North Portugal Tourism Guide - All Central Recreation

National Forest of Bucaco

Mata Nacional do Bucaco is 24 kilometres northeast of Coimbra and is a huge attraction in the central Portugal area. The forest covers 105 hectares on the slopes of the Serra do Bucaco. It was traditionally a religious haven hidden away by its three mile long wall. It is first noted as a hermitage founded in the 6th century by Benedictine monks. In 1628 Carmelite monks embarked on a programme of forestation and path laying as well as enclosing the forest within walls. It was so famous that in 1643 Pope Urban VIII decreed that anyone damaging the trees would be excommunicated. The peace was interrupted in 1810 when Napoleonic forces were beaten by the English and Portuguese army during the Peninsular War commanded by the Duke of Wellington. A re-enactment takes place here every 27 September. The forest became state property in 1834 when religious orders were abolished.

Today it is another of Portugal's UNESCO World Heritage site - Forest Park of the Discalced Carmelites, Bucaco - and a popular place for picnickers and walkers and those who might want to have a go at identifying the 700 species of tree! Four hundred of which are reputed to be native species. The forest has a series of trails running through it interspersed with chapels, ponds and fountains. Popular trails include the beautiful Vale dos Fetos, the Valley of Ferns and the Via Sacra path that takes you up to the Cruz Alta viewpoint at 545 metres.

The forest is easily accessible from Coimbra, Luso, Curia or Cantanhede. Trains run infrequently from Coimbra into the Luso-Bucaco station. Buses also run from Coimbra and are more regular. For total freedom to explore it's easily accessible by car from the main A1 road. Check the weblink right for cheap car hire quotes.

Nearby is Serra do Bucaco, a wooded ridge about 15 km long running northwards from Penacova on the River Mondego.

Penacova, Serra do Caramulo & Serra do Acor

Penacova is 22 kilometres northeast from Coimbra and 15 kilometres from the Bucaco Forest. Penacova dates back to about 1105 and is a small and cheerful town, with a mild, dry climate set up on the valleysides overlooking the River Mondego. The countryside around the town is covered in lush agricultural fields in the valley bottoms with the mountains above.

The river Mondego offers opportunities for canoeing and other watersports and you can canoe from Penacova to Coimbra. O Pioneiro Do Mondego is a local company offering equipment hire or you can book yourself on one of their guided canoe tours. Tours run from 1 June to 1 October. Reservations can only be made by phone. Tel: 351 239/478 385. Mobile phone: 96 402 47 31. Fax: 351 239/478 385. Email: info@opioneirodomondego.com.

Being close to the Serra do Caramulo and the Serra do Acor there are plenty of opportunities for walking in the mountains or the lush wooded landscape in the valleys. Bike riding and horse riding are also popular and there are several companies locally from where you can hire equipment or book lessons/tours. Check our Central Portugal Outdoor page for more information and the internet links opposite.

Penacova's Tourist Office is in the main town square on Largo Alberto Leitao, 5 - 3360-191 Penacova. Tel: 351 239 470 300. Fax: 351 239 478 098. Email: gap.cmp@aircnet.aire.pt

Serra da Lousa Mountains and Wildlife

Most people stay in Lousa in the heart of several mountain ranges just 25 kilometres south of Coimbra, as a springboard for outdoor recreation. The Serra da Lousa mountain range is the nearest although it's easy to get into the Serra da Estrela Natural Park to the east as well as Serra da Alcor.

The Serra da Lousa mountain range covers over 4,200 hectares with its highest point of 1,202 metres at Alto do Trevim. The underlying rock is dominated by schist which gives rise to a temperate forest habitat over much of the hillsides. Trees and shrubs in the woodlands include holly, laurel, birch, American oak, chestnut, cedar and pine with old coppices of oak around the villages. Cork oak and olive trees are more common on the lower slopes with heathers and gorse dominating the thinner soils on the upper slopes.

Apart from independent exploring of the area by walking and hiking around the Serra da Lousa and lazing around on the many river-beaches, the area is popular for all sorts of recreational activities such as canoeing, cycling and mountain biking, hang-gliding and 4x4 driving.

