Hike in Lisbon Nature Parks

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Dates

3/5

Level

8 days / 7 nights

Duration

Arrabida Natural Park, Lisbon, Sintra-Cascais Natural Park

Location

7 days hike in two amazing Nature Parks around Lisbon

Lisbon is blessed by culture and nature. It is one of the oldest city in the world and the oldest in Western Europe, established long before London, Paris and Rome. Occupied since prehistory and successively by Celts, Romans, Visigoths and finally the Moors before the Christian´s reconquest, Lisbon region is the witness of a rich history that we will discover during a week hiking.
Lisbon is bordered by the Tagus River that flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is also surrounded by two natural parks: Sintra-Cascais on the west coast and Arrábida, south of the Tagus river. It is in these two natural parks that we will hike during this trip.
After half a day in Lisbon, where we will visit the old neighborhoods and the banks of the Tagus, we will reach Sintra, magical place, spiritual retreat of the nobility and a large number of writers. It is also a cultural landscape recognized as UNESCO World Heritage. Our hikes in the Natural Park of Sintra Cascais will take us to the Castle of the Moors and Palace of Pena, rehabilitated by King Ferdinand II in the 19th century and a symbol of European Romanticism, but also to Cape Roca, the westernmost cape of the European continent and its Atlantic route at the top of the cliffs with breathtaking views.
After 3 days in Sintra, we will head south towards Arrábida Natural Park and discover its wild coastline and unspoiled Mediterranean landscape. Kayaking and trekking will allow you to discover the Park and its maritime reserve. We will walk in the footsteps of the Dinosaurs at Cape Espichel, kayak towards one of the most beautiful beaches of Portugal, Ribeiro do Cavalo, and might see some dolphins if we are lucky. We will visit the Arrábida convent, founded by the Franciscan order and place of contemplation until today.
We will return to Lisbon and visit Belém, its most western district which is also the stronghold of maritime discoveries, we will discover the testimonies of a glorious past, before we meet for a last dinner.
The trails that we hike are far from the beaten tracks, and even in the most tourist places like the Pena Palace, we will make sure to avoid the crowd. Most of the hikes are coastal hiking, wih a mix of good trails with more difficult passages, which is why it is a level 3.

Discover Lisbon Nature Parks during a 7 days hiking trip

Coastal hiking in the Nature Parks of Sintra-Cascais and Arrabida

A trip where history, culture and nature gather to offer you a unique discovery of the Lisbon region

The cultural landscape of Sintra is classified World Heritage by Unesco since 1995

Rural lodgings or small charming hotels as well as the best of the Portuguese gastronomy

INCLUDED

Professional guides

Transfers from and to Lisbon city centre or airport.

All transports onsite

6 nights in rural accommodations of high quality

All meals from lunch of first day to breakfast of day 7

High quality accommodations and food

3 different lodgings during the stay

NOT INCLUDED

Personal equipment

Extra drinks

Souvenirs

Next departures

23/06/2019 to 29/06/2019	Places available
29/09/2019 to 05/10/2019	Fully booked
06/10/2019 to 12/10/2019	Places available

Discover the heart of Lisbon

We will meet at noon at our guesthouse in Lisbon and get to know each other a little better. After lunch, we will hike through the old neighbourhoods of the capital city. Our hike will take us through the heart of the city centre, Baixa district, which was completely destroyed by the great earthquake of 1755 and totally rebuilt under the direction of the Marquis of Pombal. We will wander through the small winding streets in Alfama, the oldest district in the city and visit the Castelo de São Jorge. We will return to our guesthouse in time to clean up and relax before sharing our first dinner together.

Welcome to the enchanted Sintra

After breakfast, we depart to Sintra and the Pena Palace, which King Ferdinand II completely transformed in 1840 after the medieval monastery was destroyed by the great earthquake of 1755. We will lose ourselves in the immensity of the Park of Pena and its more than 200ha. It is a great romantic park, unique in its kind, characteristic of what has become the Serra de Sintra: rare and exotic trees, fountains, small streams, ponds, cottages, chapels and reconstructed ruins, which make this Park a magical place. After a picnic in the Park, we will join the Castle of the Moors, built in the Xth century on one of the highest points of the massif. The view is phenomenal and ideal for watching the palaces, mansions and castles of the area. We will go down to the city and we will walk through its tiny streets before returning to our hotel.

Europe westernmost Cape

Our coastal hike on the Atlantic Route will take us to Cape Roca today, the most western point of continental Europe. That´s a hike on coastal trails, steep cliffs, gorgeous beaches and breathtaking views all along. We will be amazed by the dinosaur footprints dating from the Lower Cretaceous in Praia Grande, where we will also observe the prowess of surfers. We will revitalize ourselves with a fish soup on the beach of Adraga and we will start towards Cape Roca, where the vegetation will become more shaven, due to the aggression of the environment around the Cape. Cape Roca is a popular place for tourists but is also unique with its steep cliffs, lighthouse and beautiful views.

From Peninha Sanctuary to Guincho Beach

Our walk begins in Peninha, literally a small Pena, an ancient shrine and pilgrimage site offering breath taking views of the nature park and surrounding area. We start our descent to the coast through a dense dark forest that gives us a magical feeling. The soil will soon turn ochre and then dark red when we get closer to Guincho beach. We will cross small villages towards Guincho, one of the most famous beaches for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing because of strong and regular north winds.

You will spend the afternoon in Sintra, where you can choose to visit other palaces, take a walk, go shopping or just relax.

Cape to Arrabida Nature Park

We will leave Sintra this morning and join the Natural Park of Arrabida. It is barely touch by man and remains one of the most beautiful and fascinating natural regions under Mediterranean influence. Our hike begins on the west coast where we will soon see other dinosaur footprints, on two sites separated by 500 meters and 50 million years! We will head towards the south coast, with magnificent views of what awaits us the next day by kayak. We will stop very close to the sea on the ruins of the ancient maritime fortress of Baralha. We will go up towards the cape, among a dense vegetation and will pass in front of the lighthouse of Espichel before we reach the promontory of the Cape, place of pilgrimage for millennia. We will visit the church and imagine the old pilgrims wandering among the remains of the sanctuary.

Let´s kayak!

We will paddle along the coast in Luiz de Saldanha Marine Reserve, created in 1998 to protect various species: invertebrates, crustaceans and many types of fish. We will leave the fishing port of Sesimbra which is the most important of the country and will quickly reach the limestone rock formations characteristic of the coast, with its turquoise waters and its secret beaches. After a delectable picnic on one of the most beautiful beaches, we will sunbathe, relax and have a swim. In the late afternoon, we will challenge the bravest for an ascent to the medieval castle of Sesimbra. We will be rewarded with stunning panoramic views of Sesimbra and the coastline.

Arrabida convent and maritime discoveries

After a guided visit to the Franciscan convent of Arrábida in the heart of the Natural Park overlooking the sea, we head to Belém, the westernmost district of Lisbon and stronghold of maritime discoveries. We will discover the great navigators of the past, pass in front of the Belém Tower and visit the Manueline church of the Jerónimos Monastery which houses the tombs of Vasco da Gama, the greatest Portuguese navigator and Luis de Camoes, the greatest Portuguese poet. We will not forget a visit to the Pasteis of Belem where you will taste the best and most secret of Portuguese pastries.