On my first trip to the Peneda-Gerês National Park (PNPG) several years ago, the weather was too bad for the full day hike I had organised. Instead, I ended up doing an introductory driving tour of its rugged landscapes with some short sections of walking trails. As a taster, this experience was certainly enough to whet my appetite and I have since been back several times to explore the mountains and villages in different parts of the vast Peneda-Gerês area in more depth.
Many of these trips been spent developing, updating and improving a self-guided walking holiday with a local tour operator.
Even if you’re not into hiking vactions, in this article I’ll show you some of the best villages, sights, short walks and views and give you the practical tips you need to plan your own adventure in the Peneda-Gerês National Park to discover its rugged beauty and rural traditions.
My practical tips about hiking in Peneda-Gerês are towards the end of the blog post.
Note: If you can only spare one day to visit the park, you might be better off taking an organised tour from Porto. That way, you don’t have to worry about logistics and will get to see some of the highlights, have a hike and perhaps even swim in waterfalls.
Want to know more about such a trip? Read this article: Day Trip From Porto: Peneda-Gerês National Park
Or just book the tour through Viator.
Mountain villages in Peneda-Gerês National Park
There are hundreds of hamlets and small villages scattered throughout the mountains and lowlands of the vast park area, each retaining many of their traditions and agricultural practices. Modern technology and improved infrastructure has removed the need for absolute self-sufficiency but many of these villages are still very isolated and often almost deserted, except for the old folk who continue to tend their vegetable plots and manage livestock.
Here are the best of the villages in the Peneda-Gerês that I’ve visited so far:
Soajo
Soajo is the largest village within the national park and the only one that has any form of public transport. It’s a mixture of traditional granite cottages spreading out from the main square, Largo do Eiró and more modern houses on the fringes. It’s also close to one of the 5 Park Gates, namely Mezio (see below for more on Park Gates).
The highlight, however, is the cluster of granite grain stores (espigueiros in Portuguese) perched on a smooth granite outcrop.
If you visit Soajo, make sure to pop into Largo do Eiró to see the pillory. Unlike most Portuguese pillories, this one has an anthropomorphic design, which is essentially, a man with a loaf of bread on his head.
I expect you’re curious as to what this represents. Back in the days when Soajo and other mountain villages were more isolated and had to be self-sufficient, locals were extremely wary of strangers who might pose a threat to their precarious existence. To avoid trouble, visitors were only allowed to stay in the village for the time it took for a freshly baked bread to cool down.
Short walks around Soajo
There are various footpaths from Soajo connecting it with Lindoso, Peneda and surrounding villages. The main ones are the Caminhos do Pão e do Fé (Paths of Bread and Faith). Faith because it’s one of the pilgrimage routes to Senhora da Peneda Sancturay (see below) and other religious sites. Bread because it leads to the grain mills at the top of the village. Plural because the routes merge.
The Caminhos de Pão e do Fé are well marked with yellow and red stripes and take you on a loop around and above the village via a small waterfall and the watermills. The stones between the mills and the village have deep grooves worn into them from years of ox-drawn carts transporting corn from the lower fields to the series of water-powered mills and making the return journey with sacks of flour.
Tip: If you’re short on time or energy, just walk up to the watermills and retrace your steps to the village.
If you’re staying in Soajo, the village with the most accommodation and eating options, try Saber ao Borralho or Videira restaurants for traditional Portuguese food. Make sure you stock up on provisions before leaving Soajo as there’s little else around.
Lovely Lindoso
Lindoso used to be the capital of this area and still has the remains of a castle, which is free to enter so you can walk around the battlements and admire the mountainous surrounds.
The village is more famous these days for having the largest collection of stone espigueiros around, some of which are still used by villagers. Most of its 54 espigueiros stand around the communal eira (threshing floor) just below Lindoso Castle. The round stones at the top of the legs of the grain stores are a cunning way of keeping mice out; mice can’t defy gravity!
As well as these attractions, a good reason to stop in Lindoso is because it’s home to another of the Park Gates and is close to the Alto Lindoso dam and reservoir. There’s a hike I’ve done from Lindoso that I loved so much, I added it this article about some of the best hikes in Portugal.
