ANTIPODEAN Away: Porto Covo
with ISABEL VILARDEBO
Antipodean girl Isabel Vilardebo takes us to Porto Covo, a quiet corner of Portugal's Costa Vicentina that she keeps returning to. She shares what makes this place feel different, and why sometimes the best trips are the ones with the least to do.
What is Porto Covo?
Porto Covo is a small coastal village in the south of Portugal, sitting within the protected Costa Vicentina. It's the kind of place most people drive past on the way to somewhere else. It doesn't advertise itself. The landscape is largely untouched, the pace is slow, and that's very much by design.
“I keep going back.”
When I want to actually switch off, Porto Covo is where I end up. It's not a trip where you pack an itinerary. You show up, you slow down, and the place does the rest.
Where to stay in Porto Covo?
I usually base myself at Herdade das Três Marias, which sits surrounded by nature with the ocean nearby. Quiet mornings, nothing around you, and the beach easy enough to get to during the day. It's a good setup whether you want to do very little or head out for a surf session.
What to do in Porto Covo?
That mix is part of what makes this stretch of coast work. It's not purely a rest destination and it's not purely a surf trip. The wild beaches are here, the surf culture is real, and the calm holds it together. You can spend a morning doing nothing and an afternoon in the water and both feel completely right.
The beaches in Porto Covo are not groomed or crowded. The water is cold. The cliffs are big. The village is small and not trying to impress anyone. If you're used to destinations that put effort into the experience, it can feel almost indifferent at first. Give it a day and that starts to feel like the whole point.
Is Porto Covo worth visiting?
If you want somewhere in southern Portugal that still feels genuinely off the radar, with good surf, wild coastline, and room to breathe, Porto Covo is worth the detour. Don't over-plan it. Book somewhere to stay, check the surf report if that's relevant, and leave the rest open.
What Isabel wore: The Wavepool Set
For the trip, Isabel wore the full Wave Pool set in Blue Lagoon.
The hook and eye bodice top paired with the wrap mini skirt, both cut in the same surf print fabric with fringe detailing, create a refined silhouette that moves effortlessly from beach to bar. The look feels considered yet unfussy, carrying easily from day into evening.
Blue Lagoon features our original in house placement print, hand drawn by our founder and inspired by the shifting tones and movement of the sea. The result is a tonal, ocean led palette that feels elevated and fluid, bringing a quiet sense of luxury to the collection while echoing the rhythm of Porto Covo itself.
