Activities – Vinha Da Manta

Relax and enjoy your free time.

Doing Nothing

For many, being on vacation means doing nothing. Just reading a book, in a hammock or at the pool, taking an occasional nap in the shade and at times a snack and a drink. At Vinha Da Manta we write “Rest” with a capital letter.

The pride-of-the-place is our biological swimming pool. The water is chemically un-treated and the specially selected waterplants and waterlillies make the pond a surprise of color and flowers every day. If there’s a better feeling than that of gliding smoothly through a crystal-clear natural swimming pool while eye-to-eye with frogs perched nonchalantly on water lillies, then we’ve yet to experience it. The perfect spot to relax.

Explore the surroundings on foot.

HIKING

The Parque Natural da Serra de Estrela is famous for its rugged granite formations, alternating with savannah-like plains where the indigenous Bordeleira sheep still graze. This protected natural area, that has escaped mass tourism, can be discovered from Vinha Da Manta with some great tours. Old trails that crisscross through the area, that often date back to Roman times, lead the walker over vast mountain ranges and through sparsely populated valleys, where wild boars, eagles and foxes wander around in large numbers. This area, even during the hot Iberian summer, is a green oasis (altitude up to 2000 mtrs). We can point you to a variety of walks, long or short, and with or without guidance. We happily facilitate the walks by picking up walkers or taking them to the beginning of their trail.

Explore the area from the saddle.

HORSERIDING

If you are an experienced rider, you have come to the perfect place. We have three horses and a pony; all four can be ridden. I trained some of them from when they were born, and we can do tours in the beautiful surroundings here.

For novices, young kids, or if you are just curious to experience what it is to sit on a horse, we do guided horse-walks on our terrain.

I love to receive children as well as adults, to take them on a ride. For me, the horses are a big part of the pleasure I experience in Portugal. I like to share this with everyone.

Swimming in the river.

MONDEGO RIVER

There are several places nearby where you can swim in the Mondego River, which is situated within walking distance. The canyon is ideal for swimming and adventurous playing. It is always cool and calm, there are many flat rocks where you can lie down, sunbathe, swim, picnic, and the kids can play safely. Of course, there are many other places that have not even been discovered yet.

Just a little car drive away from us, there is a large water reservoir with a small beach where you can enjoy a quiet swim. Last but not least, there is also a “praia fluvial” in the next village, which is a guarded river beach. They have a little bar with cold drinks, ice creams, and a huge slide for the children.

Relive the medieval times.

HISTORICAL VILLAGES

Our environment is a 5000 year old cultural landscape. You can find something from every age in the landscape, which includes people who live partly in the 21st century, but clearly have their roots in an almost medieval society. The old ladies dressed in black with a bundle of sticks on their heads, the last donkeys, the common baker’s ovens, the Christmas bonfire, the busy village pub, the Easter processions… In short, everything here is very much alive, and takes place in an environment that is as it was 200 years ago.

In Portugal there are 12 medieval historical villages. All of them are in our region, and offer the unique opportunity to go back in time and relive medieval times.

Famous for wine and port.

DOURO VALLEY

The Douro valley is half an hour drive from us. That is where the Coa River and the Douro come together, and a different Portugal begins. First the Foz Coa archeological museum with his ancient rock carvings, then the endless vineyards for a nice wine tasting or dinner.