Alvados: Cooking & Nature
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrival in Alvados
Today you drive to Alvados, which is located on the edge of the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park. For the next two nights you will stay in a very comfortable, nature-inspired boutique hotel, with a contemporary style and sustainability ethos.
The afternoon is free to relax beside the hotel pool, or explore. The surrounding mountains are best known for some impressive rock formations, grottoes and caves, which are home to 18 species of bat! There are several hiking trails to follow for all walking abilities, and bikes to rent.
Day 2 – Learn to cook Portuguese cuisine
Start the day with a hearty breakfast. The hotel attaches great importance to sustainability and freshness, and most of the produce they use is locally sourced. During the day you can continue your exploration independently. You may wish to drive to Fatima, which is considered to be the most important pilgrimage site in Portugal (around 30 minutes drive). Historically, sick people travelled to Fatima hoping for a miraculous cure for their illness.
Tonight you will prepare your own three-course meal under the guidance of the hotel’s Portuguese chef, using seasonal local produce. It’s a relaxed and fun way to learn more about Portuguese cuisine. Afterwards you can enjoy the fruits of your labour with a glass of Portuguese wine. The chef speaks little English, but you will receive the recipes in English later to take home.
Day 3 – Time to leave
Enjoy a final delicious breakfast and a short stroll in the surrounding countryside before continuing your Portuguese journey. The medieval town of Obidos and the bustling capital city of Lisbon are both within easy reach. Or you can be at the coastal haven of Nazaré in less than an hour.
Accommodation