Alto Lindoso Dam
Before leaving this area, be sure to stop briefly to peer over the Alto Lindoso Dam as it purges water into the River Lima in the beautiful gorge below. The Lindoso reservoir is fed by several rivers, including the Peneda and Laboreiro, and supplies the hydroelectric power station. It’s possible to go inside the dam for a tour (in Portuguese) if you reserve in advance.
Castro Laboreiro
This small village lies on the plateau between the Peneda and Laboreiro mountain ranges in the most northern part of the Peneda-Gerês National Park. Remote though this location is, there’s evidence of people living here since pre-historic times. The name castro comes from the Portuguese term for Iron Age settlements of Lusitanian-Gaelic communities.
Castro de Laboreiro Castle, or what remains of it, is on the hill overlooking the village. I’d done two full on days of hiking during my visit and simply didn’t have the time or energy to climb the hill and visit. I figured that I had seen plenty of amazing views already. However, if you want to see it for yourself , it’s best to go early morning or late afternoon on hot days.
You can see it to the left from the Miradouro (viewpoint) at one end of the village. The curious black metal cutouts of women represent the Viúvas dos Vivos, aka Widows of the Living. When local men emigrated in search of work, or to avoid being drafted to fight in the colonial wars, their wives would wear black while they waited, sometimes in vain, for their menfolk to return.
If you want to get a better insight into the local history and culture, pay a visit to the Nucleo Museológico. This small museum is housed in the former chocolate factory and contains costumes, tools and information about local customs and practices, such as transhumance, i.e. moving livestock and people between winter and summer settlements.
Hikes near Castro Laboreiro
There are several marked trails in and around the village and a notice board by the main road with details of them.
We tried part of the not-quite-finished-at-the time PR4 trail, which we found to be dangerous and hard work. The trail was not blocked off at the start and after 2.5 hours of challenging terrain, we were faced with an unfinished suspension bridge or having to return the way we’d come! We managed to get across with the help of the people who were working on it but I was not a happy bunny. Neither Paulo nor I have faith that the route will be much safer now that the work is complete.
The PR3 circular trail has been rerouted to share some of this new PR4 trail and, after trying a bit of it, we abandoned the new trail and reverted to the original one, which Paulo still had on his phone. All this is to say choose your route carefully and be prepared for the unexpected – you definitely need proper walking shoes and poles for some, if not all, of these trails.
If you fancy a shorter hike and don’t mind a bit of a climb, you could follow the GR50 over the hill to Lamas do Mouro (about 5 km) and back again (or call a cab).
Peneda and Senhora da Peneda Sanctuary
The Senhora da Peneda sanctuary is a hub for pilgrims from all around the region who follow well-worn stone-paved trails from the mountain villages and larger towns such as Monção and Arcos de Valdevez.
You can drive to Peneda Sanctuary or follow one of the ancient stone paths over the mountains.
If you choose to walk over the mountains from, say, the village of Bouça dos Homens, you will be rewarded with spectacular views and, depending on which route you take, a beautiful small lake on the plateau. Be warned, the descent to the sanctuary can be toe-punishingly steep and a bit scary in places.
An alternative would be to follow the GR50 (Grande Rota) from Castro Laboreiro.
There are easier walks nearby. As part of a village to village walking holiday in the Peneda-Gerês, I walked from Peneda to Lindoso via the absolutely stunning Mixtura das Águas. This is where the various rivers converge and feed into the Lindoso reservoir.
Paulo and I walked through the Peneda Valley as far as the quaint village of Várzea and noticed several PR (short walking trail) signs at a crossroads in the village of Baleiral, although I’m not sure how easy they are to follow in practice.
Parada
Parada was once a very important village in the area and you can still see the former jail and council buildings as you wander around the stone streets and buildings.
It’s also the starting point for a couple of walking trails I’ve walked part of the Trilho dos Moinhos (Path of the mills) along rock-lined trails and over wooden bridges. I didn’t have time to complete the 6 km walk so stopped at Poço da Gola, one of the many lagoons in the park, and turned back. The shorter (4 km) Trilho do Penedo Encanto (Charming Boulder Path) takes you to some ancient rock art.
Paradela
This is another of the traditional villages I passed through on the self-guided walking holiday. Like so many others, it’s mostly inhabited by elderly people who eke an existence from their terraced plots and precious livestock. The GR (Grande Rota) passes through here, as well as one of the PR trails although I couldn’t tell you which one.
