I really liked Cascais when we first arrived. But I fell in love with Cascais after learning that you could rent bicycles, FREE of charge, from the city council, as long as you promise to return them by 5pm that day.
Ok, to be honest, you do have to provide your passport and hotel details to the friendly city council representative. No worries. The council bicycles are lined up in front of the Hotel Baia on Avenida Marginal. One bike’s seat couldn’t be properly adjusted and the other bike’s handlebars popped out of place once in awhile, but hey, you get what you don’t pay for. Besides, the bikes got us to where we wanted to go in one piece.
Guincho Beach is located 10 km from Cascais. Its unspoiled natural splendor and exposure to the strong winds and waves of the east coast make it an extremely popular spot with surfers, and a major venue featuring in both the European Windsurfing Championships. Not to mention, it offers a perfect contrast to Cascais and Estoril’s bathtub-still waters.
Along the way you’ll pass regal golf resorts, shifting 10-foot sand dunes, and orange and lavender wildflowers growing wildly in fields that stretch all the way up to the Sintra Mountains (an interesting fact: these mountains are the only area in the world to have been classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for both their cultural interest and their natural beauty).
The scenery is breathtaking, but so is the ride up; if you’re not used to biking, be prepared to battle strong prevailing winds and steep hills. It’s completely worth the pain. The Atlantic transforms into a magical force about half the way up. Little more than a rocky ledge separates you from the powerful energy of the sea and some ferociously fierce waves. You can actually feel sea spray on your legs. We were delirious.
The ride takes about 1 hour, but allow more time to make a vital pit stop at Boca do Inferno (Mouth of Hell), about 3km west of Cascais. Roadside markets and cafes clog the front of this magnificent site. Don’t be discouraged — a small platform behind them allows you spectacular views of the weather-beaten coastline and of the sea roaring in through caves and clefts in the rock.
You’ll know you’ve reached Guincho when you finally see a small scattering of seafood restaurants, hotels, and surfers appear from out of nowhere. The Terraco do Guincho is a shack café situated on a cliff behind the Hotel Muchaxo, where you can grab a sandwich, beer, or coffee, and check out the water activity from behind a glass windbreak. If you’re feeling courageous, why not take surf or windsurf lessons from nearby Aerial Surf School? The Guincho store makes it possible to rent or buy surf, windsurf, and bodysurf equipment. Don’t forget that you’ll need at least a 3 mm wetsuit, as the water is quite cold.
For more information, contact Hotel Muchaxo at 315-917-890-036.