Kayaking beneath the cliffs of Sesimbra and Portinho

What it involves

You paddle a sea kayak, with a guide, right up against the coast of the Arrábida mountains, past coves that no path reaches and beneath limestone cliffs with caves and arches. All this coast lies within the Luiz Saldanha marine park, which protects the sea from Figueirinha to Cabo Espichel, so the water is usually very clear and from the kayak you see the bottom in many stretches.

You do not need experience: you set out with a guide, who sets the pace and chooses the route according to the state of the sea.

Who runs it and what the options are

Vertente Natural works in the area, an outdoor activities company with a shop in Sesimbra's sheltered harbour (Shop 6). It publishes these outings:

• Kayak Sesimbra Selvagem: 3 hours along the wild coast of Sesimbra, from €40 per person, with instant booking on its website.
• Kayak Sesimbra Pack Família: the same area in 3 hours, designed for families, from €109 for the pack.
• Kayak Arrábida Mar: 3 hours off Portinho da Arrábida, from €65 per person, with a minimum of 8 people.
• Kayak Enseadas do Espichel: a 2-day crossing along the Sesimbra coast to Cabo Espichel, from €150.
• Arrábida Terra e Mar: a 7-hour day combining activities on land and at sea, from €80, with a minimum of 8 people.

The prices are those the company publishes as "from"; the final amount depends on the number of people and the date.

Where it is based

The Vertente Natural office is in Sesimbra's sheltered harbour. Confirm the exact departure point when you book: the Portinho route does not leave from the same place as the Sesimbra one. From Lisbon you get to Sesimbra by car over the 25 de Abril bridge, or on Carris Metropolitana buses.

Season and timing

You paddle from spring to autumn, when the sea allows. The south coast of the mountains is sheltered from the north wind, but in a ground swell or south wind a kayak outing may be suspended or change route. Confirm with the company the day before.

If you go to Portinho in summer, remember that the road down to the Arrábida beaches is restricted to private cars from 7:00 to 20:00 from 4 June to 15 September.

Requirements and what to bring

You must be able to swim. The company does not publish a minimum age for each outing on its website: if you are going with children, ask when booking or choose the family pack. Bring a swimsuit under your clothes, a technical or Lycra T-shirt, a hat, sunglasses with a cord, water-resistant sun cream, water and something to eat. Your phone in a dry bag.

Other ways to see this coast

If you prefer something more intense, coasteering covers the same coast by swimming and jumping from the rock. For something calmer, the boat trip to see the Sado dolphins.