Ecovias are infrastructures intended for circulation on foot or by bicycle, and whose main characteristic is the connection, at local and regional level, between areas of environmental interest!
Get ready to hike or mountain bike ride and venture along the Alto-Minho.
Ecovia de Ermelo: In this course of the Ecovia you can observe, interpret, feel and keep precious moments. The route, almost always plane, begins near the Roman Bridge and ends in the zone of the bayou of S. Jorge / Touvedo. Although the Lima River and the beauty of its landscapes mold this Ecovia is, nevertheless, the small Aldeia do Ermelo that characterizes it. So it will not be surprising that the orange trees of Ermelo are a suggestive mote to call this Ecovia as the section of the oranges.
Ecovia do Vez: Ecovia do Vez, consisting of three stages, starting at Jolda de S. Paio and ending at Sistelo, has a total length of approximately 33 km. Almost always by the river with a small detour by road, the route varies between ground of earth and stone, some segments between fields and walkways. The Sistelo Passes (3rd stage) is the latest tourist attraction in Portugal and is provoking a furor among hikers and also among mountain bikers. It ends in Sistelo, a village known for Tibetan Portuguese thanks to its terraces built to take advantage of the little soil arable and able to support the large bovine cattle of this region that is part of the World Biosphere Reserve and is a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage.
Freshness, nature, tranquility. In the Ecovia of Rio Lima, in the course of the Açudes, you will find all this. This track connects the two small villages of Ponte de Lima and Ponte da Barca. With 15 kilometers of extension, almost always plans, this green route is properly signaled and protected. You can walk it by bike or on foot, the ground is made of gravel and some wooden walkways. On the river bank, the dams and the fishing grounds are a constant in the surrounding landscape, as are the agricultural fields and the vines. Along the ecovia there are pleasant leisure areas, picnic areas, a maintenance circuit and various points of interest. In Bravães, for example, stop at Fonte Santa, near the Lima River. It is said that these waters have healing properties. Further on you will encounter a fishing device, which was used for fishing the lamprey. Pedal by pedal, step by step, discover the charms of nature in Ponte da Barca!
The municipality of Ponte de Lima is rich in natural beauties. To know them in full communion with nature, nothing like a walk in Ecovia … On foot or by bike, start the journey in the heart of the village of Ponte de Lima. On the right bank of the Lima River, next to the Church of Santo António da Torre Velha, next to the Roman Bridge, the Ecovia is divided in two directions. Downstream you can continue to the Protected Landscape Area of the Bertiandos and S. Pedro de Arcos Lagoons or go upstream to the village of Refoios de Lima. With an extension of almost 15 kilometers, the ecovia has signs and information panels. It is a route with a reduced degree of difficulty, on the waterfront and without sharp slopes. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to observe the Lima River and all the fauna and flora associated with this ecosystem. Driving from Ponte de Lima to the Protected Landscape Area of the Bertiandos and S. Pedro de Arcos Lagoons will also pass through the Arnado Park, the monument in honor of the fado singer Amália Rodrigues, the International Festival of Gardens and the Solar de Bertiandos . If you choose to go to the village of Refoios, you will be able to enjoy the snacks and the privileged view of the river Lima at the observatory near the affluent Rio Labruja, among other places that you will have the opportunity to discover. On the left bank, you can walk through the Ecovia in an extension of approximately 30 kms. On a walk along the river Lima, do not miss the Place of the Passage and also enjoy the fields of the Correlhã or, in the opposite direction, enjoy the small river beaches, the beautiful set of water mills of the Gemieira and the observatory near the river Crasto, a tributary of the Lima river.
Ecovia do Atlântico, a path to walk and breathe, allows the connection between Moledo and Vila Praia de Âncora, through pedestrian and cycling routes. Consisting of three courses with a reduced degree of difficulty, it allowed the requalification and valorization of spaces and places of great value for the conservation of nature and biodiversity. The Foz Beach, the Sargaceiro Path and the Camboas Path mainly privilege leisure and pleasure to enjoy the charms of nature. The course of Praia da Foz de Caminha, with an entrance near the Camarido Forest, allows to contemplate the splendor of the estuary of the River Minho wrapped in the dynamics of the fishing activity and the imposing Monte de Santa Tecla, in neighboring Galicia, Spain. Walk the wooden walkway, almost a mile long, on a pleasant, quiet walk or bike ride. A little further south, on the beach of Moledo, begins the path of Sargaceiro, named after the Sargaço catch. Continuing along the Atlantic Ocean, towards Vila Praia de Âncora, feel the fresh sea air, renew energies relaxing on the porch of the Chapel of St. Isidore. The course of the Camboas crosses the Avenue of the Field of the Castle, in Vila Praia de Âncora, and finishes just before the Forte da Lagarteira. Always with the sea in sight, this route is pleasant to go at any time of the year. It is the perfect way to escape the routine, to practice sport and to adopt habits and behaviors of healthier life in full communion with the nature.
