It is when you get to the inside of the crater of the main volcano that you realise its majesty and extension. Several paths take you to the crater. The “Caldeira”, as it is called in Portuguese, is filled with lush pine woods and green valleys. At its centre lays the Furna do Enxofre, a cave reachable through spiral stairs. There is a 130mt diameter hot water lagoon with 100mt deep. Sulphur levels are often high in the summer and sometimes the cave is closed for visitors. But the local information centre as well as the view and surroundings are worth the visit. Don’t miss the local products. The vineyards produce high quality wines and preserves. Small melons, meloa in portuguese are the main fruit as well as the passion fruit. Island cheese is a wonderfull spicy strong taste perfect to match the sweet flavour of Graciosa’s grapes. The many restaurants arround the island will surprise you with wonderfull local recipies like the “Alcatra de Congro”(congro eel stew) or “Polvo à Lagareiro” (octupuss cooked in olive oil). Ask the locals for the restaurants that best suit your appetite. The biggest and only hotel in the island is Graciosa Hotel, fully integrated with the surrounding landscape; this hotel has everything to make your stay more than comfortable. You also can stay at rural houses, pensions or even camp around the island, being Carapacho Camping the most incredible one. The camping overlooks the Thermal Facilities and the sea natural pools of thermal hot water. The panoramas of the Ilhéu do Carapacho and Ilhéu da Gaivota, just ahead, are breathtaking. Only if you are diving in Graciosa you will know what goes on under that view. Massive underwater stonewalls, underwater mountains, thousands of fish of dozens of species, algae and beautiful caves make Graciosa one of the most beautiful places to dive in Portugal. The local tour operators can also take you to see hundreds of dolphins on regular island boat tours.You would need more than one book to express everything you feel, see and do while you are visiting Graciosa. For Portugal Travel Advisor team this was just the first chapter.

See you soon Graciosa Island.

More about Graciosa Island soon.

Internal Flights

Accomodation

Dive Centers

Moving Around

Continue reading »]]>

The recently reopened tram ride from Sintra to Praia das Maças is a not to miss thing to do if you are visiting Sintra. Don’t know about other countries but in Portugal is, certainly, the only one that can take you from a mountain range with green and lust vegetation and wonderful palaces with the most exotic architecture you will find in Portugal, on a 45 minute ride downhill to a magnificent beach with soft sand and the touristic atmosphere you expect to find on your vacation. Seafood restaurants, surfers, tourists from all over the world and a beach bar will provide all the action for a perfect day at Praia das Maças. Normal ticket costs 2€, senior pay half ticket and children under 6 travel free.

Click here for the summer schedule.

More about the Sintra’s Tram soon.

Continue reading »]]>

If you are an Asian culture enthusiast and around Bombarral, you are in for a surprise. Located just a few kilometres   from Peniche and Óbidos with its lagoon, the Buddha Eden – Garden of Peace is a piece of Asia in Portugal. With more than 30 acres and hundreds of art and sculpture pieces from India, Thailand, China this magnificent park is surrounded by vineyards and hills and has at his centre a lake overlooked by dozens of terracotta soldiers and massive stone statues. The entrance is free although you can buy local products or fine wine from local vineyards to support the park. Get ready for a 4 hour tour walking or cruising in the park’s train. For more comfort, bring a hat, comfortable shoes, and extra water and explore this unexpected gift from Asia in Portugal.

More about Buddha Eden soon.

Continue reading »]]>

It was not by chance the Romans settled in Troia around 2000 years ago. Once you visit this wonderful sand extension, trapped between the Atlantic Ocean and the Sado River, you really get the feeling they knew what they were doing. Located at the tip of the biggest sand extension of Portugal, Troia recently opened its doors to tourism providing visitors with new hotels, resorts, golf and the newest casino in Portugal. Here you can explore the wildest part of you and still be close to a cosmopolitan life style. The balance between nature and development is a priority and efforts are being made to protect this Portuguese jewel. With more than 50 kilometres of white sand beach from Troia to Sines, facing the Arrabida National Park and magnificent transparent cool water, Troia is perfect for nature lovers, water sports, dolphin watch, family vacation and romantic escapes. You can cruise along its 17 km, visit desert beaches, watch the sunset at the dunes or have a drink in a beach bar. By night the marina is full of life and colours, the smell and tastes of the Portuguese gastronomy  will allow you to finish your day like a Roman emperor, with a big smile just making time for tomorrow.

