Porta do Mezio

A visitor and activity centre at the western entrance to Peneda-Gerês National Park, on the road from Arcos de Valdevez to Soajo. It occupies about 11 hectares at Mezio and presents itself as one of the park's gateways, with access to the Peneda, Soajo, Amarela and Gerês mountains, in a territory that UNESCO recognises as a biosphere reserve. The contact email belongs to the entity ARDAL, although the website does not explain who runs it or since when it has been open.

What there is

General admission, €3 and free up to age two, gives access to the whole site: the biological park with animals and plants of the national park, the territory interpretation centre, a rural and ethnographic museum, a bird observatory, the wolf space, the Garrano horse workshop, the Aldeia dos Pequeninos for the smallest children, viewpoints, picnic areas, the summer pool and the restaurant. There is also accommodation, a shop of local products and trails starting from the centre itself. At reception they give out maps and routes.

Activities with an instructor

The Parque Aventura has two tree-climbing circuits that end in a zip line of about a hundred metres: the Esquilo, with five obstacles, from a height of 1.20 m, and the Águia Real, with ten, from 1.60 m; on both the maximum weight is 100 kg. There is also a six-metre climbing wall with two routes and an abseil descent. The instructors provide harness, helmet and safety equipment; you only need to bring comfortable clothes and footwear. All these activities require a prior booking.

The Parque de Observação de Estrelas, with six observation points, is according to its own website the first and only one in Portugal with the Starlight Stellar Park distinction. It organises solar observation with a telescope, guided walks among the stars and constellations, and easy night walks with stops to look at the sky.

The guided visits go round the centre itself, the zoological park, the Mezio and Gião archaeological complex, with megalithic mámoas and the art of those who lived here some 5,000 years ago, and the village of Soajo, with its pillory and 24 granaries. There are also nature workshops, water activities, summer camps, birthday parties and corporate programmes.

Opening hours

From October to March it is open from 9:30 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00; in April, May, June and September, until 18:00, and in July and August, from 9:30 to 20:00 with no midday closure. It is closed on Mondays from mid-September to mid-June, and on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.

Bookings and languages

The website does not publish the prices of the activities with an instructor or their times; they are booked by phone or email. It is in Portuguese only and does not say in which languages the visits are given, so it is worth asking when you book.