All year round
Dates
4 / 10
Physicality
+/- 9 Hours
Duration
6+
Age
Aveiro, Paiva
Location

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In this tour, the walk difficulty level is easy/medium! You`ll walk only 5km and downstream!

Short description: You`ll go across one of the longest suspension bridges of the world and walk one of the most beautiful trails: The Paiva Walkways! Visit one of the highlights of Portugal: Costa Nova, and Aveiro, the Portuguese Venice!

We leave from Porto towards Arouca town where we will stop shortly for bathrooms and coffee.

After a short drive, we`ll arrive at the Walkways and go across the Suspension Bridge! It spans 516 meters-long across the valley and hangs 175m above the Paiva river!

Notice: crossing the bridge is not mandatory. You have the option to skip it.

Then, you`ll walk the Paiva Walkways downhill in a total length of 5km over a wooden boardwalk zig-zagging along the left bank of the river. Trail Areinho-Vau.

The walk will be followed by another highlight of our day: lunch! (fish and vegetarian options also available)

After a power nap in the van, we`ll arrive to Costa Nova! Costa Nova is one of the highlights of Portugal – a beautiful fishing village known for its striped colorful houses!

Time to enjoy Aveiro, also known as the “Portuguese Venice”! Discover the city center on a short walk, enjoy some free time and relax on a boat trip to see the charming city through the canals!

Finish the day back in Porto.

PICK UP/DROP OFF At meeting point: Calçada da Vandoma, next to Estátua de Vimara Peres (cathedral)
START AT / END 8:00 am / 6:30 pm (approx)
INCLUDED
Pick up/drop off at Calçada da Vandoma (cathedral)

Transport by top class minivan (8 people)

Paiva Walkways and Suspension Bridge tickets

Traditional lunch (roasted veal)

Visit to Costa Nova and Boat ride at Aveiro canals

NOT INCLUDED
Personal expenses
Gratuities (optional)

Any service that is not clearly specified in the inclusions

book here

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Detailed itinerary

  • Meet at the meeting point: Calçada da Vandoma, next to Estátua de Vimara Peres – (Horse statue at Porto Cathedral);
  • The Paiva Walkways;
  • The Arouca 516 Footbridge (optional)
  • Traditional lunch at Arouca;
  • Visit to cost Nova
  • Drive to Aveiro;
  • City center and fish market;
  • Boat ride at the Aveiro canals.

Return to Porto.

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End of the Tour


The paiva walkways
people hiking at the paiva walkways
arouca 516 bridge
Arouca 516
the paiva walkways stairway and river
the paiva walkways along the river paiva
Art Nouveau buildings in aveiro and the moliceiros boats
Aveiro canals
Aveiro tour

Tour Reviews

4.95 based on 726 reviews
08/09/2021

10/10, highly recommended
Amazing day! Norberto was friendly, thoughtful and extremely knowledgeable, teaching us Portuguese history throughout the day. He provided us options on the walkway and met us with the car at the halfway mark for those who were tired. He also provides extra treats and surprises throughout the day. I highly recommend!

08/09/2021

A long, tiring day, but one I will never forget. I feel like I left with a new set of friends. Norberto is very personable and accommodating. Walking across the bridge was one of the coolest experiences of my life. The Paiva walkways are a bit challenging. I wasn’t expecting to struggle as much as I did as a moderately fit person LOL. I loved seeing the city of Aveira and other parts of Lisbon outside of Porto. This tour will make your friends and family back home very jealous. Do not hesitate to book it.

06/09/2021

Such a fun day! From beginning to end, the day is well thought out and full of activities. It really captures the essence of Northern Portugal from the picturesque scenery even down to the food! Aveiro, Paiva Walkways, Arouca Bridge, & Costa Nova were wonderful! Norberto was extremely friendly and attentive to all of the guests! Highly recommend this tour!

04/09/2021

Really amazing day, lots to do and see. Norberto was a fantastic guide!

03/09/2021

Shortly after, we were picked up from Porto and taken to a special shortcut to reach the Arouca Bridge entrance. When we got to the bridge, we were not so exhausted as the others coming from the car park. Crossing the bridge was an excellent experience. It is really worth walking. Then we went down the Paiva Walkways, which was about 5 km. It was quite hard because of the heat, but we survived. The views were incredible. After that, we were driven to a village for a local lunch. Delicious food, nice chats over the table. Then we went to Aveiro, a stunning town over the ocean called a Portuguese Venice. Our guide, Norberto, was really so friendly, informative,very well organised and tried to do his best to make our trip outstanding. And in fact, he did. I truly recommend this trip as we enjoyed it very much.

31/08/2021

Norberto war einfach der perfekte Guide für diese Tour. Er hat die Wünsche all seiner Gäste erfüllt und uns einen wunderschönen Tag bereitet. Das Mittagessen war phantastisch und es war ein sehr abwechslungsreiches spannendes Programm. Er hat auch zusätzlich Programmpunkte eingebaut, die nicht vorgesehen waren. Top Leistung, der beste Tag unseres Urlaubs!

29/08/2021

Sinceramente expectacular. A Norberto (guía) no se le escapa detalle, lo tiene todo muy bien planificado y está pendiente en cada momento de todo. La organización excelente y el tour merece muchiiiiisimo la pena. Es todo precioso.

28/08/2021

Genial nuestro guía y la actividad. Muy completo!!!

21/08/2021

Norberto is the non plus ultra of tour guides: we managed to get the essence of Northern Portugal in a single day. Norberto is very experienced, easy-going and chatty. I do recommend him!

16/08/2021

Incroyable expérience! Prendre l’option où on traverse arouca 516! C’est vraiment super! Noberto est quelqu’un de très gentil arrangeant et bienveillant! J’ai passé une super journée.

14/08/2021

To be honest this was not my first choice while I was picking things to do on my trip. But I was pleasantly surprised by the experience. The view, nature trails, traditional Portuguese meal, the boat ride and picturesque fisherman houses quite filled up the day. It was a power packed day but Noberto and the others were friendly and warm and did not really realize how the day passed by. I am glad the trip to the walkways started early and was downhill, as it started get too warm towards the end. I would recommend good walking shoes a must:)

10/08/2021

Actividad muy completa, puente, pasadizos, Aveiro y playa, pero quien hace que sea un buen viaje es nuestro guía Norberto, explicaciones sencillas, trato amable y encantador, pendiente siempre de las necesidades de cada componente del grupo y buen conversador. Fue un día genial, de 10 !!!! Gracias

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