Van Life in Portugal: Our 10 Day Portugal Campervan Journey

A Portugal campervan journey might not be first on an inventory of prime adventures in Europe, however our expertise says in any other case.

Whenever 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 surprising 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 gained’t wish 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 wish to know earlier than renting your personal 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 have been actually craving mountains and Mom Nature at this level in our Portugal keep. Tenting gave the impression of a terrific concept, and what higher manner than being absolutely self-contained?

With a campervan, you’ll be able to transfer round at your personal tempo, whereas having a toilet, 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.

Usually, the campervan is supposed for 4 individuals, however because it was simply the two of us, we requested Indie Campers to offer us with a van that didn’t have fitted beds, however quite, 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 night time, the eating space transforms into the bed room. The cushions that have been used because the backrest when sitting down grow to be the mattress for sleeping on, and the desk collapses to create a part of the mattress platform.

To be sincere, we have been too lazy to change from mattress to bench and simply left the mattress out the whole journey. Plus, we had a desk and chairs for the skin space and most popular to dine outdoors.

The Lively Plus mannequin campervan has a separate rest room with a bathe and a transportable chemical bathroom, an electrical cooler field, a transportable fuel range, and all of the bedding and kitchen gear you would want.  

The Specs

Nick and I knew we wished to have a campervan with sufficient area to not really feel cramped, however we additionally didn’t need a actually lengthy van that might be tough to maneuver by Portugal’s slender streets and round small mountain roads. 

The size of the van have been excellent: 5,41m x 2,69m x 2,75m.

We have been additionally hoping for a more recent van and ended up with a handbook 2018 Fiat Ducato diesel, which ran rather well. 

The campervan had a 50L tank for clear water and a 30L tank for gray water, which was ample for us. A 220V cable for plugging in and charging the backup battery was additionally included.

If we have 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 set bathroom, a fridge, and bigger water tanks.

Add-Ons

Indie Campers has some gadgets which you can add on to your rental, equivalent 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 consequence of it being a hearth hazard at the moment of yr (June), and it was too heat for the heater! However, we did get a variety of use out of the WiFi hotspot whereas working on-line and we used the desk and chairs daily.

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 fantastic for us in June within the North, however should you have been going to lease the van in the summertime within the Algarve, I’d say a small fan can be buy.

You possibly can decide them up for about €8 at any FNAC or comparable electronics retailer in Portugal. I’d like to see a fan included in future fashions of the van or optionally available as an add-on.

The Value

The price of the rental varies relying on which era 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 value €65 per day, plus add ons (the 4G, limitless WiFi hotspot was €20, outside desk and chairs have been €20 as properly — complete, not a nightly charge.)

For 10 days of travelling, we spent €200 on fuel for the van and €100 in tolls.

For the campsites, should you wild camp then it’s free. We stayed in 3 totally different designated campgrounds and the prices in June have been:

1. Uxa Paraiso – €6 per night time per particular person. €2 per night time for electrical energy. Complete: €14 / night time
2. Lima Escape – €6.50 per night time for the campervan. €4.50/particular person/night time. €3.50 per night time for electrical energy. Complete: €19 / night time (Lima Escape and Indie Campers have a partnership, so we truly obtained a ten% low cost off the full)
3. Vidoeiro Gerês Tenting – €6.20 per night time for the campervan. €4/particular person/night time. €3.60 per night time for electrical energy. Complete: €17.80 / night time.

Our 10-Day Portugal Campervan Journey Itinerary

Having spent nearly all of the previous couple of years dwelling 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 based mostly on the actions on supply, the pure magnificence, and components of the nation that have been away from city areas. (We wished to keep away from cities with the campervan and keep away from massive crowds to assist preserve 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 trying to find 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 listing the principle areas we have been in!

Lisbon to Sintra

You could suppose we’re loopy, however despite the fact that we have been undoubtedly attempting 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 slender, winding roads.

This fairytale UNESCO city is only a fast 30-minute drive from the capital, but feels worlds away. 

After a variety of “How far am I to the sting?” and “Am I going to hit that automotive?!”, we lastly discovered a parking area that was lengthy sufficient for the van and felt relieved that we’d be strolling for the following few hours.

The mountainscape of Sintra was attractive and immediately, the air felt a bit cooler. Dominating the hills have been vibrant, Disney-looking palaces, and a fortified medieval Moorish fortress.

The panorama was breathtaking and whereas we didn’t see all of Sintra as a consequence 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 have been leaving, we have been the one vacationers there, which, based mostly on the feedback we obtained on our Instagram photographs, isn’t how this place usually appears to be like! 

