Guidebook for Eco Lodge Cabreira
Food Scene
This is our 'local' bar and restaurant, owned by the young family Maria & Mario Jorge. It's a real family restaurant: parents, in-laws, brother, sister.. all come to help. Their 2 youngs kids always around or at family :-)
The cawls and onions come from their garden, and as they breed pigs, cows and goats in the mountains, you can imagine how the lifes their livestock has had, reflects in the taste. Especially if you order from the grill.
They make a mean chanfana! (goat stew) and their grelhados (beef and calf) are often like butter...
Nothing fancy, just good plain food and hard working hospitable folks. Just the way we like it up here in the mountains.
Restaurante Araújo "O Moscoso"
This is our 'local' bar and restaurant, owned by the young family Maria & Mario Jorge. It's a real family restaurant: parents, in-laws, brother, sister.. all come to help. Their 2 youngs kids always around or at family :-)
The cawls and onions come from their garden, and as they breed pigs, cows and goats in the mountains, you can imagine how the lifes their livestock has had, reflects in the taste. Especially if you order from the grill.
They make a mean chanfana! (goat stew) and their grelhados (beef and calf) are often like butter...
Nothing fancy, just good plain food and hard working hospitable folks. Just the way we like it up here in the mountains.
A long and winding road , at least a 25 minutes drive from our place, will lead you to this small family bistro with good honest food and a few fishing ponds (catch your own fish if you want). Situated next to the main road, bordering a small stream and at the start of an old oak forests and hiking trails. Very kind owners. Often only open in weekends.
Piovacora Pesca Lazer e Restaurante
A long and winding road , at least a 25 minutes drive from our place, will lead you to this small family bistro with good honest food and a few fishing ponds (catch your own fish if you want). Situated next to the main road, bordering a small stream and at the start of an old oak forests and hiking trails. Very kind owners. Often only open in weekends.
Famous mountain meat restaurant, located near a hiking trail. Think lots and lots of local meat and wine. Think grilled steak, think goat stew, sometimes even wild boar stew. Rustic. Perfect for big groups.
10 Einheimische empfehlen
Adega Regional Nariz Do Mundo
Famous mountain meat restaurant, located near a hiking trail. Think lots and lots of local meat and wine. Think grilled steak, think goat stew, sometimes even wild boar stew. Rustic. Perfect for big groups.
Local restaurant, again, kind owners. It´s situated between our place, and the swimming lake and forest hiking.
Restaurante "Tasca Picão"
Local restaurant, again, kind owners. It´s situated between our place, and the swimming lake and forest hiking.
Local menu. One of the very few local restaurants with an outdoor seating area. View of olive trees.
Taberna das Oliveiras
4860 CM1717-1Local menu. One of the very few local restaurants with an outdoor seating area. View of olive trees.
Best fries in town (freshly cut, fried with peel) ,hamburgers (real good meat, also vegan options) , wraps and salads. Next door (same owner) some tasty special ice creams, crepes, waffles and alikes. Outdoor terrace.
Batataz
Best fries in town (freshly cut, fried with peel) ,hamburgers (real good meat, also vegan options) , wraps and salads. Next door (same owner) some tasty special ice creams, crepes, waffles and alikes. Outdoor terrace.
Wild Swimming - swimming in nature
1 of our favorite ´Wild Swimming´ spots. Small, private, idyllic. A small natural mountain stream, with gorges and small water falls and swimming bassins. The closest is at some 2,5 kms from our place, accessible by foot only for the last descending kilometer. The one on the pictures, Poço das Relvas, is at some 4,5 kms by tarmack road, or part of a 8-14 kms hike. Close to 2 restaurants in Moscoso.
Poço das Relvas
1 of our favorite ´Wild Swimming´ spots. Small, private, idyllic. A small natural mountain stream, with gorges and small water falls and swimming bassins. The closest is at some 2,5 kms from our place, accessible by foot only for the last descending kilometer. The one on the pictures, Poço das Relvas, is at some 4,5 kms by tarmack road, or part of a 8-14 kms hike. Close to 2 restaurants in Moscoso.
Next to the road, you will find a mountain stream, a small granite old mill and a medieval small bridge. However, if you follow the goat path uphill for some 10 minutes, you will find the most enchanting wild swimming place ever! No directions, no indications, a locals only spot. Again.
7 Einheimische empfehlen
Poço Azul
Next to the road, you will find a mountain stream, a small granite old mill and a medieval small bridge. However, if you follow the goat path uphill for some 10 minutes, you will find the most enchanting wild swimming place ever! No directions, no indications, a locals only spot. Again.
Ponte de Misarela
Natural water, small artifical lake catching the natural water coming from the old levadas (typical Portuguese aquaducts for irrigation). Easy access, parking next to it. As all praias fluviais (river beaches), this one also comes with free use of pick nick tables and barbecue. Gently sloping water level, sandy/muddy soil in water, so perfect for young children and dogs.
