Spain & Portugal for Second Timers: Aveiro Madeira Nerja

What to expect on this itinerary
During this 10-day off-the-beaten-path tour of Spain and Portugal, glide along the picturesque canals of the small Portuguese town of Aveiro as the sweet sounds of Fado music drift through the air. Delight in the natural beauty of Nerja as magnificent cliff faces rise from the sea, uncover these countries’ hidden treasures, and venture to locales that are rarely frequented, even by the locals. From the indulgent flavors of Madeira wine to the medieval charm of Salamanca, this journey will offer you a unique experience in two of Western Europe’s most spectacular countries.
Customizable Itinerary
Aveiro – Explore the Picturesque Canals
A country with much to discover, Portugal will delight you with its forgotten towns, hidden beaches, and splendid wine country. You will arrive in the city of Aveiro, which is Portugal’s charming version of Venice and where you will be met by your private driver at the airport’s baggage claim. You will be transferred to your luxurious accommodation that was formerly an intricate palace. Today, you will have the wonderful opportunity to glide through the charming canals that crisscross through the city in a private Moliceiro. These are long, narrow, and colorful boats that were traditionally rowed along Aveiro’s canals. On your leisurely ride, you will float through the entire city, finding yourself entirely enchanted by the colorful buildings and charming streets.
What's Included:
Aveiro – Tour the City and Visit Costa Nova
Madeira – Enjoy Breathtaking Views of Funchal
Madeira – Uncover the Magic of Fado
Madeira – Discover the Birthplace of Madeira Wine
Nerja – Relax at the Beach
Nerja – Luxuriate with a Day on the Mediterranean Coast
Madrid – Discover the Old-World Charm of Salamanca
Madrid – Private Tour of Segovia
Madrid – Visit Temple of Debod
Trip Highlights
- Discover the charming canals of Aveiro and be amazed by this hidden gem of a city, which is Portugal’s version of Venice
- Enjoy a private tour of Aveiro and visit the colorful, seaside neighborhood of Costa Nova
- Be delighted by breathtaking views of Aveiro when you ride the magnificent Funchal Cable Car in Madeira
- Marvel at the sounds of Fado as you watch a private show that is accompanied by a gourmet meal
- Discover the lesser-known, Spanish beach town of Nerja, where you will be absolutely stunned by the area’s serene beauty
- Luxuriate on a cruise around the shores of Nerja on a private yacht
- Delight in an excursion to the age-old town of Salamanca
- Immerse yourself in the town of Segovia and learn of the town’s rich history that dates back to ancient times
Detailed Description
From the gorgeous town of Frigiliana on Spain’s southern coast to the tropical vineyards of the Portuguese island of Madeira, Spain and Portugal are home to some of Europe’s most unique treasures. You will uncover the ancient secrets of Salamanca and Segovia, which are located only a short distance outside the Spanish capital of Madrid. Prepare to be captivated by the allure of Aveiro’s charming canals and winding streets, which are lined with colorful homes and cafes. On this luxurious, 10-day adventure of Spain and Portugal, you will venture off the beaten path to discover the very best of the hidden treasures that lie within these splendid countries.
Your tour will begin in Aveiro, which is Portugal’s version of Venice and where you will be enchanted by the lovely canals that wind through the city. You will enjoy exploring the town and learning about history on a private tour. Afterward, you will continue to the Portuguese island of Madeira, which is the birthplace of world-famous Madeira wine. You will indulge in a private excursion to the tropical vineyards of the island and experience a specially curated wine tasting. You will find yourself completely captivated by the melancholy sounds of Portuguese Fado music when you attend a private show. Your show will be accompanied by a gourmet dinner with wine pairing.
The following day, you will arrive on Spain’s southern coast, where you will have the unique opportunity to explore the stunning beach town of Nerja. Here, you will discover the unparalleled town of Frigiliana, which has often been renowned as the most beautiful town in Spain. Soon after, you will arrive in the Spanish capital of Madrid, where you will delight in excursions to the nearby towns of Segovia and Salamanca. On this off-the-beaten-track, 10-day adventure of Spain and Portugal, you will traverse these magnificent regions in utter luxury as you uncover the abundant hidden gems that exist within them.
