Thursday, 27 September 2007 16:26
Ride your bike, practice yoga every day and learn how to prepare a traditional Portuguese meal in this very special package. Combine fun with a healthy lifestyle while visiting one of the most beautiful and remote regions of Portugal, the Beira Baixa. http://www.a2z-adventures.com/#3_23
Tuesday, 04 September 2007 23:03
Now might be a good time to plan for a turn-of-the-year outdoor adventure in Portugal. Climb to the top of a once-active volcano. Discover hidden, deep blue lagoons. Walk through thick, exuberant vegetation of every color. Encounter nature in full bloom on the islands of the Azores and or Madeira. Head to the coast for some surfing, windsurfing or body-boarding. Try hang-gliding near the Serra da Estrela, the highest peak in mainland Portugal. Investigate on of Portugal's 13 national parks on an eco-friendly visit of walking, hiking, orienteering, riding or rafting. Here are just a few highlights from Portugal's parks:
Tagus International Natural Park - The landscape here is dominated by plantations of cork and holm oak, wide expanses of Mediterranean vegetation, and fields where cereal crops are grown. Bird colonies nest here in the steep valleys of the Tagus, Ponsul and Erges rivers. Segura and Salvaterra do Extremo are excellent spots for observing birds. In spring, the fields are covered in heather, gorse, rock-rose, poppies and mallow. Rosemary bushes give off their intense aroma, and white storks can be seen early in the fields early in the morning. http://www.visitcentro.com
Naturtejo Geopark - This park can be used as a starting point for a boat trip down the Tagus River. Observe ichno fossils in Penha Garcia, and pass through the traditional village of Monsanto, or the castle town of Idanha-a-Velha. Professional guides can take you on the thrilling river rides. For calmer experiences, this park is excellent for hiking or walking, with six towns within the park's boundaries. http://www.naturtejo.com
Diverlanhoso Adventure Park - Stunning landscapes are the hallmark of this park, with opportunities for rafting, BTT rides, rappelling, slides, orienteering, paintball, kayaking, and treasure hunts--all with expert guides. Visitors can say in bungalows within the park, and eat at a restaurant with panoramic views. http://www.diverlanhoso.pt
Campo Branco near Castro Verde - The Nature Protection League has signposted five pedestrian trails in Castro Verde, each with interpretive signs in Portuguese and English. The signs tell the difficulty of the walk, highlights along the way, including birdwatching points of interest and habitats. The trails are in a special preservation zone which includes the town of Castro Verde, Aljustrel and Ourique. http://www.lpn.pt
Friday, 10 August 2007 20:26
The Viseu fair dates back to mediaeval times and now features music, folklore, traditional handicrafts and foods and plenty of entertainment. Concerts and shows are staged throughout Campo da Feira de Sao Mateus, in the heart of Viseu from August 14th until September 21st, 2007. http://www.rtdaolafoes.com/en/index2.asp
Tuesday, 10 July 2007 04:37
Mountain bike enthusiasts will have a chance to ride with Gary Fisher, "The Founding Father of Mountain Bikes," in a 363-mile ride September 3 to 10 throughout historic villages in and around Portugal's mountains. Fisher is credited with inventing the mountain bike in 1975. Fisher's ride is sponsored by the A2Z Adventures tour company and Bicimax, a bicycling shop. This advanced-level ride takes bicyclists 363 miles over eight days, with two guides along the way. The shortest day will include 32 miles of riding, while the longest day will be 66 miles. All meals, including 7 dinners, are provided. Riders stay in two- or three-star inns. Transfers and a "chase" vehicle are provided, all for 1,150 Euros per person. Without lodging or food, the price is 650 Euros. Riders get picked up at the Lisbon airport and are transferred by van to the starting point at Castelo Novo in the Beiras/Centro de Portugal region, where there will a short warm-up ride and a tour of the 12th century castle that gives the town its name. Riders will also visit the Museum of Archaeological Discoveries on this first day. From Castelo Novo, riders head towards the picturesque village of Idanha-a-Velha, known for its archaeological remains of a 1st century Roman city. This Day 2 ride is 39 miles. Day 3 is the longest, covering three villages and 66 miles. Riders will see the towns of Monsanto, which has excellent views of the entire countryside, and Sortelha, which also has a castle. Highlights of the remaining four days of the ride include the village of Almeida, featuring a 17th century fort; The Douro River International Natural Park; Castelo Rodrigo, near the Spanish border; the Coa River; the walled, medieval village of Marialva; Linhares da Beira, known as the para-gliding capital of Portugal; rocky and tough terrain near the three mountains of Acor, Lousa and Estrela; and, finally, the beautiful village of Piodao. On the eighth day, riders return to Castelo Novo with a 60-mile ride. The price also includes two experienced bi-lingual guides. Fisher founded the MountainBikes company in 1983 to manufacture the style of bicycle he had invented. MountainBikes was purchased by the Trek company in 993, while Fisher went on to compete and train others. Fisher was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 1988. Outside Magazine named him one of the "50 who left their mark" in the sport in 2000, and Smithsonian Magazine honored him in 1994 as the "Founding Father of Mountain Bikes." For more information about the tour, visit www.a2z-adventures.com. For more on Portugal, go to www.visitportugal.com and http://www.visitcentro.com/VT_P01/1872/203/246/394/8
Tuesday, 10 July 2007 04:35
The conservation organization Birdlife International has recognized Portugal's Granja de São Pedro, a nature preserve in Alcafozes, Idanha-a-Nova, for the diversity and expanse of its bird population, which includes 50 identified bird species. Preservation efforts by the Portuguese Society for Bird Study have contributed to the bio-diversity of this region, including five threatened species of birds. The property is home to black storks, black wheatears, griffon vultures, harrier eagles and woodchat shrikes, among others. http://www.naturtejo.com and http://www.visitcentro.com
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Portugal National Tourist Office