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The countryside east of Alcobaca and west of Fatima is largely covered by the Serras de Aire and Candeeiros Natural Park. This is a rocky limestone area with a Mediterranean feel. There are plenty of walks throughout the Park and you can explore showcaves that have been opened up to the public at Mira de Aire and further south. Not to be missed are the Dinosaurs Footprints discovered in an old quarry in Pedreiras.
Leiria, Alcobaca, Fatima and Santarem all offer accommodation bases from which to explore the countryside and caves. You may well need to hire a car to make the best of the area. Get a quick quote by clicking the link right.
The only natural park in this area is the Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros (PNSAC). This, together with the protected monument of the Dinosaur Footprints nearby, are well worth a visit once you've had your fill of the architectural wonders and UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the area.
The Park stretches south from Porto de Mos covering about two thirds of the Estremenho Limestone Chain, a range of hills with typically sparse vegetation constituting olive trees and shrubs and bright white limestone rocks jutting out. It is one of the most important nesting places of the red billed jackdaw although numbers have fallen in recent years. Because the geology of the area lends itself to natural cave formations this is a very important area for bats and one of the country's largest colonies roost in the caves here. There are ten species of bat recorded in the Natural Park and is featured on the logo for the park.
There are picnic areas, parques de merendas, throughout park and several walking trails, precursos pedestres, ranging from 2-16 kilometres. Information and leaflets available from the Park Office at Rua Dr Augusto Cesar da Silva Ferreira, Rio Maior at the south of the park. Tel: 351 243 999 480. Email: pnsac@icn.pt or the Ecoteca Interpretation Centre in the public gardens in Porto de Mos. Tel: 351 244 403 555. Open Tue-Fri 9.30 am-12.30 pm and 2-6 pm, Sat 2.30-6 pm. Check the weblink for a map of the park and information points.
The PNSAC area is widely known for its cathedral-like caves which form through the gradual erosion of water over years that create wonderfully architectural formations. Portugal's largest cave system is at Mira de Aire on the north east of PNSAC. It was discovered in 1947 and opened to the public in 1971. There is a 45 minute guided tour through the garishly illuminated caves with all sorts of stalagmite and stalactite formations. The last cavern at a depth of 110 metres contains a huge lake with a dramatic fountain display.
Buses leave from Porto de Mos to Mira de Aire (1 kilometre from the caves) that takes about 30 minutes. Two a day also run from Nazare via Alcobaca that takes one and a half hours.
The Grutas de Alvados and Grutas de Santo Antonio were discovered by workmen in 1964 and are smaller than the Mira de Aire caves. They are also technicoloredly lit and guided tours are offered. The different caves at Alvados are given inspiring names like, Lake of Wonder, Room of Statues, Beautiful Bedroom; The Cypress Room, The Lake with the Bridge, and the Wonderful Planet. You can see the Lake of Happiness at the Santo Antonio caves.
They are about fifteen kilometres southeast of Porto de Mos and two kilometres and three and a half kilometres respectively south of the N243 from Porto de Mos to Mira de Aire. Open Apr-May Daily 9.30-6 pm. Jun Daily 9.30-7 pm. Jul-Aug daily 9.30 am-8.30 pm. Sept daily 9.30 am-7 pm. Oct-Mar daily 9.30 am-5.30 pm.
The dinosaur tracks are in Pedreira do Galinha just off the IC2 road east of Alcobaca approximately 10 km from Fatima and 16Km from Torres Novas. They are in a former limestone quarry and were discovered in July 1994 by Joao Carvalho, a member of a local caving and archaeology association STEA.
These really are dinosaur footprints fossilised in the rock. These are the oldest and longest series of sauropod tracks found anywhere else in the world. They are also exceptionally well preserved examples of some of the largest land animals that have ever lived. The footprints are approximately 175 million years old and date from the Middle Jurassic period. Check the website for more information.
For more information contact: Monumento Natural das Pegadas de Dinossaurios da Serra de Aire, Estrada de Fatima, Bairro, 2490-216 Ourem. Tel. 351 249 530 160. Fax: 351 249 530 169. Email: dinossaurios@hotmail.com.
Open Weds-Fri: 10 am-12.30 pm and 2-7 pm. Between 21 March and 22 September and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays longer opening hours until 8 pm. Closed Tuesdays.
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