Starting Price
$3,900 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 3552 reviews
The trip was great. Zicasso’s travel specialist and her crew put together a great itinerary and left us plenty of downtime, so we were not exhausted each evening. The drivers were good and, although not guides, offered plenty of history along the way. All the guides were exceptional.
We loved all the hotels, especially our hotel in the mountains. That was very special.
The travel specialist had obviously passed along the note that we did not want to go shopping, like sometimes happens with the guides.
The food and restaurant suggestions were all good.
Overall, it was a very well-planned and articulated agenda. The software that they use to keep in contact worked very well once I understood it! Lol.
My only comment was that on trips in the past, the beginning of the trip started with a personal stop at our hotel by a representative from the company. I understood later that their headquarters is in a more remote area. But if I was a new traveler, I would have enjoyed putting a face with the name. Fortunately, the package they left at the hotel did indeed have all our tickets and passes.
I would definitely recommend this travel company and would use them again.
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I went on a two-week trip through France and Spain, and my experience with Zicasso’s travel specialist was amazing! She was incredibly responsive and communicative, and made sure my trip went as smoothly as possible.
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It was a fantastic trip. Great activities were planned. It was seamlessly executed.
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Zicasso’s travel company took care of all our needs and if we needed to make changes or find reservations at great restaurants, they responded quickly and set us up in some fantastic restaurants.
The guides and drivers were all super-knowledgeable and nice. We would definitely use the travel company again for trips to Portugal and Spain, and also use Zicasso to help us find tour companies in other countries.
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Flawless doesn't begin to describe how incredible and meticulous the planning and taste that went into designing our Spain and Morocco trip. I reached out to Zicasso’s travel specialist far in advance, describing a dream vacation for my husband and me that included a near-impossible amount of locations to cover through both countries in only two weeks. We had tried coming up with an itinerary with another planner prior to meeting the travel specialist, but it did not work out. When we shared our vision with the travel specialist, he materialized it on paper in a way that made sense and even made adjustments that fit within our budget. We got to see every location with enough time to savor each.
The order of travel from Barcelona to Andalucía to Morocco was an intricate weave that told a story of cross-cultural exchange. We started off with Gaudí architecture and the Sagrada Família, sunsets at the Puente Nuevo, Alhambra, and Córdoba, marveled at the grandeur of the mosque cathedral, savored seafood paella and Picasso art in Málaga. We finished off road-tripping in Morocco, starting from the blue city of Chefchaouhen, continuing our journey through Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Marrakech, and the Atlas Mountains. It was nothing short of magical.
We will never forget the beauty of the sun rising above the Atlas Mountains, private candlelit dinners on our private terrace in the riads, the colors of the souks, and the hospitality of our Moroccan hosts. Each riad was carefully selected and far exceeded our expectations. And of course, our driver in Morocco was an absolute delight and went above and beyond. Besides providing transportation, he acted as a friend who showed us the ins and outs, helping us see Morocco in a way that we would not have if we went in a large group or had chosen to come alone. Overall, my husband and I cannot recommend our travel specialist enough.
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Zicasso’s travel company designed a fabulous 17-day Spain and Portugal tour for us. It was a pleasure to work with our travel specialist during the entire design process. First, the travel specialist spent time talking to us over the phone so she could get to know what each of us wanted to get out of the trip. Armed with that information, she was able to come up with a recommended agenda. We went back and forth a few times until she designed a trip that suited both of our interests. This trip turned out to be the perfect balance between learning about the history of the area, experiencing the culture, and enjoying our surroundings in rural and urban environments.
The week before we left on the tour, we reviewed our entire trip with the travel specialist over the phone. She wanted to answer any questions we may have had and to make sure we understood how to use our trip app. The trip app made it easy to see what we were doing each day. It contained descriptions of each tour and what was significant about the sites we were visiting. We had access to all our tickets through the app. There were Google Map links, so we could easily navigate to the location we needed to be. Recommendations for various restaurants and other things to do in the area were also included in the app.
The travel specialist provided her contact information and back-up contacts in case we needed anything during our trip. She made it clear to us that if our guide or driver was more than five minutes late to contact her. The travel company was there to support us 24/7.
The travel specialist pays attention to details. I highly recommend the travel company for designing a trip to Spain and Portugal.
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