Praia Fluvial do Oural
Natural water, small artifical lake catching the natural water coming from the old levadas (typical Portuguese aquaducts for irrigation). Easy access, parking next to it. As all praias fluviais (river beaches), this one also comes with free use of pick nick tables and barbecue. Gently sloping water level, sandy/muddy soil in water, so perfect for young children and dogs.
A 24 kms trip through the mountains, 45 minutes full of amazing views, winding roads, and small old villages in between. No traffic but some crossing sheep or cows. Great place for practically everybody. Road sided, so easy access, yet fully private and secluded feel. For the non swimmers and sun bathers, there´s some grass, pick nick tables and a barbecue. For the kids, there are parts with sand and little depth. For the explorers, the tip to either cross the little dam, or take the road behind the parking spot. Great gorges and streams. Or follow the incoming stream uphill.
Tip: always bring either water shoes (cheap buy at the Chinese shops or at the Decathlon shops) if you like to explore. It may look stupid, but it is so worth it.
Ps. mid way, you will find the village of Uz. There´s a long long hiking trail, going from near Gondiaes to Uz and back. Uz was the village where the docu film ´Volta a Terra´ from João Palácido was shot. Locals have turned the old school into a village bar for them to gather - our guests are always welcome.
Tip: ask for my dear friend Luisa´s homemade products! We try to always have some on stock here at Eco Lodge Cabreira as well but there is always a greater collection in Uz, where she lives. Honey, licor, compote.
Praia Fluvial de Gondiăes
A 24 kms trip through the mountains, 45 minutes full of amazing views, winding roads, and small old villages in between. No traffic but some crossing sheep or cows. Great place for practically everybody. Road sided, so easy access, yet fully private and secluded feel. For the non swimmers and sun bathers, there´s some grass, pick nick tables and a barbecue. For the kids, there are parts with sand and little depth. For the explorers, the tip to either cross the little dam, or take the road behind the parking spot. Great gorges and streams. Or follow the incoming stream uphill.
Tip: always bring either water shoes (cheap buy at the Chinese shops or at the Decathlon shops) if you like to explore. It may look stupid, but it is so worth it.
Ps. mid way, you will find the village of Uz. There´s a long long hiking trail, going from near Gondiaes to Uz and back. Uz was the village where the docu film ´Volta a Terra´ from João Palácido was shot. Locals have turned the old school into a village bar for them to gather - our guests are always welcome.
Tip: ask for my dear friend Luisa´s homemade products! We try to always have some on stock here at Eco Lodge Cabreira as well but there is always a greater collection in Uz, where she lives. Honey, licor, compote.
Fluvial beach of Ranha
River beach in the center of the village/town of Cabeceiras de Basto. With in summer, a small bar, a volley ball net, some youth.
Sometimes they have a couple of canoos, just for going up and down the river a tiny TINY bit, but the smaller kids like it.
Bar do Poço Frade
River beach in the center of the village/town of Cabeceiras de Basto. With in summer, a small bar, a volley ball net, some youth.
Sometimes they have a couple of canoos, just for going up and down the river a tiny TINY bit, but the smaller kids like it.
City/town information
At 8,5 kilometers downhill from us, before arriving here, you will find Cabeceiras de Basto. Head of our municipality, where most shopping is done. Try the local mini store Acasias, the Monday market (2 market squares!) or get your fresh fruit, veggies and fish at the daily market building. Try all the good pastry at the bakers (good coffee too!) .
10 Einheimische empfehlen
Cabeceiras de Basto
At 8,5 kilometers downhill from us, before arriving here, you will find Cabeceiras de Basto. Head of our municipality, where most shopping is done. Try the local mini store Acasias, the Monday market (2 market squares!) or get your fresh fruit, veggies and fish at the daily market building. Try all the good pastry at the bakers (good coffee too!) .
Rio Douro is our parrish, not to be confused with the wine region next to the ... river (rio) Douro. Rio Douro consists of many small, medieval and sometimes ghost-like villages with granite houses , some small scale agriculture, and many natural niches giving home to a broad biodiversity and many hidden paradise like spots. From the greatest of views to the smallest of gorges and waterfalls. From the windy mountain top, to the hot humid riverside forests. Ideal for hikers and explorers, wether you´ll be taking it slow, taking the time to enjoy or setting goals and making kilometers.
60 Einheimische empfehlen
Rio Douro
Rio Douro is our parrish, not to be confused with the wine region next to the ... river (rio) Douro. Rio Douro consists of many small, medieval and sometimes ghost-like villages with granite houses , some small scale agriculture, and many natural niches giving home to a broad biodiversity and many hidden paradise like spots. From the greatest of views to the smallest of gorges and waterfalls. From the windy mountain top, to the hot humid riverside forests. Ideal for hikers and explorers, wether you´ll be taking it slow, taking the time to enjoy or setting goals and making kilometers.
