Peneda Gerês National Park Tour

Pay only for what you enjoy!

Our guided tours aim to be a unique and personal experience, supported on our expertise: we suggest an itinerary, one or two restaurants to lunch, and the most iconic monuments and attractions to visit. But, we want you to feel free to choose your favourite restaurant, your preferred monuments or attractions! We will adapt the itinerary, whenever possible, to meet your wishes.

That is why our price does not include lunch, or the tickets to visit monuments and attractions.

• • The Caniçada Dam and reservoir: The best way to start our trip is this lake with 689 acres with its wonderful landscape that offers the visitor all water-related sports: baths and swimming, fishing, a marina and nautical activities. A boat tour of tourist / environmental character is also possible.
  • Basílica São Bento da Porta Aberta: This pilgrimage location originated with the construction of a small Chapel in 1614. At that time, this chapel had a small porch and the doors were always open, so it served as a shelter for all who passed. Still, during summer months is open 24 hours a day.
  • Ethnographic Museum of Vilarinho da Furna: Located in Campo do Gerês, one of the 5 doors of the National Park, it recreates the community village that was submerged by the waters of the dam of Rio Homem. Open since 1989, it is a living example of the safeguarding of the ethnographic heritage.
  • Geira – Via Romana: also known as Via Nova or Via XVIII, (classified as National Heritage), on the Antonino Itinerary that connected Bracara Augusta (Braga) to Asturica Augusta (Astorga) in Spain is an extraordinary Roman archaeological complex that maintains, practically intact, along the 30kms, bridges, walls and sidewalks. Here we find the high concentration of epigraphic milestones with inscriptions dated between the end of the I century and the IV century a.c..
  • Mata de Albergaria: along the Geira we will go through one of the most representative forests of the Portuguese Galician oak trees. The floristic composition in this region is well preserved and it is classified by UNESCO, since 2009 as one of the biogenetic reserves of the European continent.
  • Portela do Homem: here, The Gallery of Milestones, inaugurated in 2008, in the former border post, gathers some of the most important epigraphic milestones in the monumental set existing in Geira. One kilometre way down there’s the waterfall Portela do Homem. The way must be done on foot, as parking there is not allowed, but it is worthy: one of the most beautiful lagoons of the park where a crystalline blue/green water invites you to a refreshing plunge.
  • Leonte Waterfall: it may be observed from the main road – Leonte Waterfall is 19 meters fall from the top of a granite rock cliff of the Taleira stream waters, to the Gerês River bed. In drought summers the flow of the cascade may disappear.
  • Gerês village: a well known spa destination. In this secular place we may find a cultural heritage that joins the natural through walls, levadas, sidewalks, pontoons, granaries, fojos, mills, megalithic remains, identifying a little of the different civilizations that passed through here like the Celtics and the Romans.
  • Pedra Bela Viewpoint: Located at 829 meters of altitude, the Pedra Bela viewpoint is perhaps the best known in the region due to the great scenic beauty that one can see from there. The landscape reached is an authentic natural amphitheatre, with the backdrop of the Rio Caldo bridges and the entire Caniçada reservoir.
  • Rocas Viewpoint: 360º majestic view over the immensity of the Serra do Gerês
  • Waterfall of Arado: one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the National Park Located at an altitude of 900 meters it is a succession of cascades of crystalline waters ending in a clear lake.
  • Waterfall Tahiti: the official name is Cascade Fecha das Barjas, it is one of the most breathtaking waterfalls in Gerês . It requires great care in accessing and enjoying its waters due to the difficult access.
  • Fafião village: this village is still now a living example of the community way of life. It was in ancient times an isolated place, making people come together and live a life of mutual assistance with a way of life that was linked to agricultural tasks and which we call communitarianism. Nearby, we find the Fojo of the Wolves. It is a trap for wolves with about 60 meters in diameter, the largest fojo of this type in the Iberian Peninsula. A granitic structure of converging walls, it is believed that its construction dates from the eighteenth century.
• Return to Porto.
• Notes: This attractions list is not mandatory nor exhaustive and it may be adjusted to your expectations. Besides, the itinerary may differ due to weather conditions, the time spent in each location and to the guide’s criterion.

This tour is classified as Easy/Medium. Some places are difficult to reach, with steep and slippery accesses, especially if want to swim in the natural pools.

Anyway, the panoramic ride and the viewpoints are accessible for those with limited mobility;

Important note: Be careful whenever you walk on the mountain. Wear proper footwear and don’t do anything that you don’t feel absolutely safe to do. Follow the safety recommendations given by our Driver/Guide.