Sintra to Penela

Positioned a couple of 2-hour drive north of Sintra (about 20 minutes south of the town of Coimbra) is the village of Penela.

Whereas we did take pleasure in sleepy Penela with its fortress towering over the village, we have been there for the close by campground and the encircling mountains and river.

Passing by vineyards, and down a slender, bumpy grime 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 have 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!). Aside from 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 wish to keep, we peeled ourselves away to discover the encircling space of Fragas de São Simão.

After mountaineering 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 take pleasure in our last night time 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 have been very a lot wanting ahead to. As we arrived at our campsite (Lima Escape) on the outskirts of the park, we have 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 e book. Evenings have 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 couple of 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 homes and farmland, earlier than testing the 18th-century granite granaries which have 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 aspect of the street! This was a terrific 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 have been having fun with pure swimming pools an excessive amount of!), we’ve heard it’s additionally a terrific place to see.  

Peneda Gerês Nationwide Park to Ponte Da Barca

The campsites we had stayed in up till this level have been nice — and mandatory with a purpose to cost up the second battery, and use the providers (filling up with water, emptying of gray water, and so forth.).

However what’s so fascinating about having a “house on wheels” is the flexibility to wild camp, or boondock. We have been actually wanting ahead to this fashion of tenting.

Utilizing the Park4Night app (extra info beneath), we appeared for someplace to remain in a secure and quiet location that provided a river for fishing and doubtlessly swimming. 

We discovered simply the place…though getting there was an pointless problem. 

We adopted Google Maps happening 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 have been nearly 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 slender street till we discovered someplace to show round. I received out of the van and tried to direct Nick utilizing hand motions and yelling: “Left!” “Slightly to the correct!” “STOP!”

Adopted by Nick’s reply: “I can’t see your arms in any respect whenever you’re straight behind the van!!” 

We should’ve been fairly the sight for the locals who have been most definitely watching us and laughing from their home windows. Miraculously, Nick was capable of maneuver the van out of our predicament with out scraping the edges.

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 area, a few picnic tables, and a small winery all set alongside the slow-moving river, this may be our spot for the night time.

After fishing, studying, making dinner, and enjoyable, we loved wine underneath 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 this time was the day Nick had been anticipating essentially the most. After having no luck fly fishing the few days prior, he determined to rent a neighborhood skilled information to indicate him the very best spots — and the very best 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’d’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 have been surrounded by lush forest the whole 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 attractive wild camp spot with a couple of picnic tables and nobody else round. Other than the croaking frogs and the late-night fishermen who arrived at 1:00 am, this was a really peaceable spot. 

It’s price 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 identified 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 excellent for biking, jogging, or strolling. 

Montorros to Lima Escape

After 2 nights of untamed tenting, we have been in want of some gasoline for our fuel range, electrical energy for our second battery, and water for our bathe and sink.

So, we headed again in the direction of Peneda Gerês Nationwide Park within the late afternoon and loved one other night time at Lima Escape campground which had all of the facilities we wanted, 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 have been simply wanting 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 total 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. Large granite boulders dotted the terrain and wild Garrano horses roamed free. 

These kinds 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 wonderful thing about 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 snug 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 following 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 mountaineering trails, waterfalls, and viewpoints close by, we gave ourselves 2 nights right here — however may’ve spent for much longer.

This was the final cease on our 10-day campervan street journey by Portugal and it was a good way to finish the journey earlier than returning the van in Lisbon.

Suggestions for Travelling Portugal by Campervan

After experiencing the journey, there are some things that we want we’d’ve identified beforehand. Listed below 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. 

When you have a Through Verde tag in your window and a Portuguese debit card, you merely drive by the toll cubicles and the toll cameras on the freeway. The prices can be mechanically added to your tag and mechanically 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 and not using a native debit card.

In that case, you’ll need to cease on the handbook fee gates on the freeway (they’re clearly marked) and pay as you go together with money or bank card (international bank cards work on the gates).

Should you don’t have a tag, every time you cross underneath a big array of cameras suspended over the freeway, your campervan’s license plate can be marked.

Then, after a minimal of two enterprise days (it takes that lengthy to your prices to register) and a most of 5 enterprise days after you’ve handed by these cameras, you’ll have to go to a put up workplace (CTT) with a purpose to pay the tolls which have collected. 

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 wish to cope with whereas on vacation.

To make issues simpler, ask your rental firm if a Through Verde tag is included and if not, ask should 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 fee of tolls. 

