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I rarely mind doing the identical hike again and again,” commented Joana Almeida, kneeling near a cluster of plants. “On every occasion, there are new things – these blooms were not present yesterday.”

Rising on stems at least two centimetres in height and adorning the soil with pale blossoms, the reality that these delicate blooms sprung up overnight was a remarkable proof of how quickly life can grow in this rolling, central area of the Algarve, the public forest of Barão de São João.

It was also reassuring to learn that in an region ravaged by forest fires in September, types such as arbutus trees – which are flame-retardant thanks to their reduced sap – were beginning to bounce back, alongside highly flammable eucalyptus, which impedes other slow-burning trees such as oak. Local helpers were being recruited to participate with ecological restoration.

Traveler Numbers and Upland Interest

Tourist arrivals to the Algarve are growing, with this year registering an growth of over two percent on the previous year – but the majority arrivals head straight for the coast, despite there being far more to explore.

The coastline is undoubtedly untamed and dramatic, but the region is also enthusiastic to showcase the attraction of its inland areas. With the establishment of all-season trekking and cycling trails, plus the launch of ecological celebrations, focus is being directed to these similarly engaging sceneries, featuring peaks and dense wooded areas.

The Algarve Walking Season runs a series of five guided walk programs with broad subjects such as “rivers and streams” and “ancient ruins” between the start of winter and the end of winter. It’s hoped they will inspire visitors throughout the year, boosting the regional economy and contributing to slow the exodus of the youth moving away in search of opportunities.

Culture and The Outdoors Merge

Our visit to the protected parkland fell during a two-day event with the subject of “expression”, based around the white-washed hamlet to the northwest of Barão de São João.

In addition to led walks, departing from the cultural centre, no-cost workshops ranged from discovering how to make organic pigments, to performance sessions, meditative movement and sketching. There were two photo displays on show as well as multiple other child-friendly pursuits, such as nature hunts and crafting wildlife feeders.

Prior to our informal afternoon printmaking class at the community space, our walk into the forest with Joana had the vibe of an sculpture walk. Signposted at the beginning by upright rocks adorned with depictions of rural workers, it was decorated en route with more modest, permanently placed stones showing types of fauna, such as small mammals and lynxes – the lynx’s numbers increasing, due to a rescue facility located in the fortified settlement of Silves.

Picturesque Paths and Outdoor Charm

As the path wound up to its highest point, the menhir (monolith) on the Pedra do Galo walk, it became more thickly wooded with the resinous scent of evergreen. There was a ripeness to the breeze and hard, honey-toned droplets protruded from tree trunks. Limestone sparkled beneath our feet and tiny amphibians rested by pool margins, vocal sacs vibrating. In the background, windmills rotated against the sky.

Francisco Simões, our guide the next day, was again enthusiastic to emphasize that these interior zones can be experienced throughout the year. Signposted trails, established in the past few years, are branches of the Via Algarviana, a route that runs from the border with Spain for 186 miles, all the way to the ocean, and many are now tied to an app that makes wayfinding simpler.

Nature Tourism and Local Activities

Francisco founded ecotourism outfit Algarvian Roots in a few years ago and provides activities from wildlife spotting to full-day accompanied treks, all with the similar goals as the AWS: to highlight the region by way of involvement, learning and cultural awareness.

The artistic element is here, as well – his parent, ceramicist Margarida Palma Gomes, had taught us to paint azulejos, the distinctive traditional colored ceramic tiles found throughout the nation, previously on a cultural activity. Excursions to her workshop, as well as to a regional artist, can further be arranged through Algarvian Roots.

Francisco advised us to do our bit for the trade by consuming plenty of fine wine capped with cork

After an excellent dining experience of meat dish and cabbage in A Charrette in Monchique, a pretty hill settlement flanked by the Algarve’s most elevated summits, the 902-metre Fóia and 774-metre Picota, Francisco took us down sharply stone-paved lanes and into a narrow path, where an elderly pair relaxed in the sun at the front of their residence.

A inclined path guided us into the woodland, the ground covered in oak nuts. At this spot, Francisco was enthusiastic to point out cork trees, Portugal’s emblematic species and safeguarded by law since the medieval period. Not just are they intrinsically fire-resistant, but their malleable covering is a means of income for locals, who harvest it to sell to other {industries|sectors