Portugal has some of the most striking landscapes in Western Europe, but it has yet to acquire the fame and popularity of France and Spain as a walking destination. A Portugal hiking holiday can encompass many different experiences – walking along the legendary coast of the Algarve, trekking through little known parks in the north of the country, exploring dramatic river valleys, or just strolling around beautiful cosmopolitan cities. If you are looking for a truly beautiful place to go hiking, Portugal should be near the top of your list of places to go.
Here are a few of the regions you should consider when considering from a range of walking holidays in Portugal...
The Algarve
The Algarve is famous as a destination for golfers and beach lovers, but this spectacular coastal region also offers great walking for keen hikers. The rocky coastline has some great routes to walk along and some glorious golden beaches to see, but venture inland and you ll be treated to a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, orange groves, lush forests and traditional villages. The walking here, in general, is not especially arduous, making it the ideal choice for a relaxing walking holiday in Portugal.
The Emerald Coast
The Algarve may be Portugal’s most famous and popular holiday region, but in the north west, there is a little known coast that at the very least matches the Algarve for natural beauty. The Costa Verde (Emerald Coast) offers some of the best hiking in Portugal, with the old paths through the Serra d’Arga mountains and the valley walk through the Ancora Valley being two of the best routes in the area. As the name suggests, it is a lush and verdant landscape that is a delight to explore on foot.
The Douro Valley
The Douro River is one of the most spectacular natural features in Portugal. Stretching from the heart of Spain all the way to the coast of Portugal, this 900 kilometre river offers some excellent opportunities for walkers, especially in and around the Douro Valley in Portugal. In addition to some beautiful riverside walks, the area also offers charming villages, handsome cities...and the famous local port! This area receives far fewer visitors than Portugal’s coast, and so is a great way to get away from the crowds.
The Northern National Parks
The north of the country is seldom visited by tourists, yet it contains numerous national parks and some of the most dramatic countryside in Portugal. It is a landscape of sprawling forests, parkland, deep gorges and an abundance of natural wildlife. Mountain lovers in particular will not want to miss out on this area, with several major mountain ranges (including the Alväo and Moräu) all providing some great places for Portugal hiking.
These are just some of the great places for a walking holiday in Portugal, offering everything from high mountains to golden beaches, easy half day hikes and tough multi day walks. You could even venture across into Spain or out to the Portuguese island of Madeira if you wanted to go further afield – the entire Iberian Peninsula is truly a walker’s paradise!
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