Walk at your own pace on one of the orientation trails and discover our beautiful scenery. Both the 4.5km “River and Rice Path” and the “Route of the Montado” (12km) pass through the landmarks of the estate, including “Sobreira da Longa Vida” – an ancient tree that has aged over several hundred years

The property is immersed in nature with marked walking and cycling routes running through the estate. Here you can explore our 270-hectare estate by bike and enjoy the sights, sounds and scents throughout the changing seasons. Bicycles are free for guests who want to discover the cork tree forest, the tranquillity of the river, the viewpoints and the numerous waterfowl that live in the rice paddies.

The river with its rice paddies and the cork tree woods create a rich and diverse ecosystem with an abundance of wildlife. Flamingos, storks, herons, loons, ducks, and other water birds inhabit the river and paddy fields, in peaceful coexistence with the hares, wild rabbits and partridges.

Behold the starry sky from the Casas do Rio Sado where an average of 300 sunny days a year associated with unusually low levels of light pollution allow you to observe the majestic Milky Way, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Cassiopeia and a wide variety of other constellations. For groups from 12 people, we can arrange an astronomer-led presentation with two telescopes to see details such as Saturn’s rings and the Moon’s texture (price upon request).

Observe how rice is grown, from ploughing and planting (May to June) to harvesting and threshing (August and September) and contemplate the seasonal variations of the rice fields: the earthy tones of the fields at rest in the Fall; the stillness of flooded fields in Winter and Spring, and the green ears of rice swinging in the wind during the Summer.

About 9 years after the last extraction, during the months of July and August, when temperatures often reach 40ºC and the dry weather allows the cork tree to be exposed without damage, a new extraction is done. It is impressive to see the speed and skill of those handling the axe in order to cut large cork boards without harming the trunk.