São Lourenço Trail | Quinta do Lago

Along the trail, you will notice the vast sand dunes facing the ocean. These dunes provide valuable habitat to many psammophyte (‘sand loving’) plants, some of them endemic to southern Portugal. Notable among these plants are the Portuguese Thyme, a fragrant and very endangered species (discover more here), and the rare and beautiful Spiny Thrift (Armeria pungens).

From Quinta do Lago, the only way to reach Gigi Beach and the dunes on the other side of the main water channel is to cross the wooden bridge further down the trail. Besides providing enjoyable panoramas, this bridge – which is the longest wooden bridge in Europe – provides a good opportunity to contemplate the water channels and the dune’s rich plant cover.

Here, low tide brings with it the shellfish catchers that painstakingly collect Grooved Carpet Shell, a gastronomic delicacy that has been harvested throughout Ria Formosa since time immemorial. Following the main trail to the east, you´ll enter a pinewood where it is possible to observe striking birds like the Iberian Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cooki), and the bright yellow Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus), a species accidentally introduced from the African savannas. Under the Umbrella Pines (Pinus pinea), maybe you can even detect the protected Chameleons (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) that inhabit these woods.

Shortly after, you’ll reach a small lake covered by reeds, where – depending on the time of the year – it is possible to observe a broad array of aquatic birds that include beautiful species such as the Purple Swamphen, the Glossy Ibis and the Little Bittern (please check the list here).

A large bird hide will provide unobstructed panoramas of the lake, a place which is also inhabited by terrapins native to Portugal. Surrounding the lake, in the distance you’ll also see the famous “luxury Algarve villas” of the exquisitely landscaped Quinta do Lago, one of the top luxury destinations in Europe.

Further afield, next to a large carob tree, there is a small tank complex built by the Romans around the 2nd century AD. These tanks were used to produce a special condiment (called ‘garum‘), very popular at the time, which was prepared from the fermented intestines of fish.

After wondering if there was a strong correlation between the ultimate demise of the Roman Empire and the culinary taste of its citizens, you can either make the pleasant way back, or converge with the Ludo Trail to see flamingos strolling quietly in the saltpans.