Location: Bordeira; Aljezur municipality; GPS Coordinates : 37°11’46.00″N / 8°51’39.48″W (start); Grade: easy/average difficulty; some stretches can be more difficult for elderly or very young visitors; Type: loop (circular) trail; this trail is signposted; Length: 7.0 km/ 4.35 miles (short route) or 16.0 km / 10 miles (long route); Average Completion Time: between 2 and 5 hours, depending on the chosen route; Best Time to Visit: all year round; Activities: nature walks and hikes; sightseeing; birdwatching;
Endiabrada: A place located at the intersection of several trails, at Endiabrada (meaning ‘the Devilish One’) you’ll enter a pristine cork oak forest that offers plenty of shade during the warmer months.
Hidden Lakes: Shortly after intersecting a stream, the trail starts meandering through an unspoiled valley where two small lakes are located. The plant cover is especially lush, so much so that it becomes almost impenetrable in some places. The larger lake is bordered by stately cork oaks, as well as by ash and willow trees.
Eucalyptus Plantation: Here, the trail offers pleasant views of rounded hills set against the blue color of the ocean. This stretch is mainly covered by eucalyptus and pine trees, which were planted years ago for their valuable timber. Native plant species are starting to reclaim the area once again, though.
Samouqueira: This section of the trail runs parallel to a small water stream. A thick wall of tamarisk, willows, reeds and brambles creates the perfect habitat for many small birds like the wren or the beautiful hawfinch.
Bordeira: In the village’s vicinity, you’ll enter an area composed of agricultural land and cork oak forest. The wooded slopes to the left are inhabited by several species of small predators, such as the mongoose, the badger, the weasel and the fox.
Flora: Varied and with unique endemic features. Besides the ever-present cork oaks, you’ll also find laurestines, tamarisks, strawberry trees, and a variety of shrubs and herbs that include wild roses, gentian, heath, mastic, heather and the sea squill, among many others.
Fauna: Rich in resident birds like the Zitting Cisticola or the striking Iberian Magpie, the floodplains surrounding Bordeira are covered by a mosaic of habitats that attract many of the migrant passerines journeying across the Vicentine Coast between late August and early November. Here, you’ll find the kind of plant cover favoured by many flycatchers, thrushes, orioles, cuckoos and warblers.
Geology: Undulated terrain with a profusion of rounded hills and narrow valleys on shale bedrock. The soil is shallow and poor but native plants know how to extract enough water and nutrients to flourish without difficulty.
You’ll find plenty of parking spaces nearby, even in summer. Please use the map above to get directions. The trail can be walked in either direction by following the markings (see here) painted on posts and rocks along the way. Use sturdy footwear. During the hotter months, do not forget a hat and sunscreen, and always carry enough water with you. You can opt for a shorter walk by following the signs in Samoqueira (please see above). Bordeira is a picturesque village with narrow streets and a charming little church built in 1746. The church has a baroque altarpiece adorned by typical motifs from the region, as well as images from the 16th and 18th centuries. Enjoy!