From Olhão : Private Full-Day Hike in Rocha da Pena with a Local Guide

This walk will take us to Rocha da Pena in the Algarve inland, a prominent rocky outcrop of the Algarve. Its exceptional geography gives rise to an impressive diversity of fauna and flora located on a plateau with breathtaking views.

A mixed woodland of carob, wild olive and holm oaks cover the outcrop; extremely rare plants grow here, like the Doronicum plantagineum subsp. tournefortii

Like a commanding sentinel guarding the frontier between the Barrocal foothills and the rugged Serra upland, the ‘geologic monument’ of Rocha da Pena offers a quite picturesque and compelling hiking route deep in the Algarve countryside. Such transitional location – and the outstanding geological features of the place – make this vigorous rock cornice one of the most botanically diverse spots in southwest Iberia.

Its sheer north face, much shadier and wetter, is formed by acidic shale bedrock; there you´ll find species like the Bay Laurel, the Cork Oak, the Poplar-leaved Rockrose (Cistus populifolius) and the exuberant Portuguese Heath (Erica lusitanica). This results in a stark contrast to the always sunny and dry south face, whose soil is strongly alkaline due to the presence of very hard limestone bedrock. And finally, there is the peculiarly fertile terra rossa (‘red earth’) higher plateau, an arid place with no shadows and no water, despite being subjected to strong and humid winter winds.

Being attentive to the trees and the dense undergrowth provides good chances to observe birds like the Sardinian and Dartford Warblers, as well as Blue Rock-thrushes and Iberian Green Woodpeckers (Picus sharpei).

In a group, a maximum of 8 people can go in the van, the price will always be for a private group !

This activity is suitable for visitors staying in Olhão / Faro area. Visitors staying outside of this area, an alternative meeting point will be arranged.

Timing recommendation : All year round