Quinta das Colinas

From Quinta das Colinas, you’re able to walk right to the nearest schist village, Avô. Others are only a short drive away – perhaps start by making your way to Benfeita (25 minutes' drive), where there’s another spectacular river beach (there's plenty of these around…). Scenic Coja (20 minutes) has another nice river beach for those craving another paddle – this time followed by a visit to a tapas bar along the riverfront. If you're quite the fan of waterfalls, you'll definitely need to visit the family-friendly series of waterfalls just outside of Benfeita, Fraga da Pena (half an hour); a paved walkway runs alongside them. The site is also half an hour’s drive away from the edge of the Serra da Estrela Nature Park, where some of the closest attractions are the Poço da Broca do Muro / Poço Fundeiro (35 minutes) and Poço da Broca da Barriosa (35 minutes) waterfalls. The latter has a large pool where locals like to go wild swimming.