70 Stand Up Paddlers Set To Paddle The Guadiana River In One Day

ALGARVE, Portugal - In 2014 Nick Robinson paddled 32km down the Guadiana River and loved it so much, that he vowed to do it again. In 2015 he created the "Guadiana Challenge" and asked 12 stand up paddlers to come with. 18 willing paddlers clamored to join him. Now this year more than 70 paddlers from all over Portugal and Europe will paddle down alongside Nick from the picturesque Alentejan town of Mertola and onto the Algarve's jewel of the river, Alcoutim.

On April 2nd, 2016 you can follow the intrepid adventurers as they proceed down one of Portugal's most remote waterways. They are completing the trip in four stages, leaving Mertola at 9am and paddling off for Penha d'Aguia where steaming cups of hot coffee await them. The second stage ends for lunch at Pomarrão where a fish festival is being held and the third stage pushes on to the Spanish town of Puerto de la Laje for afternoon tea and (most likely a soggy sandwich hauled out of a backpack!). Drinks will be available at the finish line in Alcoutim at the Centro Nautico where the participants will await transport to return them to Mertola.

Are you ready for the Guadiana River Challenge? | Photos Courtesy: Nick Robinson

A dinner is being organized in Mertola. If you'd like a day out in one of the Algarve's most beautiful natural areas check out more details on Nick's site at www.algarvesup.com/gc. You can also learn more about the Guadiana River Challenge by watching the video below.

About the Guadiana Challenge

The Guadiana Challenge came about after Nick Robinson explored the stand up paddle routes in the Algarve and found that the villages of Mertola and Alcoutim were 32km apart: the perfect paddling distance for a day trip. In 2015 there was 18 people, in 2016 they’re expecting 70. It's growing rapidly!