Group tour departing from Lisbon - November 10th to 14th
For bird lovers, as well as those who appreciate the pleasures of wine and food, the Alentejo in November is a hidden paradise.
With the arrival of the first autumn chills, thousands of cranes arrive to winter in the Alentejo. They join the great bustards, the black-bellied sandgrouse, and the red kites that, in large numbers, soar through the skies of the Alentejo fields. The Iberian imperial eagle is also the queen of the steppe and, with the nearby Spanish population, constitutes the best place on the planet for its observation.
In November, we also have the tasting of the new wine, and in the Alentejo, it is essential to get to know the talha wines, or anphora wines, a winemaking process left by the Romans, which has survived to this day in small-scale artisanal wineries. In rural Alentejo, wine is often drunk at the “taberna”, accompanied by small pieces of food and good conversation with whoever comes along. What also appears there is the “cante alentejano” (alentejo singing), a Portugal’s cultural heritage, hich was recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2014, choral singing with a tone that seems to come from the depths of the earth and tells us about the lives of rural workers in the Alentejo countryside. Going to Alentejo at this time is also to get to know the hot foods, the açordas, a kind of soup where bread, cod, and aromatic herbs are prominent, as well as the well-seasoned chickpea stews with traditional sausages that greatly appreciate the company of wine.
In 5 days, we will visit the main birdwatching spots south of the Tagus River, the plains of Mourão and Castro Verde where we will see cranes and great bustards, also the isolated castle of Noudar and its well-preserved holm oak forest where the birds of the “montado” and vultures, griffon vulture and black vulture live. We will not miss the unmissable Guadiana Valley Natural Park, territory of the Iberian imperial eagle, Bonelli’s eagle and the Iberian lynx.
On our return to Lisbon, we will visit the coastal lagoons of Santo André and the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve, where thousands of aquatic and wading birds spend the winter.
In 5 days, we will easily see more than 100 species of birds and get to know the Alentejo better, a Portuguese region with a strong identity where we can combine the pleasure of birdwatching and enjoying nature with the experience of getting to know a territory with a still very rural culture, unique in continental Europe, and the tasting of an unparalleled gastronomic and wine heritage.
Program
November 10th
Departure from Lisbon towards Mourão, first stop for birdwatching at the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve. Near Évora, visit to the Almendres cromlech, an important megalithic monument located in a forested area where birds can also be observed.
In the afternoon, arrival at Herdade do Esporão, one of the best spots for observing aquatic birds in the Alentejo region and also home to one of the most prestigious wine brands in Portugal.
Arrival in Mourão. Possibility of dinner in a traditional wine cellar specializing in talha wines.
November 11th
Departure from Mourão to Vila de Frades. Near Mourão we will see the first cranes, as well as along our journey to Barrancos and Noudar Castle. Visit to the Noudar Nature Park and its holm oak forest, good chances of seeing various forest birds, as well as Griffon Vulture and Black Vulture.
Arrival in Vila de Frades and possibility of dinner in a traditional wine cellar. Day 11, in Portugal, is the day to taste the new wines that accompany chestnuts and roasted acorns in the taverns of Alentejo.
November 12th
Departure from Vila de Frades for a quick visit to the Roman ruins of São Cucufate, on the outskirts of Vila de Frades. Departure towards Castro Verde, Biosphere Reserve, for observation of steppe birds: great bustard, little bustard, black-bellied sandgrouse and cranes. Arrival in Mértola.
November 13th
Throughout the day we will visit the Guadiana Valley Natural Park, territory of the Iberian lynx, as well as large birds of prey, the Iberian imperial eagle, the golden eagle and Bonelli’s eagle. Birdwatching in a territory of extensive wild and sparsely inhabited areas, as there are few in the Iberian Peninsula, along rural roads with little car traffic. Possibility of lunch in a traditional tavern in a small village.
November 14th
Return to Lisbon passing through the Santo André Lagoon Nature Reserve and the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve where we will make the last stop for birdwatching, at the Carrasqueira Palafitic Pier, a unique structure in Europe, of popular and rudimentary construction, on wooden stilts for fishermen’s access to boats and which is also a magnificent place to observe waders and aquatic birds.
Price:
€600/person, considering a group of 4 people.
Includes: guide service and transport from Lisbon, mandatory insurance. Not included: Accommodation and food expenses.