Guadiana Natural Park

Enjoy riding our fine e-bikes on a Lisboa Autêntica tour in the gorgeous Guadiana Valley Natural Park.

The park offers a great variety of landscapes: plains of oaks, rockroses, and dry fields; Mediterranean scrublands (endemic vegetation of the region) set in the valleys of the Guadiana river and its affluent; the Serra de São Barão and Alcaria Mountains with magnificent viewpoints.

The park plays a fundamental role in the conservation of endangered species such as avifauna, steppic birds (Bustards), and  large birds of prey (Bonelli’s Eagles)

This protected area is also a safe haven for the Iberian Lynx.

The presence of dolmens and water mills indicated a human occupation in the region since the neolithics.

Mértola used to be an important trading post from the Iron age to the Roman Era, and even after. Mediterranean vessels navigated up the Guadiana River, where fertile lands of Beja, Serpa, and Moura were found along with the mines of Aljustrel and Saint Domingos.

Program:

Day 1 – Departure from Lisbon at around 6 PM and arrival in Mértola, with overnight at the hotel “Beira Rio”:

Day 2 – E-bikes pick-up in Vila Real de Santo António, the starting point of Guadiana’s grand tour, along the eponymous river. 65 km of sheer joy and fresh air until Vila de Alcoutim. We will pass by 16 villages.

The transfer from Alcoutim to Mértola will be provided by our van.

On this night, we will have a social dinner, where we will try local specialties.

Day 3 – Ride to a forest of Oak and Cork trees; though the Tapada Grande, the largest lake in the natural park next to the Mining Exploitation of Saint Domingos.

From here, we will continue until the Pul do Lobo Waterfalls and up to the Giant’s Cauldrons, that are large and cylindrical pothole drilled in solid rock by gravel. One of the most curious geological aspects that can be observed in the Guadiana Valley.

Schedule

Day 1 – Overnight in Mértola (Hotel Beira Rio)

Day 2 – GR15 – Vila Real de Santo António – Alcoutim (65 km) – 6 hours

Day 3 – PR4 – In the forest (14 km) – 2 hours / São Domingos Mines – Pulo do Lobo (24 km) – 3 hours