Passadiços do Paiva Trailhead (Areinho)
Passadiços do Paiva Trailhead (Areinho) things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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If you want to to the Paiva Walkways from Espiunca and the 516 Arouca crossing you have to book the walkway ticket from Espiunca (currently 2 Euro) and the Ticket for the bridge from Areinho entrance. From Espiunca to the bridge it is about 2 hours if you're fit and don't make too long stops. Planning: 1) If you start from Alvarenga one-way to Espiunca, pass the bridge and just go down to Espiunca, it is very easy but still beautiful. You can do it in 2 hours. 2) If you start from Areinho one-way to Espiunca, you have to do a steep ascent over 500+ stairs at the start (30-45 min.), but from there its basically only descent. If you Want to do a one-way only AND want to see the 516 Arouca bridge, i recommend this way: You don't have to finish the whole trail, but only the first ascent to a certain time for your time slot at the bridge. I would say it's light intermediate, because you have to do an ascent, but it's only one ascent right at the start, when you are still fresh. You will need 2,5-3 hours. 3) If you start from Espiunca one-way to Areinho, it's slightly harder because you have to go a lot of stairs at the final ascent to the bridge. From there its a descent over 500+ steps down to Areinho. You can take a taxi back from there to Espiunca, if you like. You will need 2,5-3 hours. 4) If you start from Espiunca and want to do the full roundtrip, it is even harder, as you have to do the final ascent (to the start of the 516 Arouca bridge), full descent with the last 1,5-2km to the end, then go right back and do the full ascent again, before you walk down all the time back to Espiunca. If you are rather fit, i would still recommend as it is a nice challenge. This is a realistic plan: Start at 8:00 am at Espiunca. You will be one of the first people and with a little bit of luck you can see some herons flying as the sun rises. If you don't make many stops and don't take too much pictures (remember: you will come back to every place you see) you will arrive at about 10:15 at the 516 Arouca bridge. Then you can still do the descent to Areinho, have a little break, do the ascent to the bridge again, so you make it to the 11:30 timeslot. If you realize, that this is too tight, you can postpone the last bit to Areinho on after your bridge visit. After doing the 516 Arouca you have now all the time to enjoy the long descent to Espiunca again with lots of stops, taking pictures or cooling down at one of the bathing points if you like. We completed the roundtrip this way in about 5 hours plus breaks and the 516 Arouca visit (in total about 7 hours). Bring enough water! You can fill up your water bottles at the 516 Arouca for free.
Alex S.Alex S.
40
The Paiva Walkways are located on the left bank of the Paiva River, in the municipality of Arouca, district of Aveiro. There are 8 km that provide an "untouched" tour, surrounded by landscapes of unparalleled beauty, in an authentic natural sanctuary, next to whitewater descents, quartz crystals and endangered species in Europe. The route extends between the river beaches of Areinho and Espiunca, with Vau beach between the two. The Paiva Walkways are an 8.7 km wooden walkway, built along the cliffs of from Paiva. They are located about 75 km southeast of Porto, within the Arouca Unesco Global Geopark. This incredible attraction, due to its unique beauty, has already been awarded 10 times in the World Travel Awards. The 516 Arouca Bridge is the longest suspended pedestrian bridge in the world, measuring 516 meters in length and 175 meters in height. Suspended on Tibetan-style steel cables, the 516 Arouca Bridge was a great challenge for Engineering. This impressive structure joins the banks of the Paiva River Gorge, over the beautiful Cascata das Aguieiras. Next to us, the Paiva River flows in an almost musical way, rising its flow in the winter period, extending the adrenaline of its wild waters to the adventurers of rafting and kayaking. Along the shore, the journey begins in the bathing areas of Areinho and/or Espiunca, and halfway along the route, the small paradise of the leisure and leisure area of Vau opens up in front of us. It's the eight kilometers of a lifetime. Project co-financed by «ON2 – O Novo Norte», through QREN and the European Regional Development Fund.
