What better way to discover rewilding than by living it directly?

Itinerary

D1 – D4: PORTO Second most populous city in the country, Porto is world-famous for its wine, its bridges, its contemporary and ancient architecture, and its historic center classified as World Heritage. D2-Guided & private walk "in the popular Porto": You will visit the part that is not included on the written guides because it is about addressing private neighborhoods. This visit aims to show the popular side of Porto and finally the immaterial aspect of the city, the culture and the popular traditions. Fado discovery experience: In the evening, you will live a moment rich in emotions by listening to the purest Fado, around a glass of Porto, in a house located under the former sacristy of a convent dating from the end of the 16th century! D3-Private visit of an excellent wine cellar: This cellar belongs to a small producer who jealously keeps its wine unavailable for export. Our partner will tell you in a very unique, fun and memorable way the history of the creation of porto wine. The visit will be followed by a tasting of the Porto wines and table wines from this vineyard. D4: Direction Douro Valley via Amarante D4–D6: DOURO VALLEY The Douro Valley is an internationally renowned wine region classified as a World Heritage Site and a cultural landscape protected by UNESCO. The panorama is of rare beauty. D5-Private and guided hike through landscapes and traditions of the Douro Valley: Our local partner guide will teach you a lot about the history, traditions and local customs around Ervedosa do Douro. This hike will end with a visit to the vineyard of his family-in-law with a nice picnic accompanied by wine from their vineyard and gastronomic products from the region and their property. D6: Direction Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo via Trancoso, Marialva D6–D10: CÔA VALLEY A true territorial identity! The Côa valley is a unique place in the world for its set of paleolithic cave engravings visible in the open air, testimonies of prehistory. The Côa Valley is also a place of great natural richness characterized by its gorges, its forests of oaks, its rocky moors and its scattered fields and, where the wild nature makes its comeback today! D7 AM-Private guided walk on the Ribeira do Mosteiro: With our partner, you will travel between medieval remains, cave paintings dating from the late Upper Palaeolithic and an incredible natural heritage, and learn a lot about history, geology, fauna and flora. An incredible historic and natural heritage, a Rewilding area! PM-Private visit of an organic farm: You will visit an organic farm producing fines, olive oil and wine. When the almond trees are in bloom, they offer a spectacle of great beauty! This property also breeds rare native sheep and donkeys. The owner will also show you the products she creates with her production (oils, fines, cheeses... but also natural beauty products...). D8: Direction Vilar Maior via Almeida, Pinhel D9 AM-Private visit of the Vale Carapito, Rewilding Portugal property: On this route, you will be able to appreciate well-developed oaks and holm oaks, clearings carefully maintained by the Sorraia horses living in semi-wild conditions. Our partner will explain you the importance of rewilding natural areas and you will observe animal and plant species in the wild. PM-Private Bee-Hive Expedition Experience You will enter the fascinating universe of bees and discover, safely and guided, life inside a hive. In this immersive activity, you will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with how a colony works, understand the essential role of bees in biodiversity, and observe directly the extraordinary work of these pollinators. Held in the natural landscape of Vilar Maior, this experience combines learning, contact with nature and sensory discovery, providing an authentic encounter with the world of bees. D10: Direction Aveiro via Viseu D10-D13: AVEIRO One of the most beautiful towns on the Portuguese coast of the Central Region of Portugal, located between the sea and the Ria, crossed by multiple canals. D11 AM-Private and guided discovery of the Mines du Braçal, Sever do Vouga: You will go by Jeep with our partner to the beautiful waterfall of Cabreia and then to the Mine of Malhada. Here will begin a interpretive hike with the ruins and mining complex of Braçal. This mining complex is the oldest Portuguese mining concession. D12 PM - Private and guided visit of a craft ceramics workshop: You will learn about the history of Portuguese faience over the centuries and the traditional manufacturing techniques that they strive to bring back to life in their workshop. You will see how they manage to give a touch of modernity while at the same time preserving the formats, colors and patterns used in the 19th and 20th. Each piece of tableware is unique, entirely handmade by our passionate craftsmen. D13: The journey is coming to an end. The time has come to go home.

What to Bring

Backpack, Light and comfortable clothing (T-shirts, shorts, pants, ...), 1 or 2 sweats for evenings, K-Way or windbreaker with hood for possible rainy days, Cap, Sunglasses, Sunscreen, Tennis, Swimwear, Flip-flops, Reusable water bottle, Camera and binoculars (if you have)

How your experience helps rewilding efforts

All the experiences proposed in the Côa Valley are provided by members of the Rede Côa Selvagem. The experiences in the Vale Carapito and the Ribeira do Mosteiro are provided by certified guides of Rewilding Portugal, an NGO that is part of Rewilding Europe's range of landscapes and has been developing strong rewilding efforts in the Greater Côa Valley region in Portugal since 2019. All profits from these tourist experiences are directly invested in their conservation and ecological restoration projects.

Rewilding landscape

Rewilding vision

The Greater Cõa Valley | Portugal

The return of wildlife—including Iberian wolves, Iberian ibex, red deer, and roe deer— is leading to more naturally balanced populations. Blending these natural gains with traditional local practices, heritage, and products has fostered new economic opportunities and a renewed sense of regional pride.

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This experience involves

• Hiking
• Birdwatching
• Gastronomy (local)
• Educational experience
• 4x4 experience

Wildlife in this landscapePlease note that the presence of wildlife doesn’t guarantee sightings — these animals live freely and may remain out of view.

Location