At Portugal Green Walks, we firmly believe that travel should be an enriching experience for all concerned, including the places that you visit and the people you meet.
We operate a sustainable tourism policy that respects the local people and environment and keeps our clients safe.
By adhering to these guidelines, you will have a more enjoyable, authentic experience that is beneficial for the local economy and communities and does no harm.
Thank you for doing your part!
Allow yourself enough time – start early.
Always take waterproof clothing, even in mid-summer, and wear walking shoes or hiking boots. Wear a hat or cap and sun block in summer. Weather can change rapidly.
It is recommended that you wear long trousers for this walk because the gorse can shred your legs.
Watch the weather and time; turn back if you see signs of fog or bad weather approaching.
If lost or forced to stop because of bad weather, stay together and remain in one place. Find the closest shelter from wind and rain.
If lost – don’t split up. Try to retrace your steps. Remember that climbing down is more difficult than climbing up.
In case of injury, take time to assess the situation. Then try to contact the emergency number, giving them your location.
Stick to well-used paths. Don’t take shortcuts and especially don’t wander into ravines.
Do your part to prevent forest fires by not starting bonfires and putting out cigarettes safely. Take the butts with you!
Always take enough water, especially in summer, and food in case of a delay. Do not drink water from streams, springs or sources from which you cannot be sure the water is safe to drink.
Take a fully-charged cell phone. Some parts of the park do not have cell phone reception, but you will always be able to reach a place where you can use a cell phone more quickly than you’ll get to a landline.
Please read the important information and route descriptions in this roadbook carefully before setting off each day and carry them with you in case you need to rely on them.
Note that the distances mentioned between points in these descriptions are estimates for guidance purposes rather than precision measurements.
There are gates across some of the paths to prevent animals from escaping. Go through them but don’t forget to close them properly behind you.
Don’t stray from the described trail when in the wilderness. It’s easy to get lost and we need to respect the environment, especially in protected areas.
Take all your litter with you and use the appropriate recycling bins at your accommodation or in the village.
Don’t pull up plants, pick flowers or collect seeds.
Don’t remove archaeological artefacts or cause damage to objects.
The terrain is varied but often involves uneven stone paths and roads that can be hard-going on your feet. Appropriate footwear is essential – trainers are not usually sturdy or supportive enough. Walking boots would be best to give you ankle support on mountainous trails.
Use walking poles with detachable rubber tips. These will help you deal with steep uneven tracks and distribute your physical effort on more level sections.
The weather could and often does change suddenly, especially in mountainous areas, so wear weather-appropriate clothing that dries quickly. A wind and waterproof jacket will be necessary at times.
Sun cream and a hat are important, even in cooler months, as there is often little shade.
You may need to walk through some areas that have low bushes and scratchy gorse so long trousers will protect your legs from scratches and bites (see Dangers and Annoyances).
If you are using a foreign SIM card, you will probably need to add the international dialling code +351 to Portuguese numbers. The + can be typed as a symbol or 00 so you can type the country code for Portugal as +351 or 00351, followed by the 9-digit telephone number.
If you are using a Portuguese SIM card and want to call someone in another country, you will need the international dialling code for that country (e.g. for the US and Canada, it is +1 or 001 and for the UK, it is +44 or 0044). Omit any zero at the beginning of the number you wish to call.
Note that mobile phone coverage can be unreliable in the mountains.
Tipping is not obligatory in Portugal but if you feel it is deserved, you may give a small tip in restaurants, taxis, hotels and to taxi drivers or private guides as it will be appreciated.
Village dogs are often loose in the streets and some are likely to bark at you. Walking sticks come in handy for shooing them away but if you don’t have a stick, pick up a stone and threaten to throw it if you feel threatened. Rabies is not present in Portugal but if you are unlucky enough to get bitten, get the wound treated at a health centre (Centro de Saúde).
Snakes do exist in Portugal and will usually slither away quickly before you even see them. However, they become slower to react in spring so if you do see one, move quietly away from it. Most are harmless grass snakes, although there are venomous vipers. They will only attack if they feel threatened and the highest risk to you is inadvertently stepping on one or disturbing one by leaning against a stone wall. For this reason, it’s best to keep your feet and ankles well covered. If bitten, take an anti-histamine tablet and seek medical attention immediately.
Ticks are only a problem if they attach themselves to you and are not removed properly. Some ticks carry Lyme Disease, which can be debilitating if left untreated. Wear long trousers, especially when walking through broom, ferns and long grass and check your body each day. If a tick has managed to attach itself to you, douse it in alcohol and use tweezers to grab the bug as close to your skin as possible and pull it out slowly and firmly.
When walking through pine forests, beware of lines of very hairy processionary caterpillars in spring. The long hairs carry strong toxins that can make you quite ill and even kill small animals so don’t touch them or anything in the vicinity.
There are no cafés or restrooms on some of the trails so you need to be prepared to relieve yourself in the wild if necessary.
Similarly, where there are no shops or cafés, you need to carry sufficient water (minimum 1.5 litres per person) and enough food to last you all day.
Tap water in your accommodation and in restaurants/cafés is drinkable so we encourage you to use refillable water bottles.
Only drink water from public taps that have a sign saying ‘água potável’, which means drinkable.
To help avoid wasting water, please use the low flush option on toilets where this exists and is appropriate.
Our policy is to respect communities and support the local economies of the places you visit so we encourage you to play a part in this.
Try to learn a few basic phrases in Portuguese so that you can greet local people respectfully, engage in simple conversations and ask for help if needed – see the language section of the roadbook.
Simply saying good morning/afternoon (bom dia / boa tarde) and expressing an interest in people’s work means a lot and helps to break down any barriers between locals and visitors.
Don’t take photos of people without their consent – imagine how you would feel if tourists started taking pictures of you doing your gardening or going about your daily business.
One of the great joys of travel is the chance to experiment with local Portuguese dishes at family-run restaurants, which are usually made from fresh, local ingredients, and offer an insight into local culture.
Our packed lunches and picnic baskets are sourced from local suppliers.
As souvenirs/snacks, we also encourage you to purchase various quality products made from locally-sourced ingredients that are typical for the region e.g. sausages, cheese, wine, olive oil, jams, cookies, honey and aromatic or medicinal herbs from village shops or your accommodations.