A Trip to Berlengas Island

We're always amazed at the local places of interest in Portugal. While we enjoy our European international travels, there's much to explore in our neck of the woods. Our friend arranged a group day trip to Berlengas Island. Until her invitation to join, I only knew that it existed as a rocky mass visible from the Peniche Peninsula when we were there last year. The place reminds me of the videogame Myst with its intriguing combination of outcroppings in a watery world and human-made structures. The place had an interesting past of religious practitioners, pirates, and royal entanglements.
As you will see in the video, the island is easily accessible by boat excursions that depart from the coastal city of Peniche, which is about an hour and a half drive north of Lisbon. From Peniche, you can take a day cruise to the island by ferry. The trip takes about 50 minutes. www.getyourgui...
Once you're on the island, you can hike and explore on your own, as long as you stay on designated trails. This is for your own safety and to protect the native habitats. There are some treacherous areas that you should be aware of. Watch your step! The island offers beautiful views of the rock formations,, crystal clear waters, natural vegetation, and the lighthouse. The highlight was the Fort of São João Baptista and the glassbottom boat cruise to see the Berlengas rocky coast and sea caves. Although you have the option to explore on your own, we learned a lot about the island's features and history from our guide Paolo.
You can learn more about Berlengas Island online. Here's a link to the Lonely Planet website: www.lonelyplan.... (I have no affiliation with Lonely Planet).