A Portugal campervan journey is probably not first on an inventory of high adventures in Europe, however our expertise says in any other case.
Once you consider taking a vacation within the small European nation of Portugal, what involves thoughts? Most individuals envision the glistening turquoise waters of the Algarve, the epic browsing in Nazare, or the historic cities of Lisbon and Porto.
However, Portugal is far more than its shoreline!
Van Life in Portugal: Our 10 Day Portugal Campervan Journey
We wished to discover past the standard vacationer path throughout our sudden keep in Portugal. So, we determined to attempt a brand new journey and lease a campervan to discover the central and northern areas of the nation.
Identified for its gorgeous farmland, vineyards, gastronomy, and tradition, plus rivers, lakes, and the towering mountains of the Peneda Gerês Nationwide Park, the central and northern areas are an underappreciated space of Portugal that travellers received’t need to miss.
On this put up, I’m going to interrupt down our 10 day Portugal campervan itinerary, in addition to some issues that you just’ll need to know earlier than renting your individual campervan in Europe.
And, don’t miss our video on the finish of this text!
Right here’s our journey report from 10 days travelling from Lisbon to the central and northern areas of Portugal in a campervan.
The Campervan Rental
We had been actually craving mountains and Mom Nature at this level in our Portugal keep. Tenting seemed like an incredible concept, and what higher manner than being absolutely self-contained?
With a campervan, you possibly can transfer round at your individual tempo, whereas having a rest room, kitchen, and bed room with you always.
The Mannequin
We opted for the Lively Plus mannequin with Indie Campers and it was match for our 10-day journey.
Sometimes, the campervan is supposed for 4 individuals, however because it was simply the two of us, we requested Indie Campers to supply us with a van that didn’t have fitted beds, however fairly, a convertible mattress.
Not having everlasting stacked beds actually opened up the van and made it really feel far more spacious.
In the course of the day, the world is the eating room with a desk and benches with cushions for sitting and hanging out.
At evening, the eating space transforms into the bed room. The cushions that had been used because the backrest when sitting down change into the mattress for sleeping on, and the desk collapses to create a part of the mattress platform.
To be sincere, we had been too lazy to modify from mattress to bench and simply left the mattress out your complete journey. Plus, we had a desk and chairs for the skin space and most popular to dine exterior.
The Lively Plus mannequin campervan has a separate lavatory with a bathe and a conveyable chemical bathroom, an electrical cooler field, a conveyable fuel range, and all of the bedding and kitchen gear you would wish.
The Specs
Nick and I knew we wished to have a campervan with sufficient house to not really feel cramped, however we additionally didn’t desire a actually lengthy van that may be tough to maneuver by means of Portugal’s slim streets and round small mountain roads.
The size of the van had been good: 5,41m x 2,69m x 2,75m.
We had been additionally hoping for a more recent van and ended up with a handbook 2018 Fiat Ducato diesel, which ran very well.
The campervan had a 50L tank for clear water and a 30L tank for gray water, which was adequate for us. A 220V cable for plugging in and charging the backup battery was additionally included.
If we had been going for any longer than 10 days, I feel we’d desire to lease the Nomad mannequin because it has an built-in range, a hard and fast bathroom, a fridge, and bigger water tanks.
Add-Ons
Indie Campers has some gadgets that you could add on to your rental, corresponding to surfboards, bicycles, moist fits, and extra. We opted for a small coal BBQ, a WiFi hotspot, a heater, and an out of doors desk and chairs.
We didn’t find yourself utilizing the BBQ as a result of it being a hearth hazard at the moment of yr (June), and it was too heat for the heater! However, we did get plenty of use out of the WiFi hotspot whereas working on-line and we used the desk and chairs day by day.
There are 3 ceiling vents which assist to chill the van and it’s fairly properly insulated. However there aren’t any followers for air flow built-in, which was nice for us in June within the North, however in case you had been going to lease the van in the summertime within the Algarve, I’d say a small fan can be buy.
You may decide them up for about €8 at any FNAC or related electronics retailer in Portugal. I’d like to see a fan included in future fashions of the van or elective as an add-on.
