🔗 Share this article

I don’t object to repeating the familiar walk again and again,” commented the local guide, kneeling beside a patch of plants. “Every visit, you’ll find fresh discoveries – these were not in this spot yesterday.”

Standing on stems no less than two centimetres high and dotting the soil with snowy flowers, the fact that these star of Bethlehem flowers appeared in a single night was a striking demonstration of how swiftly life can regenerate in this hilly, central part of the Algarve, the public forest of Barão de São João.

It was also comforting to learn that in an zone ravaged by wildfires in September, species such as strawberry trees – which are less flammable due to their low resin content – were commencing to bounce back, in proximity to highly flammable eucalyptus, which obstructs other fire-retardant trees such as oak. Volunteers were being recruited to assist with reforestation.

Traveler Figures and Inland Attraction

Travel figures to the Algarve are increasing, with the current year recording an increase of over two percent on the prior year – but the majority arrivals head straight for the beach, even though there being a great deal more to discover.

The beachfront is undoubtedly untamed and stunning, but the region is also keen to showcase the appeal of its inland areas. With the creation of throughout the year trekking and biking trails, plus the introduction of nature festivals, interest is being directed to these just as compelling sceneries, including peaks and dense wooded areas.

The Algarve Walking Season runs a set of five guided walk programs with general themes such as “aquatic elements” and “archaeology” between the start of winter and April. It’s hoped they will inspire visitors year round, boosting the local economy and aiding slow the exodus of younger generations leaving in search of work.

Creativity and Wilderness Combine

The excursion to the protected parkland overlapped with a cultural gathering with the subject of “creativity”, centered on the traditional community in the northwest of Barão de São João.

Along with organized treks, starting at the community center, free events extended from discovering how to make natural coloured inks, to performance sessions, meditative movement and sketching. There were a couple of photo displays available plus several other kid-focused pastimes, such as leaf safaris and making wildlife feeders.

Even before our casual afternoon art printing session at the cultural centre, our stroll into the forest with Joana had the vibe of an sculpture walk. Marked at the start by monoliths adorned with depictions of traditional agricultural folk, it was studded along the way with compact, installed stones illustrating types of animals, featuring small mammals and lynxes – the wild cat’s numbers recovering, due to a rescue facility located in the historic town of Silves.

Scenic Trails and Natural Charm

As the route climbed to its peak, the menhir (standing stone) on the Pedra do Galo walk, it became more densely vegetated with the aromatic fragrance of evergreen. There was a ripeness to the air and hard, honey-toned bubbles protruded from wood. Calcareous stone sparkled on the ground and minute amphibians rested by pond edges, necks throbbing. In the far away, windmills rotated against the sky.

Francisco Simões, the local expert the following day, was similarly enthusiastic to point out that these upland regions can be explored in every season. Designated walks, created in recent years, are extensions of the Via Algarviana, a path that extends from the Spanish boundary for 186 miles, all the way to the ocean, and many are now connected to an app that makes route planning even easier.

Sustainable Travel and Local Experiences

Francisco founded ecotourism outfit Algarvian Roots in 2020 and offers activities from birdwatching to full-day accompanied treks, all with the identical aims as the AWS: to promote the area by way of engagement, education and traditional knowledge.

The creative link is present, too – his family member, ceramicist Margarida Palma Gomes, had taught us to paint azulejos, the characteristic blue and white ceramic tiles found all over the country, previously on a cultural activity. Tours to her workshop, as well as to a regional artist, can further be organized through Algarvian Roots.

Francisco advised us to play our part for the sector by consuming generous quantities of quality vintage sealed with cork

Following an excellent midday meal of pork cheek and greens in A Charrette in Monchique, a quaint upland village nestled between the Algarve’s tallest mountains, the 902-metre Fóia and high Picota, Francisco led us down steeply cobbled streets and into a side lane, where an older couple relaxed in the sun at the front of their house.

A steep trail guided us into the forest, the terrain strewn with acorns. At this spot, Francisco was keen to point out protected species, Portugal’s symbolic plant and legally protected since the 13th century. Not only are they inherently slow-burning, but their flexible bark is a means of revenue for inhabitants, who harvest it to market to other {industries|sectors