WFA 2025 Walking Trails
Walking between Nature and Cultural Heritage
See in detail all the hiking options of different types, lengths and intensities, suitable for people with different motivations and interests.
P Trails; CE Specials; CT Themed; CF Family
Walking legend
Discovering the wildlife of Ribeira do Vascão (CF)
In a fun field trip, participants will be able to understand the relationship between living beings and water and how its physical and chemical properties can influence the presence or absence of organisms. This is a first step towards realising the endless web of dependence between organisms and the environment they inhabit. This activity is the result of a partnership with APA/ARH.
26 April (10h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 1km | Duration: 2h | Difficulty: Easy
Guides: Paula Vaz, Paula Gaspar and Frederico Rufino | Partners: Portuguese Environment Agency
My Home is Nature - Theatre in Nature (CF)
Artistic wanderings in nature. Come and do theatre in nature and think about nature in theatre!
We're going to connect theatre and nature through artistic experiences outdoors, with the aim of establishing relationships and creative connections with nature. This artistic wandering is aimed at families (children aged 5 and over), and its objectives are to carry out theatre exercises in natural spaces, collect natural elements and express them plastically.
26 April (10h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 4km | Duration: 90mins
Difficulty: Very Easy | Guide: Jeannine Trévidic (Picada Cultural Association)
Ameixial (P)
The route starts in the village of Ameixial, next to a small rest park next to the ‘Casa de Pasto Ameixialense’. It crosses the main centre of the village, passing by an old wood oven on Rua da Laje, and runs along Azinhaga do Ribeiro towards the football pitch. This trail crosses an area of eucalyptus forest, descends to a water line, crosses it and climbs until it reaches a wider path that connects to the municipal road no. 504 for access to Corte de Ouro. At this point, turn right and return to Ameixial.
27 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 4.6km | Duration: 2h
Difficulty: Easy | Guide: João Ministro (Proactivetur)
Bees and Other Major Pollinators (CF)
Did you know that there are more than 750 species of bees in Portugal? Many of them are rare and almost all species are in decline, just like most other pollinators. Did you know that there are plants that are only pollinated by flies or beetles? There is a decline in pollinating insects that are very useful in the production of many of our foods. Along the way we'll talk about the potential threats and causes of their disappearance.
27 April (10h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 4km | Duration: 3h
Difficulty: Very Easy | Guide: Horácio Costa
Azinhal dos Mouros (P)
One of the classics of this festival. The route is signposted and passes several points of natural and cultural interest, including the beautiful village of Azinhal dos Mouros, the Chavaxã Mill and Monte dos Vermelhos. The walk will take you along rural paths, little-used tracks and several crossings of the Ribeira do Vascão. One of the most beautiful routes in the region, but also one of the longest and with several climbs in between!
25, 26 and 27 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 17km | Duration: 5h | Difficulty: Medium/Difficult
Guide 25: Deni Vargues; Guide 26: Matilde Cardoso; Guide 27: Francisco Simões
The Fragile Butterflies and other Flying Jewels (CF)
Countless insects are in decline, either because of climate change or loss of habitat. We'll go in search of these indicators of biodiversity such as colourful butterflies, bees, beetles or flower flies and discover how their decline is worrying the maintenance of our biodiversity.
25 April (10h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 4km | Duration: 3h | Difficulty: Very Easy
Guide: Horácio Costa
Nature Walk with Drawing (CF)
Medium hike (about 4 km) with a stop to relax and practise sketching as ‘another way of seeing/feeling’ the Algarve mountains. We'll use seeing/drawing as a way of getting in touch with and getting to know nature, ourselves and our place in the world. To facilitate the process, we'll use a set of exercises* that activate the right side of the brain, the side that knows how to draw and from which intuitive and artistic expression emerges.* Based on Betty Edwards' method and techniques “Drawing with the right side of the brain”.
This activity is the result of a partnership with APA/ARH
Note: No previous drawing experience is necessary; participants should bring a notebook/plain pad and pencils/pens (depending on preference).
27 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 1km | Duration: 2h | Difficulty: Very Easy
Maximum capacity: 12 Participants | Guide: Paula Gaspar | Partners: Portuguese Environment Agency
Walking with a Shepherd (CE)
Leonel is from Monte dos Vermelhos, Ameixial. He's a shepherd, knows the mountains like few others and can only guide himself with the references he's established during the thousands of hours he's spent in the countryside with his goats, sheep and dogs! He knows the wild plants, the sounds of the birds, where the fox's den is and recognises the trail of the wild boar. He even knows where a spring with good water is and where to take shelter in case of a storm.
