Circuling Serra d'Arga

Today we will immerse ourselves in the natural beauty of the Serra d’Arga, one of the wildest and most surprising territories in Alto Minho. Here, the mountain transforms at every step: from humid forests to granite peaks, from enclosed valleys to plateaus where the wind blows without limits. It is a place where nature still speaks louder than anything else.

Our circular route, starting and ending in Arga de Baixo, takes us along 20 km of pure authenticity: ancient cobblestone paths, narrow trails, dirt tracks and passages that hold centuries of human and natural history. We head towards the first wide views over Castanheira, Covas and the mouth of the Minho River, before climbing to the imposing Chã Grande, territory of the wild horses that live there in absolute freedom.

Then, we move on to the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Conceição do Minho, one of the great viewpoints of the mountain range, where the landscape opens up over Viana do Castelo, the Lima River and Ponte de Lima – a scene that seems to have come out of a painting. We descended along the old cobbled path that leads us to Cerquido, crossing cool woods and crystal-clear streams.

We continue past the traditional mills of Gândara, remnants of mountain life from another time, and followed Arga de Cima, closing the circle that takes us back to the starting point.

The Serra d’Arga is part of the Natura 2000 Network and is one of the country's greatest biodiversity havens. Each kilometer reveals a new texture, a new aroma, a new way of life. It is a mountain that is felt, that is heard, and that stays with us long after we return home.