Family Activity Holidays

Horseriding is a popular recreational activity in Central Portugal. There are stables dotted about all over the region and farms that offer lessons, day trips or longer stays with horseriding throughout the region. Check the links right for more information. Estremadura is where the Lusitano thoroughbred horses originate so you could even have a holiday exploring the epitome of dressage riding.

Mountain biking is referred to as "bicyclete tudo terrano", BTT for short. There are dedicated mountain bike trails in the Serra da Estrela Natural Park and the a lot of the countryside of Central Portugal lends itself to mountain biking. Bikes can be hired at several of the companies listed below.

Hiking and Walking in Serra da Estrela Natural Park

There are three main hiking trails - T1, T2 and T3 - which you can try to attempt in stages or pick short sections to follow. Splintering off these main trails are six other routes - T11, T12, T13, T14, T31 and T32. The book "Discovering Serra da Estrela" is the main English language book detailing the routes and the sights you'll see along the way as well as a bit about the wildlife of the area.

You will definitely need to make sure you've got a good topographical map before heading out and the weather can get pretty harsh so make sure you're well prepared clothing and provision wise. More information on the Serra da Estrela Tourism link right. The Natural Park information offices have the 1:50,000 Carta Turistica Serra da Estrela map, but you should also get a more detailed topographical map such as the 1:50,000 Gouveia 17D, Guarda 18C and/or Covilha 20C maps, the 1:10,000 Viseu Fl17, Guarda Fl18, Covilha fl20, or the 1:200,000 Beiras Fl14 maps. These are available from the Instituto Geografico e Cadastral in Lisbon or its regional offices in Porto, Coimbra and Castelo Branco. Walking and hiking isn't an overly popular Portuguese pastime so if you're heading for the hills you're likely to have them pretty much to yourselves.

The Park is popular for weekend drives and holiday excursions so it can get quite busy at its western end at these times.

The Serra da Estrela Tourism website has a range of tourist routes themed by Cultural Routes, Environmental Routes and Snow Routes, link right. These include both driving and walking routes. Unfortunately there is no English version as yet, but you might be able to glean enough information to plan your own.

Serra da Estrela - Recreational Activities

In the Serra da Estrela there is every kind of mountain biking route from easy riding on the gravel roads, to long technical downhills connecting the higher reaches to the deep valleys below. Turistela can provide information on routes, maps and emergency back-up for either solo riders or organise tours for groups. There is also a bike park with 3 downhill routes, serviced by a 1000 metre cable car ride with bike hooks to store your bike on the way up. Check the Turistela website for more information.

In the winter Torre has a small ski resort with a range of blue and red runs and one black run. Check the link right for a piste map and rates for ski passes and equipment hire. Equipment hire is from a building on the Seia road. The skiing season runs from January to March with the best snow usually in February. There are no bus services to Torre although it can be reached by taxi from Covilha, Seia or Manteigas.

Just outside Manteigas is the Skiparque. This has a dry slope ski run for skiing and snowboarding and you can book lessons if you ve never tried it before. They also offer other activities including paragliding, 4x4 tours and mountain biking. Skiparque , Relva da Reboleira, 6260-311 Manteigas. Tel.: 351 275 982 870. Email: 18 and Open 9 am-5 pm.

In Gouveia there is the Vivaventura Adventure Park where you can have a go at all sorts of crazy activities including bucking bronco, bungee run, the gravity defying Aerotrim, or slightly more commonplace activities like paintball, climbing, abseiling, canoeing and windsurfing. ViVaVentura Lda, Apartado 182, Sra dos Verdes, EN 232, Cativelos - Gouveia, 6290 Gouveia. Email: info@vivaventura.com. Mobile: 351 961 350 810 and 351 963 910 293. Open 9 am-midnight.

