In autumn and winter, flamingos cover the estuary with a distinctive pink hue, and in spring and summer, the miles of beaches on the Tróia peninsula offer you a myriad of dunes to explore. You can also visit the freshwater lakes of the Herdade do Pinheiro.

Unlike most Portuguese rivers, the Sado runs from south to north, and people have been fishing, extracting salt and growing rice in the region since Neolithic times.

Nowadays, the 261 species of fauna that can be found in the 23,000 hectares of the reserve have made the Sado area famous worldwide.

The region is also famed for the white storks that build their nests in church towers, making them a familiar sight for residents.

For the ultimate Sado experience, board an old salt galleon or trawler and venture out on to the waters of the estuary. With a bit of luck you will be greeted by some of the many porpoises and dolphins that accompany local boats.