Picota Summit – Monchique Cork Oak Forest loop from Monchique

Hiking trails & Routes

Portugal

Algarve

Monchique

Picota Summit – Monchique Cork Oak Forest loop from Monchique

Hard

4.8

(36)

157

hikers

Picota Summit – Monchique Cork Oak Forest loop from Monchique

06:01

19.2km

730m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly walkable paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 4, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Monchique

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

177 m

Narrow alleyway in Monchique

Highlight • Settlement

Monchique is a charming, small village with narrow streets, colorful houses, and a traditional Portuguese atmosphere. You'll find local shops, cafés, and restaurants, often clustered around the central square. It's …

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650 m

View of Monchique

Highlight • Viewpoint

6.61 km

Caldas de Monchique Thermal Baths

Highlight • Settlement

Pretty, small thermal bath surrounded by lush wooded valley slopes. Old villas, shady places, small parks and babbling brooks. Restaurant and cafe in the center. Buses depart for Monchique or Portimao (Frota Azul) every 2 hours.

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6.82 km

Monchique Thermal Spring

Highlight • Natural Monument

Fresh spring water

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14.2 km

Picota Summit

Highlight • Summit

Picota, at 774 meters, is the second highest point in the Algarve and one of the most breathtaking.

Here, it's worth stopping, taking a deep breath, and letting your gaze …

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15.0 km

View of Monchique

Highlight • Viewpoint

Take a little break and drink water 😁

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15.9 km

Monchique Cork Oak Forest

Highlight • Forest

A dense and imposing cork oak forest stretches before you, a scene worthy of a fairy tale, where nature displays its splendor.

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19.1 km

Monchique Town Center

Highlight • Settlement

Monchique is located in a valley on the slopes of Mount Fóia. It is known for the nearby six hot springs, "Caldas de Monchique," and the panoramic 902-meter-high Fóia Mountain. …

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19.2 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.71 km

3.78 km

3.69 km

1.89 km

1.10 km

526 m

494 m

Surfaces

8.98 km

4.27 km

2.14 km

1.54 km

1.10 km

594 m

526 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (730 m)

Lowest point (220 m)

Weather

Today

Tuesday 3 November

22°C

8°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 12.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

January 25, 2024,🇵🇹#5 Picota 773m – Korkeichen Runde von Ceiceira

Today we went to the second highest mountain in the Algarve.
There was no prohibition sign on the scaffolding observation tower.
Met an emigrant.
The last bushfire here was in 2018.
The charred tree trunks can often be seen.
You can also see many cork oaks here and the traces of the cork harvest.

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April 29, 2022,PT: Picota (774m) Gipfeltour ab Monchique

If you want to climb a mountain, you have to climb a mountain. That's how witty one could describe my today's tour on the Picota. I used Rother's hiking guide when planning because I don't really trust the trail network here. So it went on an official hiking route through the Serra de Monchique. Unfortunately, I quickly found out that …

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June 9, 2024,Caldas de Monchique - Monchique über Picota 🇵🇹

The climb to Picota from the south is not really recommended (see photo). If we had known that, we would certainly have climbed from the west, just as we descended. But we managed it!

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October 8, 2023,Etappe 1 Caldas de Monchique nach Monchique

A nice hike, initially over many farm roads! But always with beautiful views of the valleys and the sea. It's also nice to walk through the cork oak and eucalyptus forests. From the fire tower on the Picota (775m) you have a great 360 degree view. Monchique then waited for us with a nice, well-attended city center.

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