Amazing Tour - Moderate hiking in good company! - We had a great time and would highly recommend this hiking tour. Rafael was a great guide and shared information about the town he grew up in, the different trees and animals and his love of the outdoors. Before we booked, we weren't sure what to expect -- even after reading all of the reviews. So here's some additional info for those that like to have the detail beforehand: 1. How far from Lisbon is the start of the hike? We were picked up at our accommodations in the Baixa/Chiado area (although others were picked up at the Hard Rock Lisboa) -- the drive was approximately 45 minutes. For the transport, we shared a van with others who were going on a wine tour - their first winery was close to the start of the hike. 2. How many people are in a group? Rafael said that he typically ends up taking 2 in most groups -- usually a couple or two friends. In our case, it was my niece and I, plus one lovely traveller from New York. 3. How hard is it really? I am not an avid hiker, but for 52 am in pretty good shape. I walk the dog 4-6 times a week for an hour each time and go to the gym 3x a week. I live on the West Coast of Canada, so when I do hike, it is most often a pretty steep uphill trek. I would say this is a moderate hike -- maybe a 3-4 out of 10, primarily due to the length of the hike (12.7km). It isn't what I'd call "difficult". It was a relatively gradual incline all the way up the mountain -- we maintained conversation during the whole trek, without running out of breath or even breathing heavily. I'd give it a 2-3 for difficulty, as there were a couple of areas where you had to navigate uneven and rocky areas. Unlike a West Coast hike, there was no scrambling over massive boulders or crawling under fallen trees. I used my hands, maybe once, for balance - otherwise, I was able to navigate everything upright. You also don't really have to worry that you'll be sidling along the edge of cliff -- the trail is all inland, with very safe viewpoint areas here and there, where you can enjoy sweeping water views. 4. Can I wear shorts and a tank top? What about sneakers / trailers, as I don't want to pack my bulky hiking shoes? I would definitely recommend pants as you'll be hiking through the scrub. The trail is not frequently used and you won't run into anyone else hiking the trail -- but that means that the shrubs and trees have grown into the path. All three of us wore tights -- 2 of us also brought long sleeve shirts to pull on when the shrubs got to head-height -- my niece only had a tank top, but she was fine and managed to navigate the trail without a scratch. I appreciated having light hikers - my niece and the other woman both wore regular sneakers / trainers. There were a couple times they used their hands for stability on downhill rocks, but neither of them had any problem on the trail at all. 5. How long does the actual hike take? Our group finished the hike it in 3.25 to 3.5 hours. Rafael says that some groups take up to 1-2 hours longer depending on who is hiking. That being said, he is very patient and will be there no matter how long it takes. 6. Are there stops or rest-breaks? Do we stop for lunch? Rafael will stop whenever you need. There are a few great areas with amazing views, which act as built-in rest stops. Rafael is also a master photographer - lol - and will take photos and video of you and your group the entire way. He will share them with you at no extra charge after your hike! I did pack some snacks which I shared when we got to the top. Snacks weren't necessary, but I would recommend you bring at least a liter of water per person. If you forget, there is a small restaurant where you start your hike where you can buy some water. As we finished in good time, Rafael was kind enough to bring us to a local restaurant in the tiny town where the hike started. We had an amazing lunch of fresh fish stew (using fish caught that morning), followed by a traditional Portuguese coffee and dessert). And yes, we were the only non-locals at the restaurant. 7. Could I just find the starting point of the hike and follow the trail myself? For all you DIY-ers, I would still highly recommend booking the tour with Lookaround Tours -- while the trail is marked in some places, we would DEFINITELY have gotten lost without Rafael's guidance. The trail is not obvious or easy to follow without a guide. 8. Is it worth it? Yes - without a doubt! But I am someone who doesn't want to spend all their time in museums, churches or castles being shepherded around like cattle. If you want to see the "real Portugal", you'll get a chance to do so on this tour! 9. How is Lookaround Tours for communication? They contacted us the day before to confirm all of the arrangements. They confirmed again and provided updates the morning-of, using Whatsapp. 10. Last thoughts? It's worth the mention that we had an absolute blast coming home. Rafael took us back to the wineries to meet up with the group that was on the winery tour -- they only made it to the 3rd winery, but it looked like they were all fast friends by the time they were done. We got to share a bottle of wine with them before we all headed back to Lisbon in the van together. Pedro, the tour guide and driver, introduced us to all of the farm animals - and we got to pet everything from emus to boars to ponies. Pedro made a special stop on our way home so we could see the sunset from an amazing spot. We had a rollercoaster of a ride back, with the whole group cheering him on as he squeezed between a delivery truck and a stone wall with barely an inch on each side to spare. The ride back was great comic relief. Finally I would recommend BOOKING DIRECTLY WITH LOOKAROUND TOURS rather than booking through a third-party. The company is run by 5 local guys and when you book through a third-party (whether it be Viator, Tripadvisor or Expedia), the platform takes about 30%. You'll save a bit of money and help the local operators keep more of the tour fee by going to their website and booking directly.

