The Lower Guadiana and its territories

The Lower Guadiana (“Baixo Guadiana” in Portuguese or “Bajo Guadiana” in Spanish) is a land where you can feel history. With a very defined personality and articulated around the Guadiana River and framed between Spain and Portugal, this area is made up of 5 regions: The Algarve, a paradise of coast, sea and beaches; The Alentejo, of extensive golden steppes, pastures and forests; The Western Coast of Huelva, cradle of discovery, wide beaches and wetlands; The Andévalo, halfway between the coast and the Sierra de Huelva; The Sierra de Huelva, in its westernmost part, homeland of the pig and the worlwide renown Iberian ham.

The Baixo Alentejo

The Alentejo is the geographical region of the center-south of Portugal. We propose a route through the Baixo Alentejo, crossing wheat and olive groves. Here you will see: castles and town walls and areas outside the walls, churches and convents, plains and hills, tapestries, cork oak groves, pottery and marble.

Baixo Alentejo is made up of 13 municipalities: Aljustrel, Almodôvar, Alvito, Barrancos, Castro Verde, Cuba, Ferreira do Alentejo, Mértola, Moura, Ourique, Serpa, Vidigueira and Beja, its capital. Beja was an important geographical point of Portugal in the Middle Ages. Its castle has a keep whose 200 steps are worth climbing to see the Guadiana valley from above.

Once you have visited Beja, we recommend going to Serpa, one of Portugal’s white villages; to Mértola, in the Guadiana Valley Natural Park; to Moura, a thermal resort with a rich Arab heritage; to Monsaraz, and its Rua Direita. When it is time to eat, taste one of the wines of Borba or Regueros de Montaraz and savor a delicious dish such as Alentejo-style pork or the migas (fried breadcrumbs) of the region.

Villages of the Andévalo

Campo de Andévalo is a historical region located in the province of Huelva. It is located between the Sierra de Aracena, the Tierra Llana de Huelva and the border with Portugal, a transitional space between the coastal plain and the reliefs of the mountainous area. 

Explore the region of Andévalo and visit some of its villages. In Alosno, the cradle of the Fandango, you will find the millenary Minas de Tharsis, a profession as traditional as current, since to a large extent the town lived from the exploitation of its resources. 

Continuing with the mining towns, let yourself be surprised by Minas de Rio Tinto. Its lands, rich in minerals such as gold, silver and copper, have been inhabited since ancient times. Among the most interesting sites are the Mining Museum and the so-called Maharajah’s Wagon.

In Calañas you can visit the Embalse de La Hoya, a very suitable destination for fans of sports such as hiking, horse riding, mountain biking and hang gliding. For families we recommend the activity via Ferrata “El Morante” especially suitable for people who are not used to climbing.

If we talk about the gastronomy of Andévalo we highlight its calderetas, mushrooms such as gurumelo or turma, migas as well as a pastry of simple ingredients such as roses, esesitas de Calañas, roscos, cakes and piñonates that always taste better if accompanied by a local orujo.

Sanlúcar del Guadiana

Sanlúcar del Guadiana is one of the most special municipalities of the Andévalo region, as it borders Alcoutim, Portugal. Its location, separated by the Guadiana River, has turned it into a unique and special place.

First of all, we recommend a stroll through its streets of whitewashed houses with pots of geraniums in which it seems that time has stopped. After that we recommend visiting the Castle of San Marcos, located at the top of the hill, this fortification is the most important one built on the border of Huelva with Portugal; also the Church of Nuestra Señora de las Flores and the small port of Sanlúcar, from where boats depart to the other shore. 

However, one of the essential things to see and do in Sanlúcar de Guadiana is to ride the 720 meters that separate the two towns on the longest zip line in Europe and the only one in the world that connects two countries. Thanks to this experience, you can visit the towns of Sanlúcar de Guadiana and Alcoutim, two towns separated by a river and a border.

To complete the visit, take the opportunity to have lunch in a small restaurant above the port in the portuguese side where you can taste the typical dishes of Portuguese cuisine such as cod, grilled tuna or wild boar stew or sunbathe in Alcoutim’s river beach.

Ascent of the Guadiana River

A river cruise along the Guadiana River between Spain and Portugal will allow you to get to know the flora and fauna of this millenary river. Enjoy an unforgettable activity and let yourself be surprised by the picturesque border towns that bathe its warm waters.

The ascent of the Guadiana starts in Ayamonte, the mouth of the river, and goes as far as Sanlúcar de Guadiana, although it can be extended as far as the small jetty of Puerto de la Lajas, about 40 km in total.

There are many companies that offer this service with different kind of boats but we recommend doing it in a sail boat like the one offered by rutas marineras.

If you are in Ama Residences Andalucía with your family, we recommend you to live experiences together that will make you create long lasting memories. With activities such as: hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, rappel, climbing, archery… Live some incredible days with your family in the Lower Guadiana.