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I rarely mind repeating the familiar walk repeatedly,” commented Joana Almeida, crouching next to a cluster of plants. “On every occasion, you’ll find new things – these flowers hadn’t been here the day before.”

Standing on stalks at least 2cm in height and starring the ground with white petals, the observation that these overnight wonders emerged suddenly was a striking testament of how quickly nature can develop in this hilly, central part of the Algarve, the public forest of Barão de São João.

It was also encouraging to discover that in an area ravaged by wildfires in the autumn, varieties such as arbutus trees – which are fire-resistant thanks to their minimal resin – were starting to recover, in proximity to highly flammable eucalyptus, which impedes other slow-burning trees such as oak. Community members were being recruited to participate with rewilding.

Visitor Numbers and Upland Interest

Travel figures to the Algarve are rising, with this year showing an growth of over two percent on the last year – but the bulk of visitors go directly to the coast, despite there being so much more to discover.

The coastline is certainly wild and dramatic, but the region is also eager to showcase the charm of its upland zones. With the establishment of year-round walking and cycling paths, in addition to the launch of nature festivals, attention is being directed to these equally compelling sceneries, including peaks and dense forests.

The Algarve Walking Season runs a set of multiple guided walk programs with loose topics such as “water” and “archaeology” between the start of winter and early spring. It’s anticipated they will encourage visitors throughout the year, strengthening the area’s finances and contributing to stem the tide of young people departing in search of work.

Culture and The Outdoors Blend

The trip to the national forest coincided with a cultural gathering with the focus of “expression”, based around the traditional village north-west of Barão de São João.

Along with organized treks, departing from the cultural centre, no-cost workshops extended from discovering how to make organic pigments, to drama classes, tai chi and sketching. There were two photo displays available as well as several other child-friendly pursuits, such as nature hunts and making bird-feeders.

Even before our informal daytime printmaking session at the local venue, our hike into the forest with Joana had the atmosphere of an creative path. Indicated at the beginning by monoliths painted with depictions of rural workers, it was decorated en route with smaller, permanently placed stones depicting examples of animals, featuring hedgehogs and wild cats – the lynx’s population increasing, due to a conservation center based in the castle town of Silves.

Scenic Routes and Outdoor Beauty

As the path wound up to its summit, the menhir (monolith) on the Pedra do Galo walk, it became more lushly forested with the piney aroma of pine. There was a fullness to the atmosphere and solid, amber-hued bubbles protruded from tree trunks. Calcareous stone sparkled beneath our feet and minute toads sat by pool margins, vocal sacs pulsing. In the far away, windmills cartwheeled against the blue expanse.

Francisco Simões, the tour leader the subsequent day, was again keen to highlight that these upland regions can be experienced throughout the year. Waymarked hikes, created in recent years, are offshoots of the Via Algarviana, a route that runs from the frontier for 186 miles, all the way to the Atlantic, and many are now linked to an digital tool that makes wayfinding more straightforward.

Sustainable Travel and Local Experiences

Francisco founded sustainable travel company Algarvian Roots in the recent past and organizes experiences from wildlife spotting to day-long led walks, all with the similar goals as the AWS: to promote the region by way of immersion, learning and cultural awareness.

The art connection is here, too – his parent, ceramicist Margarida Palma Gomes, had instructed us to design azulejos, the iconic traditional colored glazed tiles seen throughout the nation, a couple of days before on a festival workshop. Tours to her workshop, along with to a local potter, can also be scheduled through Algarvian Roots.

Francisco urged us to do our bit for the sector by consuming ample amounts of fine wine sealed with cork

After an superb dining experience of pork cheek and vegetable in A Charrette in Monchique, a charming mountain town flanked by the Algarve’s tallest mountains, the 902-meter Fóia and 774-metre Picota, Francisco guided us down steeply stone-paved lanes and into a narrow path, where an older couple sunned themselves at the front of their residence.

A sharp trail guided us into the woodland, the terrain covered in oak nuts. In this location, Francisco was enthusiastic to point out cork trees, Portugal’s symbolic plant and safeguarded by law since the medieval period. Not just are they intrinsically slow-burning, but their pliable outer layer is a source of livelihood for residents, who harvest it to trade to other {industries|sectors