Nature, activities and culture

Situated south of the historical city of Coimbra in the central Beira region, O Homem Verde is well placed in an area rich with natural wonders and cultural delights! As well as river beaches, waterfalls and caves, you will find waterparks, castles and palaces, deserted stone villages and some great wildlife, too!

Set in the hills above Espinhal (Serra do Espinhal) with our nearest village, Espinhal, 7 km away. Here you can find shops, restaurants, cafés, bank, chemist, post office and a local market on Sundays.

The main activity on our yurt holiday retreat is to relax and enjoy the tranquil rural surroundings but of course there are also plenty of opportunities for adventure, such as exploring the hiking and cycling trails through the hills, where you will discover river beaches and waterfalls, sanctuaries, old villages, watermills and old ways of life! Hidden treasures are also to be discovered by walking or cycling the Schist Villages trails, with a visit to the eerie Buracas do Casmilo a good trip for all but especially for rock climbers .

Between us and Espinhal, you can find Pedra da Ferida, a lovely 30 meter high cascade with bathable pools and picnic area.

We are only 5 min drive and within walking distance from the natural swimming pool of Louçainha, a natural pool safe for children and adults with water supplied by a mountain brook. During summer, the swimming pool has lifeguard supervision, as well as, a café, restaurant and library where you can borrow books or newspapers for the day.

There is plenty of wildlife here too, the surrounding hills being home to deer, wild boar, eagles, many migratory birds, river mammals, salamanders and fascinating insects, all spotted more frequently than you may think, often from the comfort of your own hammock!

Cultural days out

In the town of Penela, 15 minutes drive away, you can pick up the free audio guides in the tourism office for a guided tour of the castle.

For a day in the city visit the fading facades of the University City of Coimbra, steeped in history and colonial charm. Coimbra is a city of manueline architecture, old cathedrals, old cafe bedecked squares and gardens, with narrow and lively cobbled streets winding from the riverfront up to the old university itself. Also a good place to appreciate the Portuguese traditional fado of Coimbra.
We are also in easy striking distance of the fascinating Tomar, old seat of the Knights Templar, the magnificent ancient Monastery of Batalha and the atmospheric pilgrimage site of Fátima.

Nearby, you can also visit roman ruins, caves and windfarms.

Adventure

Adventure activities in the area are well catered for from kayaking to caving. It is also a great place for hiking and cycling, on or off road, with plenty of mountain biking tracks within easy reach and rock climbing spots.

Local companies that organize outdoor, sport and aventure activities, including tree top adventure, canoeing, canoying, and hiking: ExperTree, Soprador do Carvalho, Praia da Rocas, Go Outdoor and Trans Serrano. Make sure you book in advance by contacting the companies directly.

For high-rope climbing, fun for both children and adults, try ExperTree, in Espinhal, or the forest acrobatic park in Figueira da Foz.

Children

For days out with children, check out Quinta da Paiva, the aquaparque in Pombal or Praia das Rocas in Castanheira de Pera and Portugal dos Pequenitos in Coimbra.

Central Portugal Wildlife