This is one of the most beautiful walks in this territory. A route that follows old forest paths and narrow trails inserted in beautiful cork and holm oak forests, along streams, including the Vascão river. The itinerary starts in Ameixial and ends in Lourencinho (or vice versa), the village located in the far north of the municipality of Loulé, formerly belonging to Alcoutim. An easy walk, in the middle of nature, passing by an old water mill and small isolated hills. 

Distance: 13km      Time 4h        Difficulty: Medium

Day 29 Guide: Carlos Glória (Zen Trekk) Day 30 Guide:Marcos Brás (born in Lourencinho)

Monte do Lourencinho is located in the extreme Northeast of Loulé´s council, sharing borders with Alcoutim and Mértola. It is the most distant village from council headquarters, having in the past a closer relationship with Alcoutim council than with Loulé. It´s a very beautiful place, next to the Vascão riverside valley. The river meandering through green hills and valleys, with lots of ash trees, willows and oleanders. On that spot Marco Brás, who has borned in Lourencinho, will lead us on a little bit demanding hike that will last around three hours. A hike at the end of the parish, to reveal a mountain landscape that mixes the typical cork oak, with holm oak and a glimpse of the Alentejo plain.

Distance: 10km      Time 3h        Difficulty: Medium

Guide: Marcos Brás (born in Lourencinho)

This route is centered around the village of Ameixial. A walk in the company of an experienced ornithologist to listen to the sounds of nature, where birds dominate. We will learn to distinguish starlings, swallows, tits or the beautiful golden oriole. The bird fauna richness of the region is high and the symphonic orchestra produced by these beings is fascinating!

Distance: 4km      Time 3h        Difficulty:Easy

Guide: Marcelo Dias, ornitólogo

Vamos caminhar com um entusiasta pela botânica e conservação da natureza, que nos irá falar das plantas da região e daquelas mais especiais do ponto de vista conservacionista, medicinal e até alimentar. Orquídeas, estevas, tomilhos, rosmaninhos, entre muitas outras, estarão presentes neste percurso, pequeno, de reduzida dificuldade e muito informativo! Mas atenção, os interessados devem estar preparados para caminhar fora de trilhos, atravessar a ribeira e furar algum matagal na busca de plantas diferentes e interessantes! É isso que implica participar numa saída com um explorador da flora selvagem!

Distance: 4km      Time 3h        Difficulty: easy      Guide: José Margarido, agrónomo e botânico

In this route, we intend to show the role of local geology in the production of bread, telling the story from the formation of rocks, to their use by communities and the final product.

Distance: 4,5km      Time 2h30        Difficulty: easy    Guide: Gonçalo Maurício e Hugo Campos

In this route, we intend to tell in a simple and accessible way the geological history of the Serra Algarvia through the rocks, plants and landscapes, as well as the way in which the rocks influenced and were used by communities over time.

Distance: 4km      Time 2h        Difficulty: easy    Guide: Gonçalo Maurício e Hugo Campos

Leonel is a native from Vermelhos Mount in Ameixial. He is a shepherd, he knows the mountain as few and can only guide himself with the references that he established during the thousands of hours spent in the field with his goats, sheep and dogs! He knows the wild plants, the sound of birds, knows where the fox's den is, and recognizes the trail of wild boars. He even knows where a water source with good water is and where to shelter in case of a storm.

He volunteered to guide two walks, through the hills and to show how special is a shepherd's life.

Distance: 5km      Time 2h        Difficulty: easy      Guide: Leonel, shepherd and born in Vermelhos

After a good dinner, what is better than a night walk?! In this walk you will go through some rural paths unknown for most people that give access to several points of interest, such as: a dam, a water course, and a viewpoint. A simple and quick route to visit Ameixial under a stellar sky!

Distance: 4km      Time 2h        Difficulty: Easy

Guide: José Fernandes (Ameixelense and President of Junta de Freguesia)

This is one of the most traditional hikes in the festival. Crossing the deepest valleys and agriculture fields along the Vascanito and Vascãozinho streams, we will learn about Algarve Iron Age History and the oldest form of writting in Iberian Peninsula - the Southwest Script. We will visit three archaeological sites where stelae were found. The hike will give us the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of the place and also look at some ethnographic heritage which was so important to this landscape.