The Value
The price of the rental varies relying on which period of yr you lease (excessive season vs. off-season), how lengthy you lease for, and what campervan mannequin you lease.
The Lively Plus mannequin that we rented with Indie Campers price €65 per day, plus add ons (the 4G, limitless WiFi hotspot was €20, outside desk and chairs had been €20 as properly — whole, not a nightly fee.)
For 10 days of travelling, we spent €200 on fuel for the van and €100 in tolls.
For the campsites, in case you wild camp then it’s free. We stayed in 3 completely different designated campgrounds and the prices in June had been:
- Uxa Paraiso – €6 per evening per particular person. €2 per evening for electrical energy. Complete: €14 / evening
- Lima Escape – €6.50 per evening for the campervan. €4.50/particular person/evening. €3.50 per evening for electrical energy. Complete: €19 / evening (Lima Escape and Indie Campers have a partnership, so we really acquired a ten% low cost off the whole)
- Vidoeiro Gerês Tenting – €6.20 per evening for the campervan. €4/particular person/evening. €3.60 per evening for electrical energy. Complete: €17.80 / evening.
Our 10-Day Portugal Campervan Journey Itinerary
Having spent nearly all of the previous couple of years residing on a Caribbean island, and the previous 3 months in lockdown mode within the metropolis of Lisbon, it was time to go to the mountains.
We got here up with the street journey route primarily based on the actions on provide, the pure magnificence, and components of the nation that had been away from city areas. (We wished to keep away from cities with the campervan and keep away from massive crowds to assist keep social distancing.)
I spent fairly a little bit of time Googleing the northern a part of Portugal and didn’t provide you with all that a lot info on-line.
So, I opened up Google Maps and zoomed out and in, whereas looking for Pure and Nationwide Parks, campsites, viewpoints, hikes, and scenic spots.
Lastly, a tough itinerary was shaped, and we stuffed within the particulars as we went.
Portugal is a bit complicated for travellers because the nation is split into areas, adopted by districts, municipalities, parishes, and neighbourhoods. On this itinerary, I’m simply going to record the primary areas we had been in!
Lisbon to Sintra
Chances are you’ll suppose we’re loopy, however though we had been positively making an attempt to keep away from small roads and areas that aren’t appropriate for a campervan, after leaving Lisbon, we did go to Sintra — a small village with slim, winding roads.
This fairytale UNESCO city is only a fast 30-minute drive from the capital, but feels worlds away.
After plenty of “How far am I to the sting?” and “Am I going to hit that automotive?!”, we lastly discovered a parking house that was lengthy sufficient for the van and felt relieved that we’d be strolling for the subsequent few hours.
The mountainscape of Sintra was beautiful and immediately, the air felt a bit cooler. Dominating the hills had been vibrant, Disney-looking palaces, and a fortified medieval Moorish fort.
The panorama was breathtaking and whereas we didn’t see all of Sintra as a result of time constraints, we did go to the favored Quinta da Regaleira with its deep spiral properly, palace, church buildings, and gardens.
Besides for two individuals who arrived as we had been leaving, we had been the one vacationers there, which, primarily based on the feedback we acquired on our Instagram pictures, just isn’t how this place usually appears to be like!
Sintra to Penela
Positioned a few 2-hour drive north of Sintra (about 20 minutes south of the town of Coimbra) is the village of Penela.
Whereas we did get pleasure from sleepy Penela with its fort towering over the village, we had been there for the close by campground and the encircling mountains and river.
Passing by vineyards, and down a slim, bumpy dust street, we arrived at Uxa Paraiso, which was run by a well-travelled Frenchman named Julien. He confirmed us round and helped us discover the proper place to park on his 5-hectare property.
We had been the one friends right here for two nights and it was pure magic.
Wild mint was rising on the bottom and each step we took launched an aroma of spearmint gum (or, mojitos!). Other than mint, the property had flowers and timber, plus 2 cats, goats, and sheep.
