Portugal: Lisbon & Surf Culture with Rustic Pathways
Hosted by
- Portugal
Frequently asked questions
You can apply to Portugal: Lisbon & Surf Culture with Rustic Pathways by clicking the "Apply Now" button.
Portugal: Lisbon & Surf Culture with Rustic Pathways starts at $3,395 USD. For full pricing, visit the provider’s website.
Portugal: Lisbon & Surf Culture with Rustic Pathways is open to participants aged 14 to 18.
The program runs for 1-2 weeks.
Yes, the program includes housing. Participants stay in lodges.
The program fee includes accommodation, activities, domestic airfare, airport transfers, meals, transportation, and wifi.
Portugal: Lisbon & Surf Culture with Rustic Pathways is located in Portugal.
About Program
Portugal: Lisbon & Surf Culture is an 8-day travel program for high-school students ages 14–18. The program combines surf lessons, coastal exploration, and cultural experiences in and around Lisbon, including 3 hours of community service.
Students on the Portugal: Lisbon & Surf Culture program experience a week based in the Setúbal region with day trips into Lisbon and along the Atlantic coast. Days are structured around surf sessions at Costa da Caparica, time on the water exploring the Arrábida coast by boat with swimming in calm bays, and hands-on coastal stewardship through beach cleanups and a collaborative art project inspired by what the group collects.
Program Highlights
- Earn up to 3 service hours through a Costa da Caparica beach cleanup and collaborative art project using collected materials.
- Learn to surf on Portugal’s Atlantic coast through guided sessions at Costa da Caparica.
- Visit Setúbal’s food market and prepare traditional Portuguese dishes in a hands-on cooking class.
- Explore Lisbon’s Alfama district and LX Factory, with a tasting of the city’s signature pastéis de nata.
- Cruise along the Arrábida coast, swim in calm bays, and visit the historic Bataria do Outão.
How Rustic Pathways Staffs Its Programs
Video and Photos
Diversity & Inclusion 💙
BIPOC Support
Program staff complete annual DEIA, cultural sensitivity, and LGBTQ+ competency training, supported by external partners including Gender Spectrum, with scenario-based role-plays on racial discrimination and microaggressions.
LGBTQIA+ Support
Rustic Pathways uses gender-affirming practices across housing, pronoun use, and program design, and plans rooming for transgender and nonbinary students individually and confidentially with the student and family before travel.
Rustic Pathways discloses when local laws in a program destination affect LGBTQ+ travelers, so students and families can plan with full information.
Neurodivergent Support
Personal Travel Advisors at Rustic Pathways create a customized plan that may include predictable routines, sensory breaks, smaller group settings, and clear communication guidelines.
Accessibility Support
Students with chronic health conditions or daily medication needs can travel with Rustic Pathways after a medical review.
Rustic Pathways is candid about limits: programs often take place in remote locations and developing regions where infrastructure such as ramps, paved walkways, and lifts may be limited or nonexistent, so universal accessibility is not possible in every destination.
Impact 🌎
Sustainability
92% of Rustic Pathways seasonal staff are local to the regions where programs operate. Rustic Pathways works to minimize its environmental footprint and offers wildlife experiences only on programs where they support conservation and animal welfare can be assured.
The Rustic Pathways Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3), has raised more than $1.14 million for community projects since 2017.
Ethical Impact
When priorities conflict, Rustic Pathways applies a decision-making hierarchy that puts student safety first, followed by legal compliance and ethical responsibility, with financial impact never the primary driver.
These standards have cost Rustic Pathways revenue: programs have been declined, partnerships have been ended, and destinations have been exited when ethical standards could not be maintained.
Popular Programs
The program blends surf lessons, coastal adventures, cultural discovery, and impactful community service across Portugal and Spain. Students start near Lisbon, riding Atlantic waves and exploring vibrant neighborhoods, then continue to Barcelona to engage in service projects, try hands-on culinary experiences, and enjoy the sights and activities along the Mediterranean coast.
European Adventure is a 30-day summer program in Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece. This adventure combines surfing, cultural experiences, culinary workshops, and sea turtle conservation, along with 36 hours of community service. Start in Portugal and Spain, surfing, exploring cities, and sampling local cuisine and markets. The journey continues through Italy and Greece - learn to make fresh pasta, and take part in marine conservation in Greece.
