Explore Portugal's World World Heritage City Of Porto With Culture Xplorers’ Urban Adventures

For most travelers to Portugal’s UNESCO World Heritage city of Porto, the region means port, the eponymous fortified wine for which the town is famed.

For Jim Kane, whose life work is fostering connections between travelers and local communities in other cultures, urban adventure means seeking out hidden gems that reveal a destination in fresh and unexpected ways.

"You don't have to travel to the ends of the earth to have an incredible adventure" says Kane, founder of Culture Xplorers (http://www.culturexplorers.com/). “You just have to explore with new eyes.”

“Porto,” says Kane, “is a story of vibrant urban renewal. That’s why we take our guests far beyond port, into re-imagined townhouses, cafés and galleries to meet and interact with the change-makers breathing new life and energy into this millennial seaport town.”

Three eight-day departures of an adventure called “Active, Uncorked & Around the Table” are planned in 2014 to northern Portugal: May 17, June 14 and Aug. 30.The per person, double, rate is $2,995 inclusive of accommodations selected to represent regional culture, meals, ground transfers and more. See:http://www.culturexplorers.com/destinations/northern-portugal

Kane and his team provide guests with insider’s knowledge from local experts and hosts. Here are a few secrets from Kane's black book when traveling to Porto.

Porto behind the Tiles: Many of Porto's historic and formerly forlorn 19^th century townhouses have been completely restored and re-imagined as boutique B&B's, small art galleries, hip cafés and eclectic retail shops specializing in local artisan goods. An insider’s walking tour introduces guests to some of the entrepreneurs and innovators fueling the city's newfound energy.

Hosted Dinner with Local Flavor:Miss'OPO is a wonderful example of the fresh energy being injected into Porto's urban core. A 19th century townhouse tucked away on a quiet side street in the heart of the city became Miss'OPO after being completely gutted and re-invented as a tapas bar, café, newsstand, art gallery and small guesthouse. Now it acts as a magnet for community gatherings, including weekend family-style dinners where the owners emerge from the kitchen with endless platters of tasty home-cooked fare. Regional wines and energetic chatter of Porteños re-connecting at their favorite gathering spot flow in equal measure.

Kayak the Douro: Only 90 minutes away in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Upper Douro Valley, plentiful outdoor adventures await, including the option of a half day of kayaking along the Douro River with breathtaking views of ancient terraced vineyards.

Heavenly Hike: The Douro's vineyards should also be discovered walking along some of the ancient stone pathways that wend amongst them.

"One of my top recommendations for an invigorating 90-minute adventure is a five-kilometer trek (3.1 miles) starting and ending at a gloriously restored manor house B&B, Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros,” says Kane who recommends booking a night or two here as an extension to any Porto adventure.

Legacy Lunch: Imagine a home that has been in the same family for 32 generations, whose history dates to the founding of Portugal and whose estate vines produce some of the region's finest white wines. Now imagine yourself as the guests of a multi-lingual family descendant who now manages the property. This is the adventure that beckons at Casa Sezim, barely an hour from Porto by private vehicle.

About Culture Xplorers
Culture Xplorers (http://www.culturexplorers.com/), a leader in sustainable travel, offers handcrafted journeys that deepen understanding and foster connection between travelers and local communities around the world.

Culture Xplorers trips are created from the ground up, built on three founding pillars: people, traditions and impact. Their travelers meet the people of the places they visit, engaging in the living traditions that make each destination unique, and in doing so, create a lasting, positive impact through tourism. Genuine connections with people and place are formed farm-to-fork and around the table, via participation in local celebrations and through authentic exchange with community leaders and members.

Countries where cultural exchanges are fostered are Peru, Guatemala, Argentina, Mexico, Spain, Portugal and Cuba (in 2014). The Culture Xplorers Foundation was founded in 2007 to help foster the sustainability of local culture in at risk communities worldwide. Its positive impact partnerships focus on sustaining endangered traditions, strengthening education, fostering community-based travel and breaking the cycle of poverty through the support of comprehensive micro-loan and education programs.  See: http://www.cxfoundation.org/

For 2014 season information, tours, availability and reservations contact Culture Xplorers at (215) 870-3585 or email: info@culturexplorers.com. 

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