7665 880 Santa Clara a Velha

Portugal

Fax +351 283 933066

Press Release

With Easy Jet at present offering amazingly cheap prices for air fares to Faro, now is the time to take advantage of Portugal’s seriously under-birded status and have a birding holiday unequalled in Europe by staying at Quinta do Barranco da Estrada.

The best period to time a visit for the birds is definitely between the last week of March and late May. During this period the birds, (and the countryside in general), are at their best. Overall, the later one visits the greater chance one has of good weather.
Birding holidays at the Quinta are organised to suit individual needs and wishes, and an itinerary and price can be put together to suit anyone’s needs or pocket. A good idea of what is available can be gained by visiting www.birding-in-portugal.com, and clicking on the "General Birding Notes" tab.

Most of the Quinta’s guests elect to opt for the normal itinerary of a full week, which consists of a day on the Plains to the north east of, a day on the Sado Estuary to the north west, a day on the Rio Formosa and salt pans to the south east, a day on the mountain of Monchique and the rocky coast line to the south west and a couple of local days, (which are usually unaccompanied), exploring the river valleys and hills around the Quinta, (www.paradise-in-portugal.com).

All travelling on day trips out is done in a 4X4; the maximum number of passengers is four so that individual attention can be paid to each guest by the driver/guide, who is normally the owner of the Quinta itself, Frank McClintock. Frank is a long standing resident of southern Portugal and what he doesn’t know about the area’s species and where to find them isn’t worth knowing!

The itinerary above enables the Quinta’s guests to explore in a single week four or five differing habitats and the range of species that inhabit them. The four days out are fairly long days, starting early and returning to the Quinta mid afternoon to early evening, and they all lie approx an hour and a half's drive away from the Quinta. Having reached them the participants sometimes use the car as a moveable hide, at others stop and take a short walk; there is very little sitting on uncomfortable benches in drafty wooden hides. The overall aim is to let you see the birds and countryside you wish to see and as much of them and it as possible, taking you to places normally unfrequented by tourists. Having said that, when something takes place that is more than usually interesting, or should you see something that interests you greatly, any form of "day plan" easily goes in the bin and enjoyment is taken in whatever has been found. Thus, even with the week-plan above, a holiday is flexible to your wishes.

The price of a full week at the Quinta for a couple sharing a room including the full itinerary above and all meals, (but excluding drinks with dinner and any transport costs to or from the Quinta at the start or finish of the week), is 2,000 euros, but should this week as detailed look to be too strenuous it can easily be adapted to fit your stamina or pocket.

Back