Down the Guadiana: Beja to Castro Marim

Route description

Begin in Beja, the main town of the lower Alentejo, with a tall castle keep. Drive east to Serpa, a whitewashed town famous for its sheep’s cheese, then take the gravel roads towards the Pulo do Lobo, where the Guadiana plunges through a narrow gorge. The last stretch is unpaved, so drive slowly, and allow time on foot.

Follow the N265 south to Mértola, a hill town above the Guadiana where the main church was once a mosque and a castle keeps watch. The town is a museum of Islamic Portugal; park by the river and walk up.

East of Mértola, the Mina de São Domingos is an abandoned copper mine with coloured pools and ruined buildings, and a river beach for swimming nearby. The N122 then runs south through empty hills; take the side road to Alcoutim, a quiet village facing its Spanish twin across the river.

End at Castro Marim near the river mouth, where a castle overlooks salt pans and a nature reserve with flamingos. This route is ideal for camper vans, with quiet riverside spots and aires in several villages; avoid the heat of July and August, and come in spring for wild flowers.