The Portuguese have a rich history of exploration and seafaring. Before the 1755 earthquake that leveled the capital city of Lisbon, Portugal was leading the world at sea. However, in the aftermath, the country fell behind the rest of the world. Visit Portugal’s Coast to see the world as the 16th-century explorers did.
Cabo da Roca
The lighthouse that marks the farthest western point in Europe is a popular tourist stop on the way to or from Sintra. The views are dramatic. Although there are some trails along the cliffs, mostly, it is a quick bathroom stop to enjoy the view and look a the monument.
The first lighthouse was built in 1772, over 500 feet above the ocean. Currently, the lighthouse is operational but closed to the public.
We spent some time taking reflection photos in the puddles, which was a skill we learned on the Lisbon Photo Tour. We practiced every time we found a puddle. It’s amazing how little water you need! The key is to hold the lens as close to the water as possible, so upsidedown.
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Nazaré
Home of the 100-foot waves. This is where world-class surfers congregate to ride the biggest waves in the world. We didn’t visit Portugal’s coast at Nazaré because the surf wasn’t up, and it is not as dramatic without waves.
There is a new docu-series on HBO Max: The 100 Foot Wave.
