EVENT: Walking between the Tagus and the Ocreza

DATE OF REALISATION:  14th and 15th March 2025

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15 FEBRUARY 2026

EVENT DESCRIPTION: “Walking between the Tagus and the Ocreza - from Portas do Ródão to Portas de Almourão”

In this activity proposal from Caminhando, we'll go for some magnificent walks along the banks of the Tagus, the Ocreza and the Ribeira do Cobrão, with the opportunity to capture some excellent scenery, from the Portas do Ródão, to the Ilha das Virtudes and the Portas do Almourão, just to whet your appetite. We'll also visit the Schist Village of Figueira and take a stroll through Proença-a-Nova, where we'll stay at the Hotel das Amoras. There will also be time to enjoy a boat trip to the Portas do Ródão Natural Monument. Another event not to be missed!

These will be some of the most important places of interest along the various walks: 

• Portas do Ródão Natural Monument (Tagus River)
• Portas do Almourão (Ocreza River)
• Foz do Cobrão Stream and Penedo dos Cágados River Beach
• Mills
• Schist Village of Cobrão and Figueira
• Proença-a-Nova
• Vila Velha de Ródão (riverside area, King Wamba Castle, French Invasion forts)
• Island of Virtues
• Serra das Talhadas
• Natural landscapes

TIME: Departure from Lisbon at 7am
RETURN: Arrival in Lisbon at 7.30pm

Saturday 14th March

Foz do Cobrão Schist Trail (Portas do Almourão)

The first part of the route goes along the banks of the River Ocreza on a footpath next to large quartzite cliffs where we could often see Griffon Vultures flying or Otters swimming in the river waters. Further on we came across the Portas do Vale Mourão, a geosite classified as part of the Naturtejo Geopark and a place of breathtaking beauty. With our eyes on this breathtaking landscape, we pass the village of Chão das Cervas and climb to the highest point on the route where we can see the village of Vale do Cobrão. We then continue along the Ribeira do Cobrão, which will take us back to the River Ocreza, again passing large quartzite cliffs and the small river pool of the Ribeira do Cobrão. Walking through olive groves and farmland, we arrive back at Foz do Cobrão where we find the mills that once served the inhabitants on the banks of the river.
It's undoubtedly a route of great beauty where the need to overcome some steep gradients is compensated for by stunning scenery.

Walk: "Foz do Cobrão and Portas do Almourão”

Level of difficulty of the route: 3.5 (Scale of 1 to 5)

Route length: 12 kilometres

Circular route

Estimated time: 3h45m

Portas do Almourão

Portas de Almourão is located between the Schist Village of Foz do Cobrão (Vila Velha de Ródão) and Sobral Fernando (Proença-a-Nova), corresponding to the Ocreza River gorge. It is a geological occurrence that results from the action of this river, whose waters tore through the imposing quartzite escarpments, and a geosite classified in the Naturtejo Geopark, a place of breathtaking beauty. This diverse geological landscape supports very well-preserved ecosystems, which are home to an important nesting area for birds of prey and other very important species such as bluebirds, otters, badgers and squirrels. At this point, we come across a 400 metre deep gorge, which gives way to a valley with a wild and breathtaking landscape, where we feel small in the face of nature's grandeur. There is a constant presence of animal species with a high protection status, including the colony of griffon vultures nesting on the cliffs flanking the River Ocreza, the black stork, the common buzzard, the heron and the short-toed eagle, among other species.

Schist Village of Figueira

Figueira is a schist village, practically flat and easy to get around. Its centre hides the community oven in its tangle of alleyways. Surrounding farmland populated by olive trees gives rise to the “green gold” that was once the village's wealth.

Proença-a-Nova

Proença-a-Nova is one of the twelve villages of the Grand Priory of Crato, located between the Alvito and Isna streams, and was originally called “Cortiçada” and later “Vila Melhorada”. The first charter given to Proença-a-Nova dates back to 1244 by the Prior of the Order of the Hospital, Friar Rodrigo Egídio. King Manuel I reformed all the charters, giving Proença-a-Nova the «New Charter» in 1512. The justification for the name “Cortiçada” is related to the abundant production of cork and the large number of beehives (also called cortiços) that were once of great importance in the region.

- Check-in at a 4-star hotel
- Group dinner

15th March (Sunday)

9.30am - Walk "Conquering King Wamba's Castle”

This walk takes us along zigzagging paths and we'll pass some military monuments (buildings that were built and used during three important moments in military history: the Seven Years' War, the War of the Spanish Succession and the 1st French Invasion, between the 15th and 19th centuries). We'll climb the Talhadas mountain range with breathtaking panoramic views. On arriving at King Wamba's Castle, we'll enjoy the landscape created by the Tagus River, the quartzite ridges and the remains of Roman gold mining at Conhal do Arneiro, marked by an accumulation of rounded quartzite blocks in an area of several hectares on the left bank of the Tagus River.

King Wamba's Castle

The Castle of King Wamba stands on an escarpment overlooking the River Tagus, above the Portas de Ródão, in a place of astonishing beauty and great strategic importance. It is believed to date back to the time of the Muslim occupation and is related to the donation of the territory of Açafa by King Sancho I to the Order of the Temple in 1199, although an earlier origin is recognised and oral tradition associates it with King Wamba, a Visigoth king. The remaining watchtower was probably erected in the 12th and 13th centuries on the instructions of the Knights Templar. A few metres away is the temple of Our Lady of the Castle. As a construction for military purposes, it should be considered a watchtower, albeit more complex than the usual structures. During the Christian Reconquest, its main function was to guard the Tagus border from Muslim incursions from the south. From modern times onwards, the Castle was used, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries, as an artillery base to prevent the passage of the Tagus and entry into the Alentejo, according to an invasion route through Beira Baixa, as happened during the Seven Years' War and the 1st French Invasion (1807).

Level of difficulty of the route: 3.5 (Scale of 1 to 5)

Route length: 12 kilometres

Circular route

Estimated time: 4h00m

- Picnic or snack lunch in Vila Velha de Ródão

3pm - Suggested boat trip on the River Tagus (duration: 1 hour) to the Portas do Ródão Natural Monument

16h15 - End of activity and return to Lisbon

Equipment: Footwear and clothing suitable for hiking

Registration fee:

Price includes:

- Transport from Lisbon to the places described by minibus or coach
- Accommodation in a 4-star hotel with buffet breakfast included (Hotel with outdoor pool)
- 2 hikes and 2 walks
- Group dinner (drinks not included)
- The proposed accommodation option includes various room types
- Guided Walks
- Compulsory insurance

Prices with transport

Price in double room: 195€
Price in single room: 235€

Values without transport

Price in double room: 145€
Price in single room: 185€

Booking fee: 50€

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 15 FEBRUARY 2026 OR UNTIL THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE PLACES IS REACHED

Notes: 

a) Registrations are limited and accommodation options are limited to availability at the time of booking.

b) The routes may be altered according to weather conditions.

c) If you have a group interested in this trip, contact us, we have personalised solutions.

- Portas do Ródão Natural Monument (Tagus River) - Portas do Almourão (Ocreza River) - Foz do Cobrão Stream and Penedo dos Cágados River Beach - Figueira Schist Village - Proença-a-Nova - Vila Velha de Ródão - King Wamba's Castle - Virtudes Island and Talhadas Mountain - Natural landscapes -