Peneda-Gerês National Park is a protected national park in Portugal, located in the north of the country, close to the border with Spain. The park has many activities available for visitors to enjoy including hiking trails that lead through beautiful landscapes and along rivers where you can swim or fish if you want some downtime from sightseeing!
The park is considered one of the best National parks in Portugal. It has a rich cultural and historical heritage that dates back thousands of years. It’s also known for its natural beauty with its forests, lakes, mountains, and rivers. You can also visit one of two castles within Peneda-Gerês National Park: Castelo de Miranda do Douro (the oldest castle) or Castelo de Fafe (the newest).
1. Hiking in Peneda-Gerês
Hiking is a great way to explore Peneda-Gerês National Park. The park has many hiking trails, and you can go on your own or with a guide. Some of the best hiking trails are in the national park, so it’s worth exploring if you have time!
There are different types of hikes available in Peneda-Gerês: some are shorter walks through forests or meadows, while others involve more challenging terrain like mountainside paths with steep terrain and narrow bridges over rivers.
2. Wildlife spotting in Peneda-Gerês
Wildlife spotting is one of the best things to do in Peneda-Gerês National Park and there are plenty of creatures to be seen. The park has a number of habitats that support different species, including the Atlantic forest (which covers most of Portugal’s coastline) and Mediterranean shrubland.
On your wildlife spotting tours, you’ll encounter all sorts of creatures including wolves, wild boar, deer, and birds like eagles or vultures. You might even spot some rarer animals such as lynx or Iberian ibexes (a type of wild goat). To increase your chances at seeing these animals up close without disturbing them too much (and getting yourself into trouble), make sure that you stick to designated trails only!
3. Swimming in Peneda-Gerês
Swimming is one of the best ways to relax and enjoy nature. If you are not a swimmer, don’t worry! The water in Peneda-Gerês National Park is refreshing even on a hot day. There are many swimming spots with different types of water: rivers, lakes, and waterfalls that you can choose from.
There are also some places where you cannot swim because they are too dangerous (for example near cliffs). But don’t worry! There are plenty of other places where it’s safe to swim!
4. Canoeing and kayaking in Peneda-Gerês
Canoeing and kayaking are two of the most popular activities in Peneda-Gerês National Park. The park has a wide variety of rivers, lakes, and streams for you to explore. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could even go on a multi-day canoe trip!
Canoeing is best done in spring when there’s still snow on the ground but temperatures are rising fast enough to not be too cold outside. That being said, if you come during the summer months (June through August), bring lots of sunscreens since this region gets plenty of sun all year round! You’ll also want something warm like long pants or leggings so that if it gets chilly at night while camping out under the stars (which I highly recommend doing) then at least one part of your body won’t freeze off completely! And finally, don’t forget water bottles – lots of them!
5. Mountain biking in Peneda-Gerês
If you’re looking for a fun activity that will challenge your body, mountain biking is a great choice. Peneda-Gerês National Park has over 50 kilometers of trails to explore and many of them are suitable for beginners. You can rent a bike or bring your own, as well as take guided tours or go solo.
When choosing which trail to ride on, consider the difficulty level: some routes are more challenging than others (and some may require special equipment). In general, though, these paths aren’t too difficult so they’re perfect for beginners who want an active day outdoors but don’t want something too extreme!
6. Rock climbing in Peneda-Gerês
Rock climbing is a sport that involves ascending steep faces, often using specialized equipment. It’s a great way to see Peneda-Gerês National Park from a different perspective and it’s not dangerous if you are properly trained and follow safety precautions.
The best place to go rock climbing in Peneda-Gerês National Park is at the base of Serra da Estrela mountain range where there are many different routes available for all levels of ability.
7. Bird watching in Peneda-Gerês
If you are a bird enthusiast, then this is the place for you to be. There are more than 300 different species of birds in Peneda-Gerês National Park and they make their homes in the area’s many forests and lakes. Birds that can be found here include black storks, golden eagles, long-legged buzzards, and short-toed eagles.
You can go bird watching any time of year but spring is when most of them return from their winter migration so it’s best to go during this season if possible! To get started with this activity all you need is some binoculars or a good camera along with some patience since finding rare birds can take some time! If you see any rare ones though then please don’t disturb them as much as possible because harming these animals would ruin our environment even more than what we’ve already done (which has been quite damaging).
8. Camping in Peneda-Gerês
Camping is a great way to experience Peneda-Gerês National Park. The park has many campsites, all of which have facilities such as showers and toilets. These can be found in villages throughout the park, so you don’t need to worry about carrying your own supplies all the way from home!
Camping is also a great way to meet other people who love nature as much as you do. When camping in Peneda-Gerês National Park, it’s likely that your fellow campers will be from all over Europe, and possibly even further away than that!
9. Visiting historical sites in Peneda-Gerês
If you’re interested in history, it’s worth visiting the Peneda-Gerês National Park Interpretation Centre. Here, you’ll learn about the park’s unique geology and wildlife, as well as its human history. You can also explore the medieval village of Vilarinho das Furnas, the oldest preserved village in Portugal, and see how people lived back then.
If you want to see what life was like before modern technology, head over to Loriga or Vila Nova de Foz Côa. These two villages have been abandoned for centuries but still retain their charm thanks to their stone houses and narrow streets lined with trees (they were built long before cars existed).
10. Relaxing in thermal springs in Peneda-Gerês
The park has several thermal springs and natural pools of water that the earth’s core has heated. The water is said to have healing properties and can help relieve aches and pains and calm your nerves.
To find the best thermal springs in Peneda-Gerês National Park, look for signs that say “Termas” on them (this means “thermal springs”). You can also ask locals or park rangers where they recommend going if you don’t see any signs nearby.
Once you’ve found your chosen spot, follow directions from there on how to get there, it will usually involve hiking through some woods until reaching a clearing with one or more pools of warm water waiting for visitors! Once there, make sure not only to relax but also take advantage of any additional amenities available like massages or saunas at nearby hotels/hostels before heading back down into town again later on after Darkfall sets in around 6 pm each day during summer months between May – September when temperatures tend towards being warmer than other times during the year but still chilly enough so plan accordingly with extra layers if needed.