Whereas the view from the campsite (and the pool) was sufficient to make us need to keep, we peeled ourselves away to discover the encircling space of Fragas de São Simão.
After climbing alongside the river and thru the forest, the panorama opened as much as reveal towering craggy cliffs with pure swimming holes at their base.
We loved a really chilly swim earlier than heading again to the camp to get pleasure from our ultimate evening close to Penela.
Penela to Peneda-Gerês Nationwide Park
From Central Portugal, it was time to go north and expertise the one nationwide park within the nation, Peneda-Gerês.
Identified for its mountains, rivers, and small villages, this was a spot we had been very a lot trying ahead to. As we arrived at our campsite (Lima Escape) on the outskirts of the park, we had been instantly in awe.
We spent 2 nights right here surrounded by pine timber and with a stunning view of the Lima River.
Nick did some fishing on the shoreline whereas I learn a ebook. Evenings had been spent cooking dinner within the campervan and having fun with a glass of wine at sunset.
We additionally took an incredible day journey to the small, conventional village of Soajo. It’s solely a few 20-minute drive from Lima Escape, but it surely’s a really scenic route.
As soon as in Soajo, we wandered round on foot exploring the small roads that wind by means of homes and farmland, earlier than testing the 18th-century granite granaries which had been utilized by the group to soundly home the harvest of corn.
From there, we made our option to Poço Negro which is a beautiful pure swimming gap simply off the facet of the street! This was an incredible place to sunbathe, bounce off the rocks into the deep water beneath, and simply loosen up.
Soajo is a must-see little village, and whereas we didn’t make it to close by Lindoso (we had been having fun with pure swimming pools an excessive amount of!), we’ve heard it’s additionally an incredible place to see.
Peneda Gerês Nationwide Park to Ponte Da Barca
The campsites we had stayed in up till this level had been nice — and obligatory to be able to cost up the second battery, and use the providers (filling up with water, emptying of gray water, and many others.).
However what’s so attention-grabbing about having a “dwelling on wheels” is the flexibility to wild camp, or boondock. We had been actually trying ahead to this fashion of tenting.
Utilizing the Park4Night app (extra info beneath), we appeared for someplace to remain in a protected and quiet location that supplied a river for fishing and probably swimming.
We discovered simply the place…though getting there was an pointless problem.
We adopted Google Maps taking place a cobbled, residential street that was barely the width of our automobile for fairly a while. Why we had gone this far, I don’t know.
We had dedicated to it and we had been virtually there, so turning again didn’t make sense — and would’ve been extremely tough to do.
Ultimately, we arrived at a stunning overhang of completely manicured flowers and vines. However, the van was far too tall to clear them!
The choice was made to reverse out of the slim street till we discovered someplace to show round. I acquired out of the van and tried to direct Nick utilizing hand motions and yelling: “Left!” “Somewhat to the suitable!” “STOP!”
Adopted by Nick’s reply: “I can’t see your fingers in any respect if you’re straight behind the van!!”
We should’ve been fairly the sight for the locals who had been most definitely watching us and laughing from their home windows. Miraculously, Nick was in a position to maneuver the van out of our predicament with out scraping the perimeters.
Lastly, after taking the proper flip, on a large 2-way street, we finally arrived at our dream spot on the Lima River close to Ponte Da Barca.
With nothing greater than a discipline, a few picnic tables, and a small winery all set alongside the slow-moving river, this is able to be our spot for the evening.
After fishing, studying, making dinner, and stress-free, we loved wine beneath the total moon and fell asleep to the sound of crickets and frogs.
Ponte Da Barca to Montorros (by way of the Coura River)
At present was the day Nick had been anticipating essentially the most. After having no luck fly fishing the few days prior, he determined to rent an area skilled information to point out him the most effective spots — and the most effective methods for the world.
We met up with Antonio from Minho Fly Fishing and set off to the Coura River. There’s no manner we might’ve discovered ourselves on this quiet, pristine a part of Portugal had we not joined this personal tour.
Not solely was the fishing nice (Nick caught 7 rainbow and brown trout), however the surroundings was gorgeous as properly.
