Unforgettable hiking trips - Lisbon/Sintra
The best hiking trails - Cabo Espichel
Hike 1: On the dinosaur trail
Adventure, Dinosaur Tracks, Photography, History
Level: Moderate
Type: Circular
Duration: 4 hours (6.5km)
Price 15 Euros per person (limited places)
Meeting point: Cabo Espichel car park
Cabo de Espichel, Dinosaur viewing platform and Cliff Trail
The walk follows the trail south of the Cabo da Roca monument and descends along a steep trail into the valley. Stopping above mainland Europe's last beach. The path down to the beach is relatively challenging in the steep final 10 meters, but after carefully descending you emerge into a narrow green cleft. The circular walk follows the steep trail up from the stream. At the top, you will have wonderful views of Assentiz beach. We follow an ancient cliff trail towards the impressive granite boulders at Forte de Espinhaco and then towards a hidden wood. We follow the valley back to the Cabo da Roca. The hike requires a good level of physical fitness and includes a published guide and insurance.
Hike 2: Chã dos Navegantes
Photography, Geology, Nature, Stunning Views
Level: Easy to Moderate
Type: Circular
Duration: 2.5 hours (5.6Km)
Price 15 Euros per person (limited places)
Meeting point: Cabo Espichel car park
Cabo de Espichel to Chã dos Navegantes
A trail follows a scenic path down the limestone cliffs towards some of the most beautiful scenery in the area first passing the ruined Forte de São Domingos da Baralha, which provides a perfect place to stop and take it all in. The fort gives access to the rocky outcrops that form the geological wonder of Chã dos Navegantes. Follow the trail back through thick vegetation towards the starting point with the famous Cabo Espichel lighthouse on your left.
Hike 3: Natural bridges
Nature, Adventure, Cliffs, Views, Geology
Level: Moderate
Type: Circular
Duration: 3.5 hours (7.5km)
Price 15 Euros per person (limited places)
Meeting point: Cabo Espichel car park
Cabo de Espichel to Arco da Pombeira
For the walker, this region is a paradise that has many interesting trails, fantastic viewpoints and a number of little-explored natural wonders. The most surprising of these is locally known as Arco da Pombeira - an area of outstanding beauty due to a natural bridge and sea arches. There is a natural bridge at the top of a collapsed cave, and sea arches to the south and west that are over 100 metres above sea level. It is possible to do a circular walk (with a little bit of climbing) around the narrow hole that provides a wonderful viewing platform.
Hike 4: The Cape's secrets
Adventure, Hidden Beach, Photography, History
Level: Moderate
Type: Circular
Duration: 3 hours (6.5km)
Price 15 Euros per person (limited places)
Meeting point: Cabo Espichel car park
Cabo de Espichel to Praia da Baleeira
The coastline immediately south of Cabo Espichel is Arrábida Nature Park’s least known, mainly due to its difficult access and lack of beaches. It is dotted with secret caves and coves and home to some of the best waters for snorkelling and diving in the whole of Portugal. The whole region is ringed by a national marine park, which has helped to ensure clean seas. An extended walk takes you down the cliffs towards Praia da Baleeira, a picturesque cove with crystal clear water. The trail is steep but is clearly marked and easy to follow. Praia da Baleeira is one of the Arrábida's hidden treasures. This pebbly narrow inlet sheltered by large limestone cliffs is difficult to access but well worth the effort as the sea here is usually wave-free and it accordingly has some of the clearest waters in the region.
Hike 5: Cape to Foz
Wild Swimming, Geology, Nature, Stunning Beach
Level: Easy to Moderate
Type: Linear
Duration: 4.5 hours (5.6Km)
Price 15 Euros per person (limited places)
Meeting point: Cabo Espichel car park
Cabo de Espichel to Praia da Foz
Most visitors to the area come for the views from the cape and to visit the church and lighthouse. The more adventurous follow the trail to the dinosaur footprint viewing platforms on top of the northern cliffs. Foz is a very unusual beach as it has a very impressive cliff to its north and a flat limestone platform to the south. It is a beautiful sandy cove, which is well-known for the fossilized oyster shells that can be found in the rocks, giving you a glimpse of an ancient fossilized desert sand dune.
Hike 6: The best of the cape
Nature, Dinosaur footprints, History, Cliff Trails
Level: Moderate
Type: Circular
Duration: 5 hours (12.5km)
Price 15 Euros per person (limited places)
Meeting point: Cabo Espichel car park
Cabo de Espichel, Pr1 and Pr2
Starting from the Cabo de Espichel car park, this is an 16 km circular walk that takes you past some of the finest scenery Portugal has to offer. Here you’ll see the dinosaur footprints, with its viewing platform which provides a perfect place to stop and take the experience in. Passing several rocky bays and beaches before heading south through wild countryside we take the steep climb down to the finest cliffs in the area. The return journey takes you back up to the cape.
With its massive cliffs, wild landscape, impressive sanctuary and some of the best-preserved dinosaur footprints in Portugal, Cabo Espichel is among the most interesting attractions of the Arrábida National Park. It is located on the westernmost point of the park and offers wonderful views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Arrábida hills and, across the sea, the Serra de Sintra. It is also dotted with secret caves and coves and home to some of the best-hidden beaches in the whole of Portugal We offer 6 walks that help you escape the crowds, parking hassles and the summer onshore winds. We offer walks for all types of hiker - we believe the rewards for hiking Cabo de Espichel will speak for themselves.