Little town (with a small part of the old interesting left) with a weekly Sunday market and some smaller shops. Nice trails into the Serra da Cabreira (4x4, hike or MTB). A child and group friendly leisure area with river swimming, pick nick tables, barbecues, a small bar that is open in summer, lots of old oak trees giving shade, a football field, and some play stuff for the kids (swing, slide etc.). A hiking trail passes here too. Several good restaurants as well.
Free museum on local agriculture and life - Salto is Barrosso area, UNESCO agricultural heritage area !! Home to the famous Barrosso cow.
Salto
Little town (with a small part of the old interesting left) with a weekly Sunday market and some smaller shops. Nice trails into the Serra da Cabreira (4x4, hike or MTB). A child and group friendly leisure area with river swimming, pick nick tables, barbecues, a small bar that is open in summer, lots of old oak trees giving shade, a football field, and some play stuff for the kids (swing, slide etc.). A hiking trail passes here too. Several good restaurants as well.
Free museum on local agriculture and life - Salto is Barrosso area, UNESCO agricultural heritage area !! Home to the famous Barrosso cow.
Hiking trails starting at Eco Lodge Cabreira - loop trails
We´ve mapped a small 8 km hike, loop trail, up and down, starting and ending at Eco Lodge Cabreira, to the nearest village, Cambezes. Very diverse trail. Mountain views, roughness, openess, as well as historic aspects such as passing 2 sepulturas, down the original village of Cambezes, with dry stack walls, grape vines crossing above the road, communal wash area etc. In the midst of the main road, there´s another host, with a public bar at the back for a well deserved break.
We made a youtube video from this specific hike on our Eco Lodge Cabreira channel. Unfortunately, I can´t share the link here.
Cambeses
We´ve mapped a small 8 km hike, loop trail, up and down, starting and ending at Eco Lodge Cabreira, to the nearest village, Cambezes. Very diverse trail. Mountain views, roughness, openess, as well as historic aspects such as passing 2 sepulturas, down the original village of Cambezes, with dry stack walls, grape vines crossing above the road, communal wash area etc. In the midst of the main road, there´s another host, with a public bar at the back for a well deserved break.
We made a youtube video from this specific hike on our Eco Lodge Cabreira channel. Unfortunately, I can´t share the link here.
Eco Lodge Cabreira is located just some 500 meters outside of Juguelhe, a tiny village that nowadays, counts some 12 inhabitants (instead of the former 200+). On the slope of the Serra da Cabreira, with many interesting paths to follow. Little is officially mapped but as we ourselves are keen on exploring, from one abandoned farm ruin to another, one hill to the next, we´ve mapped several hiking trails. On our Eco Lodge Cabreira youtube channel, you will find some videos on Juguelhe, as well as one of the mapped loop trail hiking.
Juguelhe
Eco Lodge Cabreira is located just some 500 meters outside of Juguelhe, a tiny village that nowadays, counts some 12 inhabitants (instead of the former 200+). On the slope of the Serra da Cabreira, with many interesting paths to follow. Little is officially mapped but as we ourselves are keen on exploring, from one abandoned farm ruin to another, one hill to the next, we´ve mapped several hiking trails. On our Eco Lodge Cabreira youtube channel, you will find some videos on Juguelhe, as well as one of the mapped loop trail hiking.
Moscoso
Outdoor adventure - parcs and guides
Outdoor adventure parc in Ribeira de Pena. No entrance fee, but pay per activity. (but you have to decide on what activity, and then go back to the reception building to buy the tickets.)
Some activities are upon reservation only. Check out their website and contact them directly if interested.
22 Einheimische empfehlen
Pena Aventura Park
2 Travessa do Complexo Turístico de LamelasOutdoor adventure parc in Ribeira de Pena. No entrance fee, but pay per activity. (but you have to decide on what activity, and then go back to the reception building to buy the tickets.)
Some activities are upon reservation only. Check out their website and contact them directly if interested.
Musea
Free museum on local agriculture and life - Salto is Barrosso area, UNESCO agricultural heritage area !! Home to the famous Barrosso cow.
If you´re truly truly truly interested in local culture, knowledge and customs throughout history, try contacting them in advance. Their director has so much knowledge and contacts.
Tip: see if they have some of their locally produced biological raw honey for sale!!
Ecomuseu de Barroso - Casa do Capitão
Free museum on local agriculture and life - Salto is Barrosso area, UNESCO agricultural heritage area !! Home to the famous Barrosso cow.
If you´re truly truly truly interested in local culture, knowledge and customs throughout history, try contacting them in advance. Their director has so much knowledge and contacts.
Tip: see if they have some of their locally produced biological raw honey for sale!!
Interpretive center of Mines Borralha
15 CM1025Staying home
Quinta Rural Farm Camp
Juguelhe