We had been surrounded by lush forest your complete time whereas sitting and standing on boulders alongside the speeding river. Once more, wild mint blanketed the bottom.
Seven hours was spent with Antonio studying about fishing and life in Portugal, and earlier than we knew it, it was 8:30 pm.
After we finally arrived at our second wild campsite alongside the Minho River (which acts as a pure border with Spain), we had about 20 minutes left till the solar absolutely set.
This was one other beautiful wild camp spot with a couple of picnic tables and nobody else round. Apart from the croaking frogs and the late-night fishermen who arrived at 1:00 am, this was a really peaceable spot.
It’s value spending a while within the northwestern a part of Portugal alongside the Minho River.
The city of Vila Nova de Cerveira is a picturesque place recognized for its art work, craft outlets, boat journeys on the Minho River, and surrounding hikes within the mountains. We spent a few hours simply wandering round and having fun with the quiet city.
Going from Vila Nova de Cerveira to Valença is a well-maintained path good for biking, jogging, or strolling.
Montorros to Lima Escape
After 2 nights of untamed tenting, we had been in want of some gas for our fuel range, electrical energy for our second battery, and water for our bathe and sink.
So, we headed again in direction of Peneda Gerês Nationwide Park within the late afternoon and loved one other evening at Lima Escape campground which had all of the facilities we would have liked, plus a BBQ.
Lima Escape to Gerês City
Staying within the nationwide park boundaries, we drove to Gerês. We weren’t anticipating a lot from this present day and had been simply trying ahead to the country campground that we deliberate to remain at close to the city of Gerês.
The drive turned out to be a spotlight of our complete journey!
The street winded its manner up the mountainside, passing small villages and Roman ruins, earlier than opening as much as reveal a plateau overlooking the valley beneath. Huge granite boulders dotted the terrain and wild Garrano horses roamed free.
These types of scenes continued till we reached Terras de Bouro space in Brufe the place we determined would make pit spot.
With camp chairs and peanut butter and jam sandwiches in hand, we discovered the proper spot and loved lunch with a view.
That’s the beauty of having a campervan, we had all of our meals with us, cutlery and dishes for making meals, and camp chairs for having fun with a cushty picnic.
Persevering with on, we handed a tribe of about 50 goats on the street and one other epic viewpoint earlier than lastly arriving at our campsite the place we’d be spending the subsequent 2 nights — Vidoeiro Gerês Tenting.
This rustic, pure campsite had parking spots proper alongside the river, an out of doors BBQ space, showers, bogs and a pure swimming gap within the river.
With quite a few climbing trails, waterfalls, and viewpoints close by, we gave ourselves 2 nights right here — however might’ve spent for much longer.
This was the final cease on our 10-day campervan street journey by means of Portugal and it was an effective way to finish the journey earlier than returning the van in Lisbon.
Ideas for Travelling Portugal by Campervan
After experiencing the journey, there are some things that we want we might’ve recognized beforehand. Listed here are a couple of suggestions:
1. Get a Through Verde Tag
The toll roads in Portugal are comparatively new, pretty costly and fairly complicated for foreigners.
You probably have a Through Verde tag in your window and a Portuguese debit card, you merely drive by means of the toll cubicles and the toll cameras on the freeway. The prices will likely be robotically added to your tag and robotically charged to your debit card.
Tags are both included in automobiles that you just lease (for an additional payment), or will be rented at Through Verde shops and CTT Put up Places of work across the nation. The associated fee is €6 the primary week and €1.5 every week after, plus a refundable deposit.
I’m going to imagine that almost all of you’re like us, vacationers with out a native debit card.
In that case, you’ll must cease on the handbook cost gates on the freeway (they’re clearly marked) and pay as you go along with money or bank card (overseas bank cards work on the gates).
In the event you don’t have a tag, every time you move beneath a big array of cameras suspended over the freeway, your campervan’s license plate will likely be marked.
Then, after a minimal of two enterprise days (it takes that lengthy on your expenses to register) and a most of 5 enterprise days after you’ve handed by means of these cameras, you’ll must go to a put up workplace (CTT) to be able to pay the tolls which have accrued.
