Real Southern Portugal: Discovering Portugal Beyond the Beach

I rarely object to doing the same hike repeatedly,” stated Joana Almeida, bending next to a cluster of flowers. “Each time, there are different details – these blooms hadn’t been in this spot previously.”

Standing on stalks no less than two centimetres high and starring the ground with white petals, the fact that these delicate blooms appeared overnight was a striking proof of how rapidly nature can regenerate in this rolling, central area of the Algarve, the protected woodland of Barão de São João.

It was also comforting to find out that in an region ravaged by forest fires in the autumn, species such as strawberry trees – which are fire-resistant due to their low resin content – were commencing to bounce back, together with highly combustible eucalyptus, which impedes other fire-resistant trees such as oak. Local helpers were being gathered to participate with rewilding.

Visitor Statistics and Upland Interest

Tourist arrivals to the Algarve are rising, with 2024 registering an growth of 2.6 percent on the last year – but the bulk of arrivals make a beeline for the beach, although there being a great deal more to experience.

The shoreline is undoubtedly wild and dramatic, but the region is also keen to promote the appeal of its upland zones. With the creation of all-season walking and biking paths, plus the launch of outdoor events, attention is being directed to these equally compelling landscapes, showcasing peaks and lush woodlands.

The Algarve Walking Season organizes a set of multiple guided walk programs with loose themes such as “aquatic elements” and “archaeology” between November and early spring. It’s expected they will inspire visitors in every season, supporting the area’s finances and helping slow the exodus of the youth departing in search of employment.

Creativity and The Outdoors Blend

The excursion to the protected parkland coincided with a two-day event with the subject of “expression”, based around the pale-colored community in the northwest of Barão de São João.

Along with led walks, starting at the cultural centre, no-cost workshops included discovering how to make plant-based dyes, to performance sessions, meditative movement and drawing. There were two image galleries running plus multiple other kid-focused pastimes, such as botanical explorations and crafting wildlife feeders.

Prior to our casual afternoon printmaking session at the local venue, our hike into the forest with Joana had the vibe of an sculpture walk. Marked at the beginning by upright rocks painted with depictions of rural workers, it was decorated along the way with compact, permanently placed stones illustrating types of fauna, including small mammals and feline predators – the lynx’s population increasing, because of a rehabilitation centre located in the castle town of Silves.

Breathtaking Paths and Natural Charm

As the trail climbed to its summit, the menhir (ancient rock) on the Pedra do Galo walk, it became more thickly wooded with the piney aroma of conifer. There was a fullness to the atmosphere and hard, honey-toned globules protruded from wood. Limestone sparkled underfoot and small amphibians perched by pool margins, vocal sacs vibrating. In the distance, windmills cartwheeled against the sky.

Francisco Simões, the tour leader the subsequent day, was again enthusiastic to emphasize that these interior zones can be discovered year-round. Waymarked hikes, developed in recent years, are branches of the Via Algarviana, a route that extends from the frontier for a significant distance, the entire route to the coast, and many are now tied to an app that makes wayfinding more straightforward.

Sustainable Travel and Artistic Opportunities

Francisco set up sustainable travel company Algarvian Roots in 2020 and provides experiences from avian observation to all-day accompanied treks, all with the identical aims as the AWS: to promote the region by way of engagement, learning and traditional knowledge.

The art connection is present, too – his family member, potter Margarida Palma Gomes, had instructed us to paint azulejos, the iconic traditional colored decorative panels observed throughout the nation, previously on a event class. Excursions to her studio, along with to a regional artist, can also be arranged through Algarvian Roots.

Francisco encouraged us to play our part for the industry by enjoying ample amounts of fine wine sealed with cork

Following an delicious midday meal of meat dish and greens in A Charrette in Monchique, a pretty hill settlement bordered by the Algarve’s two highest peaks, the 902-metre Fóia and 774-metre Picota, Francisco took us down precipitously historic roads and into a alleyway, where an elderly pair relaxed in the sun at the entrance of their house.

A sharp path took us into the woods, the ground covered in acorns. In this location, Francisco was enthusiastic to introduce us to cork trees, Portugal’s emblematic species and conserved under regulation since the medieval period. Not only are they naturally flame-retardant, but their flexible bark is a means of livelihood for locals, who collect it to sell to other {industries|sectors