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I don’t object to doing the familiar hike again and again,” commented Joana Almeida, crouching near a cluster of plants. “Each time, you’ll find fresh discoveries – these flowers weren’t in this spot the day before.”

Rising on stems a minimum of 2cm in height and adorning the dirt with pale blossoms, the reality that these delicate blooms sprung up in a single night was a striking demonstration of how quickly things can grow in this hilly, interior part of the Algarve, the protected woodland of Barão de São João.

It was also reassuring to learn that in an area swept by forest fires in last fall, varieties such as strawberry trees – which are less flammable because of their low resin content – were commencing to recover, in proximity to highly combustible eucalyptus, which impedes other fire-retardant trees such as oak. Volunteers were being enlisted to participate with rewilding.

Visitor Statistics and Upland Interest

Visitor numbers to the Algarve are rising, with the current year showing an increase of 2.6% on the previous year – but most visitors head straight for the seaside, even though there being far more to explore.

The shoreline is certainly wild and dramatic, but the locale is also eager to showcase the charm of its interior regions. With the creation of year-round hiking and biking trails, along with the launch of ecological celebrations, focus is being shifted to these equally captivating landscapes, featuring hills and thick woodlands.

The Algarve Walking Season hosts a series of five walking festivals with general topics such as “aquatic elements” and “ancient ruins” between the start of winter and early spring. It’s expected they will encourage visitors throughout the year, boosting the regional economy and contributing to stem the tide of younger generations departing in search of work.

Creativity and The Outdoors Merge

The excursion to the protected parkland coincided with a two-day event with the focus of “creativity”, centered on the pale-colored village north-west of Barão de São João.

In addition to organized treks, starting at the cultural centre, free events extended from learning how to make organic pigments, to theatre workshops, meditative movement and artistic rendering. There were two photography exhibitions running as well as a number of other child-friendly pastimes, such as leaf safaris and making seed dispensers.

Even before our informal afternoon screen-printing workshop at the local venue, our walk into the woods with Joana had the atmosphere of an creative path. Marked at the beginning by upright rocks painted with representations of rural workers, it was dotted along the way with more modest, fixed stones showing instances of fauna, such as spiny creatures and lynxes – the wild cat’s numbers increasing, thanks to a conservation center located in the castle town of Silves.

Picturesque Trails and Outdoor Charm

As the path climbed to its highest point, the menhir (standing stone) on the Pedra do Galo trail, it became more thickly wooded with the resinous scent of pine. There was a fullness to the breeze and hard, honey-toned droplets protruded from bark. Calcareous stone glistened on the ground and tiny toads rested by pool margins, throats vibrating. In the background, energy generators cartwheeled against the blue expanse.

Francisco Simões, the local expert the next day, was again keen to point out that these inland areas can be explored in every season. Waymarked hikes, established in the past few years, are branches of the Via Algarviana, a path that extends from the frontier for 300 kilometers, the entire route to the ocean, and many are now tied to an digital tool that makes wayfinding even easier.

Nature Tourism and Local Experiences

Francisco set up sustainable travel company Algarvian Roots in 2020 and organizes activities from birdwatching to full-day guided hikes, all with the same objectives as the AWS: to promote the locale by way of immersion, enlightenment and local understanding.

The art connection is here, too – his family member, potter Margarida Palma Gomes, had guided us to paint azulejos, the distinctive blue and white glazed tiles observed across the land, two days earlier on a cultural activity. Excursions to her workshop, along with to a regional artist, can further be arranged through Algarvian Roots.

Francisco advised us to contribute for the trade by enjoying plenty of good wine sealed with cork

Following an delicious dining experience of pork cheek and cabbage in A Charrette in Monchique, a quaint upland village flanked by the Algarve’s tallest mountains, the tall Fóia and high Picota, Francisco led us down sharply cobbled streets and into a alleyway, where an older couple sunned themselves at the entrance of their residence.

A steep trail led us into the woods, the ground scattered with tree seeds. At this spot, Francisco was eager to introduce us to cork trees, Portugal’s emblematic species and safeguarded by law since the 1200s. Not only are they inherently fire-resistant, but their flexible outer layer is a source of revenue for locals, who harvest it to sell to other {industries|sectors