Our escape to nature in Northern Portugal

Our first experience was in the Algarve, and to my surprise, we absolutely loved it. In fact, afterwards my son kept asking when we could sleep in a tent again.

This time we decided to go to a totally new place. Since the area around Ponte de Lima and Peneda-Gerês is one of our favourite parts of Portugal, and as we found out that Lima Escape had received the 2026 ACSI Award for Best Campsite for Hiking in Portugal, it seemed like the ideal reason to go back to the north.

It was quite a drive from the Algarve, but with a few stops along the way and having snacks prepared, it went quickly.

First impressions

We didn’t really know what to expect before arriving, but the first surprise was the size of Lima Escape. The campsite is located in Entre Ambos-os-Rios, in the heart of Peneda-Gerês National Park, on a peninsula surrounded by the Lima, Froufe and Tamente rivers.

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When we arrived, the reception, café, and restaurant were the first places we saw. A young man at the reception explained everything we needed and said the team could help guests plan their days by suggesting places to visit and activities in the surrounding area.

We were also given the choice of having our breakfast at the restaurant or having it delivered directly to our tent. Since we were staying for several nights, we decided to try both options.

At Lima Escape, you can choose from traditional camping sites, which are suitable for tents, caravans and motorhomes, as well as glamping tents and various kinds of bungalows, such as wooden bungalows that are designed in the style of tree houses.

Our tent most certainly did not let us down; it had plenty of room inside and, above all else, we were surrounded by nature and close to the water. A great addition was a table and two chairs just outside of the tent.

Exploring Peneda-Gerês

A major advantage of staying here is that there’s a lot to see even if you don’t have to travel far.

On the first day, we drove to Arcos de Valdevez and went to Porta do Mezio, one of the entrances to Peneda-Gerês National Park. It is an excellent spot if you are travelling with children, since it has outdoor areas, a playground, and even a small zoo, while also offering a starting point for exploring the surrounding landscape.

From there, we continued to Soajo to see its famous granite espigueiros. These traditional granaries, raised above the ground to protect crops from moisture and animals, are one of the most distinctive sights in this part of northern Portugal.

Waterfalls, villages, viewpoints, and walking routes surround the region, and Lima Escape itself offers direct access to nature and nearby hiking trails.

Slow mornings at Lima Escape

The next morning, rather than setting off at once, we decided to use the campsite and have breakfast at the restaurant. We ate outside on the terrace, with fresh bread, some local jam, ham and cheese – and, most importantly at this time of day, coffee.

You can get some essential items at a small shop in Lima Escape, eliminating the need to drive anywhere, and a range of local products is also on offer, including jam and wine from Vinte Quinta, another great accommodation nearby.

After breakfast, we walked around the campsite and eventually ended up by the swimming pool. There is a shallow section for children as well as a deeper swimming area, surrounded by trees and overlooking the greenery.

Throughout our stay, one thing that stood out was the cleanliness and how well everything was looked after, especially given the size of the campsite.

The story behind Lima Escape

During our stay, we also had the chance to meet Anna, the lovely owner of Lima Escape.

The campsite itself has a longer history. The Entre Ambos-os-Rios campsite was originally created by the state authorities in 1998, while Lima Escape took over its operation in 2013 and has continued developing and upgrading it since then.

Anna told us about her love of nature and hospitality and how the opportunity to take over the campsite eventually became the project we see today.

The focus on nature can be felt throughout the site. Rather than trying to separate guests from their surroundings, the whole experience is about being outside and enjoying where you are.

Anna is very proud of the acclaim that the site has obtained. In addition to winning this year’s ACSI Award for Best Campsite for Walking in Portugal, she also mentioned that Lima Escape has been given the Green Key environmental award, which acknowledges its dedication to sustainable tourism, and the Equal Pay Seal, which is given in recognition of good practices in promoting equal pay between women and men.

Later that evening, we bought some meat and sausages and, of course, marshmallows for our son, and prepared dinner over the fire at one of the designated barbecue areas.

For him, it was very exciting, as it was the first time he had watched food being prepared over an open fire, and roasting marshmallows quickly became one of the highlights of the trip.

Living in the Algarve, where summer fire restrictions mean we don’t often get the opportunity to do something like this, made it feel even more special.

Breakfast at our tent

The next morning, we tried the other breakfast option.

It was an amazing experience, to wake up in the middle of nature and find a rattan breakfast basket filled with breakfast waiting outside your tent. There was no need to rush anywhere. We could sit outside, eat breakfast and enjoy the quiet start to the day.

And afterwards, we didn’t even need to get into the car for our next adventure.

Seeing Lima Escape from the water

Water Barca operates right next to Lima Escape and offers several ways to explore the area from the water, including kayaks, SUP boards and electric boats.

We chose an electric boat for an hour, which we could drive ourselves.

The boats have silent electric motors and produce no direct CO2 emissions while operating, so there was no loud engine disturbing the surroundings. Once we were out on the water, everything became incredibly peaceful.

From the river, we could see the tents and accommodation of Lima Escape between the trees and appreciate just how green the entire area is.

It was a completely different perspective from exploring Peneda-Gerês by car or on foot and probably one of the most relaxing hours of our trip.

Until next time

For a place that calls itself Lima Escape, the name actually describes the experience rather well. For a few days, life became about breakfast outside, walks through the trees, exploring little villages, evenings around the fire and watching the landscape slowly pass by from a boat.