Montalegre
Strictly speaking, the town of Montalegre isn’t within the boundaries of the National Park but it’s close and significant enough to be one of the park gates. Like many small towns near the Spanish border, it has a castle, although Mike and I were unable to visit it due to restoration works.
As the most important town for miles around, it has transport connections, plenty of restaurants and banks, a few supermarkets and everything else you need for daily life. It also offers a range of accommodation.
One of the things that Montalegre is famous for is its celebration of Friday the 13th. All we saw of this was a bar adorned with cow heads called 6ª 13 (Sexta-Feira means Friday) but if you watch the introductory video in the Ethnographic Museum (more on that in a minute), you’ll get a sense of how wacky things get in these parts whenever that date falls.
Montalegre Ethnographic Museum
Mike and I almost passed on this museum – I’ve seen more than my fair share of traditional Portuguese costumes and farm machinery over the years – but we got talked into it by our host. We both came away more than impressed.
Aside from the video I mentioned earlier, there are truly interactive displays that cover every imaginable aspect of life in this remote part of Northern Portugal. Traditional customs, dishes, ways of doing things, crops, tools and celebrations are all covered in a varied and interesting way. A very helpful English speaking man showed us around and explained how to use everything then left us to dig deeper on our own.
Pitões das Júnias monastery
The ruins of the 12th century monastery just outside the village of Pitões das Júnias near Montalegre was the main draw for me. Despite Google Maps getting us lost in increasingly narrow streets through the actual village, we eventually found our way past the cemetery to a parking space a few hundred metres from the monastery.
We had free reign of the beautiful old building, although we couldn’t enter the church, and I thoroughly enjoyed wandering around the ruined buildings and imagining what it was like in its glory days.
Pitões das Júnias waterfall
This proved to be a bit of a letdown in terms of waterfalls. I had asked around and been told that yes, it was possible, if you’re very careful, to get to the base of the waterfall. It was a hot day in September and I had notions of at least soaking my feet in the cool water.
I was wrong.
We made the mistake of leaving the car where it was instead of driving the 500 metres or so down a cobbled road to a different car park. After a short section on a stone path, we then discovered a wooden staircase, some of which badly needs repairs.
Watching carefully where we placed each step, we duly climbed down… and down… and down until we finally reached a viewing platform. From here, we could see a ribbon of white cascading down the cliff opposite but frankly, it wasn’t worth having to climb back up those steps, even if the views were lovely.
We did try to continue downhill beyond the wooden stairs but quickly realised that it was too steep and unsafe for the likes of us.
Sistelo
Again, not strictly within the park boundary, the village of Sistelo is nevertheless worth a visit if you’re in the Arcos de Valdevez area. Not only is there an ecovia trail that runs between Arcos and Sistelo, there are other short walking trails leading off from the village, and the Grande Rota, which will give you amazing views of the attractive terraced slopes that surround this traditional village.
Ermida
High up in the Serra Amarela is a typical mountain village called Ermida. The drive alone is worth doing for amazing views although there is a walking trail that leads up to and beyond the village.
Ermida itself is a hotchpotch of traditional stone barns, modern houses and patch jobs made of any available material, some attractive, some downright ugly. See this post for more details.
Things you might see in Peneda-Gerês
Cachena cows
The curly-horned copper coloured cows are commonplace in these parts and although they might look a bit scary, they are quite docile. Allowed to graze freely around their villages, they plod their way contentedly back to their barns in the villages every evening.
Shepherd’s shelters and summer settlements
The practice of transhumance, which had villagers relocating to higher altitudes for the summer in order to grow crops and give their livestock better grazing, is now limited to the animals. The summer settlements, known as brandas, are largely given over to holiday cottages but if you venture into the higher parts of the mountains, you will see rudimentary shelters made from stones.
Wolf traps
Now obsolete, wolf traps used to play an important part in protecting precious livestock from these predators. There are two main kinds of trap, those that force a wolf between walls that form a funnel and end in a pit and another that used live bait to entice the wolf into the trap.
Iberian wolves are now a protected species and although they live in the National Park, you are unlikely to see one – they’ve learned to be very wary of humans!
