About Wanderlust in Portugal

Wanderlust, from the German wandern (to hike or roam about) + lust (pleasure or delight) … is the desire to travel and explore new places. It is the urge to break free from routine and see what lies beyond our familiar surroundings. 

Travel has become more accessible than ever with last-minute offers to jump on a plane and fly to the next destination, quick sightseeing, must-see monuments, and obligatory selfies at a trendy restaurant or viewpoint. And that’s perfectly fine. But this is not our purpose.

At Wanderlust in Portugal, our mission is to offer a platform that provides the context, insights, and destinations necessary for us to escape from our bustling lives, forge a connection with nature, art, and heritage, revel in the splendor of our surroundings, and embark on a transformative journey of learning, exploration, and self-discovery.

How it started

I’m Leonor, born and raised in Lisbon and working as a Tourist Guide in Portugal for over 25 years. I work mainly for German-speaking groups and some of the most rewarding experiences I had working as a guide was leading walking tours and hiking tours all over Portugal. The more experience I have with this type of program, the less enthusiasm I have for doing the regular tours, with programs that rarely stray from the line of the A1 highway Lisbon-Porto. 

I am most happy when I’m on a tour that went out of the box, with different things to do, such as guiding a group on the Portuguese way to Santiago de Compostela, or hiking on extraordinary landscapes. You can read more about my wish to set back from the usual tours offered by the majority of travel companies in my opening blog post.

So no wonder I feel out of touch with the usual tour-size-fits-all.

What to expect from Wanderlust in Portugal

This project serves to organize and catalog some of the trips I have made around the country. It also serves to show that Portugal is more than the Elevador de Santa Justa, Livraria Lello, Óbidos, Palácio da Pena, São Bento Station, Belém Tower, and other clichés.  This means you won’t find the same old tips that mention what everyone can find in a rough guide about Portugal or a quick search on google or Bing (I don´t want to discriminate).

Wanderlust in Portugal is exactly what it is. A desire to travel, to discover, to enjoy. To get away. It might be just a walk in the woods after a long day in some unknown place you never see on Instagram, or it might be a long hike with stunning views everyone is talking about. This is about my personal journey, within my own country.

One of my most rewarding experiences happened a few years ago when I decided to take a break for a couple of days, alone, traveling by train through the center north of Portugal. The clarity I gain only after 3 days alone is something I’m always pursuing. Consider this journey my attempt of gaining the same clarity. 

So, join me in my discovery of Portugal, with wanderlust in my heart. Take your time, travel as a local, and experience more than a tourist. Travel with wanderlust in Portugal.