Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Prime Spots
Southern Portugal offers some lovely hiking opportunities. One of the newest routes
(opened in 2013) is the Rota Vicentina (
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)
, which consists of two signed long-
distance trails in the Alentejo - one along the coast (120km), one inland (230km) - both
of which offer picturesque scenery, and there are opportunities to stay in guesthouses
along the way.
Those interested in walking the breadth of the country should consider the Via Algarvi-
ana (
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)
, a 300km route following paved and unpaved roads between Alcoutim
and Sagres that takes two to three weeks. Day hikers will find the Algarve equally reward-
ing, in places like Monchique (
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)
and Rocha da Pena (
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)
.
In the Beiras, the Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela (
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)
forms a beautiful
backdrop for walking, with both day hikes and multiday itineraries. In many places you're
likely to have the trail to yourself. Especially beautiful is the Vale do Zêzere, a glacial val-
ley at the foot of Torre, Portugal's highest peak. A good base in this region is the moun-
tain village of Manteigas. Also in the Beiras is the beautiful multiday GR-22 walking
route, a 540km circuit of historic villages including medieval hill towns such as Sortelha,
Linhares and Monsanto.
Perhaps the country's best walking is in the far north, where Parque Nacional da
Peneda-Gerês (
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)
offers gorgeous hikes over mountainous terrain, encompassing
forests, villages, high-altitude boulder fields, archaeological sites and ancient Roman
touristy base (but with lots of services) is Vila do Gerês. In neighbouring Trás-os-Montes,
the natural parks of Montesinho (
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)
, Alvão (
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)
and Douro Internacional
(
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)
also have some splendid trails connecting the region's remarkably pictur-
esque stone villages.
Closer to civilisation, there are some great day hikes in prime tourist areas, including
the walk along the top of Évora's 16th- century aqueduct and the climb from Sintra to its
9th-century Moorish castle (
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)
.
Walking Tours
If you love to walk but hate to plan, why not consider an organised walking tour? The
companies listed here offer both group walking tours - complete with tour leader - and
self-guided tours where you walk independently, following an itinerary provided by the
tour company, with pre-arranged meals and lodging included in the price.
