Overview
Santa Cruz sits on Portugal's Atlantic coast, about an hour from Lisbon — a low-key beach town with over 20 sandy coves and cliff paths within easy reach. kiDay's adventure camp is based a short walk from the town center, and the whole two weeks is built around one idea: teenagers learn the most when the activity itself is the reason to show up.
Weekday mornings are a three-hour adventure block that changes every day — an intro surf lesson one morning, high ropes, sailing or stand-up paddleboarding the next, with longboarding, cliff-top walks, kayaking and mountain biking in the mix. Afternoons open up into a wider menu that mixes the full camp together, from paintball to beach olympics.
What's included
A day at camp
- Morning Adventure block (3 hrs) — a different activity each day: surf, sail, paddleboard, climb, bike or kayak
- Midday Lunch, pool time, downtime with cabin group
- Afternoon Whole-camp sign-up activities: beach volleyball, kayaking, paintball, more
- Evening Themed evening programme — International Night, beach campfire, movie night
Where campers stay
Campers live in the Residence, a recently built building within Santa Cruz's Pousada da Juventude complex that is reserved exclusively for camp, about 15 minutes' walk from the beach and the town centre. Apartments are modern and spacious, sleeping four with en-suite bathrooms and balcony access, and campers are separated by age and gender. There's a large private swimming pool, sports courts, grassed gardens, two activity rooms for evenings, and on-site security.
Meals
Three meals a day plus a salad bar, with packed lunches on excursion days. Most dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.
Excursions
More photos
Frequently asked questions
What age group is this camp for?
13 to 17 year-olds. Activity groups are split by age and by the specialty a camper chooses.
Does this camp include English lessons?
No — this is an activity-first adventure camp, not a language school. English immersion happens naturally through daily life with international counselors and campers.
How do we get to Santa Cruz?
Fly into Lisbon Airport, about an hour's drive away. The camp runs escorted transfers from the airport for arrivals and departures between 09:00 and 19:00 — they're an optional extra, and we'll confirm the current price when you book.
What's the counselor-to-camper ratio?
An average of 1 counselor to 6 campers across all activities.
Are phones allowed?
Campers can bring one, but the camp strongly recommends leaving it at home. Phones are handed in on arrival and given back once a day during official free time. Worth knowing if you're comparing it against fully device-free programs, or ones with open phone use.