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I don’t dislike repeating the same walk over and over,” stated the local guide, bending next to a patch of plants. “Each time, there are different details – these flowers hadn’t been in this spot the day before.”

Rising on stems no less than 2cm in height and dotting the ground with white petals, the reality that these overnight wonders emerged suddenly was a beautiful proof of how quickly life can regenerate in this hilly, interior section of the Algarve, the public forest of Barão de São João.

It was also encouraging to discover that in an zone ravaged by forest fires in the autumn, varieties such as arbutus trees – which are fire-resistant because of their reduced sap – were commencing to recover, together with highly flammable eucalyptus, which impedes other fire-retardant trees such as oak. Local helpers were being gathered to participate with reforestation.

Tourist Numbers and Inland Attraction

Visitor numbers to the Algarve are growing, with this year recording an rise of over two percent on the last year – but the bulk of arrivals make a beeline for the beach, although there being far more to explore.

The shoreline is undoubtedly untamed and breathtaking, but the locale is also keen to showcase the attraction of its upland zones. With the creation of throughout the year hiking and mountain biking paths, plus the launch of nature festivals, attention is being shifted to these similarly captivating landscapes, showcasing mountains and thick woodlands.

The Algarve Walking Season hosts a program of multiple guided walk programs with general topics such as “rivers and streams” and “ancient ruins” between late autumn and the end of winter. It’s hoped they will motivate visitors in every season, boosting the regional economy and helping reduce the outflow of younger generations leaving in search of opportunities.

Culture and Wilderness Merge

The trip to the wooded reserve fell during a cultural gathering with the subject of “expression”, based around the white-washed village north-west of Barão de São João.

In addition to guided hikes, setting off from the local hub, free events included mastering how to make plant-based dyes, to drama classes, meditative movement and drawing. There were several image galleries on show plus a number of other family-oriented pursuits, such as botanical explorations and making bird-feeders.

Even before our informal afternoon screen-printing class at the cultural centre, our walk into the woods with Joana had the vibe of an sculpture walk. Marked at the beginning by standing stones painted with depictions of rural workers, it was dotted along the way with more modest, fixed stones depicting types of animals, such as hedgehogs and lynxes – the wild cat’s community reviving, thanks to a conservation center situated in the historic town of Silves.

Picturesque Paths and Natural Charm

As the trail climbed to its highest point, the menhir (ancient rock) on the Pedra do Galo walk, it became more thickly wooded with the piney aroma of pine. There was a fullness to the air and firm, amber-hued globules protruded from tree trunks. Chalky rock sparkled on the ground and small amphibians sat by pool margins, necks vibrating. In the distance, energy generators cartwheeled against the sky.

Francisco Simões, our guide the following day, was once more keen to emphasize that these upland regions can be discovered throughout the year. Signposted trails, developed in recent years, are branches of the Via Algarviana, a route that extends from the frontier for 300 kilometers, the entire route to the ocean, and several are now linked to an application that makes route planning simpler.

Nature Tourism and Cultural Experiences

Francisco set up ecotourism outfit Algarvian Roots in the recent past and offers activities from birdwatching to day-long led walks, all with the similar goals as the AWS: to highlight the area by way of involvement, learning and local understanding.

The creative link is evident, also – his mother, artist Margarida Palma Gomes, had guided us to paint azulejos, the characteristic traditional colored ceramic tiles observed all over the nation, a couple of days before on a cultural activity. Visits to her workshop, in addition to to a local potter, can further be organized through Algarvian Roots.

Francisco urged us to do our bit for the sector by enjoying ample amounts of fine wine stoppered by cork

Following an superb lunch of pork cheek and greens in A Charrette in Monchique, a pretty upland village flanked by the Algarve’s most elevated summits, the 902-metre Fóia and 774-meter Picota, Francisco took us down steeply cobbled streets and into a narrow path, where an senior duo basked outdoors at the entrance of their residence.

A inclined path led us into the woodland, the terrain scattered with acorns. At this spot, Francisco was keen to point out protected species, Portugal’s emblematic species and safeguarded by law since the 13th century. Not just are they intrinsically fire-resistant, but their flexible outer layer is a means of revenue for locals, who harvest it to trade to other {industries|sectors