We spent roughly €100 on tolls throughout our 10-day street journey. Click on right here to study extra about toll roads in Portugal. 

2. Keep away from Cities

In fact, you gained’t be capable to keep away from all cities and there’ll in all probability be a couple of that you just wish to see. Nonetheless, with such a big automobile, discovering parking and driving by slender roads generally is a bit tough. 

We needed to go to Braga to get a fishing license and it took without end to search out someplace to park — we thought we discovered the proper place, solely to be instructed 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 irritating attempting to drive a big automobile within the cities. Keep on with 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 to have all the pieces you want — chemical compounds for the bathroom, propane for the fuel range, coal for the BBQ, bathroom paper, and so forth. 

We assumed it could be straightforward to search out tenting gear and we might merely buy as we wanted.

Nonetheless, it was not possible to search out extra chemical compounds for the bathroom (which 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 scale of your fridge, I like to recommend grocery procuring both beforehand or on the primary day. Since we have been dwelling in Lisbon, we have been capable of grocery store and had our meals largely deliberate out for the whole time.

The fridge within the Lively Plus mannequin was small, however was ample for stocking about 5 days of chilly meals together with sausages, some fruit, cheeses, milk and so forth. 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 best ways to spend the vacation. Get all the pieces without delay and you then’re all set!

4. Obtain the Park4Night App

Park4Night is such a terrific app! The premise is easy.

Should you keep someplace superior (both an precise campsite or a wild camp spot), then you’ll be able to add a couple of photographs, the coordinates of the place it’s positioned, what facilities are on supply, and the professionals and cons.

Future campervan travellers will be capable to keep there as properly based mostly in your advice.

When in search of a spot to remain, you merely search round your present location to search 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 often not a difficulty. In fact, should you’re requested to depart or are instructed you’ll be able to’t spend the night time, you then’ll need to obey.

5. Have a WiFi Hotspot or Knowledge 

If like us, you’re employed on-line you then’ll undoubtedly wish to have entry to a WiFi connection. Plus, for security causes and for navigation, you’ll wish to be sure to have a cellphone with service.

You’ll undoubtedly wish to make the most of Google Maps to your journey (or whichever map program you employ), so having knowledge in your smartphone, or a WiFi hotspot is a should. 

Having a mix of each can be the most suitable 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 the whole journey and it’s limitless! We discovered the web to be quick sufficient to work on, watch YouTube, Netflix and so forth.

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 pieces works. However, we had additionally been researching on YouTube beforehand, which helped to get a visible.

You’ll wish 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 twine plugs into electrical shops at campsites and this prices 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 shops within the van solely work whenever you’re plugged in, so whenever you’re wild tenting you gained’t be capable to cost your computer systems or plug in massive gadgets.
• Replenish the gray water with common faucet water. There ought to be hoses at campsites that you should 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, you could find these on the Park4Night app as properly. Be sure you’re dumping your bathroom waste and your gray water in a chosen space.

Professionals 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 apparent “professionals” to this kind of journey are the truth that you’re absolutely self-contained and never reliant on anybody, something, or wherever.

You might have your meals and water with you, your rest room services, your mode of transportation, and a spot to sleep at night time. 

We had a variety of enjoyable cooking our meals within the night and making breakfast within the morning. We liked parking in distant locations and falling asleep to the sound of nature. 

Having a campervan permits for an thrilling journey and a variety of freedom!

There have been solely a few downsides to travelling this manner, and a few issues to concentrate on.

First, whenever you get to a campsite that you just actually like, you don’t have something to depart behind to order the spot whenever you head out for the day.

Should you have 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 similar campsite.

Second, the area can begin to really feel a bit cramped and also you’ll simply neglect the place you positioned one thing should you aren’t correctly organized.

Guarantee that all the pieces has its place and that you just put it away within the similar spot every time. We spent greater than an hour in search of the keys someday…

Should you’re correctly ready, I’m positive you’ll take pleasure in your self as a lot as we did. The truth is, we’re planning to journey by campervan to discover another components of Portugal within the close to future!

FAQs About Travelling Portugal by Campervan

Should you nonetheless have a query about Portugal campervan journey, try the FAQs beneath. Many have been coated within the article, however you could find some fast solutions right here.

Get pleasure from Exploring Portugal by Campervan

Portugal has a lot to supply vacationers and locals alike, and travelling by campervan is a good 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 gained’t neglect. 

To study extra about renting a campervan in Portugal, click on right here. And, be at liberty to electronic mail us or remark beneath with any questions you might need!