For the one who enjoy birdwatching, but not only and would like to discover the Algarve’s culture and history, or have free time to enjoy the good weather, A Rocha Life Portugal has the perfect tour: a week discovering the Algarve and southern Alentejo at a slow pace with some sightseeing. This tour is designed to give you a relaxing time, enjoying the Algarve and take you to some of the nicest nature spots in south-west Portugal.
However, if you are organizing a group visit and you think there is still too much birdwatching, or have any other suggestions, we can tailor the tour to suit the interests of your group. Just check us on Design Your Own Birding Tour.
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Price
Only 1307 €, or approximately £1118, p.p. for a great deal!
What’s included?
• A 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?
• Extra drinks & other items of a personal nature.
Carbon offsetting?
If you are booking your own flights, may we suggest that you offset your flights carbon emissions with Climate Stewards? Thanks!
We will offset all the mileage done during the whole week.
Number of participants?
Maximum of 8.
Tour Program
Arrival and Ria de Alvor
Arrival at Faro airport during the afternoon. Then we will head to Cruzinha (A Rocha Portugal field study centre), in Mexilhoeira Grande, between Lagos and Portimão. There it will be possible to unpack and relax before walking to the Ria de Alvor marsh and have a first contact with the Algarvian birds such as Black-winged Stilts, Azure-winged Magpies, or Little Owl.
The day will end after dinner at Cruzinha where a typical meal will be served, first immersion in the Portugese culture.
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
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.
Alvor Dunes
The morning is free, so everybody can relax and rest and we will have a delicious lunch at Cruzinha.
We will then go to Alvor beach and discover the incredible bird richness of the dunes in the afternoon. This fragile place is the breeding place of threatened species like the Little Tern or the Kentish Plover.
If you are taking a summer time trip, as we are on the beach you will be able to have a swim or an ice cream before going back to Cruzinha.
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
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.
Silves
Saturday will start as usual with a delicious breakfast, before going to an area of ricefields 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 to Silves. There, we will visit the castle, remain of the Moorish occupation of the Algarve, and the archaeological museum.
Ria Formosa and departure
On this last day of the trip, before going to the airport, we spend the morning visiting the West part of Ria Formosa, one of the protected wetlands of the Algarve. This is certainly one of the best places to see Little Bittern and Purple Swamphen, as well as terrapins, and in the winter the lagoons host a great variety of ducks.
