Discover the 516 Arouca Suspension Bridge and Paiva Walkways on a tour from Alvarenga. Explore one of the most beautiful wild river gorges in northern Portugal with a guide. Start your tour in Alvarenga, where you'll meet your guide and have a safety briefing and get some information about Arouca Geopark and the Paiva River Valley. Then, you'll start the hike through old village paths, towards the 516 Arouca Suspension Bridge. When you get to the bridge, your crossing will take place at an exclusive time, with only your tour mates and guide. Feel like you're walking on air as you immerse yourself in the imposing surrounding landscape. If you don't want to cross the bridge on foot, you can be transferred to the other side in a 4x4 free of charge. After getting across the bridge, walk along the Paiva Walkways. Your guide will show you some great spots for photos while highlighting the famous zig-zag staircases, riparian forests, idyllic waterfalls, and impressive cliffs of the Paiva River Gorge. Halfway through, you'll rest for a while at Vau River Beach. There, you can take in the landscape while you can restore your energy with some traditional snacks, juice and fresh fruits. On a hot day, you can take a refreshing dip in the river, so make sure you bring a swimsuit. After your stop, hike along the wooden walkway along the river back to your starting point.

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 purchase a snack in this town that is known for its sweets.  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 (other non-meat options available).End your day with a comfortable ride back to your hotel in Porto.

Join a guided trip to the 516 Arouca Suspension Bridge and Paiva Walkways from Porto. Discover one of the most impressive wild river gorges in the north of Portugal. Join a certified local guide in crossing the 516 Arouca Suspension Bridge 175 meters above River Paiva. Start your adventure from Porto with comfortable transportation to the Arouca UNESCO Global Geopark and a safety briefing. Set off on the Paiva Walkways, an 8.7 km wooden walkway built along the cliffs of the Paiva River Gorge. Begin the hike through old village paths. Then, prepare for the most exciting 516 meters of your life on the 516 Arouca Suspension Bridge, one of the longest suspension pedestrian bridges in the world. Be suspended by Tibetan-style steel cables in the sky, 175 meters above River Paiva and Aguieiras Waterfall. Feel as though you’re walking in the air, immersing yourself in an imposing landscape of wild and stunning nature. If you want a more laid-back experience, be transferred to the other side of the bridge by a 4x4. Moving on, along the Paiva Walkways, stop at scenic viewpoints to snap photos. See the famous zig-zag staircases, riparian forests, waterfalls, and cliffs of the gorge. Halfway through, take a break at Vau River Beach and restore your energy with some traditional snacks, juice, and fresh fruits. On hot days, take a dip in the river. From here to the end of the trail, get closer to the river. Feel the strength of the rapids through their roaring sounds. After the hike, be driven to the mountain area of Arouca. Finally, treat yourself to a traditional Arouquesa roasted veal in a typical restaurant (included in the option "With Lunch"). For dessert, taste some ancient conventual pastry, next to its origin, the Santa Maria de Arouca Monastery.

Cross the world's second longest suspension footbridge at the Arouca 516 and walk the Paiva Walkways which are considered one of the most beautiful trails in the world (seven kilometers downhill). Restore your energy with a delicious traditional lunch in a typical Portuguese restaurant. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon traversing the canals of Aveiro on a boat trip. Wander through the old quarter to see the main Art Nouveau buildings and the fish market. Return to Porto at the end of your tour.

After meeting in central Porto, set off towards the Paiva Walkways where you'll cross the world’s longest suspension footbridge, Arouca 516. Later, walk the scenic trail of the Paiva Walkways (downhill), have lunch at a local restaurant, and visit the town of Arouca. The Arouca 516 footbridge spans 516 m (1,692 ft) across the valley and hangs 175 m (576 ft) above the Paiva River. The walking deck is made of a see-through, open-grid metal mesh, guaranteed to add a kick of adrenaline to your experience. Nearby, the Paiva Walkways offer one of the most beautiful walking trails in the world and are a World Travel Awards winner. Enjoy a stroll down a 7 km boardwalk, zigzagging down along the left bank of Paiva River at Arouca UNESCO Global Geopark. Next, enjoy a delicious veal roasted in clay pots at a traditional restaurant (fish and vegetarian options available). After lunch, discover Arouca and learn about its culture and history with convent sweets tasting related to Arouca Monastery.

