Birds of Portugal : Alentejo & Algarve
Dates
April 20 to 27, 2024 with Jonathan and a local guide (6 guests maximum)
or at the dates of your choice in private.
reservation by credit card
or in 2 installments free of charge by bank transfer
a question?
A fabulous birding road trip under the Portuguese sun
Explore all the best birding spots in southern Portugal
Observe hundreds of species of birds in a great variety of environments
Learn from our passionate guide, both naturalist and photographer
Live highlights in a very small group
Enjoy Portuguese gastronomy and relax in comfortable accommodation
10% Donation
Booking this tour in Portugal with us, you automatically make a donation to the Salva Fauna Conservation Fund to help wildlife conservation. 10% of the tour’s profit is donated directly after the tour. It is already included in the tour rate.
Ethics
As always during our wildlife tours, the highest ethics will apply. Respecting and protecting our wild subjects is always the first priority. Animals are not called in nor baited, so no species can be guaranteed. Also, no sensitive information that could put a species in danger will be given. Any inappropriate behavior towards the animals will cause the participant to leave the tour without any refund. Visit our page “Our ethics” for more details on the ethics we follow.
Itinerary of our wildlife tour in Portugal
easy
8 days
Meeting place : Lisbon airport
DAY 1
Bird watching in Portugal in spring or autumn is a real treat. Our itinerary has been designed to allow you to discover all the major birding hotspots of southern Portugal at the best times of year.
We will meet you at Lisbon airport at the end of the morning to welcome you upon your arrival. After a typical Portuguese first lunch, we will head towards the Tagus estuary, a must-see for bird watching. We will stay there for a few hours before going to our hotel, ideally located in Alcochete.
⌂ Comfortable hotel in Alcochete
DAY 2
After a good night of rest, our second day will be dedicated to 2 other major hotspots of the Tagus estuary. This fantastic birding hotspot is indeed divided in 3 large areas, each one offering a different landscape. We can expect to see up to 100 bird species in one day, including Greater Flamingo, Squacco Heron, Little Bittern, Cattle Egret, Eurasian Spoonbill, Pied Avocet, and many more.
Late afternoon we will head back to our hotel.
⌂ Comfortable hotel in Alcochete
DAY 3
This third day will be one of the highlights of our itinerary: we will hit the road to reach Castro Verde! Located in the Alentejo, the Castro Verde region is home to the largest population of Great Bustards in the country. A mythical bird! One of the largest birds in the world that can fly. We will spend the whole day exploring the fields and meadows of the region.
The Alentejo is splendid, with its gentle hills filled with thousands of olive trees and cork oaks. The region is also renowned for the quality of its gastronomy and its wines.
Late afternoon, we will reach the stunning town of Mertola. Our accommodation is in the heart of the town.
⌂ Authentic bnb in Mertola
DAY 4
In the morning we will visit the beautiful village of Mertola as it is home to a colony of Lesser Kestrel.
We will then explore the Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana, a more mountainous area which therefore welcomes very different species of birds. Our road trip indeed offers us an exceptional diversity of habitats. The Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana will bring us the possibility to observe many birds of prey including the Spanish Eagle, the Griffon Vulture, the Cinereous Vulture, the Bonelli’s Eagle…
⌂ Authentic bnb in Mertola
DAY 5
Second session in the Castro Verde plains, hoping to spot again the Great Bustard in a different light, but also looking for different species.
These few days of birding in Alentejo will also allow us to see magnificent local species such as the Iberian Magpie or the Red-legged Partridge. Then, in the afternoon, we'll hit the road to the Algarve!
Discovering southern Portugal in spring or autumn is superb, the weather is fine, the temperatures are mild, and there are still few tourists. Arriving in Tavira, we will explore the Castro Marim Nature Reserve.
⌂ Comfortable hotel in Tavira
DAY 6
Fully day exploring Ria Formosa, a collection of coastal lagoons and islands forming 60 km long ridges! It is one of the best and most famous birding spots in Portugal, as it is ideally located along the main flyway for migrating birds nesting in Europe.
There, we expect to see many many different bird species. Indeed, there is a fantastic mix of habitats, including the open sea, saltpans, fresh water lagoons, sand dunes.. which brings an incredible diversity of birds.
⌂ Comfortable hotel in Tavira
DAY 7
We will follow the coast to reach another must-see site: Lagoa dos Salgados. More than 250 species have been recorded.
We will then reach the end of Portugal in Sagres, before starting our ascent north. Splendid roads under magnificent lights. We will then be in the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, one of the most beautiful landscapes in Portugal. There, we will have the chance to observe species of seabirds.
Another highlight of our birding tour to Portugal will be the White Storks nesting on the cliffs of the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina. It is the only place in the world where the species nests in this way. Exceptional!
⌂ Authentic bnb in Vila Nova de Milfontes
DAY 8
We will continue our journey north, making several stops, including the Reserva Natural das Lagoas de Santo André e Sancha, a stunning lagoon where we can always see many birds. It is the ideal last stop on our way north.
Finally, we will reach Lisbon where our birding tour in Portugal will end.
End of the tour : Lisbon airport
Reviews
Join a group
Contact us to pay only a 50% down payment by bank transfer.
or make it private
You can book this tour as a private experience for 1 to 6 guests at the dates of your choice. We adapt to the needs and rhythm of your private group of family or friends. You have one of our guides just for you to give you 100% of his time and attention. A private tour is a great idea, and the pricing is surprisingly affordable!
Learn more about our private tours.
Included
Your donation to the Salva Fauna Conservation Fund
Accommodation for 7 nights in double occupancy. Single occupancy with additional fee
Transportation during the tour
Meals during the tour
Photographic guiding and instruction
Image reviews, post-processing instruction
Immersion in nature
Great memories!
Not included
Transportation to and from Lisbon airport. Nevertheless, it can be arranged depending on your base location with a supplement. If you need help, feel free to write us so we can try to make it happen.
Drinks
Insurance.
