The Alentejo region is located in Portugal, above the Algarve, runs as far as Lisbon and stretches from the west coast to the border with Spain. It's an area you may not have heard of, but there are plenty of fun things to see and do along the way. In this article we share the motorhome route through eastern Alentejo that we have traveled. We visited the east of the region in December, the time of year when the region is very green. Are you traveling with us?
Also read: Motorhome route through eastern Algarve | Fun things to see and do
Please note! From January 2021, wild camping will no longer be tolerated in Portugal. But don't worry, there are more than enough motorhome pitches and campsites where you can stay, also along this route. For example, check the apps for this Park4Night of MotorhomeContact.
Motorhome route through eastern Alentejo
mertola
Our journey starts in Mertola. This town is located in the middle of the Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana. When you drive up you see the old fortress above Mertola and the river (Guadiana) flowing right through the town. In the city center of Mertola you get the feeling as if time has stood still for a while and you can enjoy the wines from the region on terraces. For us Mertola was the place to stock up big, pick up maps of walking routes at the tourist office (there are 10 mapped out routes in the national park) and from there into the national park.
Mina de Sao Domingos
In the past, a lot of mining took place in this region, but after the closing of the mines, many people left. The village of Mina de São Domingos is such an abandoned village, where a few stragglers still live and you will find the remains of a large old mine. The village is located on a lake where you can swim in the summer. You can also walk one of the marked routes. We did this and in about 3 hours we walked around the lake and through the rolling landscape. Highly recommended!
Wolf's Leap
From the mining village we drove on to Pulo do Lobo, or the waterfall. Here too there is a mapped out walking route that we have walked. From the parking spot it is about a 1,5 km walk to the waterfall (you can also drive there) and from there the walk continues along the river and back to the parking lot. The area is full of sheep, who gleefully greet you with their bleats and the ringing of bells around their necks.
Also read: Must Sees in Portugal | Beautiful beaches, cities and culture
After Pulo do Lobo we made a short stop in Azinhal to do another 11 km walk along old mines and vast fields and from there we drove on to civilization.
Beja
The town of Beja, like many other towns in the region, has a large castle that towers over the town. Via the old town you will automatically reach the castle, where you can climb all the way to the top. If you fancy pizza or pasta, restaurant Dona Maria is highly recommended. We stayed at the campsite. Not necessarily a very inspiring place, but they had nice warm showers and only cost € 6,30 per night (incl. electricity).
Serpa
After Beja we paid a short visit to the old town of Serpa. The city dates back to the time of the Romans (more than 2000 years ago) and you can wander through the small streets within the old city walls. You can also visit the old castle – with a special entrance – and walk through the old church next door to the square for a coffee and a pastel de nata on the terrace.
Moura
We then drove via Moura – another town with a beautiful old castle – to Alqueva. Would you like to stock up before you go to Alqueva? In Moura there are a number of large supermarkets so that you have enough food to spend a few days along the lake of Alqueva.
alqueva
The Alqueva reservoir is one of the largest in Western Europe. The lake is located in the middle of a real olive tree region and the area is known for its beautiful starry sky. The villages around the lake dim the lights in the evening so that the starry sky can be admired. In 2011, the region was declared the first 'Starlight Tourism Destination' by UNESCO, among others. And it's true: you can easily see the Milky Way on a clear night! If you want to learn more about the starry sky around Alqueva, take a look at the site of Dark Sky Alqueva.
Mourão
After staying at the reservoir for a few days, you can continue to Mourão to imagine yourself back in time. In this small village with an authentic fortress you will feel like you are back in old Portugal. From here you can leave the Alentejo region and cross the border into Spain or travel even further towards Evora and Elvas.
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