More about Troia soon.

Continue reading »]]> Ribatejo is one of those regions that remains unknown for tourism. But don’t think there is nothing here to see or do. Santarém is the biggest city and a district capital. It is a city that has an enormous historical and archaeological legacy of ancient buildings spread along the narrow streets of the old part of the city, together with shops, restaurants and bars. The remaining of its castle is at Portas do Sol where you have the most astonishing view of the Ribatejo. Endless fields of vineyard, corn and tomato surround the Tagus River in the summer. Tagus is Tejo, in Portuguese, and it names and crosses Ribatejo. The river provides lovely landscapes and it is possible to make river boat tours to some typical and unique fishing villages and deserted river beaches. In the centre of the Tagus, between Salvaterra de Magos and Valada, there is and island where you can see horses that remain in the wild until they’re fully grown. Horses and bulls are a very important part of Portugal’s culture. The Lusitano horse is very appreciated among experts and there are many families that raise them. In Golegã there is a very famous International Horse Fair integrated in the local holidays. If you are in Portugal, around the 11^th of November, you shouldn’t miss it, it’s like being in a very portuguese “far west” town. On the other side of the river, Chamusca is better known for its white houses, friendly people, riverside landscapes and the “Quinta-feira da Ascensão” bullfight that starts early in the morning with the passing of the bulls through the village main street, for almost 2 km, to the bullfight plaza. Bullfights are a tradition and there is one nearly every weekend in Ribatejo. The bullfight season goes from May to October and you will see plenty of posters announcing them. They are called “Tourada” or “Corrida de Toiros” and are a lot different from the Spanish. In Portugal it is forbidden to kill the bull and really, that is not the point of this kind of bullfight. It is more like a force measure between men and bull. The highest point is usually the “Pega” where a group of about eight men, the “Forcados” face the bull and surround him until he stops, or until he stops them. So, usually the men get hurt more than the bulls that will live the rest of their life lose in the fields. Ribatejo has already plenty of hotels, but if you prefer a more close experience, you should consider staying in a Rural Hotel. These are usually rebuilt ancient farms and most have horseback ridding, pool and other countryside activities. Summer is local holiday season in Ribatejo. Every village celebrates its patron Saint for about one week. That week is full of concerts, sports, drinking, eating and partying in a very Portuguese manner. Of course there is at least one bullfight and several “Largadas” where one main street is closed, filled with sand and one or more bulls are set lose for the braver to test their courage. Around Coruche there are several archeological sites from the Neolithic, about 7000 years ago and the possibility to visit them when pre-arranged with the local museum. Also in Coruche you can take off in a ballon to watch Ribatejo’s Landscapes from the air. In Ribatejo there are six Natural Parks. One of them is especially dedicated to the Sorraia Horse, which originated the Lusitano and the Andaluz species. For bird watching, is best to go to the Reserva Natural Paúl do Boquilobo, close to Golegã, a wet area integrated in the Unesco Biosphere Reserves, perfect for the more then 220 species observed to nestle, spend the winter or as migration stop. Other animals can be seen, such as amphibious, reptiles and small mammals. The Dam of Magos and the Albufeira dos patudos, in Alpiarça are nice places for picnics, fishing, sunbathing and some refreshing swims. Through the municipalities of Rio Maior, Torres Novas and Alcanena, you can find some unexpected sceneries of little waterfalls and streams that come from the Serra d’Aire e Candeeiros in places like Olhos d’Água. The food in Ribatejo is more heavy, made for hard working people, but as delicious as any other place of Portugal. By the river, some river fish dishes are a must, like the Açorda de Sável or the Eel Stew. At the local fairs try the Pão com Chouriço (pork sausage filled bread, baked in front of you), the Farturas (a deep fried pastry served with sugar and cinnamon), and all the “petiscos”. If you are older than 18, try the local wines, specially the typical liquors and the “Água Pé”.