Tejo Internacional Natural Park - Birdwatching Holidays Portugal

This is an excellent area for birdwatching. You can see colonies of black storks (the Park's symbol), eagles and eagle owls. The information office for the Tejo Internacional Natural Park is in Castelo Branco at:

Avenida 1 de Maio, 99 - 3 Esq - 6000-086 Castelo Branco. Tel.: 351 272 348 140 - Fax: 351 272 348 149. Email: pnti@icn.pt

Ludeventos is an outdoor activity and recreational centre in Castelo Branco near the Tejo Natural Park offering equipment hire and adventure activities on Rua Dr Jose Afonso Santos, Lote 110, 1 Esquerdo, Castelo Branco. 6000-217. Tel/Fax: 351 272 341 328. Email: gerencia@ludeventos.pt. Check their website for more information.

Touring in Serra da Malcata Nature Reserve

There are several walking routes within the Serra da Malcata Nature Reserve. A list of walking and driving routes is available from the ICN website, link right. Unfortunately these are only in Portuguese, but you can glean some information even if you don't speak the language to plan your own routes.

Alternatively a booklet from the Nature Reserve offices has details of walks and wildlife.

The main office for Serra da Malcata is in Penamacor. The staff here can advise on the best way to see the reserve and where to go at different times of the year: Rua Dr. Ribeiro Sanches, 60, Apartado 38, 6090 - 587 Penamacor. Tel: 351 277 394 467. Fax: 351 277 394 580.

There is also an Environmental Education Centre at: Centro de Educacao Ambiental da Sra da Graca, 6320 - 052 Aldeia de Sto Antonio. Tel: 351 271 752 825. Fax: 351 271 754 425.

Surfing, Bodyboarding, Windsurfing, Sea Kayaking

With the Atlantic Ocean pounding the Portuguese coastline, Portugal is blessed with excellent surfing swells throughout most of the year. Late winter and early spring is when you can catch the best swells. In the central region of Portugal there are several good surf spots including Nazare, Sao Pedro de Muel near Marinha Grande, Cabedelo and Buarcos at Figueria da Foz, Praia de Mira, Costa Nova, Praia de Barra and Furadoura around Aveiro.

Fifteen kilometres of beach is the staggering extent of sand in and around Figueira da Foz, the main coastal resort for the central region. The beaches include: Praia da Figueira da Foz - Relgio, Praia da Gala, Praia da Murtinheira, Praia do Cabo Mondego, Praia da Leirosa, Praia da Costa de Lavos, Praia da Orbitur, Praia da Cova, Cova Gala (Figueira da Foz), Praia do Cabedelo, Praia da Claridade, Praia de Buarcos, Tamargueira (Figueira da Foz), Praia do Vale do Emide, Praia de Quiaios. The beaches along this part of Portugal's coastline are considered to amongst the finest in the country. There is certainly a higher proportion of Blue Flag beaches in and around Figueira than other parts of the Silver Coast.

South of Figueira across the mouth of the Mondego is Praia de Cabedelo - a prime surfing venue. Four kilometres south of Figueira is Praia de Gala. The seas at Buarcos, north of Figueira, are popular with surfers and sea kayakers and can be less busy in the height of summer.

Golfe Montebelo, Farminhao, 510-643 Viseu. Tel: 351 232 856 464. Fax: 351 232 856 401. Email: golfemontebelo@visabeiraturismo.pt

Mira, Praia de Mira and Quiaios & Horseriding

Between Figueira da Foz and Aveiro is a quieter stretch of coast that you can only reach by a couple of minor roads. This means that the beaches along this stretch are much less busy and even deserted on occasions, brilliant if you fancy some quality me-time. There are beaches at Praia de Quiaios, Praia de Tocha and Praia de Mira.

Mira is a pretty village set around a lagoon and has the most facilities for that stretch of coastline. The village is full of restaurants and cafes in the summer and looks set to become an aquaculture centre for sea bass. To get to Mira drive off the N109 following the N342 through hectares of forest at the end of which are picnic benches in the leafy shade. Carry on into the town and you'll go past the lagoon and find the beach on the west of the town centre. To the south are the Quiaios sand dunes and the Praia de Quiaios which is even more remote. There are riding stables in Quiaios from which you can explore the surrounding forest on horseback. Figueira da Foz Horse Riding Centre, Quinta do Monte Alto de Baixo, Quiaios, Figueira da Foz. Tel: 351 233 910 404 and Quiaios Horse Riding Centre, Quinta das Rolas - Tapadas - Quiaios, Figueira da Foz. Tel: 351 233 910 694 / 919 298. Fax: 351 233 910 392.

