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“I never object to taking the familiar walk repeatedly,” remarked our guide, kneeling near a group of flowers. “On every occasion, you can spot new things – these were not present yesterday.”

Growing on stems at least 2cm in height and dotting the soil with snowy flowers, the observation that these overnight wonders sprung up overnight was a striking testament of how quickly things can grow in this hilly, interior section of the Algarve, the national forest of Barão de São João.

It was also comforting to learn that in an area affected by wildfires in September, types such as arbutus trees – which are flame-retardant due to their minimal resin – were starting to regrow, together with highly inflammable eucalyptus, which obstructs other slow-burning trees such as oak. Local helpers were being enlisted to participate with reforestation.

Traveler Statistics and Inland Appeal

Travel figures to the Algarve are increasing, with the current year recording an increase of 2.6% on the prior year – but most guests go directly to the coast, even though there being a great deal more to experience.

The coastline is certainly untamed and breathtaking, but the region is also eager to highlight the appeal of its upland zones. With the establishment of all-season walking and biking paths, along with the introduction of outdoor events, interest is being directed to these equally engaging vistas, featuring hills and lush wooded areas.

The Algarve Walking Season runs a program of several guided walk programs with broad subjects such as “rivers and streams” and “archaeology” between the start of winter and April. It’s expected they will encourage explorers in every season, boosting the local economy and helping stem the tide of young people leaving in pursuit of opportunities.

Art and Wilderness Merge

Our visit to the protected parkland coincided with a two-day event with the theme of “art”, focused on the traditional village in the northwest of Barão de São João.

In addition to led walks, setting off from the community center, no-cost workshops extended from mastering how to make organic pigments, to theatre workshops, meditative movement and artistic rendering. There were a couple of photography exhibitions on show together with a number of other child-friendly activities, such as botanical explorations and creating seed dispensers.

Before our drop-in afternoon art printing workshop at the community space, our stroll into the woods with Joana had the vibe of an art trail. Signposted at the outset by upright rocks adorned with images of traditional agricultural folk, it was decorated throughout the path with smaller, fixed stones depicting instances of fauna, such as small mammals and lynxes – the wild cat’s numbers reviving, due to a conservation center based in the fortified settlement of Silves.

Breathtaking Routes and Natural Beauty

As the path ascended to its peak, the menhir (standing stone) on the Pedra do Galo path, it became more lushly forested with the piney aroma of conifer. There was a richness to the air and firm, golden-colored droplets bulged from wood. Chalky rock shone beneath our feet and small toads perched by pond edges, vocal sacs throbbing. In the distance, wind turbines spun against the horizon.

Francisco Simões, the tour leader the subsequent day, was once more enthusiastic to emphasize that these inland areas can be discovered year-round. Designated walks, developed in recent years, are extensions of the Via Algarviana, a trail that runs from the frontier for 300 kilometers, all the way to the Atlantic, and many are now tied to an app that makes navigation more straightforward.

Nature Tourism and Artistic Activities

Francisco founded sustainable travel company Algarvian Roots in 2020 and offers tours from avian observation to full-day accompanied treks, all with the same aims as the AWS: to showcase the region by way of involvement, enlightenment and local understanding.

The creative link is present, too – his family member, ceramicist Margarida Palma Gomes, had taught us to design azulejos, the distinctive traditional colored decorative panels observed all over the nation, a couple of days before on a cultural activity. Visits to her atelier, in addition to to a regional artist, can also be scheduled through Algarvian Roots.

Francisco advised us to contribute for the industry by drinking ample amounts of good wine stoppered by cork

After an delicious midday meal of pork cheek and greens in A Charrette in Monchique, a pretty mountain town flanked by the Algarve’s most elevated summits, the 902-metre Fóia and 774-metre Picota, Francisco guided us down sharply historic roads and into a side lane, where an elderly pair sunned themselves at the front of their residence.

A sharp trail led us into the woods, the earth scattered with tree seeds. In this location, Francisco was enthusiastic to point out protected species, Portugal’s emblematic species and conserved under regulation since the medieval period. Not only are they naturally fire-resistant, but their pliable outer layer is a origin of revenue for locals, who collect it to market to other {industries|sectors