4 places you can’t miss in the Peneda Gerês National Park

Peneda Gerês National Park is the only national park in Portugal. It has an area of around 70,000 hectares covering 5 municipalities in Portugal: Melgaço, Arcos de Valdevez, Ponte da Barca, Soajo, Terras de Bouro and Montalegre.

The Peneda, Soajo, Amarela and Gerês mountains are part of the Park, comprising extensive ecosystems and a great biodiversity spread throughout the park. Due to its size and the many iconic places throughout the park, visiting it can be a challenge, but it is certainly worth it, especially for those who love nature.

For that reason, we have chosen 4 places not to be missed in the Peneda Gerês National Park on your next getaway to the park.

Cascade do Arado

The Arado waterfall is one of the most impressive and beautiful waterfalls in the Peneda Gerês Natural Park due to the succession of waterfalls that make up this waterfall. It is located at an altitude of 900 meters, a few kilometers from Vila do Gerês, the most central area of the park.

To get there, you can drive on a dirt road to the bridge over the Arado River and from there, climb the steps that will take you to a small viewpoint, which will give you the best view over the waterfall.

During long periods without rain, this river tends to have a considerably lower flow, so we recommend that you visit this place in the spring/autumn period in order to take advantage of the mild temperatures and be able to contemplate the beautiful spectacle of the waterfall. . In addition, it will avoid the large influx of tourists felt in the height of summer.

 

Pedra Bela Viewpoint

Throughout the park you will find several places with stunning views to be contemplated, but without a doubt that the Miradouro da Pedra Bela is one of the preferred areas to have a more privileged view of the Peneda Gerês National Park.

It is located about 10 minutes by car from the Arado waterfall at 829 meters altitude. Here you can enjoy a panoramic view over the Caniçada dam and the bridges of the Rio Caldo.

Here you will find a refreshing shaded area and some snack tables, ideal for taking a break from your tour of the park.

If you like viewpoints, we advise you to read this article to find out about the best viewpoints in the Park

 

Mata da Albergaria

There is no right time to visit Mata da Albergaria, because each season brings landscapes with unique colors and sounds that are worth visiting throughout the year.

Mata da Albergaria is located between Caldas do Gerês and Portela do Homem and has a natural and cultural heritage of great richness in fauna and flora, being integrated into the new protected area with the status of total protection area.

Due to the large influx of people and with the objective of maintaining the preservation of this place, the circulation of vehicles has some limitations, mainly in the height of summer, weekends and holidays.

This is a truly enchanting forest that is well worth a visit during your visit to the Peneda Gerês National Park.

 

Mountain villages: Lindoso and Soajo

Your visit to the Park would be incomplete if you didn't visit at least one of the many typical mountain villages throughout the Park.

Here we present two suggestions: the village of Lindoso and the village of Soajo.

Both are in Alto Minho, but in different municipalities, despite being 10 km apart.

We recommend that you visit the imposing castle of Lindoso, built in the 13th century with an incredible view over the Lindoso reservoir and the 60 granaries that make up a rustic landscape over the place.

Continuing to Soajo, you can wander and discover the typical alleys of mountain villages in the historic center of Soajo. In this place, one of the most popular areas is Poço Negro do Soajo, one of the most beautiful lakes in the region to cool off.

 

Throughout the park you will find trails that help you discover the entire region in a more authentic way and connected with nature. So that you can do it in a more comfortable way so that you can just enjoy the landscapes and your leisure time, we have several E-Bikes available for the whole family.

By renting an E-Bikes, you still feel all the adrenaline and excitement of getting to know a new place, but now faster, more comfortably and without getting exhausted as you would with a regular bike.

You can rent an electric bike or book a tour with qualified and local guides at Tobogã – Portugal Adventure Tours, for a more complete and safer experience. You can find here all the routes that you can do with or without a guide, in self-guided mode with access to the route on the GPS.

If you want more information about this type of tour, contact us and book your adventure now.

 

This article was developed under the QualMinho@PME Project, funded by Compete 2020, Portugal 2020 and EU FEDER