# A Sunday in the Gerês: Roman road, oak wood and viewpoints over the Caniçada You walk down the Roman road of the Geira among centuries-old oaks, eat in Campo do Gerês and in the afternoon look out over the reservoir from Pedra Bela. An hour and a half from Ourense. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/northern-portugal/peneda-geres/itineraries/roman-road-and-canicada-viewpoints · Revisado: 2026-11-12 ## El día - 08:30 · Salida: 1 h 30 by car (via Celanova, Bande and Lobios to the Portela do Homem border; in Portugal it is an hour earlier) - 09:00 · The Geira and the Mata da Albergaria from the Portela do Homem (Portuguese time; from the Portela do Homem to the Ponte Feia and back by the São Miguel waterfall, 2 h 30) - 15 min by car, 10,5 km - 12:30 · Cerdeira Restaurant (Restaurante Cerdeira · Minho cooking · €€ · lunch from 12:00 to 15:00) · Cerdeira Restaurant, €€ - 30 min by car, 15,4 km - 15:00 · Pedra Bela and Junceda viewpoints, over the Caniçada (by car along the track that climbs from the village of Gerês; 1 h) - 6 min by car, 3 km - 16:15 · Arado waterfall and its viewpoint (the viewpoint is beside the road; 30 min) - 17:00 · Vuelta (via the Portela do Homem; in Ourense around 19:30, Spanish time) The Gerês is the southern part of Portugal's only national park, and from Ourense you enter by the Portela do Homem border crossing, at Lobios. On the other side of the line begins the Mata da Albergaria, an ancient wood of oak, holly and strawberry tree, and the Geira crosses it, the Roman road that linked Braga with Astorga and still keeps milestones among the trees. This plan walks down it in the morning, eats in Campo do Gerês and in the afternoon climbs to the viewpoints over the Caniçada reservoir. ## The day, hour by hour 8:30 · Leave. From Ourense, via Celanova, Bande and Lobios to the Portela do Homem, an hour and a half. When you cross, set the clock back: in Portugal it is an hour earlier. The rest of the plan's times are in Portuguese time. 9:00 · The Geira and the Mata da Albergaria. Leave the car at the Portela do Homem and walk down the road, between milestones, to the Ponte Feia, over a waterfall on the Homem river. Come back by the São Miguel waterfall. It is two and a half unhurried hours, on a wide path with almost no ascent. There are no facilities in the forest: bring water. 12:30 · Lunch at the Cerdeira Restaurant. It is inside Parque Cerdeira, in Campo do Gerês, about twenty minutes by car. It serves lunch from 12:00 to 15:00. Book by phone, especially at weekends in good weather. 15:00 · Pedra Bela and Junceda viewpoints. Pass through the spa village of Gerês and climb the track towards the Arado waterfall. From Pedra Bela you see the Caniçada reservoir and the Gerês and Cávado rivers winding through the sierra; Junceda, at 915 metres, looks out right above the village. 16:15 · Arado waterfall. The most photographed waterfall in the Gerês is seen whole from the viewpoint next to the road. To reach the pools below, only with footwear that grips: wet granite is very slippery. 17:00 · Return. Via the Portela do Homem you are in Ourense around 19:30, Spanish time. ## What to order at Cerdeira The Pedaço do Gerês, the house version of bife à minhota, or cod with broa, the Minho cornbread. If you are a group, order the kid or the bersame, a local stew, beforehand. It is mountain cooking with generous portions and Portuguese prices. ## With children, with teenagers and with rain The Geira suits children from about five: it is wide, without steep slopes and with waterfalls in view. With small children or on a rainy day, swap the walk for the Rio Caldo boat, which sails all year on the Caniçada from the Rio Caldo Nautical Centre; ask about departures by phone. With teenagers, hire electric bikes at Parque Cerdeira and do the Albergaria circuit. Dogs can go along the Geira and the viewpoints, always on a lead. ## Cómo llegar ### By car Via Celanova, Bande and Lobios to the Portela do Homem, an hour and a half from Ourense. From Pontevedra, about two hours via Portugal and Braga. Inside the park the roads are narrow and there are loose animals: drive slowly. ### Without a car It is not a plan without a car: there is no public transport to the Portela do Homem or between the viewpoints. ## Consejos ### Change the time when you cross In Portugal it is an hour earlier. The restaurant and boat times are Portuguese. ### Start early in summer In July and August the Portela do Homem car park and the Arado waterfall car park fill up by mid-morning. ### Check the fog before going up With the sierra closed in, you see nothing from Pedra Bela. That day, skip the viewpoints and stay in the oak wood. ## Cuándo no ir A Sunday in August at midday at the pools. It is when there are most people on the Portela do Homem road. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How long does it take from Ourense? An hour and a half by car to the Portela do Homem. When you cross, the clock goes back an hour. ### Do I have to pay to enter the park? No. The national park is freely accessible; you pay for activities, such as the boat or the bikes. ### Can I go with a dog? Yes, on a lead, along the Geira and the viewpoints. There is loose livestock in the park. ### Is the restaurant open on Sunday? Parque Cerdeira publishes lunch from 12:00 to 15:00 with no weekly closing day. It is closed from 3 to 27 November, from 6 January to 6 February and on 24 and 25 December. ### Can I swim in the pools? In summer many people do, but there are currents and drops. Swim only where you see local people and never with the river in spate.