Exploring Sado Estuary in Portugal
If you’re a bird lover or are trying to escape the Portuguese capital for a few days, the Sado Estuary in Portugal is the place to be. It only takes an hour from Lisbon to reach Reserva Natural do Estuário do Sado. You’ll discover a landscape with salt pans, marches and wetlands where birds like to hide out.
The Sado River is 175 kilometres long and flows from south to north, which is unique in Portugal! It flows to Estuário do Sado before it enters the Atlantic Ocean. The Sado Estuary Nature Reserve is one of 30 nature reserves in the country.
This article contains links to products and services that I think you will find useful. I may earn a commission on any purchases you make at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more HERE
Bird watching at the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve
You can start your adventure at the Mourisca Tide Mill. There is a small museum inside and some hiking trails around the mill. You’ll get a first glance at some of the birds, and some friendly house cats will welcome you. Walk over to the bird-watching hut to spot an Eurasian spoonbill or grey heron. This quiet spot is perfect for capturing birds on camera!
You can see the first flamingos on the other side of the mill if you’re lucky. They are there year-round, but more birds can be seen during the migration in autumn and spring. Do you need help finding any birds, or are you unsure what the different species are? Then a boat tour on the river Sado is perfect. A guide can tell you more about the birds and their environment.
From the Mourisca tide mill, you can drive all around the estuary. Travel towards places like Zambujal and Pinheiro to see if there are more birds to spot. Common types are the greenshank, the black-headed gull and the cattle egret. If you’re lucky, you’ll find the ibis preta, the marsh harrier or the sandwich tern. Most birds will appear during winter, but there are different birds year-round. The Mourisca Tide Mill offers booklets with all species.
bottlenose dolphins in Setubal Bay
People don’t come to the Sado Estuary for just birds. The nature reserve is also the home of bottlenose dolphins. Boat tours depart from Setúbal and take 2 to 3 hours. The chance of seeing the animals in Setubal Bay is pretty high, and it’s the only population of dolphins living in a Portuguese estuary. This group is studied and monitored and contains about three dozen individuals.
Whether you come to see the birds or the dolphins, the tours always put animal welfare first. They will ensure to avoid approaching the animals from too close or staying too long in the vicinity. The guides will tell you more about the habitat as well. Discover more about the bird migration and the kingfisher. Or listen to stories about the dolphin communities and the high-frequency sounds they make.
Arrábida Natural Park
You can easily combine a day trip to the Sado Estuary with a visit to Parque Natural da Arrábida. The natural park is known for its excellent hiking trails and paradise beaches. Examples are Praia dos Penedos, Praia dos Coelhos and Praia de Galapinhos! Enjoy lunch at the waterside at Portinho da Arrábida or enjoy a visit to the Convent of Our Lady of Arrábida.
Parque Natural da Arrábida is the perfect spot for adventure travellers. Besides hiking, you can go canoeing, diving, mountain biking, and rock climbing. Even speleology and coasteering is possible! And if you want to learn more about the indigenous species that live at Arrábida, visiting the Oceanographic Museum is a must.
Other places of interest nearby
Wine lovers might prefer a visit to the nearby town of Azeitão. There are several wineries in the village offering tastings with cheese. Another recommendation is to visit one of the nearby castles. The castles in Palmela and Sesimbra provide stunning views over the region. Castelo de Palmela is a pousada as well, meaning you can stay here for the night! The views over National Park Arrábida from your room are amazing!
Alcácer do Sal
Alcácer do Sal is a great spot to enjoy your lunch. It’s a bigger town in the estuary and includes some sights! Recommendations are the tower Torre do Relógio, the castle, and the archaeology museum Cripta Arqueológica do Castelo.
Cabo Espichel
On the rugged west coast, visiting Cabo Espichel or Cape Espichel is great. As with many capes, you’ll find a lighthouse here as well as a number of beautiful hidden coves and beaches. It’s one of the oldest in Portugal and was built in 1790. But there is also a convent! In 1701, antuário de Nossa Senhora do Cabo Espichel was built as there was a sighting of the Virgin Mary along the coast. And even more interesting are the ancient dinosaur footprints you can discover along the coast. They are believed to be 65 to 145 million years old and date from the Cretaceous period!
How to get to the Sado Estuary from Lisbon
From Lisbon, you can get to the Sado Estuary via two bridges. The first is the iconic Ponte 25 de Abril, the little sister of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Or you can cross the Vasco da Gama Bridge, a 17-kilometer-long bridge connecting the Tagus’s southern shores with Lisbon. After about one hour, you’ll reach the Sado Estuary.
The easiest way to discover the Sado Estuary is by car. The nature reserve is 239.71 km2, and no group excursions to this area exist. A private tour might be an option, but with a rental car, you’ll have all the freedom to discover its beauty. Setúbal is connected to Lisbon by train, making the city more accessible to reach.
Where to stay along the Sado Estuary
When you come to see the animals, you might want to stay a little longer around the estuary. It’s a peaceful environment where a tranquil landscape will meet you. If you like to stay in a city, Setúbal is a great place to be. If you prefer a quieter location, head over to the Tróia Peninsula. Here, you’ll find more marshes and wetlands but also stunning beaches like Praia da Costa da Galé and Praia Atlântica.
- Reserva Natural do Estuário do Sado, Setúbal, Portugal
- View on Google Maps
This wildlife location was visited by Discover Portugal
