Manuel Ribeiro

Son of the Earth and the Mountains, unconditional lover of natural environments, in ancient times he would have been born on top of a bale of straw, somewhere in Serra do Soajo. It was there, in the heart of the Peneda Gerês National Park, that he took his first steps towards his dream of living a life outdoors.

But his restlessness screamed for other horizons and at the age of 13 he headed to the United States for a 2-month road trip. The following years were divided between the Soajo cliffs and adventures around the world, whether building boats in Greece or exploring the Pyrenees on foot.

He is passionate about mountain traditions, the result of the environment in which he grew up and which today define his lifestyle and professional career.

He created @soajonomadis where he promotes rivertrekking activities and trails to explore Soajo and is also the mentor and creator of @SoajoOutdoorFest, a music and outdoor activities festival.

Serra do Soajo, in addition to being the place where I grew up and took the first steps towards what I am today, is a place that inspires me and gives me moments of calm, when I need it most. I could be here describing with many words what this mountain means to me, but I will sum it all up in two words: Unconditional love.