The most beautiful nature parks to explore in Portugal

Peneda-Geres National Park

Portugal, a land of contrasts and unspoilt landscapes, is full of exceptional parks where wild animals and plants thrive in absolute freedom. From the craggy coastline to the heavenly lagoons of the Algarve, here are four of the country's most beautiful nature parks, just begging to be explored!

Peneda-Gerês National Park, between jagged peaks and verdant valleys

This is a land of grandiose contrasts! From the deep valleys of Gerês to the desolate landscapes of the Serra da Peneda, this national park - the only one of its kind in the country - nestles on the northern edge of Portugal, with its jagged peaks, verdant lake basins and crystal-clear rivers. In these enchanting surroundings, traditional granite villages such as Soajo and Lindoso seem frozen in time, and hiking trails reveal exceptional biodiversity, including Iberian wolves, deer and golden eagles.

The South-West Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Nature Park, the Algarve's wild world of wonders

Stretching between Burgau, in the Algarve, and Sines, in the Alentejo, this nature park is one of the wildest in Portugal. All along the coast, you can find a delightful series of dunes, pine forests, wild beaches and jagged cliffs, sculpted by the ocean and the wind. You can hike along the park’s trails, which are sometimes so rocky that they are difficult to negotiate. It will lead you to deserted beaches such as Praia do Amado and Praia da Arrifana, rocky coves where a few fishermen await the arrival of a sea bass, and discreet villages such as Vila Nova de Milfontes, nestling in the hollows of the valleys.

Serra da Arrábida, a coastal scrubland with spectacular views

Between Setúbal and the Tróia peninsula, 50 kilometres from Lisbon, Serra da Arrábida is an escape for Lisboners in search of nature and seaside landscapes. Covered in orchards, olive groves and vineyards, its lush green scrubland stretches right up to the sheer cliffs plunging into the Atlantic, offering spectacular views. At the foot of the massifs, fine sandy beaches such as Praia de Sesimbra provide a sharp contrast with the intense green of the plateau above. On the other side of the rio Sado estuary, you'll find rice fields and marshes, popular with flamingos and storks. A place with a thousand faces, always surprising!

Ria Formosa Nature Park, the Algarve's coastal paradise

Located in the heart of the Algarve, between Faro and Tavira, the Ria Formosa Nature Park is a delightful labyrinth of dunes, lagoons, canals and sandy islands stretching for more than 60 kilometres along the Gulf of Cadiz. Its calm, shallow waters, salt marshes and magnificent sandbanks are a haven for migratory birds, with over 200 species recorded in autumn. Water sports enthusiasts can ride a kayak or catamaran. Ideal for a breath of salt air!