Off Road Portugal: Arrabida Park and Sado Estuary in a 4X4

Less than an hour outside of Lisbon there is a rarely-crowded region that has a little bit of everything:  spectacular natural areas and natural wonders like the Sado Estuary (home of the Golfinhos dolphins) and the Arrabida Natural Park, small towns that still have the charm of decades ago, rich traditions, and a wine-growing area that stands out for its fabulous Moscatel wine region.  How’d you like to enjoy all of this in an Off Road Portugal Experience?   

Here are more details about our two 4×4 tour options – choose the one you like best: 

Off road Portugal Experience: 4X4 in the Arrabida Natural Park 

The Arrabida Natural Park, located between the Setubal Peninsula and the fishing town of Sesimbra, has incomparable natural beauty. One of the main attractions of the park is its wealth of indigenous vegetation. One of the rare examples of Mediterranean maquis forest in Portugal can be found here, and its preservation was one of the reasons the Arrabida area earned reputation as a genuine international scientific relic.  

It is incredible that such a virgin and unexplored region can be found just 40 minutes from the vibrant city of Lisbon. 

This 4×4 tour will take you near:  

Palmela 

Palmela is a hidden gem, off the beaten tourist track. It is a town with cobbled streets guarded by its castle, located at the highest point of the western Serra da Arrabida. 

Sao Filipe Castle (Setubal) 

The city of Setubal was an important seaport. The castle, located in an unbeatable position, was a decisive walled bastion for the defence of the city. It thus avoided the military vulnerability of these coasts. Such was its strategic importance that Philip I of Portugal himself laid the first stone in 1582. 

Tastings of Setubal Moscatel wine or juice and regional cheese and bread 

During the tour, enjoy a stop to taste another of the highlights of the region: Moscatel wine, accompanied by traditional and regional cheese with bread. 

If you want to visit a winery in the area, you can contact us and we can add a Setubal Wine Tour to your trip. 

Off road Portugal Experience: 4X4 in the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve 

The Sado Estuary Nature Reserve is one of the most beautiful landscapes on the Lisbon coast. A fertile and humid area whose landscape is characterised by rice fields, stork nests or flamingos (more than 200 species of birds come to the Sado Estuary) and, of course, its dolphins. It is rare to see dolphins swimming in the wild in Europe, but here instead it is very easy to see them! 

If you are interested in a boat trip to see the different types of dolphins up close, as well as perhaps having the opportunity to see orcas, sharks… we recommend: Dolphin Watching Algarve Boat Tour. 

This 4X4 route will take you near:   

Comporta 

Comporta is a special place. Surrounded by rice fields, beaches, sand dunes and pine forests, this landscape reminds some people of the Hamptons and others of Asia. Although most people immediately think of the Algarve when they think of beaches and sea in Portugal, the Alentejo coast, including Comporta, is ideal for those looking for a quieter environment away from the more touristy and crowded areas. If you value tranquility, authentic experiences and a connection with nature and history, put the city of Comporta on your list. 

The rice fields 

This is one of the most important rice producing regions in Portugal, where the varieties of “agulha” and “carolino” are grown. Rice cultivation is a rare practice in Portugal. Today, the rice fields are preserved or belong to the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve, which allows them to be protected, as well as the fauna and flora found there. Depending on the time of year you come, the landscape changes completely as you can see the fields in green, yellow or full of water.  

Carrasqueira stilt port 

Carrasqueira is probably one of the most traditional villages in the region, famous for its stilt harbour and the original local fishermen’s huts. The Cais Palafítico da Carrasqueira, built in the 1950s and 1960s, is unique in Europe. The harbour is built on stilts and irregular wooden planks.  

Thanks to the construction of the port, fishermen were able to begin harvesting clams, oysters, razor clams and other shellfish. Over time, the number of fishermen in the stilt harbour increased, causing the wooden structures to be extended until they became the tangle of walkways they are today. 

Depending on the tides, the boats float in the water or get stuck in the mud, but the fishermen never lose access to their boats, which was the main objective. 

This is a timeless place and for a moment you will feel like you have left Europe and are in Asia. It is a magical place for photography lovers especially at sunrise or sunset. 

Tastings of Setubal Moscatel wine or juice and regional sweets 

During the tour, enjoy a stop to taste another of the highlights of the region: Moscatel wine, accompanied by traditional and regional sweets. 

If you want to visit a winery in the area, you can contact us and we can add a Setubal Wine Tour to your trip.