Artur VictoriaArtur Victoria
10
A great 8km (5mile) walk that is well maintained and allows you to walk two abreast on a very clear path. There is the option of taking in the Arouca 516m suspension bridge but you will need to book well ahead as places are very limited. The walk itself is a great way to see the Paiva valley and gets you close to nature. If you are walking in one direction then the majority of people walk downstream. This involves a 1.5 km walk ascent to the highest point of the trail followed by 0.5km of stepped descent via 600+steps and the remainder of the trail is a meander to the end. Jeeps and taxis are available at both ends and it is a 12km trip back to the start via the road. If you are doing a return trip then start wherever suits you best just be prepared to go up relentlessly for 0.5km at some stage. There are restaurants at both ends and plenty of river beaches and alike to stop at for a picnic / rest / swim! We went in late March on a Monday and parking was easy and the route was not busy but in the height of the summer they can get 3,000 people a day which may take some of the enjoyment out of the day. Parking is limited and there are very limited alternative parking locations within 1km. If you are thinking of going in the summer I can imagine a very early start would not only avoid the congestion (road and trails) but also be cooler and more interesting light. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did
Charlie HillCharlie Hill
220
Great hike and the bridge is very cool too! The web page is a little confusing to us English speakers. Basically, You can start in either Areinho or Espiunca, and take a taxi back to your starting point at the end. If you’re only planning to go one way, however, it’s less strenuous to begin in Areinho. If you’re planning to do a roundtrip hike then you should start in Espiunca and get the harder bits out of the way first. Towards the top (Areinho), but up high, up 538 stairs is the bridge. It Is less than 1k from the upper parking lot. When you buy your bridge tickets, you have to choose Alvarenga or Areinho. Areinho means you are hiking the staris up to the bridge. We didn't park at Alvarenga, but it higher than the bridge and looked like a mellow walk to that side. I was not, and am still not, clear if you can start in Alvarenga and then do the hike and finish across the bridge, bit I don't think thats an option unless you wait for an approved time. We did the bridge, then hikes downriver and took a taxi (which were just waiting for us and you can group up with others and reduce the price). We paid €16 for a jeep ride back for 2 of us since no one else was right there.
Steven PonSteven Pon
30
This is an incredible hike through Portugal’s beautiful mountains! Our recommendations: • You can park in either Areinho or Espiunca to start the 8.7km one way or 17.4km round trip hike! We parked in Areinho as we found it had more parking. • The hike is moderate to hard if you start in Areinho and hard + if you start in Espiunca. • If you are doing a round trip it’s recommended to start in Espiunca as a majority of the 8.7km is on a steady incline until you reach the mountain pass, this was you have the mostly steady decline on your return trip another 8.7km. • We took 3hrs and 10 minutes, going from Areinho to Espiunca, recommended time on their website is 2hrs 30 minutes. • The big suspension bridge closest to Areinho is not complete yet (April 2019) we have been advised will be completed in September 2019. • It cost us €15.45 from Espiunca to Areinho at the end of our hike with a local taxi. • Would advise a snack and water as the stops in the middle were closed around 3:00pm when we passed through.
Jay Wilson (Gmail Account)Jay Wilson (Gmail Account)
00
What a well created trail with an amazing view at every bit of it! The path is perfectly preserved and totally worth the 2€ online ticket (4€ on the spot). If you want to go only one direction (8km+), I recommend starting in Areinho, as it's only climbing up a lot of stairs (!!!!) once right at the beginning and felt like almost only downhill from there. We were able to use the same ticket to go backwards too (16km+), but consider that it is very exhausting and on a summer day there is not a lot of shade. Bring ENOUGH water! And don't underestimate the stairs.. :)) You'll find taxis and a transfer service offering to take you back at both ends, although I don't know the price. There were small bars and free bathrooms at the parking spot on both ends. There is supposed to be another bar in the middle at the river beaching spot at Vau, but it was closed.
Astrid CreuzburgAstrid Creuzburg
30
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Address
Estr. do Areinho, Portugal
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+351 256 940 258
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Website
passadicosdopaiva.pt
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attractions: Garganta do Paiva, restaurants: Paiva à Vista, Casa do Areinho
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