Just one hour’s drive from Lisbon, Comporta is tucked away on the wild Atlantic coast amidst picturesque pine forests and is one of the most amazing holiday destinations in all of Portugal.
This stunning village in the Alentejo region is home to some fabulous villas and is near to a number of spectacular beaches offering you the chance to try your hand at watersports or simply sit back and relax in style. But there’s plenty more to do in and around Comporta, so read on to find out how you can spend your days if you visit this beautiful part of Portugal.
Hit the beach
You can’t go to Comporta without visiting the beach. With miles of incredible sand and sea on your doorstep and a whole host of activities too, you’re spoiled for choice.
Praia da Comporta should be your first port of call, being right in the midst of the village. This is one of the most popular beaches in the area for a reason. It’s backed by wind-swept sand dunes and gorgeous pine forests, making you feel cut off, adrift from the world. Popular with kitesurfers and sunbathers alike, Praia da Comporta has two restaurants that offer you delicious food and drinks with a view, and you can even enjoy a cocktail at the super-cool beach bar.
A few kilometres down the coast is the equally wonderful Praia do Pego beach. Bleached white sand and crashing waves make this a perfect spot to spend the afternoon and there’s also an amazing beachfront restaurant called Sal, that sits on stilts above the sand. Sit on the wraparound deck and enjoy the sea views as you tuck into a delicious meal. Sal’s famous for its clams, ceviche and delicious local wine.
Other fantastic beaches in the area include Carvalhal beach, Praia dos Brejos and Praia da Raposa.
Sado Estuary Natural Reserve
The beautiful Sado Estuary Natural Reserve is just a short drive from Comporta and offers an abundance of natural beauty and wildlife for you and your loved ones to enjoy. A huge wetland, separated from the sea by the Tróia peninsula, the nature reserve is home to endless bird species as well as dolphins!
An official conservation area, the Sado Estuary Natural Reserve is also home to a number of threatened species, including the black bat and otter.
It’s not just the abundant wildlife that make this so special. You’re also able to enjoy a mixture of landscapes from marshes and sandbanks to rice paddies, woods and reed plantations.
Explore the area on foot or hop on one of the many cruises that take you out across the estuary, offering you a unique vantage point on the water.
Visit the Carrasqueira Palafitic Pier
Lovers of striking sunsets and remarkable, unique architecture really should visit the Carrasqueira Palafitic Pier. Situated in Carrasqueira, making it walkable from Comporta, this wooden pier is built on irregular stilts and offers some truly wonderful photo opportunities.
A work of art, the pier is one of the municipality’s most popular sites and was built in the 1950s and 60s. Local fishing boats still dock on this rickety pier that’s hundreds of metres long. Feel free to wander the wooden walkway and take in the lovely views, watching the fishing boats as they make their way in with the day’s catch. You may also catch a glimpse of some of the beautiful bird species from the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve.
Enjoy a round of golf
Avid golfers will love visiting Comporta, thanks to the number of top quality courses in the area.
Visit Comporta Dunes, near the village of Carvalhal close to Pego Beach, and enjoy a marvellous course that winds its way through pine forests and sand dunes offering you breathtaking sea views as you play.
You can also head slightly further afield to Troia Golf Course, which was designed by the famous American golf architect Robert Trent Jones Senior and offers yet more amazing sea views. This course was voted the 25th best golf course in the world by Golf World in 2003 and has hosted a number of international tournaments, making it ideal for anyone after a more challenging round!
Herdade do Pinheirinho is also well worth a visit and is set in 200 exclusive hectares. There are 27 holes on offer and the course is set amongst picturesque pine forests and lakes. Other activities on offer at Herdade do Pinheirinho include surfing, horseback riding, tennis, cycling and running.
