EVENT: Weekend at Queimadela Dam, Guimarães, and Levadas de Jugueiros

DATE OF REALISATION: 23rd to 24th May 2026

ENROLMENT DEADLINE : 20th April 2026

EVENT DESCRIPTION: “Weekend at Queimadela Dam, Guimarães and Jugueiros”

In this activity proposal we will go on two walks, one to get to know the surroundings of the Queimadela Dam, enjoying the walkways, picnic area and banks of the Vizela River, in a green landscape and enjoying nature, the other walk will be the Levada de Jugueiros, in the municipality of Felgueiras, almost always using Levadas, and along the banks of the Bugio River, enjoying its beautiful waterfalls, up to the Barrias Natural Waterfall, in a setting of great beauty. There will also be time to enjoy the best of the city of Guimarães, in the late afternoon and early evening, and to pass by the Tanques de Couros, a heritage site to be rediscovered in the city of Guimarães, a memory of an industrial past. Come with us and you won't regret it! Places are limited!

Queimadela Dam

The Queimadela Dam is a true natural refuge, where leisure, sport and nature harmonise in a setting of rare beauty. Its surroundings include a large bathing and leisure area, equipped with a picnic area, grills, shaded rest areas, support bar, toilets, showers, first aid post, car park and pier. The 3,000 m² river beach is supervised during the bathing season, guaranteeing safety and tranquillity for all visitors. The surrounding natural heritage harbours a remarkable biodiversity, offering a unique experience of contact with nature.

Pontido Village

The Queimadela Dam Walkways are located a short distance from the picturesque Aldeia do Pontido. This village preserves traditional architecture and offers an authentic insight into Portuguese rural life.

Guimarães - Leather Tanks

These tanks, located in the Leather Zone, are an important testimony to a tanning industry that was one of the most important in the productive fabric of Guimarães. The tradition of this industry dates back to the Middle Ages and developed with more or less success until the middle of the 20th century, when it entered an irreversible process of decline. Despite some dispersion throughout the municipality, the fur processing industry had a privileged centre of development in the 19th century in this area. The recognition of the ancestry and specificity of this activity in the area is expressed in the fact that it was the first area to be classified as a Property of Public Interest in July 1977, in what was the first legislative initiative of its kind in Portugal in relation to industrial archaeology. These tanks remain today as a symbol of this local industry.

The Levadas of Jugueiros

This is one of those routes that you do slowly, with time to stop, take a deep breath and let yourself be enveloped by the landscape. This path follows the traditional levadas - water channels that have irrigated the fields of the parish of Jugueiros for generations. Along the trail, we walk side by side with the water, which flows peacefully between stone walls, dense vegetation and agricultural areas. One of the great advantages of this trail is its low exposure to the sun: almost the entire route takes place in the shade, which makes it perfect even on the hottest days. But what really enchants are the countless cascades and waterfalls you'll find along the way - some more hidden, others inviting you to take a longer break. Along the way there are several rest areas and at least three picnic sites, ideal for a picnic or just to recharge your batteries.

These will be some of the most important places we'll pass through during this event: 

• Queimadela Dam
• River Vizela
• Walkways
• Pontido Village
• River Beach and Picnic Park
• Tour of the Historic Centre of Guimarães
• Guimarães Castle
• Palace of the Dukes of Bragança
• Tanques de Couros, Largo do Toural, Jardim da Alameda, Padrão de Nossa Senhora da Vitória, etc.
• Barrias and Cascata Waterfalls
• Bugio River and Ferro River
• Natural landscapes

TIME: Departure from Lisbon at 6.30am
RETURN: Arrival in Lisbon at 7.30pm

Saturday 23rd May

Walking: “On the trails of the River Vizela, Queimadela Dam Walkways and Pontido Village Waterfall”

Points of interest: Walkways, Queimadela Dam, River Beach, Banks of the River Vizela, Queimadela Parish Church, Pontido Village, Waterfall and Natural Landscapes

The route goes around the beautiful Queimadela Dam, sometimes using the footbridges, then descends a little to enjoy the beauty of the banks of the River Vizela, then follows forest and rural paths around the dam to Queimadela and on the way back we pass through the village of Pontído, on a route of great beauty.

Level of difficulty of the route: 3 (Scale of 1 to 5)

Route length: 8 kilometres

Estimated time: 3 hours

11h00 - Start of the walk

13h00 - We suggest the picnic option, which is the responsibility of each participant.

15.30 - Tour of Guimarães, with the possibility of visiting the Castle, the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, the Leather Tanks, etc.

17:30 - Check-in at the hotel in Guimarães

19h30 - Suggested group dinner in Guimarães

24 May (Sunday)

Walking: “Jugeiros Levadas and Barrias Waterfalls”

Points of interest: Levadas of Jugueiros, Bugio River and Ferro River, Travassós Bridge, Barrias Medieval Road, Waterfall, etc.

This walk will take us to get to know the municipality of Felgueiras a little better, and to come into full contact with nature, on a route where the green of the forest, the marks of rurality and the presence of water, whether in canals, levadas, waterfalls or cascades, will always be present along this fantastic route.

Level of difficulty of the route: 3 (Scale of 1 to 5)

Route length: 9 kilometres

Estimated duration: 3h30

9.00 a.m. - Start of the walk

13h00 - Suggested lunch in Vizela

3pm - End of activity and return to Lisbon

Equipment: Suitable footwear and clothing for hiking/walking

Registration fee:

Price includes:

- Transport by coach/bus/tourist van from Lisbon to each of the places described above
- 2 Walks and the route described above
- Walks described according to the programme
- Tour of the historic centre of Guimarães, with the possibility of visiting the Castle and Palace of the Dukes of Bragança
- Accommodation in a 3-star hotel, breakfast included
- The proposed accommodation option includes various room types
- Guided Walks
- Compulsory insurance

Prices with transport

Price in double room: 210€
Price in single room: 240€

Values without transport

Price in double room: 150€
Price in single room: 180€

Seat reservation fee: 50€

THE POSSIBILITY OF CAR-POOLING AMONG PARTICIPANTS IF THEY WISH, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO USE OUR TRANSPORT AND DON'T MIND SHARING OR HITCHHIKING WITH OTHER PARTICIPANTS.

Notes: 

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

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