We are scheduled to take a RS tour soon but usually stay longer on our own. We are interested in visiting a couple of the parks if feasible. We will have a small car and be heading down to Selima taking a couple of days enroute. Any suggestions.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
154 posts
There are a few options. Some of the most interesting parks are up north but a couple parks on the way include Sado Estuary Nature Reserve and Vicentine Coast Natural Park. Once in the Algarve two big parks are the Ria Formosa Natural Park and Sapal de Castro Marim.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
If you're holding fast to 'national' parks, there's only one in the country: Peneda-Geres.
In the south, you have two good choices of natural parks:
. Vale do Guadina for hills and castles
. Sudoeste Alentejo for coastal topography distinct from that of the Algarve
Ria Formosa l is hard to get into except by boat, but if you like waterfowl it's impressive in season. You can see a bit of Sapal de Castro Marim by encircling it and using spur roads that sort of go in, but it's singularly unimpressive.