Garrano horses
This ancient breed of horse dates back to prehistoric times but since motorised vehicles and machinery have made agriculture and rural life easier, they are no longer bred and are in danger of extinction. You may see some if you go walking in the wilderness.
Pretty wildflowers
I’m afraid I don’t know the names of any of the flowers I’ve noticed on various walks in the park but here’s a selection:
Rural ingenuity
When you live out in the sticks, you need to improvise at times.
Walking in Peneda-Gerês National Park
As mentioned in my article about practicalities for hiking in Portugal, although there are many hiking trails of varying lengths within the park, they are not always well-maintained or marked. This includes the revived Grande Rota (GR), which uses the red and white stripes, rather than the yellow and red of the shorter trails (PRs).
In some places, the marks have been freshly painted while in others, they are so faint you can hardly see them or have disappeared altogether. Maintaining such a vast park is a massive job and the weather takes its toll.
Mobile phone coverage is patchy in the mountains so you can’t always rely on getting data for Google Maps, or being able to call for help!
Hiking in Peneda-Gerês without a guide
It’s possible to do most of the shorter walks near villages without a guide but I would still try to get your hands on a trail map or GPS route in case the markers let you down. Some of the ancient shepherds’ routes are marked with piles of stones known as mariolas (cairns) so it sometimes helps to look out for these but beware that tourists have taken to creating their own piles of rocks which not only spoils the natural landscape, it can be misleading.
Some of the trails have been put onto hand-held devices (PDAs) which you can hire from Park Gates (see below). For these PDA and GPS routes, it’s also possible to download a PDF of the route which is better quality than the maps on the leaflets. Click on a specific trail then look for the link that says ‘Letter from the Route’.
Adventure Maps have produced a detailed waterproof map of the key points of interest and walking trails within the PNPG. You can buy this and maps of specific walking trails from Park Gates and/or check on their current status if you’ve already downloaded a PDF version.
(Note that even if you do this, the people working at the gate may not have full knowledge of route status. Paulo and I tried to follow the GR trail from Mezio gate to Soajo and found it impossible because fire damage and a recent hurricane had uprooted so many trees that the route was blocked and unmarked. There were no warnings about this at the gate and we went back to tell the staff so hopefully they will stop other people from going on this trail until its fixed.)
Perhaps a better option is to do a self-guided walking holiday organised through a local tour operator where you get a GPS device pre-loaded with the tracks as well as a written description of the route so that you don’t get lost. Get more details and itinerary
Why a guided walking tour might be a good idea
Walking with someone who knows the terrain and the history and traditions of the Peneda-Gerês has several benefits. Not only do you get the peace of mind of knowing you won’t get lost in the mountains and eaten by wolves (I’m joking but there are still some around), you also learn more about the traditions and culture of these remote villages.
If you all you have is a leaflet, you’ll get some information but frankly, the English translation will leave you confused in many cases.
A guide would also be able to tailor routes specifically for your group. If you arrange your walk in advance with a tour company, they can organise picnics and even traditional music or workshops en route. They can also sort out your accommodation if you want.
Get in touch if you’d like me to connect you with a specialist local tour operator to arrange a guided walk in the Peneda-Gerês.
Peneda-Gerês Park Gates
Peneda-Gerês National Park forms a wobbly M shape around Portugal’s border with Spain. Because of its size, there are several entrance points, most of which have a Park Gate where you can pick up useful information and maps. These are: Lamas de Mouro near Castro Laboreiro; Mezio near Soajo; Lindoso; Campo de Gerês and Montalegre.
Each gate has a different theme, with information about the traditions, wildlife, geography and other aspects of Peneda-Gerês. Some park centres sell locally made handicrafts and all have toilet facilities.
Driving in Peneda-Gerês National Park
You don’t have to miss out on the natural beauty of the park just because you’re not into walking. If you’re not fazed by narrow, winding and in some places quite uneven roads, you could do a self-guided driving tour of Peneda-Gerês. Whatever you do, make sure you have a full tank of fuel well before entering the park because there aren’t any petrol stations within its boundaries.
See this article about renting a car in Portugal
If the thought of driving puts you off, or you have limited time to see the highlights of Peneda-Gerês, there are 1-day tours you can take from Porto, Braga and other towns in the Minho region.
