Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NATURAL PARKS & RESERVES
Portugal's mixed bag of natural parks and reserves is worth the effort. The Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês is the
country's only bona fide
parque nacional
(national park), but there are 24 other parks of varying designations. These
areas total some 6500 sq km - just over 7% of Portugal's land area.
The
Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e da Biodiversidade
(ICNB;
http://portal.icn.pt
)
is the government
agency responsible for the parks. It has general information, but detailed maps and English-language materials are
sometimes hard to come by. Standards of maintenance and facilities vary wildly. For a picture of all the rich wildlife and
diverse landscapes on offer, browse the table below.
PARK/RESERVE
FEATURES
lushly forested mountains, rock-strewn plateaus, deer, birds of
prey, hot springs, wolves, long-horned cattle
Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês (
Click here
)
coastal mountain range, birds of prey, diverse flora, damaged by
wildfire
Parque Natural da Arrábida (
Click here
)
salty coastal lagoons, lakes, marshes, dunes, rich bird life,
beaches, Mediterranean chameleons
Parque Natural da Ria Formosa (
Click here
)
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela (
Click here
)
pristine mountains - Portugal's highest, rich bird life, rare herbs
Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros
(
Click here
)
limestone mountains, cave systems, covered in gorse & olive
trees
remote oasis of peaceful grassland & forest, last wild refuge for
Iberian wolf
Parque Natural de Montesinho (
Click here
)
Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais
rugged coastline & mountains, diverse flora
Parque Natural do Alvão (
Click here
)
granite basin, pine forest, waterfalls, rich bird life, deer, boar
canyon country with high cliffs & lakes, home to many en-
dangered birds of prey
gentle hills & plains, rivers, rare birds of prey, snakes, toads,
prehistoric sites
Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana (
Click here
)
Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa
Vicentina (
Click here
)
coastal cliffs & remote beaches, unique plants, otters, foxes,
200 bird types
Reserva Natural da Berlenga (
Click here
)
remote islands in clear seas, rock formations, caves, seabirds
thickly wooded coastal park, rich in bird life
Reserva Natural do Estuário do Sado (Sado estu-
ary;
Click here
)
estuary of mud, marshes, lagoons & dunes, bird life including
flamingos, molluscs, bottlenose dolphins
Reserva Natural do Sapal de Castro Marim e Vila
Real de Santo António (
Click here
)
marshland & salt pans, flamingos, spoonbills, avocet, Caspian
terns, white storks
