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516 Arouca Bridge and Paiva Walkways Tour: Experience UNESCO Geopark from Porto
5.0
18 Ratings
Arouca
Embark on an unforgettable adventure from Porto to the Arouca UNESCO Global Geopark. Walk across the 516 Arouca Suspension Bridge, explore the Paiva Walkways, and indulge in traditional cuisine.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
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516 Arouca - Ponte Suspensa - Prepare for the most exciting 516 meters of your life on the 516 Arouca Suspension Bridge, one of the longest suspension pedestrian bridges in the world. Be suspended by Tibetan-style steel cables in the sky, 175 meters above River Paiva and Aguieiras Waterfall.
Feel as though you’re walking in the air, immersing yourself in an imposing landscape of wild and stunning nature. If you want a more laid-back experience, be transferred to the other side of the bridge by a 4x4. -
Passadicos do Paiva - Walk along the Paiva Walkways, stop at scenic viewpoints to snap photos. See the famous zig-zag staircases, riparian forests, waterfalls, and cliffs of the gorge. Halfway through, take a break at Vau River Beach and restore your energy with some traditional snacks, juice, and fresh fruits.
On hot days, take a dip in the river. From here to the end of the trail, get closer to the river. Feel the strength of the rapids through their roaring sounds. After the hike, be driven to the mountain area of Arouca. - Arouca Geopark - The Arouca Geopark, it’s a classified territory recognized by UNESCO from 2009, that gathers 41 Geosites within an area of 328 square kilometers. It defines Arouca as a territory with a special Geological Heritage, where you can find phenomena such as “Birthing Stones” and “Giant Trilobite Fossils” that are unique on the world and others like “Frecha da Mizarela”, the highest waterfall in mainland Portugal, the “Corn Bread Stones” or the “Union Stones”, and some more amazing attractions!
What's Included
- Interpretative Guide along the walk
- Lunch
- Personal Accident Insurance
- Snacks
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Tickets to the Paiva Walkways and the 516 Arouca Bridge
- All fees and/or taxes
- Photo Report
Additional Information
Embark on an amazing adventure from Porto with convenient transport to the Arouca UNESCO Global Geopark. Start the trek along ancient village trails. Get ready for an exhilarating 516 meters on the 516 Arouca Suspension Bridge, numbered among the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridges. Experience the thrill of being held aloft by Tibetan-style steel wires, offering views from 175 meters over the Paiva River and Aguieiras Waterfall.
Kickstart your journey on the Paiva Walkways, stretching 8.7 km with wooden footpaths erected along the Paiva River Gorge’s cliffs. Discover the renowned zig-zag stairways, riverside woods, cascades, and precipices. Midway, pause at Vau River Beach and refuel with some local refreshments, juice, and fresh fruit.
Lastly, indulge yourself with a classic Arouquesa roasted veal served in a traditional restaurant (included in the ‘With Lunch’ option). For the sweet conclusion, savor some time-honored conventual pastries, in the vicinity of their birthplace, the Santa Maria de Arouca Monastery.
- Pessoas com mobilididade reduzida
- Crianças com menos de 6 anos
Location
516 Arouca - Ponte Suspensa
Canelas,
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(18 Ratings)
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Martin_g
Jun 11, 2024
Solo walk - Really nice and relaxing day out, definitely recommend this tour. Don't forget to treat yourself to well deserved beer and traditional steak sandwich at Bar Recanto Do Paiva
Review provided by Viator
Heikel800
May 30, 2024
very nice - A great hike with great views and a bit of adrenaline. The bridges are spectacular, great plants along the way, cork trees and much more.
It's totally worth it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Russell_s
May 30, 2024
Fantastic! - Our driver was very knowledgeable and managed our excursion perfectly. The views were stunning. We loved all the stops, breaks and meals. I would highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Climber733273
May 29, 2024
Awesome Experience - I highly recommend booking this. The whole day was fantastic and well organized. The walking and driving guides were fantastic, energetic, and knowledgeable. The suspension bridge and walking trail was truly memorable. The additional stops for lunch and sweets were great. It is a full day and there is lots of walking/stairs (going down mostly). We totaled about 5.5 miles. Again great excursion and good value. Enjoy your trip!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Garygj1097af
May 25, 2024
Escape the city! - The whole experience was great!
Ines is a great guide. Her English is very good and she is very knowledgeable regarding the area and culture. She’s very friendly and didn’t mind taking as many photos of us as we wanted! I definitely recommend her! Snacks were good, lunch was great. The whole experience was amazing!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mihaidx35ew
May 20, 2024
BEST EXPERIENCE! - Amazing day trip, best views and walk! Honestly, I was terrified to cross the bridge but managed to afterwards, and the reward was spectacular! The walk path is absolutely stunning! Our guide, Ines was friendly and helpful! Even with a bit of rain from time to time was still the best experience. Absolutely recommended!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
H1704uhmarieg
May 13, 2024
A pleasant experience, a magnificent view and a relaxed atmosphere - What a wonderful trip!
To start Sergio came to pick us up in a minibus. A warm welcome that immediately puts you at ease. After an hour and a half on the bus, we arrived and Joao welcomed us and accompanied us to the bridge. Impressive but the view is incredible and definitely worth it!
Then we walked along the canyon, a walk commented by our guide, a biology and environment enthusiast, so funny, who made us wonderful picture.
To finish we ate in the small restaurant at the end of the route, the meat is exceptional, nothing to complain about! We went there with friends and we highly recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wanderer36845052817
May 5, 2024
Worth every penny!!!! - It was such a great experience. We took the tour from Lisboa. Our driver Sergio was a sweetheart and gave us so much information about Portugal. Then at the suspension bridge, our guide, Ines, was great. She was also very informative and was attentive to all members in our group. She ROCKS!!! Thanks again Ines. We will return to Portugal and will be back in Arouca for this tour
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hellobalint
May 4, 2024
It was a wonderful day! - The beauty of the bridge and the Paiva River is stunning. There is a total of 10 km of road behind us, which was not burdensome, especially as we drove in the direction of the meadow. Our driver left and arrived on time, and at the end of the program we also stopped at a cozy pastry shop, where we could taste local delicacies with a good coffee!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Frejabf
Apr 22, 2024
A must do tour! - Amazing trip and very recommendable! Our guide João knew a lot about the area, and he had many interesting things to tell about the nature, history, and biology. The tour was filled with beautiful views both before and after passing the big bridge, which was such an experience! Our driver Pedro was very pleasant and helpful the whole day through. His driving was pleasant (which is not always a matter of course we’ve learned) so it was much appreciated! He took us to the coffee shop and also made sure we had the time to see the monastery before leaving. Overall 5 out of 5 stars - more if possible. Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
