Algarve Nature Tours

Visit the magical places of the Algarve, with Happy Van’s Algarve Nature Tours!

Hike in the Wild Nature of the Algarve, between rivers and lagoons, cliffs and beaches full of teeming wildlife.

Portimão Nature and Wildlife Tour

Description

The tour starts with a pick-up at your location in one of our unique VW vintage vans.

Along the way, enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Algarve, among agricultural fields and old orchards. In January and February it is possible to admire the beauty of the Almond trees in bloom. In the pasture areas we can see cattle or goats, donkeys and horses, accompanied by Cattle Egrets.

Arriving at Rocha Baixinha, we will take a circular route for birdwatching. Here, in the wetlands and marshes of the Ria de Alvor, we can observe Flamingos, Gray Egrets, Little Egrets, Stilts, Osprey and many other shorebirds.

In the lagoon, during low tide, seagulls rest on the banks of uncovered sand. Among them there is always the opportunity to see other species of birds such as the white-faced cormorant, the oystercatcher, the beach sandpiper, the common tern and the great tern.

At low tide, many people here catch cockles and clams among the birds.

After this hike, we head to João de Arens, located on the most spectacular section of rocky coastline in the municipality of Portimão.

Mediterranean bushes with lentiscus and scattered pines accompany our walk to the sea, as well as birds such as the walled warbler, the hoopoe and flocks of Azure-inged Magpies, as well as elusive hares.

Arriving at the coast, the pedestrian route will be made along the top of cliffs made up of limestone rocks from the Miocene (23 to 5 million years old), already quite degraded by sea water, rain and runoff, as well as by the action of the wind and plants, characterized by the reddish hue resulting from the oxidation of limestone.

The rocks carved by erosion are home to numerous species of birds, in particular the gray-naped crows and the rock pigeons, ancestors of the domestic pigeons.

In summer, at various points along the route, we are surprised by the noisy dance of flocks of swifts, which nest in the ledges and crevices of the cliffs. In winter, over the boulders, cormorants patrol the coast.

Then, we will let ourselves be carried away by the immense beauty of Prainha, one of the most intimate and peaceful beaches in the region, ideal for those who like to be away from the hustle and bustle.

Prainha is one of the most romantic beaches in the Western Algarve. It is formed by small shell-shaped sands, isolated by rock formations strongly sculpted by the action of fresh and salt water. And the result is a magnificent set of arches, piles, sinkholes and caves. The rocky coves are home to an incredible diversity of marine life.

You will be offered a picnic bag with local products that you can enjoy during the tour.

Program

Minimum number of Participants: 3 shared tour | 2 private tour
Duration: 4 hours
Days: Mondays – Morning
Carvoeiro, Lagoa and Ferragudo: 8am
Portimão and Alvor: 8.30am

Days: Wednesdays – Morning
Lagos: 8am

-> Pick up in a vintage van. Ride through the beautiful landscapes of the Algarve, among agricultural fields and old orchards.
-> Ria de Alvor – Rocha Baixinha – Hiking and Birdwatching
-> Joao de Arens – Walk throug the most beautiful clifs of Portimão
-> Visit one of the most romantic beaches of the Algarve: Prainha
-> Enjoy your Picnic bag with local products

Grade: Moderate

It is possible that the programs have to be adjusted from time to time due to force majeure or seasonal events, which will not affect the experiences we propose.

What to Bring

Comfortable walking shoes and clothes, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and water.

Transportation

Pick-up in a vintage VW van from:
Portimão, Alvor, Ferragudo, Carvoeiro, Lagoa and Lagos

Prices

Shared Tour:

Adults: 74€ | Children < 10 years old: 55€ – Minimum of 3 Participants

Private Tour:

1-3 pax: 296€ | 4 pax: 366€ | 5 pax: 436€ | 6 pax: 501€ | 7 pax: 566€ | 8 pax: 626€ | 9 pax: 686€ | 10 pax: 740€…

Albufeira Nature and Wildlife Tour

Description

The tour starts with a pick-up at your location in one of our unique vintage vans. Along the way, enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Algarve. In January and February it is possible to admire the beauty of the Almond trees in bloom.

Arriving at Lagoa dos Salgados, we will take a short birdwatching tour. This is a coastal lagoon bordered by aquatic vegetation and separated from the sea by an extensive dune string. The main body of water is formed by the mouths of two small rivers, the Espiche and the Vale Rabelho, and is frequently invaded by the sea, especially in winter, through a man-made breach in the dunes. The floodplain that surrounds the lagoon on its north and east sides is delimited by arable fields, mostly abandoned pastures and a golf course to the east.

More than 200 species of birds have been recorded in this lagoon, especially waterfowl. It is one of the few places in the region where the Brown Duck can be seen regularly and the only one where the Common Flamingo has been trying to reproduce. Other interesting species can be seen here, such as the Lark, the Pond Heron, the Stilt, the Swamphen Ocidental, and the Red-billed Tern.

There is a long, raised wooden walkway that runs along the entire south bank of the floodplain, crossing the lagoon at the entrance to Salgados beach, where schools of fish and turtles can be seen.

Then we walk along the wooden walkway that offers a panoramic view over the Salgados lagoon and the dunes, and which gives access to Praia Grande.

Here it is possible to observe sandstones (fossilized dunes) and the showy spiny thrift. The sand of this beach extends over more than 2 km of open and natural landscape. On the dunes, which are up to 300 m wide, aromatic species such as the curry plant with its typical curry aroma dominate.

We will then head to Praia do Evaristo. This beach is backed by low, sloping ocher cliffs and large, exotic rock formations that are welcoming and great for exploring.

Huge rocky blocks covered with seaweed disperse along the tide line and underwater area, impregnating the place with sea air.

The hot, dry beach is surrounded by vegetation, especially stone pine, mastic and huge magueys. Closer to the beach, the ice plant dominates, a plant resistant to the salt.

It is possible to take walks along the top of the cliffs, observing the curious landscapes generated by these rock formations, intensely sculpted by the elements.

Once on the beach, you can see animals characteristic of the intertidal environment (barnacles, mussels, limpets and anemones) that are visible on the rocky walls, and even schools of safias, sea breams or kingfish, which swim around the rocks.

We will end our nature tour at one of the best kept secrets in the Algarve: Praia do Ninho de Andorinha.

This paradisiacal mini-beach is surrounded by rocks. It’s actually a big sink hole. It has a very small beach that is almost entirely submerged at high tide. The water enters this “enclosure” through a small archway leading to the sea.

It is common to find on these cliffs, fishermen who challenge the sea.

In addition to the main sinkhole that makes up this beach, you can see other small sinkholes here, as well as rock formations that are thousands of years old.

You will be offered a picnic bag with local products that you can enjoy during the tour.

Program

Minimum number of Participants: 3 public tour | 2 private tour
Duration: 4 hours
Days: Thursdays

Morning
Vilamoura: 8am
Albufeira and Olhos d’Água: 8.30am

-> Pick up in a vintage van. Ride through the beautiful landscapes of the Algarve.
-> Lagoa dos Salgados – Hiking and Birdwatching
-> Praia Grande – Walk through the walkway that offers a panoramic view over the Salgados lagoon, the dunes and the immense beach
-> Visit the beautiful Evaristo Beach and its curious rock formations
-> Discover Ninho de Andorinha, one of the best well kept secrets of the Algarve
-> Enjoy your Picnic bag with local products

Grade: Easy