Before visiting the park

How to get there

By air
The nearest international airport to Peneda-Gerês National Park is the Airport of Oporto. From here it is only a two-hour drive to the closest entrance of the park by private transport. Cars can be rented at Oporto Airport.

By car
Distances from the closest big cities:

• Lisbon - Braga: 370 km
• Oporto - Braga: 53 km 
• Faro - Braga: 630 km 
• Braga – Campo do Gerês (by Terras de Bouro): 42 km 
• Braga - Caldas do Gerês: 43 km 
• Braga - Mezio: 51 km 
• Braga – Entre Ambos-os-Rios: 42 km 
• Braga - Lamas de Mouro: 90 km 
• Braga - Fafião: 45 km

The access to the Park can be made by the following roads:

• Entrance from Lamas de Mouro, coming from Melgaço, by EN 202
• Entrance from Mezio, coming from Arcos de Valdevez, by EN 202 
• Entrance from Entre Ambos-os-Rios, coming from Ponte da Barca, by EN 203 
• Entrance from Covide, coming from Terras de Bouro, by EN 307 
• Entrance from Rio Caldo, coming from Póvoa de Lanhoso, by EN 103 and 104, and coming from Amares by EN 308 
• Entrance from Sezelhe, coming from Montalegre, by EN 308 
• Entrance from Paradela, coming from Venda Nova, by EN 308-4 
• Entrance from Fafião, coming from Salamonde, by 103 EN

By bus
From Braga (bus station – Largo de S. Francisco) the following localities can be reached: Melgaço,  Arcos de Valdevez, Ponte da Barca, Terras de Bouro, Campo do Gerês , Caldas do Gerês,  Montalegre.
There are several bus companies, two of them are listed here so that you can contact them for further information regarding the bus services:

1. Transdev Braga
Praça Estação Rodoviária
4704-510 Braga
Tel: 253 209 400 Fax: 253 209 410

2. Salvador
Rua Soares Pereira 80, 1º
4970-465 Arcos de Valdevez
Tel: +351 258 521 504      
Fax: +351 258 513 310
http://www.salvador-transportes.com/
empsalvador [at] net [dot] sapo [dot] pt

By train
The access to Braga also can be made by train. The railway station is located about 500 meters away from the national park headquarters. You can call the following numbers for time schedules: Call Center (07/23h) 80820820 and +351 213 185 990 (for international calls).

Entrance/access points
From Portugal (southern and western limits of the park) there are eight main access points: Lamas de Mouro, Mezio, Entre Ambos-os-Rios, Campo do Gerês, Covide, Rio Caldo, Salamonde, Paradela and Sezelhe. On the border with Spain (the northern boundary of the park) there are four access points: Ameijoeira, Madalena, Portela do Homem and Tourém.
The National Park Gates are located at the main entry points (one gate located at the main entrance of each municipality), which act as centres for reception, information and management of the flow of visitors.
Gates:

• Lamas de Mouro Gate (municipality of Melgaço);
• Mezio Gate (municipality of Arcos de Valdevez);
• Lindoso Gate (municipality of Ponte da Barca);
• Campo do Gerês Gate (municipality of Terras de Bouro);
• Paradela Gate (municipality of Montalegre).

Visitor Centre

The Park Gateways and the Vidoeiro Environmental Education Centre offer a wide range of exhibitions and information about the nature, culture and geography of the region.

1 - Vidoeiro Environmental Education Centre
Location: Lugar do Vidoeiro, 99 4845-081 GERÊS
Contacts: Tel./Fax: + 351 253 390 110/+ 351 253 391 496      
Opening hours: Weekdays: 09.00-12.30h; 14.00-17.30h
Short description:
Besides  information about the natural and cultural values of the National Park, visitors can collect suggestions of routes and footpaths as well as other useful information during their visit to the park (housing, environmental and sports activities and enterprises; permits, etc.).
Schools have the opportunity to participate in several environmental education activities, through which they learn about the national park’s values as well as applying the knowledge that they bring from the classroom.
In addition to the Reception and the Exposition Room (where we can find the “Biodiversity dynamics” exhibition), this Centre has an Auditorium (where you are able to see a short film about the Park), a Library, a Multimedia Room and an Environmental Education Activities’ Room.
Outside the Centre, there is a Medicinal and Aromatic Plants’ Garden, where the main species of the flora of this area are represented (with an emphasis on aromatic and medicinal plants).

