SaltyWay Surf & Climb (Lisbon, Portugal) ★★★

The house is beautifully situated off the beaten track, right in the heart of nature in Colares near Lisbon. We enjoy the tranquility of the Serra 24/7, a silent nights' sleep and early surf wake ups with the birds. We light up a fire in the living room at night and enjoy the cosy atmosphere of this big room with the big windows. The kitchen offer all you need to make a good meal. What's more, we are just a short walk (12 minutes) and a breathtaking descent down to Praia Grande, via a set of steps famed for its prehistoric dinosaur footprints. The house is also situated between Almocageme and Praia das Maças. Both are small picturesque Portuguese villages with a range of restaurants, bars, small shops and cheap local markets (a great place to buy your week’s supply of fresh fruit and vegetables).

The type of people you meet on these trips want adventure, enjoy the outdoor life style and sunsets, travel and learn/improve their surfing or climbing – a recipe of interests that make for a great group vibe. The vibe here is relaxed, and welcoming to everyone of any age.

Julika

It was Julika’s inborn love of the ocean, nature and sports that led her, in 2015, to create SaltyWay. Born and raised in Kiel, Germany by the ocean, Julika has had a longstanding relationship with the sea. In her late teens Kiel became her base between extended trips to Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, Morocco and Europe until 2008. Learning from her own mistakes, taking on board others advice, studying Sport Science in Kiel, teaching sport in Gran Canaria, and teaching surf for many years across Europe has made her into the awesome surf teacher she is today. In recent years Portugal has replaced Kiel as her new home and base and where she enjoys life to the fullest; surfing (short boarding, long boarding and body surfing), climbing, skating, horse riding and generally sharing the love for life with friends outside!

João “Rasta”

João or “Rasta” as he is known here at SaltyWays is an excellent climbing guide, photographer and all round nice guy. He has been a climbing enthusiast for the last 10 years. Over the past decade he has been actively involved in the development of Sintra’s bouldering scene and associated online group ‘Boulder Sintra’. Parallel to his innate passion for climbing, Rasta is a professional cameraman and holds a degree in adventure tourism.

Born and raised in the area, Rasta has had a longstanding love for the Serra de Sintra. His friends say he has spent more time trekking and climbing in the Serra than he has spent time with his own family. As a result, he knows this place like the back of his hand and is eager to share his wealth of knowledge about the Serra's mysterious history, diverse nature and epic climbing spots.

Masha

Masha is a yogi, rock climber and nature lover currently based in Portugal. She teaches her unique and transformative classes and retreats across Europe and is part of the Sivananda Yoga team in Teacher Training Courses in France and India. Masha’s teaching offers a heart-opening, invigorating and experiential practice, grounded with a focus on both physical and energetic alignment. Yoga, when practiced with this holistic awareness becomes fluid movement therapy. Her own practice and therefore teaching encompasses Asana, Pranayama, Relaxation, healthy diet, positive thinking & Meditation. Before becoming a certified yoga teacher in 2013, Masha worked as an athlete manager for The North Face in Switzerland. She has been a student of yoga and meditation since 2007. She counts among her teachers Swami Atmaramananda, Swami Kailasananda, Swami Sivadasananda and S.N. Goenka. She is currently doing a 4 year long Feldenkrais Method teacher training, seeking to fine-tune her knowledge of anatomy, alignment and the mind-body connection.

The Saltyway house, a typical Portuguese ‘Moradia’, is perfectly located between the waves and the mountains. Whether you’re here to surf or climb you will be right in the heart of the action.

The house comfortably accommodates 10-12 guests, is a blend of typical Portuguese style furnishings with a cosy and intimate surf vibe. Our 3 rooms are for 2 or 6 persons, are clean, functional, furnished in a modest Portuguese style, have Wifi access, towels & linen. We have double, single or bunk beds, and can provide girls only rooms if required. We can also accommodate our rooms for families

Self-catering:

A key ingredient to our activity holidays is the ‘togetherness’ of the group. We believe living together builds an unbreakable bond during and even after the holiday. We encourage communal shopping and cooking, and provide a modern kitchen and living areas that are equipped accordingly. In fact, over the years the best evenings have definitely been when the group cook together and share a few glasses of local wine and tales from the day’s adventures.

