About this experience
A three-hour van tour through the Serra dos Candeeiros Natural Park, passing traditional villages, limestone landscapes, dinosaur footprints, the Water Roofs, and prehistoric monuments.
Highlights
- Enjoy a guided tour of the park's flora, fauna, and karst landscape
- Visit the Dinosaur Footprints of Vale de Meios, a Jurassic tracksite
- Discover the natural beauty of Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park
- Learn about the park's history, culture, and traditions from a local guide
- See the Mendiga Water Roofs, an example of traditional engineering
What's included
- Transport in a 9-seater van
- Local guide providing insights into flora, fauna, the karst landscape.
- Visit to Pena da Andorinha viewpoint
- Visit Mendiga Water Roofs (Telhados de Água)
- Visit to Dinosaur Footprints of Vale de Meios
- Visit to the Dolmen of Alcobertas
- Cultural and historical interpretation of local villages and traditions
- Legal Insurance.
How to use
- Show Mobile Ticket
- At Redemption Counter
What to expect
Begin your experience in the village of Chãos, right in the heart of the Natural Park. From here, set out on a three-hour journey in a comfortable 9-seater van, following a carefully designed route through the Serra dos Candeeiros Natural Park, an area known for its limestone landscapes, traditional villages, and rich natural and cultural heritage.
An early stop is made at Pena da Andorinha, a striking limestone outcrop that provides panoramic views over the surrounding karst landscape. This viewpoint offers an excellent introduction to the geological processes that have shaped the region, marked by rocky plateaus, sinkholes, and dry valleys.
As the journey continues, you will pass through small rural settlements, gaining insight into local traditions, customs, and the way of life that has long been connected to the land and its natural resources.
One of the main highlights is a visit to the Mendiga Water Roofs (Telhados de Água), a remarkable example of traditional hydraulic engineering. This large-scale system is inspired by ancient cisterns commonly found in regional houses. Rainwater is collected over an extensive rocky surface and guided towards a sand-covered area that conceals underground reservoirs. As the water flows through successive layers of sand with different grain sizes and activated charcoal, it is naturally filtered and mineralised before being distributed to public fountains and animal drinking troughs in the parish.
The tour then continues to the Dinosaur Footprints of Vale de Meios, one of the largest and most important Jurassic dinosaur tracksites on the Iberian Peninsula. Here, more than 1,000 well-preserved footprints from different dinosaur species can be observed, offering valuable insights into their anatomy, movement, and behaviour.
The experience also includes a visit to the Dolmen of Alcobertas, an important prehistoric monument that bears witness to early human occupation and burial practices in the region, adding an archaeological dimension to the journey.
Throughout the tour, a local guide provides interpretation of the karst landscape, flora and fauna, and the historical and cultural significance of each site, ensuring an engaging and informative experience within this protected natural area.
Things to note
- Comfortable shoes
- Comfortable clothes
Terms & conditions
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for walking.
Bring a camera for capturing the scenic views.