Beja District: Your Guide to the Top 5 Outdoor Activities

The Beja District, that truly beautiful region in Portugal’s Alentejo, often gets skipped by travelers hurrying south to the Algarve. It’s too bad, actually, because Beja offers, in some respects, a unique kind of charm, very authentic, really peaceful, that’s hard to find elsewhere. It’s, in short, big skies, open plains, cork oak forests, just lovely little white-washed villages, and the chance to, pretty much, escape the crowds. And what’s even more appealing is that Beja is perfect for getting outdoors. From gentle hikes to birdwatching to paddling down tranquil rivers, there’s lots to get up to, and that provides some brilliant ways to soak in the amazing landscapes. Let’s take a peek at five brilliant ways to enjoy Beja’s great outdoors. Ready? Because that’s what’s coming up!

1. Hiking in the Guadiana Valley Natural Park

Now, if you like getting about on foot, then that Guadiana Valley Natural Park is simply amazing. That vast park covers a massive area along the Guadiana River, so that it boasts, very often, quite a few hiking trails that crisscross hills and valleys. What that allows is the perfect setting to see a real profusion of local flora and fauna. We’re talking, really, about wildflowers in the spring, that create such carpets of color, or, kind of like, birdlife everywhere all the year round. The hikes are, really, so accessible to almost all abilities, yet, so it may be worth doing a little bit of planning before you turn up. Very helpful info regarding trails, plus difficulty levels, and, of course, safety advice, that’s something to bear in mind. Pick one, though, that gets your blood pumping, and soaks in this truly magical corner of the Alentejo.

That Park’s trails really do cater to everyone, for instance, from easy strolls on flatter land to, obviously, the trails, more challenging, with steeper inclines that can, as a matter of fact, properly test seasoned hikers. So remember this: wear strong shoes and clothes, then always carry water, mainly if visiting when it’s, in general, hotter.

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2. Birdwatching in the Castro Verde Special Protection Area

Okay, now bird lovers, make sure you listen up! See, the Castro Verde Special Protection Area (SPA) is absolutely famous, actually, right through the birdwatching community. It protects some of Portugal’s, in effect, most valuable grassland habitats. It means then that’s it’s home, or basecamp, arguably, to a quite big array of bird types. Many species depend on it. And of those, you have things like the Great Bustard and the Lesser Kestrel, amongst several others. Get your binoculars up to your eyes. Really!

Now, what makes that SPA great is the open landscape, arguably, that makes seeing birdlife easier. Drive around designated routes. Maybe? Very useful info panels, which have bird ID tips, is that an important aspect when seeking rare species. Very early morning trips, anyway, that provides arguably the best time for spotting activity because many birds go out at that point, and it may, just maybe, improve overall chances of seeing all there is to be seen. It’s just the greatest! But you already knew that, didn’t you?

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3. Canoeing or Kayaking on the River Guadiana

To some extent, the River Guadiana creates a, what some consider, a wonderful outdoor playground! Paddle calmly by, and, arguably, just marvel at landscapes that seem to have frozen, perfectly, in place. Canoeing, or kayaking, arguably, are the coolest modes for this very kind of escapism and very much a chance, really, to explore the Beja region at your own speed. It allows people to take in lots more wildlife, maybe the Iberian lynx (no promises!), or several various types of interesting riverbank flora.

What you could do is think about, that is if, you might want the trip pre-planned, through, what are generally speaking, one of a number of water companies based by the water in places, just like Mértola. That said, this isn’t absolutely crucial, not at all! But you can be certain, at the end of your trip, that some of that kind of river time makes you appreciate that gorgeous Portuguese country side! As I was saying, guided tours are provided through a wide selection of operators and, very, very often, can provide the, very least, some basic instruction to less experienced participants. That really could just enhance the entire experience, and that’s saying something.

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4. Cycling the Beja Countryside

Get out on two wheels! Really? That’s worth doing if you fancy stretching those legs some, too, as that really beautiful Alentejo provides some absolutely tremendous landscape! It also means quiet lanes aplenty that zig-zag to connect places. And it isn’t just great for serious, what might be seen as committed cyclists, but additionally there are shorter trails perfect when one likes seeing more with some family!

Routes of these very type could, potentially, be planned for suitability based on preferences. Road cyclists are frequently really into roads, a lot of them that go for miles, really, with hardly anything or anyone breaking the peaceful landscape. Mountain bike-wise, several choices, that is across gently undulating trails. Just that type for all abilities. These, of course, can then prove tricky during periods when hotter because of limited shade. Evenings are, in effect, some of the greater times to hit all those trails! Seriously!

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5. Stargazing in the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve

Okay, stargazers, be very attentive, please! Dark Sky Alqueva is basically, what many call, the First, arguably Transnational Dark Sky Reserve World-wide. And it’s, in effect, been found ideal as somewhere that one can visit just to star gaze, see? Given extremely low levels of ambient light pollution, it offers absolutely stunning nights, and those skies are something else entirely. Bring binoculars if you may, and it could show you what’s going on up there, perfectly. Or instead, what you might want to do instead is check out observatories close to. What’s there, normally, are extremely effective telescopes run with professional guidance and advice.

Because it spreads over an area of this considerable type, you will probably have no troubles selecting someplace awesome which, maybe, will include a hotel! So you should probably find where those viewpoints lay and after that it just takes settling with something really comfortable for some quite magnificent evening out of this type.

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