These one day tours tend to visit parts of the park that I have only seen from a distance or read about but everything points to them being a great day trip.
Peneda-Gerês 1 day van tours from Porto, Braga or Guimarães:
This full day small group tour includes the famous Tahiti Waterfalls, the Pedra Bela viewpoint and the chance to enjoy a swim and a picnic in beautiful surroundings.
An alternative small group tour also includes a short hike in the forest as well as another to the Tahiti waterfall where you can go for a dip if the weather permits.
Accommodation in Peneda-Gerês National Park
Peneda-Gerês is huge and beautiful and needs as much time as you can spare to fully appreciate it. You can camp, stay in traditional stone cottages in some of the villages, or choose one of the more modern hotels dotted around the park.
Check out accommodation options in Peneda-Gerês National Park or see specific suggestions for the villages above.
If you’d prefer to be based in a nearby town, consider Ponte de Lima, Arcos de Valdevez, Ponta da Barca, Melgaço or Montalegre.
Getting to Peneda-Gerês National Park
Unfortunately, there is very little in the way of public transport to Peneda-Gerês so you’ll either need your own transport or the services of a tour company to get beyond Soajo.
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are dogs allowed in the park
Yes
Hello
I’ve read your article about Peneda-Gêres in Portugal and I really like it. I am planning a citytrip to Porto in april and planning to spend one day in the Peneda-Gêres. I really would love to see some waterfalls (Pincaes, Tahiti, Arado), Ponte De Miserala, Pedra Bela and perhaps Castelo de Castro Laboreiro. Is it possible to visit these places in one day with a car combined with a little hike (found one that combines Arado waterfalls with Pedra Bela)? Are there any other beautiful, not-to-miss-places? I’ve been looking for routes to get to near this places with a car, but can’t really find if there are any parking possibilities in the environment of these places. Do you know something about the possibility to visit these places in one day?
Regards, Bert
Artigo adorável. Parabéns pela abordagem e pelas belas fotos. Vou compartilhar com nossa página “Portugal Encantadora” e com nosso grupo “Vivendo Portugal”! https://www.facebook.com/groups/vivendoportugal/?fref=ts
Really great and informative!
Thanks a lot!
Thanks for all the info Julie, We are staying on the South border on the Penada Genres Park on a reservoir for a week in August 2016 with a 2 and 5 year old. Were would you recommend for us not to miss in the area as a family? We will b following this by a week on the coast just south of Porto on he beach of madelana. Thanks, Catherine T.
Hi Julie My husband and I will be in Portugal in October. We are planning on going to Parque National Peneda-Greres for 3 nights and are trying to plan the trip. Could you help? We want to do some hiking anf touring in the park. Should we pick one place to stay and day trip or stay in multiple places to get to see the most? We will have a car. Also what will the weather be in the first half or October? Thanks Maureen
Hi Maureen,
Temperatures should still be warm during the day and not too cold at night but it’s impossible to say at this stage what the chance of rain will be. At that time of year, you could be faced with bright sunny days or torrential rain or anything in between so come prepared for various eventualities and always take advice from the park headquarters or a local before venturing into the wilderness on hikes.
If you base yourself at one of the more central gates, you should be able to explore the park through day trips: http://adere-pg.pt/portas/
Hi there, sounds really great. Is it also possible to do more-days walk in the park? (I mean not being based in one place, but cross the park from one side to another camping along).
Thanks! Jana
Thank you, I will try and report back if we ever get there!
Great article and photos. Thinking of staying in Caldas do Geres for a few days at the end of June can you say of there is much local walking as we will have to use public transport from Porto and are just looking for day walks.
Hi Sue, I’d start by looking at this website: http://adere-pg.pt/trilhos/uk/percursos3.php to find out about trails and park headquarters. Public transport is scarce so you might find yourselves quite limited as to which walks you can do. I think Soajo has the best connections but I’m not sure about that. I’d also ask at your accommodation – they may have info about self-guided walks or be able to put you in touch with a local guide.
Super and informative.Is it possible to do all this in earlyJanuary?
