Discover the Ultimate Activity Holidays for Families in Portugal

Whether you and your family are looking for fun on the open water or some land-based excitement, Martinhal, on the rugged, unspoilt west coast of the Algarve, is a centre for thrill-filled activity holidays for families.

Kids Clubs From Tweens to Teens

As much as we parents do our best to book activity holidays for families where there are plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy, it can sometimes be a struggle to get everyone excited about doing the same thing at the same time.

Older children, in particular, often want their own space and hang out with kids their own age. At Martinhal, thankfully that doesn’t mean that they meet other teens and sit around staring at their devices. Instead we have clubs for 9 to 13 year olds and 14 to 16 year olds in which they can try their hand at a range of exciting water and land-based activities with their peers.

Expect to be met by them at the end of the day with tales of windsurfing, surfing, diving or cycling. They’ll be so busy enjoying a range of new activities with a bunch of new friends, they might even lose interest in checking their phone!

Take to the Water For A Family Adventure

As great as it is to spend time apart, it’s even better to experience new exciting activities together, so make some time to try something new as a family. The range of watersports on offer at Martinhal includes everything from kayaking and paddle boarding to windsurfing and kitesurfing, so why not pick an activity that none of you have tried before and learn to do it together?

Fishing for Sharks

If you’re looking for some high-octane excitement, why not try something not offered as part of many activity holidays for families: fishing for sharks! Don’t worry, at Martinhal we respect marine life so this Blue Shark fishing activity is strictly catch and release, but it is still a thrilling experience to enjoy as a family.

Explore by Bicycle

Get the kids to really connect with the stunning landscape of the western Algarve by exploring the region by bike. The coastal cycle routes in this area offer spectacular vistas and you can always tempt the kids with the promise of a halfway swim and a picnic.

Take a Hike

Thanks to the ideal climate in Portugal, it is rarely too hot or too cold to explore the beautiful rugged countryside around Martinhal by foot. Whether you want to follow an experienced guide who can tell you all about the area and its wildlife or you’d rather go it alone, we can help you with suggestions of local scenic trails to explore with your family.

Share a Passion For Golf

A holiday can be a great time to share your passion with your family, so if there’s a golfer amongst you then why not get the rest of the family involved? At the 18-hole Parque da Floresta course you can book a family lesson so that you can all improve together.

Richard Edwards is the Managing Director of Summit & Blue, an adventure holiday company offering independently crafted activity holidays for families to exciting destinations around the world, including France, Italy, Portugal, the USA and Canada. With unique itineraries and exciting activities like biking, hiking, white water rafting and canoeing, we create holidays for those looking for an experience a little more off the beaten track.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.