Having to continually cease on the freeway to make funds, and having to discover a CTT workplace (and ensure to pay on time to keep away from penalties) isn’t one thing you’ll need to take care of whereas on vacation.
To make issues simpler, ask your rental firm if a Through Verde tag is included and if not, ask in case you can lease one from them. Indie Campers didn’t have the tag and we discovered it a little bit of a problem having to determine the cost of tolls.
We spent roughly €100 on tolls throughout our 10-day street journey. Click on right here to be taught extra about toll roads in Portugal.
2. Keep away from Cities
In fact, you received’t have the ability to keep away from all cities and there’ll most likely be a couple of that you just need to see. Nevertheless, with such a big automobile, discovering parking and driving by means of slim roads generally is a bit tough.
We needed to go to Braga to get a fishing license and it took without end to seek out someplace to park — we thought we discovered the proper place, solely to be advised it was a bus cease!
Relying on the peak of your van, you’ll most definitely be too tall for underground parking as properly (ours was).
Principally, it’s hectic and a bit worrying making an attempt to drive a big automobile within the cities. Follow the countryside, highways, and small cities, or park on the outskirts and take the tram, metro or an Uber.
3. Inventory Up
Earlier than setting off, be sure you have all the things you want — chemical compounds for the bathroom, propane for the fuel range, coal for the BBQ, bathroom paper, and many others.
We assumed it could be simple to seek out tenting tools and we might merely buy as we would have liked.
Nevertheless, it was unattainable to seek out extra chemical compounds for the bathroom (that means we couldn’t wild camp as a lot as we wished to), and the one place we discovered propane fuel canisters was at Lima Escape campsite.
Additionally, relying on the dimensions of your fridge, I like to recommend grocery purchasing both beforehand or on the primary day. Since we had been residing in Lisbon, we had been in a position to grocery store and had our meals principally deliberate out for your complete time.
The fridge within the Lively Plus mannequin was small, however was adequate for stocking about 5 days of chilly meals together with sausages, some fruit, cheeses, milk and many others. The Nomad mannequin has a bigger fridge.
Having to spend a few of your journey time in outlets and supermarkets (whereas looking for parking) isn’t one of the simplest ways to spend the vacation. Get all the things directly and then you definitely’re all set!
4. Obtain the Park4Night App
Park4Night is such an incredible app! The premise is straightforward.
In the event you keep someplace superior (both an precise campsite or a wild camp spot), then you possibly can add a couple of pictures, the coordinates of the place it’s situated, what facilities are on provide, and the professionals and cons.
Future campervan travellers will have the ability to keep there as properly primarily based in your suggestion.
When searching for a spot to remain, you merely search round your present location to seek out close by locations that sound good to you. That’s how we discovered the two wild camp spots that we stayed at.
So long as you respect the world, are quiet, and don’t go away any rubbish, then wild tenting is normally not a difficulty. In fact, in case you’re requested to go away or are advised you possibly can’t spend the evening, then you definitely’ll must obey.
5. Have a WiFi Hotspot or Information
If like us, you’re employed on-line then you definitely’ll positively need to have entry to a WiFi connection. Plus, for security causes and for navigation, you’ll need to be sure you have a cellphone with service.
You’ll positively need to make the most of Google Maps on your journey (or whichever map program you employ), so having information in your smartphone, or a WiFi hotspot is a should.
Having a mixture of each can be the best choice as one might need higher service than the opposite relying on the place you’re. If there are any emergencies, you’ll need to have the ability to name for help as properly.
Indie Campers affords a WiFi hotspot for simply €20 for your complete journey and it’s limitless! We discovered the web to be quick sufficient to work on, watch YouTube, Netflix and many others.
6. Familiarize Your self with the Performance of the Van
After we rented the campervan with Indie Campers, we got a rundown of how all the things works. However, we had additionally been researching on YouTube beforehand, which helped to get a visible.
You’ll need to know tips on how to cost the van, tips on how to fill and empty the gray water tank, and the way the bathroom works.
