Hike from Praia do Creiro to Praia de Alpertuche. Arrábida natural park. Portugal

Distance 7 km (gpx), Elevation gain 349 m, Elevation loss 367 m

The queens of this hike were supposed to be abandoned capelas on the hill above the Convent of Our Lady of Arrábida. Those tiny round cupcakes nestled against a lush green slope. Little did we know when we started a 200 meter climb along a narrow steep trail that we’ll end up in front of a fence. Since many abandoned places bear a hint of mystery, those capelas keep their secrets behind a closed gate and a dense forest.

So we swung towards the king — the Ocean. Alpertuche Beach turned out to be a gem hidden at the end of a shady eucalyptus alley. We sat there listening to the waves and watching the colors change from turquoise to deep blue. Just before sunset, when all the vacationers had left, an elegant elderly woman came along accompanied by an old dog. She sat quietly on a rock, and from her posture one could tell that she regularly visited this spot. I asked her if she was from the area. "Yes", the woman answered, "I have a house here. When I was a little girl, I remember running along this sandy beach. You know, it used to be huge. But then the ocean swallowed the sand and threw out the boulders. This deserted run-down cabin used to have a shower for bathers. The family that inherited it has now built a guesthouse above the shore". "Boas férias!", she wished us and walked away into the growing darkness among the trees. People's stories always add some missing details to the world around us and make every journey richer and more meaningful.

All in all we hiked only 7 kilometers that day from the Creiro beach following PR3 and PR2 trails up the hill with a total ascent of 350 meters.