The Guided Tour to the 516 Arouca Suspension Bridge and Paiva Walkways will make you discover the one of the most impressive and beautiful wild river gorges of the north of Portugal. As we are a certified local operator, the crossing of the 516 Arouca Suspension Bridge will take place at an exclusive time, with only your tour mates and guide. Along the Paiva Walkways hike, your local Tour Guide will call your attention for special curiosities and explain them. The Paiva Walkways The Paiva Walkways are an 8.7 km wooden walkway that were built along the cliffs of the Paiva River Gorge. It's located in the Arouca UNESCO Global Geopark, which is in the north of Portugal, at 75 km southeast from Porto. This amazing attraction, due to its impressive beauty, has been awarded for 10 times at the World Travel Awards contest. The 516 Arouca Suspension Bridge It is one of the longest suspension pedestrian bridge in the world, with 516 meters long and 175 meters high. Suspended on steel cables in a Tibetan style, the 516 Arouca Suspension Bridge was a big Engineering challenge. This amazing structure connects both banks of the Paiva River Gorge, over the beautiful Aguieiras Waterfall. The Guided Tour The 516 Arouca Suspension Bridge & Paiva Walkways Guided Tour will start in Alvarenga, where you meet your Tour guide and have a safety briefing and a contextualization on Arouca Geopark and Paiva River valley. Then, we start the hike through old village paths, towards the 516 Arouca Suspension Bridge. The crossing of the bridge is a magic moment. You will have the feeling of walking in the air, as well as immersing yourself in an imposing landscape of wild and stunning nature! But if you're not on your bravest days, no worries! We will transfer you to the other side of the bridge by 4x4, free of charge! Moving on, along the Paiva Walkways, we will show you the best scenarios for your photos. Highlighting the famous zig-zag staircases, riparian forests, the idyllic waterfalls and the impressive cliffs of the Paiva River Gorge. Halfway through, we will rest for a while at Vau River Beach, contemplating the landscape, while you can restore your energy with some traditional snacks, juice and fresh fruits. On hot days, the river invites you to take a refreshing dip, so bring a swimsuit! From here to the end, wooden walkway goes closer to the river. Therefore, we can feel the strength of the rapids, along what is the best White Water Rafting course in Portugal. The Transfer from Porto You will driven by a professional driver, in a modern and comfortable van, from Porto city center to the mountain area of Arouca. This drive takes about 1 hour in total, being half of it in high ways. Typical Lunch - Arouca Great Gastronomy! After the hike, you'll delight yourself with the traditional "Arouquesa Roasted Veal", in a typical restaurant. For desert, you'll taste some of the ancient Conventual Pastry, next to it's origin, the Arouca's Santa Maria Monastery.

Begin your day with a convenient pick-up from your hotel followed by a 1.5-hour drive to the start of this great trail. Your personal guide will give you great insights about life in Portugal and ways and traditions of making the way to the Paiva Walkway go by in a flash. The hike along the river will be filled with geologic, natural and archeological interest located in the most beautiful locations.  After this 3-hour hike, a great lunch will be required and there is nowhere better to have a great lunch than in this region. Taste the best meat in Portugal at Alvarenga, famous for its 'posta arouquesa,' a delightful piece of grilled beef that will make you regain all your stamina. End your day with a tasting of a typical local liquor called Pinguça. Experience the best nature and gastronomy Portugal has to offer.

The Paiva Walkways offer an unique view over the landscapes along the Paiva Valley. Arouca is an Unesco Geopark and is situated in Natura 2000 protected area. On an 8km walk, discover several geosites, such as Garganta do Paiva, Cascata das Aguieiras or even Praia do Vau. Venture across the Suspension Bridge 516 Arouca and discover a heavenly view over the Paiva. Along the cross you may discover some preotected fauna & flora species wich the guide will talk about. Save the moment with a pic! At the end, enjoy a cup of coffee or an orange juice near the river sharing with nature the birds sounds.

Join the adventure of canyoning at Rio Frades and experience one of the greatest things to do close to Porto. This canyoning tour in the middle of the Arouca Geopark takes you along the crystal clear stream where you pass fun jumps, exciting natural water slides as well as breathtaking rappelling passages. As most obstacles are not mandatory but there is always the possibility to test your limits, this is the ideal tour for both cautious beginners and daring thrill seekers. We meet at the town hall of Arouca (Câmara Municipal de Arouca), from where we start our way to the canyon. The trip takes about 25 minutes. You can either drive with your own car or we can take up to 7 participants with our vehicles. Before we start, you will receive the appropriate canyoning equipment and a detailed safety briefing from your guide. Then the adventure begins: We jump, slide and rope down over waterfalls. But don't worry, all jumps are optional and can be avoided if you don't dare to jump. If you are looking for an adrenaline rush, you can also try higher jumps. After 3 to 4 hours in the canyon we reach the end of the tour and return to the meeting point in Arouca by car.

It will stay in your memory if you walk along Paiva Walkways and 516 Bridge. Two remarkable structures included in the Arouca Geopark, part of the World Geoparks Network since April 22, 2009, and winners of 2022 Best Nature Tourist Atraction in Europe. The 516 Bridge, one of the longest suspended pedestrian bridges in the world, is an exciting 516 meters long that will make your day. At the end of the walk, enjoy and recover your strength with the region's cuisine with a view over the Paiva river. It will be challenging and it will be amazing!