Right here are some things to know for the Lively Plus mannequin:
- The 220v cable wire plugs into electrical retailers at campsites and this expenses your auxiliary battery — which is what the fridge, the USB plug-ins, and the within lights run on.
- The fridge will run, together with the USB plugs and the lights, for round 2-3 days (tough estimate) earlier than the battery dies.
- The 220v retailers within the van solely work if you’re plugged in, so if you’re wild tenting you received’t have the ability to cost your computer systems or plug in massive gadgets.
- Refill the gray water with common faucet water. There needs to be hoses at campsites that you need to use.
- You’ll know the gray water is full if it begins to leak out! Be certain the valve is closed once more after you empty it.
- There are indicators for “service stations” at campsites in Portugal. And, yow will discover these on the Park4Night app as properly. Be sure you’re dumping your bathroom waste and your gray water in a chosen space.
Execs and Cons of Campervan Life
We actually loved our 10-day journey! However, as with something, there are a few downsides to travelling by campervan.
The plain “professionals” to this type of journey are the truth that you’re absolutely self-contained and never reliant on anybody, something, or wherever.
You have got your meals and water with you, your lavatory amenities, your mode of transportation, and a spot to sleep at evening.
We had plenty of enjoyable cooking our meals within the night and making breakfast within the morning. We beloved parking in distant locations and falling asleep to the sound of nature.
Having a campervan permits for an thrilling journey and plenty of freedom!
There have been solely a few downsides to travelling this manner, and a few issues to pay attention to.
First, if you get to a campsite that you just actually like, you don’t have something to go away behind to order the spot if you head out for the day.
In the event you had been tenting with a tent for instance, you’d go away your tent arrange and head out within the automotive for the day, coming again to your identical campsite.
Second, the house can begin to really feel a bit cramped and also you’ll simply overlook the place you positioned one thing in case you aren’t correctly organized.
Guarantee that all the things has its place and that you just put it away within the identical spot every time. We spent greater than an hour searching for the keys sooner or later…
In the event you’re correctly ready, I’m certain you’ll get pleasure from your self as a lot as we did. In truth, we’re planning to journey by campervan to discover another components of Portugal within the close to future!
FAQs About Travelling Portugal by Campervan
In the event you nonetheless have a query about Portugal campervan journey, take a look at the FAQs beneath. Many had been coated within the article, however yow will discover some fast solutions right here.
No, you have to abide by the foundations of the precise location. Many locations, corresponding to nationwide parks and areas alongside the coast, have indicators saying campervans aren’t allowed.
Sure, Portugal is a camper pleasant nation basically. In the event you’d wish to park your campervan on personal property, it’s value asking the proprietor, as you’ll typically be advised its OK. There are additionally many campsites in Portugal that cater to campervans.
Supplied you’re in a spot the place campervans are allowed, sure, you possibly can sleep in a campervan in Portugal.
Count on to pay about €65 per day to lease a Portugal campervan, plus add ons (€20 for a 4G limitless WiFi hotspot, €20 for an out of doors desk and chairs, and many others.). The worth could also be cheaper within the off-season and better in the summertime excessive season.
To drive in Portugal, vacationers from the EU or the US can use their drivers license except they keep greater than six months. In that case, they’ll want a world drivers license. Individuals from different nations may also want a world drivers license.
Take pleasure in Exploring Portugal by Campervan
Portugal has a lot to supply vacationers and locals alike, and travelling by campervan is an effective way to expertise the seashores, mountains, and vineyards.
Park on a cliff overlooking the ocean, subsequent to a river, or surrounded by fruit timber — with a campervan, the selection is yours. 10 days is an efficient period of time to get a style of what Portugal is all about, and our journey with Indie Campers is one which we received’t overlook.
To be taught extra about renting a campervan in Portugal, click on right here. And, be happy to e-mail us or remark beneath with any questions you might need!
Video: 10 Day Campervan Journey in Portugal
Particular because of Indie Campers for making this journey doable. As at all times, all ideas and opinions stay our personal.
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