Van Life in Portugal: Our 10 Day Portugal Campervan Journey

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

If 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 everyday vacationer path throughout our sudden keep in Portugal. So, we determined to strive a brand new journey and hire a campervan to discover the central and northern areas of the nation.

Recognized 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 need to miss. 

On this publish, I’m going to interrupt down our 10 day Portugal campervan itinerary, in addition to some issues that you simply’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 gave the impression of an awesome concept, and what higher method than being totally self-contained?

With a campervan, you may transfer round at your individual tempo, whereas having a toilet, kitchen, and bed room with you always. 

The Mannequin

We opted for the Energetic Plus mannequin with Indie Campers and it was a very good match for our 10-day journey.

Usually, the campervan is supposed for 4 folks, 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 slightly, 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 realm 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 turn into the mattress for sleeping on, and the desk collapses to create a part of the mattress platform.

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

The Energetic Plus mannequin campervan has a separate lavatory with a bathe and a transportable chemical bathroom, an electrical cooler field, a transportable gasoline 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 desire a actually lengthy van that might be tough to maneuver by way 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 moderen van and ended up with a guide 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 hire 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 objects you could add on to your rental, comparable to surfboards, bicycles, moist fits, and extra. We opted for a small coal BBQ, a WiFi hotspot, a heater, and an outside 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 number 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 are not any followers for air flow built-in, which was high-quality for us in June within the North, however if you happen to had been going to hire the van in the summertime within the Algarve, I’d say a small fan could be a very good buy.

You’ll be able to choose 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 non-obligatory as an add-on.

The Value

The price of the rental varies relying on which era of yr you hire (excessive season vs. off-season), how lengthy you hire for, and what campervan mannequin you hire. 

The Energetic 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 had been €20 as properly — complete, not a nightly price.)

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

For the campsites, if you happen to wild camp then it’s free. We stayed in 3 completely different designated campgrounds and the prices in June had been:

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

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 primarily based on the actions on provide, the pure magnificence, and elements 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 preserve social distancing.)

I spent fairly a little bit of time Googleing the northern a part of Portugal and didn’t give you 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 fashioned, and we crammed 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 primary areas we had been in!

Lisbon to Sintra

You might suppose we’re loopy, however despite the fact that we had been undoubtedly 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 a number 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 had been vibrant, Disney-looking palaces, and a fortified medieval Moorish citadel.

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 had been leaving, we had been the one vacationers there, which, primarily based on the feedback we obtained on our Instagram photographs, is just not how this place usually seems to be! 

Sintra to Penela

Situated 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 get pleasure from sleepy Penela with its citadel towering over the village, we had been there for the close by campground and the encompassing mountains and river.

Passing by vineyards, and down a slim, 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 right place to park on his 5-hectare property.

We had been the one company 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 bushes, 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 encompassing 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 remaining 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.

Recognized 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 bushes and with a stunning view of the Lima River.

Nick did some fishing on the shoreline whereas I learn a e book. Evenings had been spent cooking dinner within the campervan and having fun with a glass of wine at sunset.

We additionally took a tremendous 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 way of homes and farmland, earlier than trying out the 18th-century granite granaries which had been utilized by the group to soundly home the harvest of corn. 

From there, we made our strategy to Poço Negro which is a beautiful pure swimming gap simply off the aspect of the street! This was an awesome 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 awesome 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 mandatory in an effort 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 fascinating about having a “house 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 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 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 obtained out of the van and tried to direct Nick utilizing hand motions and yelling: “Left!” “A bit to the appropriate!” “STOP!”

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

We should’ve been fairly the sight for the locals who had been most certainly 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 ultimately 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 enjoyable, we loved wine below the total moon and fell asleep to the sound of crickets and frogs. 

Ponte Da Barca to Montorros (through the Coura River) 

Right now 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 indicate him the most effective spots — and the most effective methods for the realm. 

We met up with Antonio from Minho Fly Fishing and set off to the Coura River. There’s no method 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 the complete time whereas sitting and standing on boulders alongside the dashing 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 ultimately 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 totally set. 

This was one other attractive wild camp spot with just a few 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 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 retailers, 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 gasoline for our gasoline 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 at the present time 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 method 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 a very good pit spot.

With camp chairs and peanut butter and jam sandwiches in hand, we discovered the right 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 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 following 2 nights — Vidoeiro Gerês Tenting. 

This rustic, pure campsite had parking spots proper alongside the river, an outside BBQ space, showers, bathrooms 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 way 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 below are just a few suggestions: 

1. Get a By way of Verde Tag 

The toll roads in Portugal are comparatively new, pretty costly and fairly complicated for foreigners. 