He has volunteered to lead walks through the hills and to show how special the life of a shepherd is.
26 April (17h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 5km | Duration: 2h | Difficulty: Easy
Guide: Leonel (Shepherd and native of Vermelhos)
Illustration Walk with the Urban Sketchers (CT)
In this activity we'll be joined by a group of illustrators from the Urban Sketchers collective and we'll walk around the village and the first kilometre of the Azinhal dos Mouros PR9 trail, from here to Vascão. We'll have a picnic by the stream and return to Azinhal dos Mouros.
Azinhal dos Mouros - 26 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 3km | Duration: 4h | Difficulty: Very Easy
Guide: João Pinto (Urban Sketchers Algarve)
Horta da Mina - Geological Walk (CT)
In the heart of Ameixial, a chapter of its history remains hidden: a copper mine, once throbbing with activity, now dormant. The scars of extraction remain, witnesses to stories that echo from times gone by. Each stone whispers stories of other times, a fascinating legacy waiting to be rediscovered.
27 April (09h00)
Meeting point: To be announced | Distance: 8.5km | Duration: 3h30 | Difficulty: Easy
Guide: Bruno Rodrigues
Night walk (CT)
After a good dinner, what's better than an evening walk? On this walk you'll follow some rural paths unknown to most people that give access to various points of interest, such as: a dam, a watercourse and a viewpoint. A simple and quick route to visit the village of Ameixial under a stellar sky!
24 April (21h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 8km | Duration: 2h | Difficulty: Easy
Guide: João Ministro
Radical at Vascão (CE)
An extreme journey full of adrenaline and fun along the crystal-clear waters of the Vascão stream. This watercourse lies in a valley surrounded by gentle ridges, with constantly changing natural landscapes and traces of human presence, one of which is an archaeological site where people linked to the writing of the Southwest lived over 2,500 years ago.
The walk includes crossings within the stream, with water up to your waist, so you'll need to be prepared for these water crossings!
Recommendations: This walk involves wading in water, sometimes in deeper areas, so you should bring towels, shoes that can get wet, a change of clothes and protection for mobile phones.
26 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 9km | Duration: 4h | Difficulty: Very Difficult
Guide: Deni Vargues
Sensory Walk in the Forest (CT)
On this magical walk and journey through our senses, the invitation is to deeply connect with the different elements of nature and our route. We propose a walk in silence, at a slow, leisurely pace, where we will make some stops with various proposals and invitations to sharpen the senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste.
It will be a very immersive walk where focusing on the present moment and your surroundings will bring you a sense of well-being, presence and relaxation.
25 and 27 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 6km | Duration: 3h | Difficulty: Very Easy
Guide 25: Pascal Rodrigues; Guide 27: Carla Milhano (Clinical Psychologist, Trainer and Coach).
Sunset Walk in the Caldeirão (CE)
This is already a tradition of this festival: an easy late afternoon walk to admire the sunset, relax and, of course, enjoy some fine wine! A circular walk, around the village of Ameixial, in the company of some guests to talk about this village, the mountains and its rich heritage.
24 April (17h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 6km | Duration: 2h | Difficulty: Easy
Guide: João Ministro
Tales from Ameixial (CE)
As part of the event's inaugural walk, the “Sunset Walk”, guests will take part in this event. Throughout the walk, they will share with the participants stories, events and curiosities about Ameixial and the Algarve mountains. We'll talk about the heritage of this place, its people and habits and many other particularities that make this territory so special.
Note: The walk goes hand in hand with the “Sunset in the Caldeirão” Walk.
24 April (17h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 6km | Duration: 2h | Difficulty: Easy
Guide: Inhabitants of Ameixial
Corte de Ouro (P)
The name of this village is possibly associated with an old rural practice that colored the landscape golden: the cultivation of wheat and/or barley. Today, few fields are still cultivated with these cereals, but the beauty of the region still lives on. The route starts in this village and heads south along forest paths, next to cork oaks and cistus, passing by water lines and various interesting heritage features such as the Beringel dolmen, the Pé Corso fountain or the Eira da Palha landmark. On the way back, to the north, you'll pass by the Azenha dos Pizões, in ruins, another point of interest, and in Corte de Ouro you can admire one of the last circular barley huts with a conical roof in the Algarve.