Distance: 7km      Time 4h        Difficulty: Medium

Guide: Pedro Barros (Projecto ESTELA)

In this hike around Corte de Ouro plateau, we will visit two examples of the Algarve Megalithism that are very well known in Ameixial parish. The Alagar and Beringel dolmens are archaeological sites with almost 5,000 years old. These dolmens reveal stories of those who lived over there. On our way we will also get to know the breathtaking views between the peaks of Serra do Caldeirão and the Baixo Alentejo plains. We will see as well the natural beauty of this mountain with nested valleys and its haystacks - an iconic ethnographic heritage from Serra do Caldeirão.

Distance: 8km      Time 4-5h        Difficulty: Medium

Guide: Rui Barbosa, Palimpsesto – Estudo e Preservação do Património Cultural

An experience for "pure and hard" walking enthusiasts! A route of about 20 km, starting and ending in Azinhal dos Mouros, passing through the village of Tavilhão and Vascão river. The main motivation is walking, whether on paths and tracks, through valleys or hills. Be prepared, the guides for this walk are not gentle! They really like walking! And a lot of it! Walk promoted by IVV International's associates in Portugal

Distance: 20km      Time 5h        Difficulty: Medium      Guide: Charles Powles e Jean-Claude, IVV International

On this new walk, we will walk through the river valley of Vascão, always with the same river in sight. We start the trail in Azinhal dos Mouros, descend next to the river and, on almost non-existent trails and rural paths, follow the watercourse until Tavilhão, where we cross it Back in the Alentejo, we return to the starting point, now with a different perspective of Vascão. A walk through little known tracks and paths, passing through small vegetable gardens and scrubland areas, with the opportunity to go bathing, as we will pass near real natural swimming pools! A very beautiful route, with a rich presence of fauna and flora!

Distance: 15km      Time 4h        Difficulty: Medium

Guide: João Ministro (Proactivetur)

In this activity we will be joined by a group of illustrators from the Urban Sketchers collective and will take a tour around Ameixial to illustrate the territory's heritage elements, whether cultural, natural or even human. Sharing knowledge, tips and suggestions around illustration will be part of this experience that is expected to be productive! The illustrations selected by the participants themselves will then be presented at an exhibition to be held in Loulé!

Distance: 6km      Time 4h        Difficulty: easy      Guide: João Pinto (Urban Sketchers)

An easy and informative walk through the village of Ameixial and its surroundings, in the company of an Ameixial inhabitant, to observe its natural and built heritage, where relevant aspects that give identity to this parish will be discussed.

About the author / leader: Luís Palma, An Ameixialense who loves his land, and takes advantage of his knowledge to make known, to the youngest and outsiders, the cultural and natural heritage of his parish

Distance: 4km      Time 3h        Difficulty: easy

Guide: Luis Palma

Walking with poles is not as simple as it seems and can have several benefits in terms of walking performance as well as in the physical development of the practitioner. In this activity we’ll learn how to use hiking poles correctly on a route around Ameixial where we test the skill, stamina and performance of the participants.

Distance: 5km      Time 3h        Difficulty: easy      Guide: Bruno Rodrigues

Venha descobrir os caminhos rurais de Ameixial através de duas aplicações de aventura para telemóvel. Na companhia de um especialista em ferramentas digitais de caminhada, iremos explorar a região e suas características geográficas, sem um percurso pre-definido, usando as aplicações Mapy.cz e Outdooractive (ambas gratuitas) através das quais iremos desenhar e percorrer um itinerário não sinalizado em torno de Ameixial. Iremos planeando e ajustando a caminhada à medida que a fazemos, com recurso às referidas aplicações de forma a aprender na prática como as usar e fazer bom proveito das mesmas.

NOTA: os participantes devem descarregar ambas as aplicações para o telemóvel e descarregar a versão offline do mapa de Portugal.

Distance: 15km      Time 5h        Difficulty: medium    Guide: Pedro Matos (Proactivetur)

About his book "Ameixial-Loulé - Monografia breve de uma freguesia na Serra do Caldeirão", published in 2020, which aims to characterise the history, geography, heritage, customs and traditions of this parish in the extreme north of the municipality of Loulé. This will be followed by a short walk through the village.

Distance: 6km      Time 2h        Difficulty: muito fácil       Guide: Luis Palma

Through macro photography it is possible to discover morphological details of the fauna and flora that go completely unnoticed. Colours, shapes, movements, among other aspects. And contrary to what many people think, with a simple mobile phone it is possible to make good macro photos. On this walk we will explore the macroscopic animal and plant life of Ameixial, in the company of an expert who will explain how to take these photos and identify the species observed! Get ready to discover a hidden world!

Distance: 4km      Time 3h        Difficulty: easy       Guide: Horácio Costa