Salir Do Porto – River Beach and Dune on the Rio Tornada

On the calm waters of the Rio Tornada lies Praia de Salir do Porto, a river beach that helps shape the character of the place. If you are considering Salir do Porto as a destination for your stay, the different areas along the river, the dune and the historic traces found here give you a concrete impression of what to expect.

River Beach, Shore and Dune

Praia de Salir do Porto consists of two distinct areas. One is directly accessible from the village; the other lies on the opposite side of the river, on the São Martinho side by the dune. The beach is accessed via the town of Salir do Porto and Rua Dom Fernando. There is an outdoor car park.

Duna de Salir do Porto is about 50 metres high and 200 metres long. It protects the beach from Atlantic winds and is considered Portugal’s largest coastal dune. From the dune, you can see across the river and the bay of São Martinho. Pocinha de Salir, a mesothermal freshwater spring, is also located at the mouth of the Rio Tornada.

Trails and Activities by the Water

A cycling and walking path for recreational exercise, about 1.5 kilometres long, runs from Salir do Porto along the beach to São Martinho do Porto. The entire route follows a wooden boardwalk. Another cycling route is about 8.2 kilometres long and follows the Estrada Atlântica from Foz do Arelho to Salir do Porto. The two routes differ in both length and course: the shorter one follows the beach, while the longer one follows the road. Municipal trail-running routes also pass through Salir do Porto and include views of Duna de Salir do Porto.

The Quebradas also offer different opportunities for activities. Quebrada da Maria da Serra is considered particularly suitable for fishing. Quebrada de São Romeu is considered suitable for diving and lies just behind the Barre, which borders the bay on the Salir side. The bed of Quebrada dos Batos consists of millions of small, rounded pebbles.

Traces of the Town’s History

The ruins of the former customs house and the castle of Salir are valuable evidence of the town’s history. The former customs house served the entire municipality: boats were repaired and built there using wood from Pinhal de Leiria. Capela de Sant’Ana is considered a 12th-century chapel. Capela da Senhora de Sant’Ana offers a special view of the sea and the bay.

The site of the dinosaur footprints of Salir do Porto tells a different kind of story. It is about 155 million years old; the footprints point to a rare swimming behaviour. Gruta de Salir do Porto is also a remarkable natural feature: it contains long-standing stalactite formations that have retained their original shapes, as well as several animal species. Cave visits are possible by appointment.

In Salir do Porto, river landscapes and coastline come together with routes of different lengths and courses, as well as traces of natural and local history. You can weigh up which of these aspects matters for your trip by considering the specific places and activities.

Discover more destinations: São Vicente, Pedrógão Grande, Roliça, Lousal, Baleal, Nadadouro, Caldas Da Rainha, Monte Real

For the main travel overview: Leiria.