Reserva Natural das Berlengas

About ten kilometres off Peniche, the Berlengas archipelago rises from the Atlantic: a group of granite islands, the largest of them Berlenga Grande, protected as a nature reserve. Its clear water, its seabirds and its small fort make it one of the most rewarding day trips on the Portuguese coast.

Islands and seabirds

The islands are an important breeding ground for seabirds, including Cory’s shearwater, and their waters are rich in marine life. Berlenga Grande has a small fishing harbour, a beach and the fort of São João Baptista, built in the seventeenth century on the site of an earlier monastery.

What to see and do

• The crossing by boat from Peniche, with views of the coast.
• The fort of São João Baptista, reached by a causeway.
• The beach and the walking paths on Berlenga Grande.
• Boat trips around the islands and the caves, when conditions allow.

Visiting the reserve

The islands are reached by boat from Peniche. Because it is a nature reserve, access is controlled and visitor numbers may be limited; check the official information on boats and any restrictions before your visit.

Visitor information: icnf.pt.

Image credit: Reserva Natural das Berlengas, by Alexkom000, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.