Guest Diary: Our First Time in Portugal

Adrian Lomas, founder and CEO of Blueleaf, and Alexandra Tyrer, project manager at McLaren Applied Technologies, chose Viana do Castelo for their first ever trip to Portugal. What they found exceeded every expectation.

The adventure started with fat tire bikes on the beach — deflated tyres for the sand dunes, a technique that felt completely alien to these London-based professionals. Portugal Active founder Ricardo Viana, a former national downhill MTB champion, personally guided them through the experience. Stand-up paddleboarding down the Lima River towards Viana became a highlight they still talk about.

The days filled up naturally: temple exploration by bike, swimming in natural pools, horseback riding along the beach, and dinners at local restaurants where the food was as honest as the welcome. Adrian summed it up simply: this guy really cares and loves the area.

For Adrian and Alexandra, Portugal wasn't what they expected. It was better.