The rolling hills of Alportel and the São Brás de Alportel region are ideal for beautiful walks and hikes. Nearby is the unique Ria Formosa nature reserve, which consists of around 18,000 hectares of lagoons and is rich in flora and fauna. Discover some small paths and roads amidst cork and olive groves that lead you through beautiful villages where you can enjoy a cup of good coffee and homemade cake.
Stages of the famous Via Algarviana offer further possibilities. The trail is more than 300 km long and crosses the Algarve from west (Cabo Sáo Vicente) to east (Alcoutim) and passes through São Brás de Alportel. The Via Algarviana leads the hiker through the Barrocal and the Serra, over rivers and hills, past old windmills, springs and chapels, all of which show the archaeological and historical diversity and richness of this region. For more information, please visit portuguesetrails.com.
And don't miss the cork route (Rota da Cortiça). It is the perfect way to learn more about the noble cork oak (sobreiro), the art of debarking and the fascinating properties of this 100% natural raw material. Along the route, you can visit Nova Cortiça, a cork processing plant whose cork ends up in the champagne bottles of the great French houses.
