Top 15 National Park Trips in Portugal

1.Waterfall, Lagoon and Old Village in Peneda-Gerês National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,132 reviews · 9 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $126Our pick

Escape Porto for waterfalls, mountain trails, village life, a traditional lunch, green wine, and a vintage Land Rover ride in Peneda-Gerês.

“Hiked along beautiful scenery to the waterfall and lagoon. Explored the village area too with a traditional Portuguese lunch/wines. Antonio was our tour guide, he was welcoming and made the experience more enjoyable. It’s a long day with moderate degree of difficulty for the hikes, so be prepared for a 10+ hour day. It’s a full day tour for those who enjoy the outdoors and hiking.”

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2.Garajau Nature Reserve Kayak and Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 906 reviews · 3 hours · from $41

Paddle from Funchal to Madeira’s Garajau Nature Reserve, then snorkel among clear-water fish, with guides, gear, and flexible booking.

“Very fun activity with an amazing guide, Mr Luis! He explained very well how to kayak to everyone that was new to the activity and also provided us with some laughs. unfortunately we didn't see many fishes when snorkeling but overall we had a really good time. would definitely go again!”

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3.Peneda-Gerês National Park Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 886 reviews · from $114

Escape Porto for a 10-hour Peneda-Gerês tour with waterfalls, river swimming, a village visit, 4x4 rides, and a traditional lunch.

“I really loved swimming in river and under the waterfall. Tour around the village was entertaining and lunch was very tasty. I also enjoyed the bumpy road in landrover!”

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4.Small Group Geres National Park Full Day with picnic from Porto

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 846 reviews · 9 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $120

Explore Peneda-Gerês National Park from Porto with a local guide, swimming stops, village visits, scenic walks, and lunch for $120.93.

“We had a great time. Francisco was just the right balance of informative and fun. Bring Dramamine if you’re prone to getting car sick. All the hikes are less than 1/2 a mile but you need to be able to traverse over rocky terrain.”

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5.Gerês National Park Canyoning Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 407 reviews · 6 hours · from $115

Canyoning in Gerês National Park from Porto with waterfalls, natural slides, zip lines, abseiling, gear, guides, photos, and hotel transfers.

“We dont think the tourguides could have done anything better. They were super nice, trustworthy and fun to be with. We really enjoyed being in the national park and the canyoning tour.”

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6.Peneda-Gerês National Park Tour with Kayaking & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 385 reviews · 10 hours · from $123

Kayak, swim, hike, and eat well on a 10-hour Peneda-Gerês tour from Porto, with a small group, Land Rover ride, guide, and lunch included.

“The entire tour was truly amazing. I booked the trip on my own. Nuno not only showed us the beautiful spots but also created a great group atmosphere. I would definitely recommend it!”

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7.Small Group Day Tour of Geres National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 379 reviews · from $114

Review of the Porto to Gerês National Park day tour, with waterfall swims, village visits, picnic, Pedra Bela views, and practical booking advice.

“We had a fantastic little adventure to Gerês thanks to our 5 five stars guide Teresa who took us to her own secret spots in the park. Organization and communication with the agency were top notch. Would definitely recommend or use Detour’s services in the future! Thanks again Teresa for such a lovely day!”

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8.Hike, Swim or just Explore Gerês National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 323 reviews · from $77

Escape Porto for Gerês National Park, with waterfalls, natural pools, mountain views, a guide-led hike, and an optional traditional lunch.

“Amazing views and scenery. Bus ride was a bit long but worth the drive. Never thought Portugal was this green. Water everywhere. Great waterfall pools for swimming.”

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9.Kayaking and Waterfall in Peneda-Gerês National Park from Porto

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 276 reviews · 9 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $133

Kayak, swim, hike to a waterfall, and eat local food in Peneda-Gerês National Park on a full-day trip from Porto.

“We had an incredible day on our tour, thanks to our fantastic guide, Di, and intern, Ana. Di was not only knowledgeable but also kept us entertained with a great playlist as we navigated the scenic back roads of Braga. After a 1.5-hour drive from Porto, we arrived at a stunning lake where we kayaked and had the lake to ourselves due to the rain. The experience was breathtaking, surrounded by nature’s beauty. Following our kayaking adventure, we enjoyed a hearty three-course lunch with verde vino! Our adventure continued with a brief hike up the mountain to a hidden waterfall. We had the place to ourselves. Di, our guide, was…”

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10.Private Geres National Park Tour with Lunch and Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 174 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $290

Review of a private Peneda-Gerês tour from Porto with lunch, hikes, waterfalls, village visits, transfers, and flexible guiding.

“This tour was amazingly beautiful and really showcased the natural beauty of Portugal. The day of our tour was pouring down rain but our guide Rosario was so a master at adapting the tour to the weather conditions and still ensuring that we had an incredible day. Rosario was personable and the ultimate host.”

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11.Sesimbra & Arrábida National Park Tour with 5 Wines Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 153 reviews · from $85

See Cabo Espichel, Sesimbra, Arrábida beaches, a medieval castle, and five regional wines on an eight-hour small-group trip from Lisbon.

“It was great, I really enjoyed discovering the less touristy places around Lisbon. Our guide was really professional, kind and told us great stories. I strongly recommend this tour to anyone who is interested in more than just the obligatory sites.”

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12.Tagus Estuary Nature Reserve Birdwatching Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 117 reviews · 3 hours · from $58

Trade Lisbon’s city streets for a small-boat birdwatching trip through the Tagus Estuary, guided by Carlos Cera and timed with the tides.

“Carlos is amazing, full of knowledge about the environment and the birds, Carlos gave us several hours of quiet fun and birds”

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13.Kayak and Snorkeling Tour in Underwater Nature Reserve Garajau

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 111 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $59

Review of Madeira’s Garajau kayak and snorkeling tour, with fish-filled water, friendly guides, sea conditions, price advice, and practical tips.

“Me and my sis booked a last minute kayak &snorkeling activity and so glad we did. Waters were clear blue and beautiful, as you kayak across to one point you have lovely views of the Rocky Mountain structure by the sea. Waters full of life, managed to see a lil jelly fish too. Many thanks to our guide Pedro for making us feel safe, made the trip fun and full of laughter. Highly recommend”

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14.6 hour boat tour navegating through the Islands of Ria Formosa National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 99 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $51

Explore Ria Formosa by boat from Faro, with island villages, beaches, oyster farms, local food, and a small group led by Nuno Pudim.

“Had a wonderful day out exploring the Ria Formosa national park. Skipper Pudim was super friendly and welcoming and told me a lot of interesting facts about the area. Given the low season, I was actually the only person on the tour but he still went ahead with it, which I greatly appreciate. The boat tour itself is brilliant as well, you get to explore the beautiful islands and roam around the villages. The lunch place was also great, serving fresh fish and €5 jugs of local wine, which I really enjoyed. The beaches were beautiful and I had such a nice time just walking around enjoying the sunshine. Such…”

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15.Ria Formosa National Park Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 85 reviews · from $34Best value

Cruise the Ria Formosa from Olhão to Armona and Culatra, with beach time, local food, island walks, and live commentary from your captain.

“The tour was an amazing experience and a real highlight of our trip to Olhao! Our captain Claudio was so informative and really did every he could to make sure we had the best experience we could. From exploring the islands to watching the sunset in the middle of sea, every moment of the tour was wonderful and added up to a truly special experience.”

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