3 Waterfalls In A Day

3 Waterfalls in a Day, 8 to 9 hours, rated 4.9 across 89 traveller reviews.

Overview

This day out from Wild&Free Tours spends 8 to 9 hours inside the Peneda-Gerês countryside, moving between waterfalls and viewpoints with a guide who handles the driving and the route. It starts at 10:00 from a car park at Praceta da Batoca 131 in Gêres, next to some restaurants and cafes, and finishes back at the same spot. Every stop on the route, from Miradouro da Pedra Bela to Cascata Tahiti, is free to enter, so there are no admission tickets to budget for on the day.

The shape of the day is simple. Short stops at viewpoints break up longer stretches at the waterfalls themselves, with the longest blocks at Cascata do Arado, the village of Fafião and the Pincaes cascade. Lunch is part of the package: a set meal at a local restaurant chosen on the day, with soup, bread, a main course, dessert, wine, water and coffee. Bottled water is handed out for the day, a power bank is available for phones, and the guide carries a Nikon P900 camera, photographing participants who agree and sending the pictures on afterwards as a keepsake.

It suits travellers who want the Gerês waterfalls without arranging a car or working out park access themselves. The group runs to a maximum of 12 people, and a minimum of 2 is needed for the tour to go ahead.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in GêresThe tour starts at 10:00 from the car park at Praceta da Batoca 131, 4845-081, next to some restaurants and cafes. The day ends back at this same meeting point.
2. Miradouro da Pedra BelaA 15-minute stop at this viewpoint. Admission is free.
3. Cascata do AradoOne hour at the Arado waterfall. Admission is free.
4. Ermida Gerês CampingA 15-minute stop here. Admission is free.
5. FafiãoTwo stops in Fafião, one of 1 hour 15 minutes and one of 30 minutes. Admission is free.
6. Pincaes CascateThe longest block of the day, 1 hour 30 minutes at this cascade. Admission is free.
7. Lagoas Naturais FafiaoA 20-minute stop at the natural pools by Hostel Retiro do Geres. Admission is free.
8. Cascata Tahiti45 minutes at the Tahiti waterfall. Admission is free.
9. Peneda-Gerês National ParkA final 30-minute stop in the park before the return to the meeting point. Admission is free.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points are worth knowing before booking, drawn from the listing and from what travellers have said about this tour.

• Fitness and terrain. Several reviewers describe genuine hiking with steep climbs and slippery granite rocks, and one traveller in their sixties found the going hard despite being fit. The tour is best suited to people comfortable on uneven, wet ground for a full day. Pace can vary, though one reviewer said the guide let the group hike at its own speed.
• The vehicle. Transport from the meeting point in Gêres is included, and one reviewer described riding in a jeep type vehicle and found it fun.
• Lunch and drink. Lunch at a local restaurant is included, with soup, bread, a main course, dessert, wine, water and coffee. Multiple reviewers singled the lunch out as a highlight, one praising the wine in particular. Bottled water is provided throughout the day.
• Swimming and kids. Reviewers travelling with children said the guides got in the water with the kids and kept watch whenever they explored. Swimming stops at quieter spots came up more than once, so bring something to swim in and a towel if the weather allows.
• Photos. The guide carries a Nikon P900 camera and photographs participants who agree to it, sending the images on afterwards. One reviewer confirmed receiving these photos as a souvenir of the day. A power bank is offered for charging mobile devices.
• Weather. The experience requires good weather, and rain can cut the itinerary short: one reviewer missed the last waterfall because of afternoon rain. If the operator cancels for poor weather, a different date or a full refund is offered. Pack accordingly for the Gerês climate.

Common issues. The tour needs a minimum of 2 people to run, and a single traveller pays an extra 70 euros. Transport from Braga or Guimarães is not included and carries an extra fee of 70 euros, so the meeting point in Gêres is the traveller's own problem to reach otherwise. The listing states the tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for pregnant travellers. One reviewer felt the physical demands should have been flagged more clearly, and one reviewer reported a vehicle breakdown with no partial refund offered. Weather can also trim the itinerary, as one reviewer found when rain cost them the final waterfall.

Common Questions