Whether you prefer the countryside or the sea, surfing or rafting, hang-gliding or paragliding, Portugal is the perfect destination for anyone seeking a challenge.

There are all kinds of activities for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy, from kite-surfing to mountain-biking to trekking up hills and down valleys. The more adventurous can try their hand at mountain-climbing or rock-scaling and observe birds of prey and other protected species.

Or you can also just walk among wild horses in the Peneda-Gerês National Park and smell the scent of the woodland herbs and wild flowers.

There are many different ways to enjoy the rich variety of nature in Portugal, especially in the country’s protected areas.

But there are two very special kinds of adventure that are unique to Portugal: the already famous walks along the levadas or irrigation channels in Madeira, providing a unique opportunity to discover the Laurisilva forest from the inside. Or there’s the extremely popular “whale-watching” tours in the Azores, the most environmentally-friendly way of meeting the fantastic creatures of the deep.