Routes

In these plains, crossed  by beautiful creeks,  sea and fields that fill our soul with journeys and experiences, camping or staying in one of the whitewashed montes, near the plain, in the mountain ranges or near the ocean, are all good ways to enjoy the real Alentejo.

Here, you can discover  lilac fields, watch  unique birds and find  landscapes that you will never forget, whether in the heart of  the plains, on top of a cliff, in the cork oak woodland or near the ocean. 

Between the mountain ranges and  the sea, among  reservoirs, rivers and seemingly endless fields, grab your binoculars in the morning and see  another Alentejo – a great  area for birdwatching all year round, in the valleys and river estuaries. Castro Verde, Mértola, Barrancos, Mourão, and the Lagoons of Sto. André and Sancha, or Caia are important  for birdwatching.

In October, not very far away in Marvão, not to be missed  is the Al Mossassa Festival, which celebrates the  foundation of the town by recreating an Arab market, Arab handicrafts , gastronomy, music and theatre. If you want  to enjoy nature, adventure  along pedestrian and mountain bike paths , over hills, valleys and creeks.

The Park of S. Mamede is the highest location in the Alentejo, with an altitude of 1,025 meters. Go through its 56,000 hectares by following the five routes indicated  on the terrain.

The surrounding reservoirs, Caia, Montargil, Maranhão, Divor, are other great ways of exploring nature and practising sports like water skiing, rowing, sailing, canoeing or simply swimming.

In Cabeço de Vide, swop  water for air and fly on a balloon to Évora. If you are still not satisfied, at  the Évora  aerodrome  you can  try a parachute jump from 3,000 feet  over the city. If you don’t like flying,  pass by Elvas  and enjoy a pleasant cultural moment in the Museum of Contemporary Art, where part of the António Cachola collection is exhibited, with over three hundred Portuguese contemporary works of art.

Following the line of the Alqueva, you  arrive in Barrancos where you should visit the Noudar Nature Park. At  the end of the afternoon, when warm colours paint the skies, watch the sunset or try paragliding or hang gliding, taking off from the top of the coastline cliffs or inland mountains.

For those who love to spend the early evening by the sea, there are plenty of  beaches to discover from Zambujeira do Mar to Tróia. In early August, the Festival do Sudoeste  in Zambujeira do Mar, and  at the end of July, the Músicas do Mundo Festival (World Music) in Sines will delight music lovers who cannot bear a  summer away without  the sea. For surf lovers, the São Torpes beach is a great spot for surfing.