ALGARVE MAP | ALGARVE WALKING TRAILS
The following walking trails (please scroll down) are some of the best to discover the natural side of the Algarve. With year-round sunny weather, compact geography and friendly people, the Algarve is a wonderful place to walk or hike. It is also filled with beautiful and contrasting landscapes.
There are many different types of landscapes within the Algarve – Mediterranean scrub forest, oak woods, and riverine woodlands predominate in the upland areas, whereas karstic landscapes and rainfed orchards cover the Barrocal (the area between the coast and the hilly countryside to the north).
The coast is bordered by cliffs, enclosed beaches, and sandy coves in the west, and by dunes, lagoons, and wide beaches in the east. The Algarve is also very rich in animal life, particularly birds. The region’s many wetlands – like Ria Formosa and Ria de Alvor – play a vital role for fauna, as they provide food and shelter for important invertebrate, fish, and bird communities.
These rich habitats serve as wintering and breeding grounds, as well as stopovers during the annual migrations. Protected areas in the Algarve include the spectacular Vicentine Coast, the placid Ria Formosa Natural Park, the Castro Marim Nature Reserve, as well as Rocha da Pena and the Fonte da Benémola Protected Landscape. In fact, about 40 per cent of Algarve’s total area enjoys conservation status.
From West to East / Left to Right, the walking routes are:
TELHEIRO BEACH TRAIL | Vicentine Coast Natural Park | Sagres | Western Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Vicentine Coast Natural Park | Telheiro’s geologic unconformity | Rugged, sombre coastal scenery | High cliffs | Panoramic views | Vale Santo Birding Hotspot | Endemic, rare or threatened plants | Rich birdlife
CORDOAMA BEACH TRAIL | Vicentine Coast Natural Park | Vila do Bispo | Western Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Vicentine Coast Natural Park | Large and beautiful beach | Goose barnacle catchers | Rugged, sombre coastal scenery | High cliffs | Panoramic views | Endemic, rare or threatened plants | Rich birdlife
CASTELEJO TRAIL | Vicentine Coast Natural Park | Vila do Bispo | Western Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Vicentine Coast Natural Park | Rugged, beautiful coastal scenery | High cliffs | Panoramic views | Mediterranean pinewood | Endemic, rare or threatened plants
PONTAL DA CARRAPATEIRA TRAIL | Vicentine Coast Natural Park | Bordeira | Western Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Vicentine Coast Natural Park | Rugged, beautiful coastal scenery | Sombre cliffs | Panoramic views | Scrubland | Rural landscapes | Quaint villages | Seascapes | Endemic, rare or threatened plants
BORDEIRA HIKING TRAIL | TRAIL OF AROMAS | Vicentine Coast Natural Park
HIGHLIGHTS: Vicentine Coast Natural Park | Rural scenery | Narrow valleys | Panoramic views | Flooplains | Maquis scrubland | Juniper woodlands | Gallery forests | Quaint villages | Birdlife | Endemic, rare or threatened plants
ENDIABRADA & HIDDEN LAKES TRAIL | BORDEIRA | Vicentine Coast Natural Park
HIGHLIGHTS: Vicentine Coast Natural Park | Rural scenery | Narrow valleys | Panoramic views | Small lakes | Maquis scrubland | Gallery forests | Quaint village | Birdlife | Endemic, rare or threatened plants
PRAIA DA AMOREIRA BEACH TRAIL | Vicentine Coast Natural Park
HIGHLIGHTS: Vicentine Coast Natural Park | Rural landscapes | Coastal scenery | Amoreira beach | Panoramic views | Dark cliffs | Shallow coastal lagoon | Butterflies | Birdlife | Endemic, rare or threatened plants
BARRAGEM DA BRAVURA TRAIL | Walks in Lagos | Western Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Lake (reservoir) | Rural scenery | Narrow valleys | Panoramic views | Monarch butterflies and other butterflies | Woods | Picnic areas | Watersports and other outdoor activities
PONTA DA PIEDADE TRAIL | Walks in Lagos | Western Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Ponta da Piedade headland | Boardwalk | Notable geological features | Imposing cliffs | Flora and birdlife | Panoramic views | Coves and beaches | Praia da Luz
ALVOR BOARDWALK & ESTUARY TRAIL | Alvor Protected Landscape | Western Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Alvor village & Alvor Protected Landscape | Gastronomy | Ria de Alvor Birding Hotspot | Estuary and marshland | Beautiful coastal landscape | Beaches | Rich birdlife
