The crystal-clear waters and rugged cliffs of the South-West Alentejo Park: surfing, hiking and beaches

The South-West Alentejo Park was created in 1995 to protect the fauna, flora and unique landscape of Portugal's Alentejo region. An initiative of the Portuguese government, and in particular the Ministry of the Environment, with the support of various environmental organisations and the local community, the park addresses a number of issues. During the 1980s and 1990s, Portugal became seriously concerned about the destruction of the natural environment of the Alentejo region. The government decided to introduce measures to counter rapid urbanisation, intensive agriculture and tourism development, and the South-West Alentejo Park was created to protect the region and preserve its ecological wealth.

Since its creation in 1995, the park has been managed by Portugal's Institute for Nature and Forest Conservation (ICNF), who work closely with the authorities, environmental organisations and local communities to ensure the conservation and development of this exceptional region. The ICNF works closely with the authorities, environmental organisations and local communities to ensure the conservation and enhancement of this exceptional region, and the park is an example of successful conservation, as it is home to a wide variety of rare animal and plant species. The Vicentine coastline, costa vicentina, bears witness to these unspoilt natural landscapes of sheer cliffs, sand dunes and secluded coves.

Located in the south of the Alentejo, in the district of Beja, the park of over 100,000 hectares stretches from Porto Covo in the Alentejo to Burgau in the Algarve. The park of south-western Alentejo and its Vicentine coast boasts spectacular and diverse landscapes, from steep rocky coasts to the green hills of the hinterland.

The coastline is dotted with towering red shale cliffs that cascade down to the white sandy beaches below, creating breathtakingly colourful panoramas. The park is also home to natural sand dunes, which constantly shift with the wind and the flow of the sea, creating ephemeral, ever-changing landscapes. Inland, the hills are covered by a mosaic of cultivated fields, eucalyptus and cork oak forests, providing a haven for the region's wildlife, including wild boar, deer and eagles.

Visitors can enjoy the natural beauty of the park through activities such as hiking, birdwatching and swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Atlantic.

Hiking in the Alentejo hills

The park boasts a number of well-marked hiking trails that allow you to admire the spectacular views of the coast and hinterland. We recommend the Seven Hanging Valleys walk, the PR1 trail, which is one of the park's most popular hikes. This walk for experienced hikers starts at Carvalhal beach and follows a signposted 11-kilometre path along the coast. You'll pass through hanging valleys, fields of wild flowers and pine woods, past the beaches of Pego, Carriagem and Vale Figueiras.

The walk takes between 4 and 6 hours.

Watching Portugal's migratory birds

The park is an important migration route for many species of bird, offering exceptional birdwatching opportunities. The incredible diversity of birds means that visitors can spot rare species such as Bonelli's eagle, the black stork and the peregrine falcon.

Surfing and swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the South-West Alentejo Park

The park is home to numerous natural beaches and secluded coves where you can swim in the rough waters of the Atlantic. On the surfing side, the waves of the Vicentine coast attract surfers and bodyboarders from all over the world. For experienced surfers, we recommend the beach of Praia do Amado, which is located at the northern end of the park. It's one of Portugal's best surf spots, with consistent, powerful, high-quality waves, while beginners should head to Praia da Bordeira, for gentler, more consistent waves.

Within the park, visitors can also admire the flora and fauna while camping or strolling through the local villages.