Nature & Wildlife Travel in Portugal (Best places for nature lovers)

Portugal is a country with a very rich natural heritage, which extends over woods, beaches, forests, and spaces for contact with wildlife. Travelers can look for very different things when choosing their destination, and for those looking for an active vacation in Portugal, there is a guarantee of finding the best landscapes and parks, as Portugal’s natural attractions are actually its main calling card.

Between the metropolises and the historical heritage, and beyond the deep-rooted culture and tradition, the country invites you to get to know Portugal’s natural wonders, which stretch from North to South. Many of them are hidden national treasures and also have a wild slant, which heightens their natural beauty. Get to know some of the national parks in Portugal and the natural landscapes in Portugal that you can’t miss during your stay, if you are looking for moments of contact with Nature.

Getting to know the National Park of Peneda-Gerês

In the North of the country, integrating the regions of Vila Real, Braga and Viana do Castelo, the National Park of Peneda-Gerês is one of the most beautiful spaces for contact with Nature in Portugal, and is classified as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Here, you can find a peaceful green sea, where a varied fauna and flora coexist with landscapes where there is no lack of waterfalls, streams, and places of great geological interest.

Located 37 kilometers from Braga and 54 kilometers from Viana do Castelo, this is a park that is easier to access by car, since it is reached from Braga by the N103 highway, and from Porto by the A3 highway.

Canyoning in Funchal

The Archipelago of Madeira has many natural treasures, but for those looking for an active vacation in Portugal, canyoning in Ribeira das Cales is truly a must-do plan that you can enjoy in Caniço, Funchal, starting at 40€.

Suitable for beginners, this 3-hour course is simple and dynamic, allowing you to go down the river, south of the island, through the beautiful Funchal Ecological Park. Besides the natural obstacles along the way, there is also the chance to rappel down the waterfalls.

Visit the Berlengas

To visit the Berlengas islands, located off Peniche, you will have to take a short boat trip which, in itself, will give you a new perspective of the Portuguese coastline. The boat can be taken at Peniche Marina and costs 20€, free for children up to 3 years old and 10€ for children up to 12 years old. Upon arrival you will discover one of the best places in Nature in Portugal, where you can enjoy magnificent beaches and the company of sea birds.

Palmilhe or ski in Serra da Estrela

Serra da Estrela is located in the center of the Natural Park of the same name, in the municipality of Seia, at an altitude of 2000 meters. This is one of the best Nature locations in Portugal, and also the only place in the country that invites you to take full advantage of winter sports. The wonder of this region, however, is not only in winter, with its blanket of snow, since this mountain range is the mother of the Mondego, Alva, and Zêzere rivers. This is a protected region where Nature inspires beauty and tranquility.

In this mountain range, depending on the time of year, you can go skiing (forfait fees and rental equipment are on request on the website) or climbing and enjoy the trails to see the green meadows and ponds. Throughout the year you can expect contact with magnificent landscapes and strong emotions.

Get to know a wild treasure in the Espinhal Mountains

For those visiting the central part of the country, a visit to the Serra do Espinhal, near Penela, will invite you to see one of Portugal’s natural wonders, unknown even to many Portuguese, located in Ribeira da Azenha.

Here, an old watermill, now reclaimed by Nature, creates a scenario of magic, mystery, and plenitude, with a wild and green touch. Through the trees, the water streams of Ribeira da Azenha flow freely, and the biggest attraction is the 35-meter waterfall, known as Pedra da Ferida, where the clear, icy waters create a perfect natural setting for those who love unspoiled nature.

Get to know the Pego do Inferno waterfall

If you visit the Algarve, don’t worry: in the south of the country there are also natural paradises that deserve our attention! On the outskirts of Tavira, the largest waterfall on the Asseca stream, known as the Pego do Inferno Waterfall, is one of the most famous and most beautiful in the region, and the easiest way to access it is by car and then by taking the wild, footpath. GPS may help, since, as the wild and natural state of the region states, it is not maintained by any entity and lacks indicative signs.

The journey will be worth it, as this waterfall, located Santo Estêvão, creates a magnificent natural setting, which intones perfection and allows bathers to take the opportunity to swim in a telluric scenery, enjoying the freshness of the lagoon’s clear waters.

Meditate on the Mount of Silence

In the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, close to the Rio da Mula dam, you will encounter outstanding natural scenery and the main camp that serves as a summer camp. Here, marked trails invite you on nature walks, one of which leads to the most beautiful views in the region. We speak, here, of the Mount of Silence. The easiest way to get there is by car, parking at the parking lot of the Rio da Mula Dam.

Unknown to many, the Mount of Silence can be found by climbing a trail of little difficulty. At the top, a scenario of great geological value is accompanied by one of the best panoramic views of the region, which extends along the coastline to the Serra da Arrábida. This is the ideal place to sit, contemplate, and meditate for a while.

Dive into tradition in Vilarinho de Negrões

In the region of Montalegre, in Alentejo, you will find a bucolic, small and very rich village, which receives the final stretch of the Alto Rabagão Reservoir, being the place where it flows into. Here, you can go surfing or motor boating, and you can also go fishing, since the reservoir is rich in fish such as barbell, escalo, and boga.

Here, you will have the opportunity to contemplate one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Portugal and also the second largest dam in the country, in an environment where the human construction itself – of stone – integrates with the surroundings, respecting them. This is a place where traditionality, hospitality, and nature live together in harmony.

Go to the beach in Serra da Arrábida

Serra da Arrábida would allow the suggestion of many different plans, since activities such as trekking, climbing, surfing, and many others are possible here. Located 5 minutes from Setubal and with access via the N10 highway, this is a mountain range of great natural and scenic value, where you can also enjoy clear sandy beaches, with a forest edge, and its ocean of transparent waters. Places like Portinho da Arrábida or the wild Praia dos Coelhos are a must-see.

It is recommended that you wear comfortable clothing if you wish to access the region’s wilder beaches, as access may offer some challenge.

Whale Watching in the Azores

Like Arrábida, the Azores and all its islands offer the best of Portugal’s natural attractions. Still, the highlight goes to the boat tours to see cetaceans, which you can enjoy from 55€, with departures from several points on the islands, including from Vila Franca do Campo Marina, Lajes do Pico, Ponta Delgada Marina or the Club Naval de Ribeira Grande, among others.

On these trips, promoted by different entities, on the various islands of the Azores Archipelago, you will have the opportunity to see whales and enjoy moments of magnificent contemplation, while getting a distinct perspective of the coastline.