From Olhão : The Cerro da Cabeça Route Walk

Join us on this trail used by wild animals, breathe in the fresh air, smell the different fragrances and odours of the vegetation, appreciate the silence being disturbed by the sounds of birds and insects, extend the vision to breath taking landscapes, and all of this while getting some exercise in the Cerro da Cabeça.

The Cerro da Cabeça is located at less than 10 km Northeast of Olhão, and is an area of recognised environmental value and is classified as a Site of Community Importance in the nature protection network within the European Union space, Natura 2000. This allows us to offer visitors nature tourism experiences of high quality such as the visit to a natural geological monument composed by limestone rock with karst landforms, which shapes the major area of this geological morphology in the south of the country together with countless caves that are used as shelter by different species of bats.

The flora includes native vegetation that suffers little or almost no human interference, such as the Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera) representative of Barrocal vegetation, the Peony (Paeonia broteroi), Maidenhair (Asplenium trichomanes), the Mediterranean dwarf palm (Chamaerops humilis), the Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo), the Daffodil (Narcissus calcicola).

Several birds such as; the Hoopoe (Upupa epops), the Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator), the Bee-eater (Merops apiaster), the Black Wheatear (Oenanthe leucura), the Buzzard (Buteo buteo) can be seen permanently or temporarily. Other animals like the Natterjack Toad (Epidalea calamita), the Mehely´s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus mehelyi), the Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) the Iberian Wall Lizard (Podarcis hispanics) or the Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius) inhabit this area.

The geological richness of limestone and the abundance of wood encouraged the lime industry, which is very traditional in Algarve probably related to the cultural heritage left by Arabic people that ruled this territory by centuries. Cerro da Cabeça has twos ruins of lime kilns, in relative good state of conservation, testimony to that industry that was an important source of income for the local population.

Spectacular views, purpose-built viewpoint

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