Praia de Mira is a beautiful wide sandy beach which can be a little windblown at times. It has Blue Flag status with disabled access and parking adjacent to the beach. There are cafes and restaurants nearby with some snack bars right on the beach. Lifeguards patrol the beach.

Around Aveiro - Sao Jacinto Nature Reserve - Ovar

Stretching north of Aveiro from Sao Jacinto to Ovar is the 6.7 square kilometre wooded nature reserve, Reserva Natural Sao Jacinto where there are trails and bird hides. Visits are restricted to a maximum two and a half hour visit with entry times into the reserve between 9-9.30 am or between 13.30-2 pm. A guide is often available for a free tour or interpretive materials will help you get the most out of your visit. It is best to book ahead. Interpretive Centre, Reserva Natural das Dunas de S. Jacinto, 3800 S. Jacinto, Tel: 234331282. Email: rndsj@aveiro-digital.net

Ovar, is a good base from which to explore Sao Jacinto and the Ria de Aveiro. This is an attractive market town that still retains some of its rural traditions including one of the most colourful Carnival parades in Portugal. Furadouro 5 kilometres to Ovar's west has another long sandy beach fringed with sand dunes and pines.

Golfing Holidays in Central Portugal

Curia has a new golf course at Curia Golf Club. This is a challenging 34 par nine hole golf course covering 20 acres on the left bank of the Crtima river. Curia Golf Club, Largo da Estacao, Curia 3780-541. Tel: 351 231 516891. Fax: 351 231 516831. Email: info@curiagolfe.com

Golfe Montebelo was the first golf course to be built in the Central Portugal region. It is in a stunning setting with the Serra da Estrela and Serra do Caramulo for views. The 18 hole, 72 par course is divided into two 9 hole courses: the Caramulo course (the first nine holes) and the Estrela Course (the second nine holes). Golfe Montebelo, Farminhao, 510-643 Viseu. Tel: 351 232 856 464. Fax: 351 232 856 401. Email: golfemontebelo@visabeiraturismo.pt

Praia D'El Rey Golf and Country Club is a popular golf resort on the Silver coast 15 kilometres from Obidos. The golf course itself is a links course that stretches out to sand dunes on the seaward side overlooking cliffs and pines. It is an award-winning 18 hole championship golf course designed by American architect Cabell B Robinson. When you've finished a round of golf you can relax in the restaurant that has fabulous sea views over the course. You can book week long holidays or short golfing breaks. With it being just 50 minutes from Lisbon airport it s an easily accessible option.

Outdoor Adventure Activity Companies in Central Portugal

Outdoor activity companies that offer a range of days out, courses or equipment hire in the region are:

Montes d'Aventura, Rua dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra, No 3, Bloco 2, 4 Esq 3200-216 Lousa. Tel: 351 916 152 704 or 916 804 493. Email: geral@montesdaventura.com

Trans Serrano, Bairro de Sao Paulo, 13, 3330-304 Gois. Tel: 351 235 778 938. Mobile: 351 966 217 787. Email: geral@transserrano.com

Down Stream, Rua de Mocabique, 159 Piso 2, Codigo Postal: 3030 Coimbra. Tel: 351 239716930. Mobile: 351 966087358. Email: rleao@down-stream.net

More Outdoor Activity Companies

Geoventura, Rua Dom Joao I, 35 S Martinho do Bispo, 3040 Coimbra. Tel: 351 914 982 651. Fax 232 961 865. Email geral@geoaventura.pt

Sport Margens, Avenida 5 de Outubro, 1, 3360 - 191 Penacova. Tel: 351 239 477 143 / 917 511 406. Email sportmargens@net.sapo.pt

Cordastrong,Carameleiro, 3260 - 308 Figueiro dos Vinhos. Tel: 351 917 777 126 & 351 912 994 248. Email: catraul@sapo.pt and geral@cordastrong.pt