Portuguese Fish Experience

Highlights

  • Visit a local fishing village and observe the daily life of an authentic market
  • Discover the traditional methods for fishing and canning sardines at one of the oldest factories in the country
  • Enjoy a seriously fresh fish lunch at an authentic, local restaurant.
From £165 pp
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What you'll do

Get off the beaten track and immerse yourself in one of Portugal's most important industries, and meet the locals who are involved with every stage of the fishing process, from sea, to market, to table.

The day begins with a visit to a beach, where we’ll wait for the fisherman, still maintaining practices that are generations old, to return with their catch of the day. Then, we’ll visit the local fish market.

Prepare yourself for a bustling, energetic morning as you take in the selling, bartering and negotiating that goes on between the fishermen and the local sellers or restaurant owners, where everyone is doing their best to get the ideal price.

Then, it’s onto a top-quality sardine canning factory, a classic Portuguese delicacy that is known all over the world. We visit this particular unit thanks to its near 100 years of history, as well as the manual labor process which acts as a live legacy of an old tradition. At the end of this visit, you’ll get the chance to taste some of this famous Portuguese produce.

We then head to a market, where you will have a chance to finish this journey through local culture and tradition by choosing your fresh fish directly from a traditional fish stall, which will then be prepared at a local restaurant for lunch…

This unique experience gives you some insight to two concepts that are deeply rooted in local culture, history and legacy: fishing, and making a living from the sea.

It’s only right that to finish the day, you’ll be able to enjoy an exquisite fish lunch in a relaxed, authentic atmosphere, satisfied that you’ve really got under the skin of a community, and got closer to it than most tourists.

Your local host

Pedro Urgel

Born and raised in the delightful city of Porto, apart from a two year stint living in Scotland in my younger days, I have lived in Portugal all my life. When I was around 35, myself and a couple of my travelling friends (one of which is my brother), decided to set up our company. We set out scouting Portugal, visiting the places no one visits, meeting people, exploring landscapes discovering all these authentic towns. We know the country like the back of our hands, so when you go on one of our experiences you get an experts insight and learn so much more than you would visiting alone.

Born and raised in the delightful city of Porto, apart from a two year stint living in Scotland in my younger days, I have lived in Portugal all my life. When I was around 35, myself and a couple of my travelling friends (one of which is my brother), decided to set up our company. We set out scouting Portugal, visiting the places no one visits, meeting people, exploring landscapes discovering all these authentic towns. We know the country like the back of our hands, so when you go on one of our experiences you get an experts insight and learn so much more than you would visiting alone.

Sustainability Efforts

What Sustainability Efforts are we Taking?

At Not in the Guidebooks we’re committed to empowering the local communities in Costa Rica. We work closely with the local people and their businesses to make sure that they receive a fair percentage of the money you spend on your holiday there. By partnering with local guides and suppliers, we’re able to create meaningful, authentic experiences that directly benefit the people who call this incredible country home.

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Location

The tour takes place in Matosinhos – a town near Porto.

We will pick you up directly from your hotel.

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