When you have a By way of Verde tag in your window and a Portuguese debit card, you merely drive by way of the toll cubicles and the toll cameras on the freeway. The prices shall be mechanically added to your tag and mechanically charged to your debit card.

Tags are both included in automobiles that you simply hire (for an additional payment), or may be rented at By way of 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 might be like us, vacationers with out a native debit card.

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

For those who don’t have a tag, every time you cross below a big array of cameras suspended over the freeway, your campervan’s license plate shall be marked.

Then, after a minimal of two enterprise days (it takes that lengthy in your costs to register) and a most of 5 enterprise days after you’ve handed by way of these cameras, you’ll must go to a publish workplace (CTT) in an effort to pay the tolls which have accrued. 

Having to consistently 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 cope with whereas on vacation.

To make issues simpler, ask your rental firm if a By way of Verde tag is included and if not, ask if you happen to can hire 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 study extra about toll roads in Portugal. 

2. Keep away from Cities

After all, you gained’t be capable of keep away from all cities and there’ll in all probability be just a few that you simply need to see. Nevertheless, with such a big automobile, discovering parking and driving by way of slim roads is usually 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 right place, solely to be instructed it was a bus cease!

Relying on the peak of your van, you’ll most certainly be too tall for underground parking as properly (ours was). 

Mainly, it’s hectic and a bit hectic making an attempt to drive a big automobile within the cities. Stick 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, ensure you have the whole lot you want — chemical compounds for the bathroom, propane for the gasoline range, coal for the BBQ, bathroom paper, and many others. 

We assumed it will be simple to seek out tenting gear and we’d merely buy as we would have liked.

Nevertheless, it was not possible to seek 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 gasoline canisters was at Lima Escape campsite. 

Additionally, relying on the dimensions of your fridge, I like to recommend grocery procuring both beforehand or on the primary day. Since we had been dwelling in Lisbon, we had been in a position to grocery store and had our meals largely deliberate out for the complete time.

The fridge within the Energetic 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 retailers and supermarkets (whereas looking for parking) isn’t the easiest way to spend the vacation. Get the whole lot directly and then you definitely’re all set!

4. Obtain the Park4Night App

Park4Night is such an awesome app! The premise is easy.

For those who keep someplace superior (both an precise campsite or a wild camp spot), then you may add just a few photographs, the coordinates of the place it’s situated, what facilities are on provide, and the professionals and cons.

Future campervan travellers will be capable of keep there as properly primarily based in your advice.

When in search of 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 realm, are quiet, and don’t depart any rubbish, then wild tenting is often not a difficulty. After all, if you happen to’re requested to go away or are instructed you may’t spend the evening, then you definitely’ll need to obey.

5. Have a WiFi Hotspot or Information 

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

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

Having a mixture of each could be the best choice as one might need higher service than the opposite relying on the place you might be. 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 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 the whole lot works. However, we had additionally been researching on YouTube beforehand, which helped to get a visible.

You’ll need to know how you can cost the van, how you can fill and empty the gray water tank, and the way the bathroom works.

Right here are some things to know for the Energetic Plus mannequin:

• The 220v cable wire plugs into electrical shops at campsites and this costs 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 if you’re plugged in, so if you’re wild tenting you gained’t be capable of cost your computer systems or plug in massive units.
• Refill the gray water with common faucet water. There must be hoses at campsites that you should utilize.
• You’ll know the gray water is full if it begins to leak out! Make sure that the valve is closed once more after you empty it.
• There are indicators for “service stations” at campsites in Portugal. And, you will discover these on the Park4Night app as properly. Be sure to’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 form of journey are the truth that you’re totally self-contained and never reliant on anybody, something, or wherever.

You’ve got your meals and water with you, your lavatory amenities, your mode of transportation, and a spot to sleep at evening. 

We had a number 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 a number of freedom!

There have been solely a few downsides to travelling this fashion, and a few issues to pay attention to.

First, if you get to a campsite that you simply actually like, you don’t have something to go away behind to order the spot if you head out for the day.

For those who had been tenting with a tent for instance, you’d depart 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 if you happen to aren’t correctly organized.

Ensure that the whole lot has its place and that you simply put it away within the similar spot every time. We spent greater than an hour in search of the keys sooner or later…

For those who’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 elements of Portugal within the close to future!

FAQs About Travelling Portugal by Campervan

For those who nonetheless have a query about Portugal campervan journey, try the FAQs beneath. Many had been coated within the article, however you will discover some fast solutions right here.

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 bushes — with a campervan, the selection is yours. 10 days is an effective 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!