2018 Guide to Walking Trails in the Algarve

guide to walking trails in the algarve contents preface 002 Explanation of Trail Information On foot across the natural Algarve 003 Introduction 004 Description of the region Before starting this trip around the Algarve on foot, we leave you with three pieces of advice: 006 Advice to walkers wear walking boots or comfortable shoes, pack a snack in a small backpack and get your 008 Map - index camera and binoculars ready. Now we are ready to use those legs on the 36 paths which we will be presenting to you in this «Trail Guide», a publication which will launch you into an 010 Vicentine Coast enormous outdoor adventure across mountains, lakes, rivers, reedbeds, hills and cliffs. 024 South Coast Start with the Costa Vicentina, the Western coastline of the Algarve with high escarpments 058 Barrocal and shale cliffs that overlook the sea. Or not. Start with the Barrocal where agricultural 084 Serra landscape is common - this is the place to find the typical Algarve orchards filled with 124 Guadiana almond, carob and fig trees. Or start in any other area that we show here. The most important 1 thing is that you get into the spirit of a walker and walk the nearly 300 kilometres of trails 168 Via Algarviana suggested (bit by bit or all at once if you have plenty of time). 174 List of species You must already have realised that in this guide, pedestrianism gains a tourist dimension. 177 Glossary Integrated into the product of Nature Tourism, this “green” practice is perfect for you to get 179 Contacts to know the biodiversity of the region, where nearly 40 percent of the land has a 184 Bibliography conservation status. Come over and explore this natural Algarve yourself, pedalling a bike or riding a horse, so that together we can promote ecotourism and bring more tourists who respect and seek our preserved landscapes to the region. At the end of it all, the best part will be the extraordinary stories that you will have to tell when you return home: there are itineraries that will figuratively lead you through a river («Run, run… Guadiana») and others that will make you feel like a character in one of the books by Cervantes («D. Quixote»). How can you resist it, right? Desidério Silva President of the Algarve Tourism Region explanation of trail information introduction Name: name of the trail. The Algarve is the southernmost region of its practitioners. This activity is particularly Geographic coordinates: latitude and longitude Correct way Wrong way of mainland Portugal. It is bounded to the attractive from an educational, scientific, Change direction coordinates in the WGS84 geodetic system of the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean, to leisure and tourism point of view. start point of the trail, and of the end point where the north by the river Odeceixe, the hills Promoting walking as a form of tourism is it is not circular. of the Serra de Monchique and Serra do therefore the key challenge of this publication, Turn left Turn right Caldeirão and the river Vascão, and to the which by publicising other trails in the Parish(es) / municipality / location: place where Short Walking Route (PR) temporarily following the course of a Grande Route the trail is located. (GR) east by the river Guadiana, which separates Algarve also aims to introduce new thematic How to get there: directions on how to get to the it from Spain. Its geographical location and routes that have been somewhat lacking in trail. the strong influence of the Mediterranean the nature tourism segment. This segment Type: type of trail (walking/mountain bike/ lend the region a unique environmental reinforces the affirmation of the region’s horseback). richness which is reflected in its great diversity heritage which is of unparalleled value to 2 3 Circular trail: trail that starts and ends in the same cases, particularly on beaches, only information of landscapes, to which natural values and visitors and the resident population alike. place and which generally passes each point only panels are provided). human impacts over time have contributed 36 trails are featured in this “Guide to Walking once. Special features: here reference is made to any other special characteristics. Trails in the Algarve”. The selection was made Distance: total distance covered including all the peculiarities of the trail, any points of cultural It is therefore crucial to ensure that the region’s following a survey of existing routes in the trail paths (the journey to the starting point and interest or any additional information which could most authentic values are protected and region and after conducting numerous field return from the end point of non-circular trails be useful to walkers. that its varied and attractive landscapes are visits to validate them. The choice of routes must be added). Natural interest: this gives information about preserved as areas of biocultural balance. was based on a number of criteria: the state Average duration: calculated