Birds & Nature Tours - Short-breaks / Long Weekend Trips

Short-breaks / Long Weekend Trips

3 Days/2 Nights Programmes

Portugal is a fantastic destination for birding, not only because of the rich birdlife the country has to offer, but also because this richness is concentrated in a relatively small area. In practical terms, only 20 minutes from Lisbon's city centre and its International Airport, lies the Tagus estuary, an extraordinarily rich area which boasts a wonderful array of birds, like Greater Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Squacco and Purple Herons, Purple Swamp-hen, Black-shouldered Kite, Little Bustard, Azure-winged Magpie, Spotless Starling, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Red-necked Nightjar, ducks, waders, gulls and terns, among many others. After visiting this protected wetland (or the nearby Sado estuary), a further 90 minute drive takes us to other complementary biotopes, and consequently new bird species, in the Alentejo; here, we shall visit both rolling plains and bluffs and hills associated with the Guadiana valley, noted for species like Great Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Montagu's Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Roller, Calandra Lark, Black-eared Wheatear, Spanish Imperial, Golden and Bonelli's Eagles, Black, Egyptian and Griffon Vultures, Black Stork, Eagle Owl, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting and White-rumped Swift.

The BBC’s Natural World programme recently focused on the wealth of natural wildlife to be found among the cork oak woods of Portugal, which not only produce much of the world's commercial cork, but also support a flourishing ecosystem. Come for a short-break and visit this bird-rich biotope, which we combine with other interesting birding habitats!

Itineraries/Prices
We have designed 3 programmes of the same duration, but with alternative itineraries:

Trip A (Tagus Estuary/Sado Estuary/Tagus Estuary)
Day 1 – Transfer from Lisbon Airport. Travel to the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva, in the heart of the Tagus estuary (about 20 minutes). Visit several areas and a variety of habitats within this huge nature reserve, including the Barroca d’Alva rice fields and pastures, the salt pans of Ribeira das Enguias, the inter-tidal mudflats and salt marshes of Hortas and the cork oak woodlands of Pancas. Overnight at the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva.
Day 2 – Travel to the Sado estuary area (about 30 minutes), to explore some of the most interesting sites in this protected area: Zambujal, Gâmbia, Monte Novo de Palma, Batalha, Carrasqueira and Comporta (inter-tidal mudflats, salt marshes, salt pans, rice fields, reed beds, cork oak and pine woodlands). Overnight at the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva.
Day 3 – Visit to other interesting sites of the Tagus estuary, including the open fields, rice fields, salt marshes and inter-tidal mudflats of the Ponta da Erva area. Transfer to the Lisbon Airport for return flight.
Price: 450 euros 

Trip B (Tagus Estuary/Alentejo/Sado Estuary)
Day 1 – Transfer from Lisbon Airport. Travel to the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva, in the heart of the Tagus estuary (about 20 minutes). Visit several areas and a variety of habitats within this huge nature reserve, including the Barroca d’Alva rice fields and pastures, the salt pans of Ribeira das Enguias, the inter-tidal mudflats and salt marshes of Hortas and the cork oak woodlands of Pancas. Overnight at the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva.
Day 2 – Travel to the Alentejo region (about 90 minutes). Visit the great Castro Verde plains and the Pulo do Lobo area (rolling plains and bluffs and hills associated with the Guadiana valley). Overnight at the Hotel Vila Galé Clube de Campo.
Day 3 – Return to Lisbon, via Portugal’s second great western estuary, the Sado estuary. Visit Zambujal, Gâmbia, Monte Novo de Palma, Batalha, Carrasqueira and Comporta (inter-tidal mudflats, salt marshes, salt pans, rice fields, reed beds, cork oak and pine woodlands). Transfer to the Lisbon Airport for return flight.
Price: 490 euros 

Trip C (Tagus Estuary/Alentejo/Alentejo)
Day 1 – Transfer from Lisbon Airport. Travel to the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva, in the heart of the Tagus estuary (about 20 minutes). Visit several areas and a variety of habitats within this huge nature reserve, including the Barroca d’Alva rice fields and pastures, the salt pans of Ribeira das Enguias, the inter-tidal mudflats and salt marshes of Hortas and the cork oak woodlands of Pancas. Overnight at the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva.
Day 2 – Travel to the Alentejo region (about 90 minutes). Visit the great Castro Verde plains and the Pulo do Lobo area (rolling plains and bluffs and hills associated with the Guadiana valley). Overnight at the Hotel Vila Galé Clube de Campo.
Day 3 – Visit other special sites of interest in this part of the Alentejo region, including Mértola, Pomarão and Mina de São Domingos. Return to Lisbon and transfer to the Lisbon Airport for return flight.
Price: 520 euros 

The above mentioned prices are per person and include: bird guide, transfer from/to Lisbon Airport, ground transport (including fuel and tolls), accommodation for 2 nights (including breakfast) based on two people sharing in excellent quality hotels, use of optical equipment (quality binoculars and telescopes) and field guides, entrance fee in private or protected areas and participant’s accident insurance. Not included: flights, meals and items of a personal nature. 
Note: the price is guaranteed for a minimum of 2 persons. 

The Allied Hotels
Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva – Hotel Site: http://www.barrocadalva.com/
Hotel Vila Galé Clube de Campo – Hotel Site: http://www.vilagale.pt/pages/hoteis/?hotel=14  