Tours & tickets

Praia Fluvial do Vau

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 know more about this town. It is included a traditional local sweets tasting. Please note that by booking with Detours you are directly contributing to a local development association. 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 along with the famous " vinho verde" (other non-meat options available). End your day with a comfortable ride back to your hotel in Porto.

Join us for a trip to the Passadiços do Paiva from Porto in comfortable transportation. Discover one of the most stunning gorges of wild rivers in northern Portugal, located in the UNESCO Global Geopark of Arouca. Walk along the Passadiços do Paiva and the famous zigzag stairs, with panoramic viewpoints to admire the waterfalls and cliffs of the gorge, on a route between the river beaches of Areinho and Espiunca, where you can recharge at Praia do Vau. Enjoy this journey through biology, geology, and archaeology and fall in love with nature. Geosites: Paiva Gorge (G36); Aguieiras Waterfall (G35); Vau River Beach (G30); Salto Gola (G31); Espiunca Fault (G32). Finally, at Praia de Espiunca, have lunch and relax in an excellent leisure area, enjoying the banks of the Paiva River with its crystal-clear waters. On the way back, stop in Arouca and take the opportunity to visit the Monastery of Santa Clara de Arouca and taste the conventual sweets of the region, which have a long-standing tradition.