cold water, hot sun and not a sea in sight
There's a shade of water that only shows up in certain inland reservoirs. At Azibo it's almost impossible to describe, but the moment you see it you get why people here come back every summer.
Praia do Azibo sits on the reservoir of the same name, right in the heart of Trás-os-Montes, a few kilometres from Macedo de Cavaleiros. It's held a blue flag for years, which for a river beach tells you everything about the state of the water. The sand is clean, the bathing area is well looked after, and there's room to spare so you're not stuck listening to your neighbour chew.
The feel is different from the coast. More family, more easy-going, with that specific Nordeste transmontano rhythm where nobody seems in a hurry to be anywhere.
All around, the Azibo nature reserve closes the horizon with pines and granite rock. If you've never tried a beach with no waves and no salt on your skin, Azibo is the right argument for what the interior has to offer in the hot months.
what you'll find
- fresh water, cold and surprisingly clear
- river sand without the sea's hassles
- a family feel without the chaos of the coastal beaches
- nature-reserve scenery right at the water's edge
- Trás-os-Montes at its summer best
