From green valleys of pines and vines to arid plains covered with olive trees and cork oaks, from long sandy beaches to coves enclosed in cliffs, Portugal offers an interesting diversity of landscapes from north to south. A hike in Portugal is therefore an unforgettable activity during a trip to Portuguese-speaking countries.
In the Azores archipelago, the flora is the highlight of the show. Walking along a path lined with hydrangeas of a sparkling blue, while here and there some massifs of azaleas and agapanthes, asleep at the feet of high plane trees, breathe in the fresh air of the open sea, is an incomparable pleasure. Almost all year round, the Azores form nine symphonies (like so many islands) of the most intoxicating colours and aromas. Extinct volcanoes form a hummocky landscape that offers a wide variety of landscapes. The interweaving of sea and land, the jagged basalt coast, the black sand and natural pools, the volcano lakes, the strange volcanic fumaroles that come out of the ground: the Azores are a delightful natural spectacle that is easy to penetrate. Waterfalls plunge into sunny gorges, green hills alongside flared volcanoes, dense forests set in peaceful lakes, banks full of subtle fragrances open onto a lava flow frozen in a dark basalt tongue. Fertile plains and distant mountains, misty volcanoes and clear cities: at every moment, the senses are awakened.
The other island of Portugal is identical: Madeira can only be discovered by the walker. The slightest levada (irrigation canal and aqueduct which then serves as a path) is suitable for a family walk or a more demanding hike. There are some everywhere (nearly 1,500 km of levadas on the island!), for all tastes, and you will never be disappointed by so many unforgettable postcards. And the island is made up of a mountain range that plunges into the sea at a depth of more than 3,000 m. It offers to the eye a wild and irregular landscape, shaped by erosion and the swell of the sea over the centuries: one never gets tired of this abrupt and laborious nature, of these small bucolic green valleys, and of these fierce peaks, dominating the clouds.
On the side of the capital Lisbon,the area including the wonderful Serra da Sintra or the Arrábida Natural Park also offers many advantages for lovers of hiking (on foot, by bike, on horseback...) or trekking and climbing, not to mention golf, which remains one of the great attractions of the Costa do Estoril. As for the nature reserves (Tagus and Sado estuaries), they provide an excellent opportunity to discover an almost unspoilt nature by observing birds or dolphins in their respective ecosystems
In Porto, it is in the region bounded by the Douro valley that the wine estates that cultivate the vines used for wine production are located. This beautiful region is also culturally rich and there are several cities of historical interest, such as Lamego or Amarante. In 2001, the whole region was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. And is an ideal spot for long and beautiful walks.
Finally, in the Algarve, hiking is also very famous. From the green valleys to the peaks of the Monchique or Caldeirão hills, from the thermal waters of the Caldas de Monchique to the banks of the Rio Guadiana that penetrates the continent, from olive groves to lands covered with orange and lemon trees, of almond or fig trees, from long stretches of fine sand to coves enclosed in cliffs jagged by the sea, the region offers, from east to west, a diversity of landscapes that make it charming, original and surprising. Visiting the protected areas (Paisagem protegida do Sudoeste alentejano e Costa Vicentina or the Ria Formosa Natural Park) is an excellent opportunity to discover an almost unspoilt nature and to observe birds or dolphins in their ecosystem.
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