Reserva Natural do Sapal de Castro Marim

At the mouth of the Guadiana, on the eastern edge of the Algarve, the Reserva Natural do Sapal de Castro Marim e Vila Real de Santo António protects a wide expanse of salt marsh, salt pans and tidal channels. It is one of the best places in Portugal to watch birds, including flamingos.

Salt marshes and birds

The reserve covers the marshes where the Guadiana meets the sea, a mosaic of natural channels and working salt pans. Its shallow water and mudflats attract large numbers of birds, especially in migration, and the traditional salt production continues alongside conservation.

What to see and do

• Birdwatching, especially flamingos, waders and terns.
• The salt pans and their traditional production.
• The castle of Castro Marim, above the marsh.
• The Guadiana river and the border with Spain.

Visiting the reserve

The reserve lies around Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António, in the eastern Algarve. Access to the roads and viewpoints is free; because it is a protected area, stay on the paths and check local information before your visit.

Visitor information: icnf.pt.

Image credit: Sapal de Castro Marim, by Vitor Oliveira, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.