taking into account whether the trail passes through a Protected Area These landscapes are fundamental to the of conservation, safety, the selection of at the nature of the trail and an average walking or Natura 2000 Site. It also mentions different types region’s sustainable development since they least one trail per municipality, the existence speed of 3-3.5 km/hr. of habitat that are of special natural interest. are places that attract visitors and diversify the of publicity material, information boards Ascent/descent: based on the topography. Description: information about the starting point. Algarve’s tourism offer, a fact proved by the and signposting, proximity to important Type of path: roads, tracks and footpaths. Brief description of what can be seen on the thousands of tourists who flock to the region watercourses, the presence of significant When to go: best time to go, bearing in mind the route in terms of landscape, fauna, flora, or things every year to observe nature and to discover natural, scenic and cultural values and the weather conditions and nature of the trail. of cultural interest. The description of the route authentic traditions and different customs. existence of unusual features. Approved: indicates whether the trail has been follows the direction suggested on the map and Walking – the recreational activity of The Guide is divided into five areas: the awarded the approval mark of the Portuguese makes reference to points of interest on the route. travelling distances on foot – brings people Vicentine Coast, the South Coast, the Barrocal, Camping and Mountaineering Federation. Ownership: whether the paths are public or into close contact with nature and can the Serra and the Guadiana. On “short routes” (PRs), there are the following signs: private. raise their awareness of the importance of The Guide also includes a brief description of “right way”, “wrong way” and “change of direction” Organisations responsible: organisation(s) protecting natural and cultural heritage while the Via Algarviana, a long distance footpath (to the left or the right). responsible for the trail. promoting the wellbeing and quality of life (GR) between Alcoutim and Cape St. Vicente. Signposted: whether there are signs on the trail, Remarks: additional information, such as whether such as information panels and signposts (in some the trail crosses a hunting reserve. description of the region There is a wide variety of different Particularly important sites for endemic them occurring only in Portugal or the António Wetlands Nature Reserve, and the landscapes in the Algarve. Scrub and plants include the Southwest Coast, Iberian Peninsula. Rocha da Pena and Fonte da Benémola Mediterranean scrub forest, oak woods especially the Sagres peninsula, and the Wetlands, especially the estuarine areas and Protected Local Landscapes. Including the and riverine woodlands in upland areas, higher part of the Serra de Monchique. rias (Ria Formosa, Ria de Alvor, estuary of the 14 Natura 2000 sites, approximately 38 karst landscapes and rainfed orchards in In terms of cultivated vegetation, there river Arade, Guadiana estuary), play a crucial per cent of the total area of the Algarve the Barrocal, and cliffs, dune systems and are large expanses of orchards, especially role for fauna as they sustain important fish enjoys conservation status, testifying to its lagoons along the coast are some of the rainfed orchards of olives, carobs, figs and communities. Together with other wetland conservation and landscape importance typical landscapes of the region. almonds. The upland areas are clothed in areas such as lakes, reedbeds, rivers and at European level. These protected areas Much of the region is occupied by oak forests and Mediterranean scrub forest, streams they attract concentrations of bird and ecological corridors form the Regional agricultural areas and forests. The present and there are extensive plantations of pine species of national and even international Structure for Environmental Protection vegetation cover is the result of changes to and eucalyptus. importance either as breeding and and Enhancement proposed in the 4 the region’s natural cover of cork oak and The region is especially rich in animal wintering grounds or during migrations. Algarve Regional Land Management Plan, 5 holm oak forest brought about by human life, particularly vertebrates, due to the The majority of rivers and streams are also which sets out the planning and land activities in the region over thousands of great diversity of biotopes. The Iberian important ecological corridors crucial to the management guidelines for reconciling years, but mainly during the last century. minnow and the Arade chub among fishes; survival of fishes, reptiles and amphibians nature conservation with human activities, In terms of natural vegetation, the Algarve Schreiber’s green lizard, the chameleon interconnecting the region’s natural areas.

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