Despite its small size, Portugal has very varied nature, from the mountains of the north to the plains of the Alentejo, from Atlantic cliffs to Algarve lagoons, and on to the volcanic islands. The National Network of Protected Areas, managed by the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), includes one national park, many natural parks, reserves and protected landscapes.
The national park
Peneda-Gerês National Park, established in 1971, is the country's only national park: granite mountains, ancient oak woods, waterfalls, shepherd villages, wild horses and wolves, on the border with Galicia (see Peneda-Gerês).
Natural parks of the north and centre
- Montesinho, in the north-east, near Bragança: plateaus, chestnut woods and stone villages with slate roofs, one of the most remote areas of the country and a refuge of the Iberian wolf.
- Douro Internacional: the deep gorges of the Douro on the Spanish border, realm of griffon and Egyptian vultures (see Miranda do Douro).
- Alvão: mountains and the Fisgas de Ermelo waterfall (see Vila Real).
- Litoral Norte: dunes and beaches between Esposende and Apúlia.
- Serra da Estrela: the country's largest natural park, with the highest peaks on the mainland (see Serra da Estrela).
- Tejo Internacional: the Tagus valley on the Spanish border, with the spectacular Portas de Ródão.
- Serras de Aire e Candeeiros: a limestone massif with caves and dinosaur footprints (see Batalha).
Natural parks of the south
- Sintra-Cascais: the Sintra hills with their palaces and the coast to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe (see Sintra).
- Arrábida: a limestone range covered in Mediterranean scrub dropping into a turquoise sea, between Setúbal and Sesimbra.
- Serra de São Mamede: chestnut groves and fortified villages in the Alto Alentejo (see Marvão).
- Vale do Guadiana: gorges, cereal steppes and, since 2015, the reintroduction of the Iberian lynx, the world's most endangered feline (see Mértola).
- Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast: Europe's wildest coastline, with cliffs and beaches, walked along the Rota Vicentina.
- Ria Formosa: a sixty-kilometre lagoon sheltered by sand islands between Faro and Tavira, rich in water birds, flamingos and seahorses (see Faro and Tavira).
Reserves and islands
Notable nature reserves include the Berlengas islands (see Peniche), the Tagus and Sado estuaries, with flamingos and dolphins, the Paul do Boquilobo (see Golegã) and the Serra da Malcata. In Madeira, the Madeira Natural Park protects much of the island, including the laurel forest, and the Desertas and Selvagens islands. In the Azores, each island has its own natural park.
Tips
Many protected areas have visitor centres and waymarked trails; official maps are available on the ICNF website and the national trails app. In summer, beware of fire risk; in the mountains, the weather can change quickly. See also UNESCO heritage.