2 - Lamas de Mouro Gateway
Location: Porto Ribeiro 4960-170 MELGAÇO
Contacts: Tel./Fax: + 351 251 465 010/+ 351 251 465 014      
E-mail: portadelamas [at] cm-melgaco [dot] pt
Opening Hours:
- Winter hours: Monday to Sunday, 10.00-12.30h; 14.00-17.00h
- Summer hours: Monday to Sunday, 10.00-12.30h; 14.00-19.00h
Short description:
Starting from the Lamas the Mouro Gate, visit the oak forests of the Peneda (Great Stone) Mountain Range or the peat bogs of the Castro Laboreiro plateau. With luck spot a wolf or watch a squirrel in the woods surrounding the Gate. Walking along the Mouro River in search of the Schreiberi’s green lizards, hike through the birch woods and rest under the shade of a Scots pine tree. A short drive away is the Castro Laboreiro castle, and medieval trails such as the Peneda and the Castrejo Trail, which connected the summer villages (“Brandas”) to the winter villages (“Inverneiras”). Going further back in time visit the underground dolmens (“mamoas”) of the Castro Laboreiro Plateau, and admire the granite domes that mark the mountaintops of Serra da Peneda.

3 - Campo do Gerês Gateway
Location: 4840-030 CAMPO DO GERÊS
Contacts: Tel./Fax: + 351 253 351 888      
E-mail: museu [at] cm-terrasdebouro [dot] pt ou museudevilarinhodafurna [at] gmail [dot] com
Opening Hours: Winter hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10.00-12.30h; 14.00-17.00h
Summer hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10.00-19.00h Weekends: 10.00-17.30h
Short description:
From the Campo do Gerês Gate walk on the Roman road (Geira), finding milestones until the Albergaria forest. This forest is the most remarkable remnant that in the past covered all north-western Portugal. Here, the Homem (Man) river forms crystal clear lakes, and idyllic waterfalls which descend the glacial valley. Early in the morning it is possible to hear roe deer barking. Starting from the Vidoeiro Environmental Education Center, climb to the Pedra Bela peak and admire the Gerês valley. Alternatively, one can hike the opposite slope, using the Preguiça Trail or the Cidade da Calcedónia Trail. Boating activities can be practiced in Caniçada reservoir.

4 - Montalegre Gateway
Location: Av.ª D. Nuno Álvares Pereira, Edifício Multiusos, 445
5470-203 MONTALEGRE
Contacts: Tel./Fax: + 351 276 518 320/+ 351 276 518 322      
Opening Hours: Weekdays: 09.00-12.30h; 14.00-17.30h

5 - ADERE-PG Reservation Center
Largo da Misericórdia, 10, 4980-613 Ponte da Barca
Tel./Fax: +351 258 452 250/+351 258 452 450      
E-mail: aderepg [at] mail [dot] telepac [dot] pt
Web page: www.adere-pg.pt
Entrance to the park is free.
The park offers several environmental education activities such as guided visits and thematic activities. For more information:
http://www.adere-pg.pt/index.php?lang=EN-us

Park Facilities

Trails in the park
The Park offers a network of paths for different types of visitors. There are several interpretation trails (thirty blazed trails).  Most of these trails have individual leaflets with detailed information, which are available in the Gates and other Information Centers of the national park.
Most of the trails and other pathways can be hiked with the support of a GPS.
To see the full list of trails of the national park and to download the GPS files please visit: http://www.adere-pg.pt/trilhos

Equipment rental
Visitors can make use of companies to hire sports equipment (for example, bicycles and canoes). Tents are usually only in camping sites and not always available. Other types of equipment (such as climbing gear) is provided by the companies and also with guided activities.
PDA/GPS to 10 trails and binoculars are available at the main gates.

Rescue service
In case of accident or disorientation, call the emergency line (112). If you are not able to call the emergency line in an accident, place the victim in a safe place protected from the cold and the sun, then search for help.
In case of being bitten by a viper – which only happens if a viper is directly disturbed – you should keep calm (a viper bit is rarely fatal) and avoid unnecessary movements. You should go to the closest hospital and call the Intoxication Centre (808 250 143)

Services for disabled
There are 3 entrances of the park, which are accessible for the disabled as well: Lamas de Mouro Gateway, Mezio Gateway, Paradela Gateway.

Overnight stays in the park

Inside the park you can find information in the site of ADERE-PG regarding shelters and overnight stays. www.adere-pg.pt

Rules

• Do not damage, remove or disturb any plants, lichens, mushrooms, animals, rocks and minerals. They are protected by law. Do not feed the wildlife.
• Do not disturb or collect any cultural or historic artefacts.
• Avoid noise and activities that disturb the natural environment.
• Respect the signboards and the information given by the park rangers and other staff
• Use existent trails and roads.
• Respect private property and inhabitants activities.
• Carry your litter until you find a rubbish bin.
• Camp only in authorized areas.
• Ask for information about where and when you can use grills; Avoid smoking in the forest. 
• All mountaineering activities in the Natural Area of the Park require a permit, which can be obtained at the Park Gates and other Information Centres.
• Warn PGNP (Phone: 253 390 110) or the environmental police GNR/SEPNA (808 200 520) of any infraction you witness.
• Keep your dog on a leash.