BARRANCO DO DEMO TRAIL | Monchique | Western Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Rugged scenery | Deep gorge | Wooden walkways and suspension bridge | Panoramic views | Birds | Plants
TRAIL OF HEADLANDS | Lagoa | Western Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Coastal scenery | High cliffs | Vivid colours | Panoramic views | Secluded beaches and coves | Grottoes and sinkholes | Karstic landforms | Marine birds | Torre da Lapa watchtower | Leixão da Gaivota nesting site (Special Protection Zone for birds)
QUICK GUIDE: SEVEN HANGING VALLEYS TRAIL
EXTENDED GUIDE: SEVEN HANGING VALLEYS TRAIL | Lagoa | Western Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Stunning coastal scenery | High cliffs | Vivid colours | Panoramic views | Beaches, including Praia da Marinha | Boat tours | Grottoes and sinkholes | Karstic landforms | Alfanzina lighthouse
PERA MARSH | SALGADOS LAGOON TRAIL | Silves | Western Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Rich and abundant birdlife | Salgados Lagoon Birding Hotspot | Wide sandy beach | Freshwater and brackish water lagoons | Seascape | Dunes | Boardwalk | Marshland | Algarvian farmland
PADERNE CASTLE TRAIL | Albufeira | Central Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Rural landscapes | Ruins of Moorish castle (12th century) made from ‘military taipa’ | Riparian gallery | Mediterranean limestone flora
ROCHA DA PENA TRAIL | Special Protection Area | Loulé | Central Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Rocha da Pena Special Protection Area | Traditional countryside | Karstic geology and topography | Endemic, rare and threatened plants | Orchids | Seasonal birdlife | Panoramic views | Barrocal habitat
FONTE DA BENÉMOLA WALKING TRAIL | Protected Landscape | Loulé | Central Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Fonte da Benémola Protected Landscape | Traditional countryside | Cultural end ethnographic features | Riparian gallery | Diverse ecosystem | Stream, springs and wells | Endemic, rare and threatened plants | Orchids | Seasonal birdlife
SÃO LOURENÇO TRAIL | Quinta do Lago | Central Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Ria Formosa Natural Park | Beautiful coastal scenery | Longest wooden bridge in Europe | Dune systems | Barrier islands | Beaches | Endemic, rare or threatened plants | Quinta do Lago Birding Hotspot| Rich birdlife | Forested areas | Gastronomy
LUDO TRAIL | Faro | Ria Formosa Natural Park | Central Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Ria Formosa Natural Park | Traditional salt pans | Mudflats | Saltmarsh | Wetlands and water streams | Marshland | Beautiful coastal scenery | Quinta do Ludo Birding Hotspot| Rich birdlife | Chameleons | Forested areas
PONTAL FOREST TRAIL | Faro | Ria Formosa Natural Park | Central Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Ria Formosa Natural Park | Botanical species | Very rare plants | Mediterranean ponds | Traditional salt pans | Wetlands and water bodies | Birdlife | Chameleons | Reed beds
AMENDOEIRA HIKING TRAIL | Loulé | Central Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Varied terrain | Rural landscapes | Barrocal habitat | Mediterranean forests | Botanical species in early spring | Birdlife | Butterflies | Orchids | Cultural, natural and ethnographic context | Quaint villages
CULATRA ISLAND TRAIL | Faro & Olhão | Central Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Beaches | Seascape | Dunes | Birdlife | Botanical species in early spring
PRAIA DO BARRIL BEACH TRAIL | Tavira | Eastern Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Ria Formosa Natural Park | Beaches | Seascape | Dunes | Birdlife | Botanical species in early spring | Little train
MASMORRA TRAIL | Tavira | Serra do Caldeirão
HIGHLIGHTS: Megalithic monument (3rd millenium BC) | Hilly terrain | Rural landscapes | Serra habitat | Mediterranean forests | Botanical species in early spring | Birdlife | Cultural, natural and ethnographic context | Quaint villages
BARRANCO DAS LAJES TRAIL | São Brás de Alportel | Serra do Caldeirão
HIGHLIGHTS: Rugged, hilly terrain | Cork oak forests | Botanical species in spring | Birdlife | Cultural, natural and ethnographic context | Serra do Caldeirão habitat
VENTA MOINHOS SALT MARSH TRAIL | Castro Marim Nature Reserve | Eastern Algarve
HIGHLIGHTS: Castro Marim Nature Reserve | River Guadiana estuary and salt marshes | Salt pans | Wetlands; Castro Marim Birding Hotspot | Rich birdlife