DESIGN YOUR OWN BIRDING HOLIDAY

For people who want to watch birds differently from what we propose
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Because we understand that some people want to enjoy a different kind of birdwatching experience, both in terms of length or intensity, you have the possibility of designing your own birding holiday.

With this option, you can decide to stay for as long as you want and only participate in the birding tours that you chose. You can also request tours to other places in Southern Portugal that we don’t normally go to but which you would like to visit. Or you can request that we organize a visit so that you can target for some specific species that normally occur in this region. You can even limit the tour to your own budget and ask us to suggest how far you can go with that and what species you are likely to see. Either way, our aim is that you have a very good time and a great bird watching experience.

Particularly suited for small organized groups like Friends, long or short, Holidays, Team Building exercises, Stag Parties or any other adventure your imagination can come up with.

Let's get started

Price

It depends on what you chose! Do fill in the Request Information form and we will present the price, per person, in our reply. Our price will be in Euros and with all included.

What’s included?

  • Your friendly and experienced guide to help take the most out of your trip
  • All transportation within Portugal
  • All insurance in Portugal
  • Accommodation in en suite twin or double bedrooms
  • All meals and picnics during trips
  • Entrance fee for all visits

What’s not included?
Flights, extra drinks & other items of a personal nature.

Need binoculars?
You can rent a pair of binoculars for an extra 5€.

Carbon offsetting?
May we suggest that you offset your flights carbon emissions with Climate Stewards? We will offset all the mileage done during your staying with us.

Number of participants?
Maximum of 8.

Our Tour Options

Arrival and Ria Formosa

Arrival and Ria Formosa

Arrive at Faro airport in the afternoon. Drive to Santa Luzia salt pans, near Tavira, in the Ria Formosa Natural Park, for the first birdwatching trip of the week.

There it will be possible to see a big variety of waders and Flamingos. This is also the best site for the Slender-billed Gull, and a good one for Audouin’s Gull.

After a couple of hours birdwatching, we drive to the A ROCHA Portugal field study centre, Cruzinha, in Mexilhoeira Grande, between Lagos and Portimão where the group is accommodated during the tour.

The day ends with dinner at Cruzinha, where there is never a lack of good food and animated conversation.

Sagres

Sagres

After a good night’s sleep, the group starts the day by travelling to the most western point of the Algarve: Cape St Vincent in Sagres. Ancient people thought that this was the end of the world because you cannot see anything on the horizon besides the sea. It is, for sure, an excellent place to see a good variety of species such as Blue Rock Thrush, Thekla Lark, Little Bustard, Chough and Southern Grey Shrike.

Lunch is a picnic prepared specially by the A ROCHA Portugal team, full of regional and typical Portuguese food. This is also be an excellent opportunity to enjoy the landscape and carry on birdwatching.

During the afternoon, we continue exploring the area.

We return to Cruzinha at the end of the day for dinner, rest and relaxation.

Note: Between early March and mid-April, it is possible to stop on the way to see orchids, depending on the group's preferences.

Monchique

Monchique

Because the Algarve is not only beach and sea, this 2nd day is spent in the Monchique hills, famous for its beautiful landscape and Cork Oaks. After spending part of the morning birdwatching at the top of the hills, the group drives down to Caldas de Monchique, a charming spa village, to have our picnic.

The afternoon is more relaxing, spent walking in Caldas de Monchique and looking for species of passerines not seen during the day (Grey Wagtail, Firecrest, Nuthatch), and we finish the day enjoying a drink at the nice open-air cafe of the village.

Abicada and Alvor Dunes

Abicada and Alvor Dunes

The day starts with a walk from the Montes de Alvor dam to the Roman ruins of Abicada, which has an excellent view over the Abicada and Alvor marshes. This is a good opportunity to see and photograph Flamingos on the lake. Winter is an ideal time to see Spoonbills, ducks and Bluethroat here, but in the spring you can also see Purple Heron, Black-winged Kite and hear Quails.

We have our picnic near Alvor beach, and in the afternoon discover the incredible bird richness of the dunes. This fragile place is the breeding place of threatened species such as the Little Tern or the Kentish Plover.

As we are on the beach, if you choose a trip in the hotter months (between May and early October), you will be able to enjoy a swim or an ice cream before going back to Cruzinha.

Salgados Lagoon

Salgados Lagoon

In the morning, the group is invited to take part in the activities happening at the A ROCHA Portugal field study centre as it opens to the public, such as moth identification, bird ringing demonstrations, and getting to know what A ROCHA is and stands for.

In the afternoon, the group explores Salgados Lagoon, a hidden but still threatened wetland. This place does not have any legal protection status but the diversity of bird seen here over the last few years (more than 160 species) makes it a very important birding place. It also one of the only places in Portugal where Flamingos have been known to breed, with 2 nests discovered by our guide.

Castro Verde

Castro Verde

On Friday, we travel to the Alentejo, or more precisely the pseudo-steppes around Castro Verde. This is a completely different landscape from the Algarve, with very different bird species from the ones seen until now.

In the morning, we spend some time in the Liga para a Proteção da Natureza (a partner conservation NGO) property, where we are able to see Lesser Kestrels and Rollers in spring and Great Bustards all year round. In the afternoon, we explore the area around Castro Verde, looking for more species such as Harriers, Kites or Vultures.

Before returning to Cruzinha, we enjoy a snack at Castro Verde, as the Alentejo is well known in Portugal for its cuisine. It’s also a great opportunity to send the message that bird conservation can be good for the local economy.

Ponta da Piedade

Ponta da Piedade

Saturday will start as usual with a delicious breakfast, before going to an area of rice fields near Estombar. There, we will explore the area, looking for Marsh Harrier, Glossy Ibis and Purple Swamphen. We will have lunch at Sitio das Fontes before heading back to Cruzinha.

The rest of the afternoon will be free.

Ria de Alvor

Ria de Alvor

This small walk starts at Cruzinha (A ROCHA field study centre) and goes to the Ria de Alvor marsh. The track to the marsh goes between fields used for grazing or with old orchards, so it is possible to see species such as Cattle Egret, Azure-winged Magpie, Little Owl, Woodchat Shrike and Bee-Eater in spring. By the marsh, Stonechats and Crested Larks can be seen perched on fences.

If the tide is low, waders are feeding in the mudflats while people are collecting clams and cockles. In winter, a few Caspian Terns can be seen with the Gulls. Early in the morning, a Black-winged Kite can be seen hunting and in the evening in winter, it is a Short-eared Owl.

We walk back to Cruzinha on the same path as we came.

Other wildlife seen can include Fidler Crab, Cistanche phelypaea (spring) and oother marshland plants and butterflies.

Pelagic Boat Trip

Pelagic Boat Trip

This tour is done in partnership with Beachut Water Sports and leaves from Praia da Luz or Lagos. We will be at sea in Lagos bay and try to see species hard to see from the coast. They will be attracted by bait prepared previously. It will be possible to see Gannets, various species of Shearwaters, Storm-Petrels, Gulls, Skuas and Phalaropes. This trip will also provide nice views of the coast and maybe dolphins!

Minimum number of participants: 7

Please contact us for more information and booking as this tour is done in partnership with another company and is subject to boat availability and weather conditions.

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