Parque Natural do Alvão

In the mountains of northern Portugal, the Parque Natural do Alvão protects a compact landscape of granite peaks, deep valleys and waterfalls. It is a small park, but one of the most rewarding for walkers, with traditional villages and the dramatic falls of Fisgas de Ermelo.

Mountains and waterfalls

The park lies between Vila Real and Mondim de Basto, centred on the granite massif of the Alvão. Its highest points rise above 1,300 metres, and the river Olo has cut a deep valley, with the Fisgas de Ermelo waterfalls, among the largest in Portugal, dropping down the rock.

What to see and do

• The Fisgas de Ermelo waterfalls and their viewpoints.
• Walking routes through the mountains and along the river.
• The traditional villages of Ermelo and Lamas de Olo.
• Views over the surrounding valleys and the Marão mountains.

Visiting the park

The park lies between Vila Real and Mondim de Basto, in northern Portugal. Access is free; for trails and local conditions, check the official information before your visit.

Visitor information: icnf.pt.

Image credit: Parque Natural do Alvão, by Libânia Pereira, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.