Marie-Josée is a guest-blogger at Flytrippers. Follow her on Instagram and see her bio at the bottom of this article.
Last June, I had the chance to visit the Douro Valley region, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Portuguese people are incredibly welcoming: In the last four years, I have been to Portugal three times and their incredible hospitality is definitely a factor that encouraged me to want to return.
Here is a brief overview of my trip to the Douro Valley in Portugal.
Trip to the Douro Valley in Portugal
In addition to the warm welcome, life in Portugal is less expensive than in Canada, a factor to consider when planning a touristic getaway.
READ ALSO: 40 countries where you can travel for just C$30 per day
Indeed, in this case, it is easy to find a nice terrace in the center of Porto where you can have a drink for one euro or a good meal for 10-15 euros.
You can take advantage of this opportunity to discover Portugal’s wines and gastronomy.
Most people who go to Portugal visit Lisbon, the festive capital, and Porto to visit the wine cellars and taste its typical sweet wines (the name “port wine” originates from Porto).
I invite you to extend your tasting triop to the Upper Douro wine region as well as the entire Douro region.
Indeed, the Douro International Natural Park is a place of exceptional beauty. You can discover its 600 kilometers of splendor.
The Quinta da Pacheca vineyard is really beautiful.
A visit to this vineyard will allow you to learn more about the quality of their wine.
You can taste port wine, red wine, white wine, and rosé wines.
There are many different vineyards along the road.
For my part, I used a rental car to be more autonomous but of course, there are organized trips from Porto as well.
Finally, some wineries offer accommodation. However, you can always find apartments on Airbnb or hotels easily.
So, if you feel like extending your summer, I recommend this destination where the sun and heat will still be there until November, especially knowing that the beautiful beaches of Portugal are close to Porto, with great waves for surfing enthusiasts.
Note that access to Portugal is easy despite the pandemic.
It is important to check the entry requirements via the official source and that link is provided for each country in the Flytrippers guide on the entry rules for each destination (which will be updated this Sunday). Also, check out Flytrippers’ ultimate guide to pandemic travel.
Summary
As a solo traveler, I always have a backpack ready so I can go on an adventure. With my camera in hand, I look for landscapes that will leave me speechless. As a true organizer of my own travels, I am always the one people come to when it comes to travel, because with all the adventures I have experienced, I have learned to avoid many tricky situations. My next travel destinations are France and Turkey (October) and Egypt (November).
Flytrippers also has a few other posts about Portugal:
What would you like to know about visiting the Douro Valley of Portugal? Tell us in the comments.
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Featured image: Douro Valley (photo credit: Marie-Josée Fortin, Flytrippers guest-blogger)
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