25, 26 and 27 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 11.5km | Duration: 4h | Difficulty: Medium
Guide 25: João Infante (Trekking4All); Guide 26: Paulo Martins (Algarve Selvagem); Guide 27: Deni Vargues
From Ameixial to Besteiros in search of the Distillery (CT)
A circular walk, starting and finishing in Ameixial, with a stop in the village of Besteiros. This is one of the best-known villages in the parish of Ameixial, not only because it is located on the N2 highway, but also because it is home to a famous distillery producing medronho brandy. On this walk, we'll go to Besteiros and find this distillery. Along the way we'll hear stories and explanations from Ameixialenses.
25 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 15km | Duration: 4h | Difficulty: Medium
Guide: Filipe
From Ameixial to Lourencinho (CT)
This is one of the most beautiful walks in the area. It runs along old forest paths and narrow trails, through beautiful cork oak and holm oak forests, along streams, including the Vascão. The route starts in Ameixial and ends in Lourencinho (or vice versa), the village at the northern end of the municipality of Loulé, which once belonged to Alcoutim. It's an easy walk, full of nature, passing an old water mill and small isolated hills.
25 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 13km | Duration: 4h | Difficulty: Medium
Guide: João Ministro (Proactivetur)
Writing from the Southwest (CT)
This is one of the traditional walks of our festival. On a new route, between the valleys and farmland of the Vascanito and Vascãozinho streams, the walk is dedicated to the writing of the Southwest and the Iron Age in the Algarve mountains. We'll visit three of the archaeological sites where stars with this writing have already been found and along the way we'll also get to know the natural beauty of the place and some of the ethnographic heritage that has shaped the landscape and reveals the importance that this territory had in other times.
25, 26 and 27 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 7km | Duration: 4h | Difficulty: Medium
Guide: Pedro Barros (Archaeologist) | Partners: ESTELA Project
Flora of the Algarve Mountains - Uses and Knowledge (CT)
We'll walk with a botanist and nature conservation enthusiast, who will tell us about the region's plants and the most special ones from a conservation, medical and even food point of view. Orchids, cistus, thyme and rosemary, among many others, will be present on this short, easy and very informative route!
25 and 26 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 8km | Duration: 3h | Difficulty: Easy
Guide: José Margarido (Agronomist and Botanist)
Loulé to Ameixial (CE)
A challenging, multi-hour, autonomous expedition that starts in Loulé and culminates in the village of Ameixial, winding through the Algarve's barrocal and the majestic Serra do Caldeirão. This route tests the limits of hikers along a route with several challenges beyond the distance. However, the reward is immeasurable: the opportunity to immerse yourself in the untouched beauty of wild nature and to arrive in Ameixial in time to enjoy a comforting snack, a highland gastronomic tradition that warms the body and soul.
Recommendations: The walk is done independently, without support points. Participants should bring at least 1.5 liters of water and food for the 11-hour walk.
25 April (08h00)
Meeting point: Loulé Town Hall | Distance: 45km | Duration: 11h | Difficulty: Very difficult
Guide: Bruno Rodrigues
From Malhão to Ameixial (CE)
An emblematic place, well-known in the Algarve Bicycle Tour and for the Buddhist temple that exists there, this will be a walk from Ameixial to one of the highest points in the Algarve mountains (501m) along ancient paths, crossing streams and discovering new places.
26 April
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 27km | Duration: 6h | Difficulty: Difficult
Guide: João Infante (Trekking 4 All)
Biology Night: looking for Bats and Amphibians (CE)
At night, various beings go into action! They awaken from their daytime “sleep” and begin their biological activity. To find them, we have expert friends who will reveal some of these rare and strange animals, specifically bats and amphibians. On a short walk around Ameixial we'll go in search of these animals, using different sampling and detection techniques.
25 April (21h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 4km | Duration: 2h | Difficulty: Very Easy
Guide: Paulo (Bats) and This (Amphibians)
Along the trails of Ribeira do Vascão (CE)
This is one of the new features of 2025! We'll be riding along unique trails created by the Ameixial Mountain Bike Club, which a few weeks before the WFA organizes the well-known “Rota do Vascão” event. The excellent work they put into this event every year has made it very well known at national level and will allow us to hike through very beautiful places that we wouldn't be able to otherwise. So let's walk the Vascão trails and get to know a few more corners of this territory.