Hi there. It all depends on the weather. If it’s not too wet and windy, then yes. But there’s no way of knowing this far ahead what the weather will be like. It could be clear and dry, or not, so have a back up plan if that’s the only time of year you can visit. I went in April and we had to abandon the long walk we’d planned in favour of a driving tour with shorter walks. My advice is to check with a local guide or park headquarters and don’t take unnecessary risks – you don’t want the search and rescue team to have to come looking for you 😉
Great article, Julie. Did you see any river adventure companies up there on your travels? It looks like the perfect place to explore from the water…
I’ve clicked on the Green Walks link, but it all seems to be about pilgrimages. Where do I find information about horse-back riding in the National Park? Thanks!
Hi there. This is the link to the same company but the website is in Portuguese: http://www.oficinadanatureza.pt/ I suggest you contact Paulo by email or telephone (he speaks English) to discuss Tel: +351 936 077 462 [email protected]
Alternatively, Quinta do Fijó in Arcos de Valdevez do treks into the Gerês http://quintadofijo.eu/ Carlos is the man to contact there. Either way, if you remember to tell them that you heard about them from me, that would be great!
Hello
Just read your article and sad to see your comment about being “eaten by wolves”. Surely its about time this myth was knocked on the head and not continued although I presume it was tongue in cheek and not meant seriously. Some people, however, need no encouragement to malign these wonderful creatures.
I have by the way seen wolves in the wild on a number of occasions in Spain.
Please clarify your comment for the ignorant who read it!
Loraine
I never expected anyone to take it seriously, Loraine!
Unfortunately people do and so continues the persecution. We may know better but lots of people dont. Thank you for reply
Exploring Peneda Gerês National Park by horse sounds like a great idea. What a trip!
You should definitely do this next time you visit Portugal, Nancy. You’d love it.
Ah! What a coincidence! I recently spent a week in Gerês 😀 Of course I’ll be sharing info and tips, just need some time to organize all the papers and photos – a job that never seems to end! I also tried one of the trails this time (9 km) but without a guide. Ooooh… adventurous! 😀
I know what you mean about the time spent organising. I did this trip back in April but have been working non stop since then. Got loads more posts to write up, too!
Looking forward to hearing all about your recent adventures.
Those Espigueiros are called Horreos across the border in Galicia.
Walking with a guide is a good idea – you will not get lost and you get to see a lot more. Hopefully they also know what to do in case you run into a touro bravo with long horns.
Ha ha! Most of the long-horned cattle we met were cows but I wouldn’t want to make one angry with those twisty long horns! The local farmers let the cows roam free during the day and they all make their own way home when it’s time for bed. Amazing!
Thanks for a look at an area I just might make it to one day, Julie. 🙂
You should definitely add Geres to your list, Jo. It’s wild, remote and fascinatingly different. I’m really glad I had people with me to explain about village life and customs, too. It really adds to the experience, I think. I love walking alone but sometimes expert company is worth having, even if you have to pay for it. ( I’m not on commision, btw) 😉
Beautiful! We just came back a couple weeks ago from visiting LIsbon, Sintra, Evora & Carraterpeira. You make me want to go back and visit the national park!
I hope you had a wonderful time in Portugal and I’m very pleased to hear you want to come back for more. Peneda Gerês is a lovely part of the country and totally different from the places you’ve just visited. You should start planning your next trip! 😉
Let me know if you fancy being interviewed about your recent trip… I’ve never been to Carraterpeira so I’d love to know more about it.
Marvellous photos, Julie! One of the very best corners of Portugal, although in my experience it always rains in Lindoso! It looks as though signposting has improved since we were last there – the “Sunflower” Guide for this area tends to abandon you halfway through a walk.
The other great thing about this area is the food – try the “Arroz de Sarrabulho” – not for the faint-hearted, but just the thing after one of these walks. Oh, and the local squeezebox and cavaquinho playing.
Thanks, Robert – praise indeed, coming from you 😉 I think there’s been a great deal of improvement with walking trails and markers, although they still have a tendency to disappear on you just when you need them most. I think the short walks around the major villages are probably fine but I’d want to have either a PDA or a real guide for anything longer, I think.
I haven’t been brave enough to try the Sarrabulho rice yet but given the amount of morcela (black pudding in case anyone’s wondering) I’ve been eating lately, I suppose there’s no excuse for not giving it a go at some point. Am I right in thinking it’s a kind of blood rice?