From Monday to Friday, our highly qualified, experienced and motivating surf instructor will take you to the surf spots, in the best conditions and with top of the range equipment. Each surf session is taught in a fun, no pressure manner and is adapted to the personal needs of each and every guest. The surf session also goes hand in hand with daily theory lessons that cover wave anatomy, beach safety (currents and rips), reading the waves, forecasting and board design. At SaltyWay we believe “knowledge gives you security and security allows you to have fun!”

We guarantee one surf a day with the instructor but often squeeze a second free surf session in if conditions allow and/or if the group agrees. You may also take your board and wetsuit during the free time or on the weekends for a solo session.

What’s more, at least once a week we offer video analysis sessions, which is by far the most effective way of improving your surfing. We surf in small groups of 6 so as to keep the teaching personal, the vibe intimate and not overcrowd the surf spots.

Finally we have two 1hr30 yoga sessions a week to complement your surfing. The yoga will not only improve your balance and offer a welcomed relief to sore muscles from all the surfing but a chance to refocus and settle your mind after the adrenaline of the day.

Your time at SaltyWay it's your holiday so, it's all about having fun. Don’t worry if you’re used to waves of a smaller size or you’re a complete beginner there’s something for you. We will always choose conditions to suit your level and comfort zone, we never throw people in at the deep end.

We also offer surf classes for kids but generally our groups are formed of people around 30 years old.

The surf course also includes:

-Surfboard, leash & wax
-Prolimit 5/3 mm wetsuit
-Surf photos / Video analysis
-Surfspot shuttle
-Expert tuition both in and out the water
-Yoga sessions

CLIMB COURSE DETAILS

This is going to be more than just a week of top roping, this is a comprehensive yet exhilarating 5-day adult (20-50 years) course. Our goal is that you become a self-sufficient climber. Each day, our highly qualified, experienced and contagiously enthusiastic guide will provide you with top of the range equipment and take you to the best climbing spots in the area, in the mountains or by the sea. Depending on the weather and local temperatures we will always try to climb at the most suitable times and places. Our guides know this area like the back of their hands, they literally know every stone and crack in Sintra and Cascais, and will share with you the accompanying history and insight into local flora and fauna.

Kids are also welcome to join the climbing sessions or can be entertained at home, at the beach or one side in the mountain with one of our helpers.

Each climbing session is taught in a fun, no pressure manner and goes hand in hand with daily theory lessons that cover climbing safety, communication & belaying, climbing & rope technique, climbing vocabulary, equipment design and leading.

At SaltyWay we believe knowledge gives you security and security allows you to have fun!” So whatever your level we will provide the practical and theoretical know how in order to take you to the next level. We climb in small groups of 4 so as to keep the teaching personal, the vibe intimate and not overcrowd the climbing spots. If you are eager for more and wish to climb during your free time, then we recommend you to go to a bouldering sectors near by. Just take our bouldering mat from SaltyWay and off you go.

We also offer two yoga sessions a week to compliment your climbing. The yoga will not only improve your balance but it will offer a welcomed relief to sore muscles and a chance to refocus and settle your mind after the adrenaline of each day.

It's all about having fun at Saltyway. Don’t worry if you’re a complete beginner there’s something for you. We will always choose spots to suit your level and comfort zone, we’ve got your back whatever your ability, and that’s a promise!

The 5 half day climbing course also includes:

-Top of the range climbing equipment and shoes
-Magnesium
-Yoga sessions
-Climbing photos and video analyses
-Transportation to and from the best climbing spots
-Expert instructors giving game changing tips and advice
-Progression from top roping to leading your own rout

SURF & CLIMB

If you can't decide whether you wish to surf or climb, then do both! SaltyWay offers the perfect package, with 3 half days surfing and 2 half days climbing. Enjoy the similarities of using your whole body while experiencing the best of both worlds, the ocean and the Serra. This package provides you with a complete immersion in nature and sport.