José Manuel (quadriplegic, Spain) has been in a wheelchair for 36 years. From the very first moment, he knew he would have to tackle this by staying active and travelling is a good way to do this. 

In his time with a spinal injury he's visited many different countries, but one he know particularly well is Portugal. He's been to many cities, including Braganza, Chaves, Braga, Vila Real, Porto, Coimbra, Lisbon, Sintra, Cascáis, Aveiro, Faro, and more. And he has great memories of all of them.

Recently, he visited Porto with his add-on handbike and he tell us how wheelchair friendly is the city. 

«Portugal isn't an easy place to get around in a wheelchair, with its cobblestone streets and steep hills, but it is especially charming. It's definitely worth going.» 

He told us, "Portugal isn't an easy place to get around in a wheelchair, with its cobblestone streets and steep hills, but it is especially charming. It's definitely worth going." Despite its complicated topography, it is an accessible country. Public transport, except for the streetcars, is all adapted; and he says that there are wheelchair-accessible funiculars in both Lisbon and Porto that take you up or down the hill. In terms of accommodations, José Manuel has noticed a big improvement over the years. It's much easier to find adapted hotels nowadays.

José Manuel recommends driving down the coast to enjoy the beautiful scenery and stop in the cities.

As a wheelchair user, José Manuel recommends driving down the coast to enjoy the beautiful scenery and stop in the cities to visit their markets, churches and, of course, to try some good cod.

José Manuel recently returned to Portugal, but this time with his add-on handbike. He chose to go to Porto and José Manuel says he saw a big difference from previous trips. For example, he says that when he was in Lisbon, a city that is complicated but easier to get around in a wheelchair than Porto, he needed a lot of help. On this trip, with his BATEC QUAD ELECTRIC handbike, the hills and cobblestones were a piece of cake thanks to the electric assist and front-wheel traction on our handbikes.

The hills and cobblestones were a piece of cake thanks to the electric assist and front-wheel traction on our handbikes.

We hope this is the first of many trips to Portugal with his handbike so he can enjoy all of those cities left to visit, and those he already has, like never before.