26 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 30km | Duration: 6h | Difficulty: Difficult
Guide: João Ministro (Proactivetur)
Revezes (P)
Monte dos Revezes is located next to the Vascãozinho, a tributary of the Vascão, along which the route will run for a few kilometers. This route is a classic of the Walking Festival. The route is signposted and offers close contact with the Vascão and the associated natural and heritage values: the Cascalheira water mill, almost uninhabited mountain villages such as Vale da Moita and the beautiful landscapes of the Vascão valley.
27 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 15/20km* | Duration: 4h
Difficulty: Medium/Difficult | Guide: Pascal Rodrigues
The Sound of Birds (CT)
This trail runs around the village of Ameixial. A walk in the company of an experienced ornithologist to listen to the sounds of nature, where birds dominate. You'll learn to spot starlings, swallows, tits and the beautiful oriole. The birdlife richness of the region is high and the symphonic orchestra produced by these beings is fascinating!
26 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 4km | Duration: 3h | Difficulty: Easy
Guide: Marcelo Dias (Ornithologist)
Via Algarviana - From Ameixial to Vale Luís Neto (CE)
From Ameixial, we'll walk towards Corte do Ouro. We'll pass through the valley of the Ribeira do Vascãozinho, the Anta do Alagar, the Fonte do Pé do Corso, the Anta do Beringel and the Ribeira da Corte. We'll climb up a ridge to Cerro dos Aflitos, one of the highest points in the region at 502 m above sea level. From there we walk to Parolinhos, Figueirinha and Pero Ponto. The trail is partly on a ridge line, separating several valleys and ravines. From here the trail descends to Barranco do Feital along a long narrow path, used mainly by local shepherds and farmers, until it reaches Vale Luís Neto.
27 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 16km | Duration: 5h | Difficulty: Difficult
Guide: Anabela Santos (Almargem Association)
Yoga with Stories - Yoga for Children (CT)
It has existed since 2014 and already has 6 illustrated children's books that combine children's literature with yoga for children. The benefits of this fusion include encouraging reading, improving strength, flexibility and motor coordination, developing attention and concentration and stimulating the imagination. Each session is organized into 3 moments: a warm-up, followed by the reading of the chosen story with the performance of yoga postures of the animals and/or elements of nature present in the book and ending with a return to calm exercise.
26 April (10h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 1km | Duration: 1h | Difficulty: Very Easy
Guide: Rita Cavaco (Yoga Babies, Children and Adults)
Yoga of the Seasons - Yoga for Children (CF)
In this activity, children and adults are invited to be attentive to the sensations in their bodies and to experience an adventure through nature and all forms of feeling. The exploration of nature, inside and out, is the central theme of the experience, calling for the observation of bodily sensations, the elements, the passage of time and the recognition of the arrival of the seasons. In this case it will be the Spring of Yoga, since it is the season of the year in which this festival takes place.
25 April (10h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 1km | Duration: 1h | Difficulty: Very Easy
Guide: Rita Cavaco (Yoga Babies, Children and Adults)
Walking and Interpreting my Surroundings (CT)
Short interpretive walk of the surrounding fauna and flora using technological applications to enable us to learn more about the biodiversity that surrounds us and to carry out activities in nature in a more harmonious way.
26 April (9h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 6km | Duration: 3h | Difficulty: Easy
Guide: António Cotão
Birdwatching while walking (CT)
A short walk sharing basic bird-watching techniques to make it easier to spot and identify birds. It aims to be another way of motivating participants to seek out curiosities and different ways of spending more time in nature.
25 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 6km | Duration: 3h | Difficulty: Easy
Guide: António Cotão
Walk, Talk & Create (CT)
In this emersive experience in nature, you'll be invited to walk with an intention, taking with you a topic that interests you. It's an easy walk on a physical level, but challenging on an emotional level. Let's feel together how Nature welcomes our questions and responds with wisdom. To enrich the process of self-discovery, the creative writing facilitator will suggest that you write a poem. At the end, we'll have a circle to share our creations and individual experiences.
26 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 2/3km | Duration: 3h | Difficulty: Easy
Guide: Leonor Isidoro (Rêverie)
The Vast Biodiversity of the Ribeira do Vascão (CF)
The Ribeira do Vascão is one of the best preserved watercourses in the Algarve, free from pollution and large human settlements and farms, and its biological diversity is very rich. Let's explore the living beings that inhabit the stream.
26 April (09h00)
Meeting point: Ameixial Primary School | Distance: 3km | Duration: 3h | Difficulty: Very Easy
Guide: Horácio Costa