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I rarely mind doing the identical trail repeatedly,” remarked our guide, bending next to a cluster of plants. “Every visit, there are fresh discoveries – these flowers weren’t here the day before.”

Standing on stalks a minimum of two centimetres tall and dotting the dirt with snowy flowers, the fact that these delicate blooms emerged suddenly was a remarkable testament of how swiftly life can develop in this undulating, central area of the Algarve, the protected woodland of Barão de São João.

It was also reassuring to discover that in an area ravaged by blazes in September, species such as arbutus trees – which are flame-retardant thanks to their reduced sap – were beginning to regrow, together with highly flammable eucalyptus, which hinders other fire-retardant trees such as oak. Local helpers were being recruited to participate with reforestation.

Visitor Figures and Upland Interest

Visitor numbers to the Algarve are growing, with the current year showing an growth of over two percent on the prior year – but the majority visitors go directly to the coast, despite there being so much more to explore.

The beachfront is definitely rugged and breathtaking, but the region is also keen to highlight the appeal of its interior regions. With the development of all-season hiking and mountain biking trails, along with the introduction of outdoor events, attention is being shifted to these equally captivating landscapes, featuring hills and lush wooded areas.

The Algarve Walking Season hosts a program of five walking festivals with general themes such as “aquatic elements” and “ancient ruins” between November and April. It’s anticipated they will encourage explorers in every season, strengthening the area’s finances and aiding slow the exodus of young people departing in search of employment.

Art and Wilderness Blend

The excursion to the wooded reserve fell during a weekend festival with the subject of “art”, centered on the white-washed hamlet north-west of Barão de São João.

Along with guided hikes, starting at the cultural centre, free events ranged from discovering how to make natural coloured inks, to performance sessions, meditative movement and artistic rendering. There were several photo displays on show together with several other kid-focused pastimes, such as leaf safaris and creating bird-feeders.

Before our casual midday art printing workshop at the local venue, our walk into the woodland with Joana had the atmosphere of an sculpture walk. Signposted at the beginning by standing stones decorated with depictions of local farmers, it was dotted throughout the path with more modest, installed stones illustrating examples of wildlife, including small mammals and feline predators – the lynx’s population increasing, because of a rehabilitation centre based in the historic town of Silves.

Breathtaking Trails and Natural Beauty

As the trail ascended to its highest point, the menhir (standing stone) on the Pedra do Galo trail, it became more densely vegetated with the piney aroma of pine. There was a ripeness to the air and hard, amber-hued bubbles bulged from wood. Limestone glistened on the ground and tiny amphibians rested by water’s edge, necks throbbing. In the background, energy generators rotated against the sky.

Francisco Simões, our guide the following day, was again keen to highlight that these inland areas can be explored year-round. Waymarked hikes, established in the last decade, are offshoots of the Via Algarviana, a path that stretches from the border with Spain for 300 kilometers, the entire route to the ocean, and many are now tied to an app that makes wayfinding even easier.

Nature Tourism and Artistic Opportunities

Francisco set up nature tour operator Algarvian Roots in 2020 and organizes tours from wildlife spotting to day-long guided hikes, all with the same goals as the AWS: to showcase the region by way of engagement, education and local understanding.

The artistic element is evident, too – his parent, ceramicist Margarida Palma Gomes, had instructed us to paint azulejos, the iconic traditional colored glazed tiles seen all over the nation, previously on a festival workshop. Visits to her atelier, along with to a regional artist, can also be arranged through Algarvian Roots.

Francisco urged us to do our bit for the industry by drinking generous quantities of fine wine stoppered by cork

Following an excellent lunch of meat dish and greens in A Charrette in Monchique, a charming mountain town bordered by the Algarve’s two highest peaks, the tall Fóia and 774-metre Picota, Francisco led us down steeply stone-paved lanes and into a alleyway, where an older couple basked outdoors at the front of their residence.

A sharp trail took us into the forest, the terrain covered in acorns. In this location, Francisco was eager to show us protected species, Portugal’s emblematic species and safeguarded by law since the medieval period. Not only are they inherently fire-resistant, but their pliable covering is a source of livelihood for inhabitants, who harvest it to sell to other {industries|sectors