Regional hiking network is celebrating its 15th anniversary
Via Algarviana, the Algarve’s famous network of hiking trails, is celebrating its 15th anniversary with the launch of four new trails.
What these new trails have in common is that they are all located in the territory of the Algarvensis Geopark, which brings together the municipalities of Loulé, Silves and Albufeira and has been bidding to join the official network of UNESCO Geoparks since 2019.
Those who take on the new trails will be able to “learn how the region’s particular geology has determined both the natural landscape”, from rock formations and watercourses to its fauna and flora, all the way to the “type of human occupation and activity over millennia,” from agriculture to traditional technologies, says environmental association Almargem, which manages the Via Algarviana along with the local councils of the boroughs it is located in.
The PR15 LLE – Between Barrocal and Serra is the longest of the four new routes (17.6km), but can be divided into two sections which can be completed separately. It is located in Alte (Loulé) and allows hikers to explore the Algarve’s ‘Barrocal’ area.
The PR5 ABF – Between Villages is a shorter 7km route starting in Paderne (Albufeira) “passing through fertile plains, trails surrounded by beautiful trees, and villages with traditional Algarve architecture.”
Third on the list is the new PR2 SLV – In the Steps of Heritage, a 16.30 km long trail which allows hikers to “discover the valuable megalithic heritage of the Vale Fuzeiros area” in Silves. (Silves municipality).
Last but not least, the Link 12, a linear 7.3m route, starts near the Funcho dam (Silves) and “allows walkers and cyclists to divide Sector 9 of the Via Algarviana into two parts”, making a small detour that takes them to Vale Fuzeiros. “Along the way, panoramic views reveal the National Center for the Reproduction of the Iberian Lynx (CNRLI) and the reservoir of the Arade dam,” Almargem says.
These new hiking trails mark a new era for the Via Algarviana, which was inaugurated on May 29, 2009, after being brought to life by a group of hiking and nature enthusiasts in the Algarve who wanted to create a major hiking network that spanned the entire inland area of the Algarve.
Its goals have remained unchanged since its creation: to stimulate the local economy and diversify the Algarve’s tourism sector whilst at the same time preserving the region’s cultural and environmental heritage and boosting the sustainable development of the Algarve’s inland.
The network has been steadily growing in the last 15 years, with one of its most recent innovations being the launch of an audio guide for blind people and the possibility to request a free all-terrain monowheel chair for inclusive tourism.
“We are proud of these 15 years. Increasingly, the Algarve inland is a destination sought after by Portuguese and international visitors who value what this region has to offer: its landscapes, unique flora, contact with the population, and local culture,” said Via Algarviana coordinator Anabela Santos. “In addition to all the economic issues, which are important, there is a human dimension in ecotourism that has immense value, both for visitors and for hosts.”
Inaugural hikes for the new trails are being organised by Almargem. For more information, visit the association’s social media pages.
