Figueira da Foz, just 40km west of Coimbra, is one of the liveliest towns on the west coast of Portugal. Situated where the Mondego River meets the Atlantic and sheltered by the mountains of the Serra da Boa Viagem this coastal settlement was a major deep-sea fishing port long before it became a popular tourist destination. Literally 'Fig Tree at the Mouth of the River', Figueira is home to Portugal's largest...
To the north of the resort of Figueira da Foz is a virtually endless stretch of fine sandy beach backed by low dunes and thick pine forest. Whilst much of this coast is equally sandy, the sea is the same blue and the pines smell just as piney there are only a few points where you can actually drive down to the coast.
Praia da Tocha is one of these places, located around 10km to the north of Figueira. If you didn't know about it then you probably wouldn't head down the straight pine-...
Its nickname, Rainha das Praias (Queen of Beaches) leaves us in no doubt as to the main attraction at Figueira da Foz. True to form, the summer months see its long stretches of golden sands attract swarms of beach lovers who...
