Day trip

From Porto: Arouca 516 and Paiva Walkways Guided Day Trip

4.9 / 5

74 reviews

Activity provider: Detours Porto
Day trip

From Porto: Arouca 516 and Paiva Walkways Guided Day Trip

Activity provider: Detours Porto
Likely to sell out

From US$ 117.94 per person

Likely to sell out

Take a guided day trip from Porto to Arouca to cross the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge, the Arouca 516. Continue your hike down to the Paiva River and discover stunning waterfalls.

About this activity

Free cancellation
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Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 9 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English
Pickup included
Please be waiting in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before your scheduled pickup time.

Experience

Highlights
  • Experience the exhilaration of crossing the Arouca 516 Suspension Bridge
  • Savor local flavors with a Portuguese lunch at a restaurant in Alvarenga
  • Connect with nature as you travel through verdant landscapes on the pathway
  • Be captivated by stunning views of the Paiva river and the Aguieira Waterfall
  • Learn about the pathway and local culture with some help from your guide
Full description

Discover the beauty of the Paiva river and gorge on as you hike along the Paiva Walkways and experience the thrill of crossing the 516 Arouca suspension bridge on this guided tour with hotel pickup and drop-off in Porto. Indulge in some local fare with the included lunch at a restaurant. 

Starting from Porto, you be picked up in an air-conditioned van and relax on the drive through the Portuguese countryside. Enjoy a short rest stop in Arouca where you have the chance to purchase a snack in this town that is known for its sweets. 

Reach Areinho and enter the Paiva Walkways and start your journey by climbing a stairway of around 300 steps and reach the incredible 516 Arouca bridge which is at an elevation of about 175 meters above the Paiva River. Learn about local culture from your guide along the way.

Admire views of the Aguieira Waterfall and Paiva River as you cross this stunning bridge. Continue your journey following the path of Paiva Walkways as it follows the flow of the river. Walk at your own pace, take in the lush vegetation, and try to spot wildlife like birds. 

Relax at Vau beach mid-way through the hike and carry on all the way to Espiunca, where our hiking ends. From Espiunca travel to a restaurant in Alvarenga where you can try “Arouquesa” DPO beef (other non-meat options available).End your day with a comfortable ride back to your hotel in Porto.

Includes
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Guide
  • Arouca 516 suspension bridge entry fee
  • Paiva Walkways entry fee
  • Water
  • Lunch and drinks
    Not suitable for
    • Children under 6 years
    • People with mobility impairments
    • Wheelchair users

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Important information

    What to bring

    • Comfortable shoes
    • Comfortable clothes

    Not allowed

    • Sandals or flip flops

    Know before you go

    • This tour includes a 8-kilometer hiking and climbing route with roughly 600 stairs, so it is has a moderate/high difficulty level
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    4.9 /5

    based on 74 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      4.9/5
    • Transportation
      4.8/5
    • Value for money
      4.6/5
    • Service
      4.9/5

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    Excellent day trip from Porto. Enjoyed both meal stops (a sweet snack and lunch after the hike). My vegetarian diet was accommodated at lunch. The vino Verde was delicious! The bridge is a very good attraction, but for me the best part was the hike after, on the walkway by the river. The valley is beautiful and varied and the hike is easy, mostly down. Nice after the climb to the bridge! Our guides joined us again on the halfway point of the trail ( we were left to climb up to walk the bridge and then start the trail ourselves). I had such an amazing conversation with one of the guides (I'm so sorry, I forget your name!), about local wildlife, parks and other things. I would highly recommend this tour. It is pretty far outside what I would normally spend on an activity, but was worth it for me.

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    March 11, 2023

    I highly recommend this tour, it is so much fun! The hike is beautiful and the bridge is so cool. My favorite part of the trip however was the tour guides. Andre, Pedro, and Goncalo are so much fun and they even helped me practice my Portuguese. They made sure we had a great time and that we laughed a lot. You have to do this tour!

    March 7, 2023

    The walkways was a novel way to tour the geopark. Though quite long at 8 kms, we were not so exhausted as the wooden structures were nicely built. There were some uphill climbing but they were manageable. The bridge was awesome! It was a bit frightening at first but once you get the hang of it (pun intended) it’s like walking an ordinary footbridge with a spectacular view all around. The walk back was a lot easier. Our guide at the bridge did a wonderful job assuring us about the safety of crossing. I would definitely recommend this to those who are seeking a different way of exploring nature. Our guide Joao Pacheco of Detours was nice and kind enough to help my elderly aunt on the walkways. And the lunch was sumptuous and really filling too!

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    October 23, 2022

    Product ID: 406266