The Atlantic Road, or Estrada Atlântica, is a coastal route that covers part of Portugal’s western shore.

Unlike what many people may think, it does not cover the entirety of the Portuguese shore from top to bottom. It really is a specific stretch of road that covers a bit over 60 km (or over 37 miles) in the district of Leiria. What makes it unique, however, is the fact that it’s almost completely parallel to the sea, linking several beaches, and has some amazing panoramic views.

So, it’s the perfect road trip, a big favourite with riders and bikers.

On one side of the road, rolling hills of native beach plants and pine trees gently sway in the breeze. On the other side, a glistening sea of blue and green under a clear sky. Sometimes you cross stretches of pine forest. The sunset hits the trees and their bark appears to glow scarlet. No, it’s not heaven. In fact most of the forest burned down in 2017.

Story time: The pine forest is nicknamed by the Portuguese ‘o pinhal do rei’, or the king’s pine forest. The sixth king of Portugal, D.Dinis, ruled with intelligence over a prosperous kingdom. He ordered the pine forest to be increased in order to control the sand dunes, protect farming lands from the winds and sands of the sea, and to build the ‘naus’, the Portuguese ships that set out to discover new land.

1. Mata do Urso

You can start off your trip before the official starting line of Estrada Atlântica, at Mata do Urso. Here, you can pass by Osso da Baleia beach (this literally means whale’s bone beach) and later, Lagoa da Ervedeira, a peaceful lagoon where you can definitely swim.

2. Praia da Vieira

Estrada Atlântica begins in Praia da Vieira. Watch fishermen draw in their nets while sipping a beer and letting your eyes wander along the soft white dunes and the deep blue sea. As you go south, and if it’s summer time, you will may wild shrubs in the pine forest called camarinhas. These are recognizable by their white, pearl-like berries and are completely edible.

3. S.Pedro de Moel

Ride all the way to S.Pedro de Moel beach. This road stretches so far and disappears over the horizon and amid the heather, it feels like you are travelling to the end of the world.

Pedro de Moel is very picturesque, with a sturdy lighthouse overlooking the dramatic shards of rock. Old Beach is a day and night-time bar that the locals enjoy, and the best place to stop for a beer.

In S. Pedro de Moel, there is a great cycle path where you can walk or ride right by the cliffs overlooking the sea. The lighthouse is a famous landmark, by the dramatic viewpoint called Penedo da Saudade.

4. Água de Madeiros

The next hot spot is Água de Madeiros beach. This beach, besides being a lovely spot to rest, has amazingly interesting rock formations and fossils from the Jurassic period. Even those who aren’t renowned geologists will certainly like to look at these little-known gems.

5. Paredes de Vitória e Vale Furado

Paredes da Vitória beach and Vale Furado beach present some wonderful scenery as you stop for a rest and perhaps a quick dip in the ocean, surrounded by the golden cliff faces of the coastline.

6. Nazaré

Nazaré is the final stop to Estrada Atlântica. Nazaré was made world-famous in 2011 when McNamara surfed a gigantic, 24 metre tall (or 79 feet) wave, breaking the record for the largest wave ever surfed.

What makes the waves really big here is the Nazaré Canyon, an undersea canyon that works as a ripple polarizer: it allows the waves to travel at great speeds with no dissipation of energy once they reach the shore.

7. S.Martinho do Porto

If you’ve still got it, do make an effort to reach São Martinho do Porto beach, and you’ll be able to see the Berlengas Islands in the distance. These are very small islands around 10 to 17 kilometres ( or 6 to 10 miles) off the coast of Portugal. Only the biggest island is inhabited, Berlenga Grande, or big Berlenga. There you can find astonishing caves as well as fort built in the 17th century at the site of an abandoned monastery.

And that is that for Estrada Atlântica. Now that you know everything there is to know about it, get yourself ready for Portugal’s best road trip.

If you’re keen to explore Portugal even more, come with us on one of two different off-road expeditions across the mountain ranges of this amazing country. Check our website for upcoming dates and prices and follow Start Adventure on social media for any updates you won’t want to miss.