Amazing Views! - Our guide, Rui, was so engaging. He adjusted the pace to our level and we had a wonderful conversation throughout the hike. The trail was not-so-obvious, so we would have been lost without him. The payoff was tremendous--stunning views of the Atlantic coast from sheer cliffs. He even brought us a treat for some energy to enjoy as we sat on the cliff. It was nice to visit Lisbon and see all the history, but it was a real treat to get away from the city and see Portugal's coastline.

Medium/moderate difficulty hiking that was rewarded with spectacular views. - This was a great hike! We strongly recommend previous hiking experience, proper hiking footwear, long pants, and water. Some of the trails were narrow, rocky, and steep. The small group size allowed us to move at our own pace and Andre ensured we were able to navigate the areas with more challenging terrain. The hard work was rewarded with amazing views. Andre remained informative throughout the trip and displayed his genuine love for the region. He took photos and videos for us and provided them as part of the excursion. A great day! We recommend this for anyone ready for a day of adventure away from the city.

10/10 would recommend - We had such a great time hiking the Arrabida cliffs. Our guide Rui was the best part. He was very knowledgeable about the park, the ecosystem and pretty much everything Portuguese. We had such a great time chatting with him as we climbed. The views are worth the technical elements of the hike and we highly recommend pants. Although we wore shorts, it did not take away from our experience. Enjoy!

Five star hike - Great tour with Andre. Beautiful scenery. Andre was kind and considerate of hiking ability . Great day. Definitely recommend.

Arrabida will suprise you! - The hiking is totally imersed in nature! A demanding but incredibly worth it! Rui was very informative and helpfull and made the experience much more é notável!

Challenging hike with breathtaking view - The difficulty is medium to difficult, thanks to the uneven terrain and sections of up-and-down rock and heavy bushes. Many parts of the “trail” feel less like a path and more like you’re channeling a mountain goat—expect loose stones underfoot and steep zig‑zag climbs. Essential packing tip: Come prepared with sturdy boots, full‑length pants (thorns can be merciless!), and long sleeves. The route weaves through thick brush and low-hanging branches. If you aren’t prepared , be prepared to get cut up! At the top (around 381 m/1,250 ft), the views explode in every direction—crashing waves, jagged coastline, dense greenery. Truly breathtaking! Our guide was knowledgeable, easy-going, and eager to share fascinating facts about local plants, geology, and history. He took time to pause and point out wildflowers, birdlife, and best spots for photos. Difficulty: Medium to tough – rocky terrain and dense brush equals effort! Gear needed: Hiking boots, long pants, long sleeves, plenty of water & snacks. Highlight: Spectacular panoramic views from the cliff top. If you’re in good shape and love getting off the beaten path, this will be one of your most unforgettable hikes. Just don’t call it a “leisure stroll”—it’s a rugged, wild, unforgettable climb with amazing payoff.

Heavy bush walking with great views - This hike is not for the faint of heart. It starts off with an ascent of about 1000 feet over about 2-3 miles of heavy bush walking on an unmarked trail full of bushes and very uneven terrain. The views from the top are gorgeous. We took the conventional path back with a detour through a muddy cow pasture to save some time. I would recommend this hike for people who are in fairly descent shape that are real outdoor enthusiasts but don’t mind getting scratched up by bush branches and sharp leaves. Andre is a gentle soul that loves the outdoors and has a real zeal for sharing that love. He takes a lot of pictures and shares them with you He took us to his hometown after the hike which had a beautiful beach and views and we enjoyed a drink.

Beware - This trail isn’t really a trail, unless you’re a Billy goat. Amazing views but very treacherous, and hours of thorny bushes while ducking under branches, navigating each step on slanted layers of rocks, and avoiding falling off the cliff. Unfortunately very false advertising by the operator.

Take this as your warning! - I am not one to leave negative feedback but was so thoroughly disappointed in our experience, I want this to serve as the screaming “AVOID” sign I wish I had gotten before booking this! I read a few other reviews that described the hike and cautioned against the terrain but foolishly rolled my eyes and thought the reviewers were simply unprepared or dramatic. This was not a hike. This was miles of being hunched over and assaulted by thorny bushes. Ultimately, we elected to turn around before reaching the final lookout. To start, I am an experienced hiker and generally travel TO hike. I’ve done multiple 10+ mile hikes this year alone with >2000 ft elevation gains. When we planned our trip to Lisbon, I accepted it would be more of a city trip and I’d leave the trails behind for a change. Then I saw this tour and was SO excited that we’d get to squeeze in a hike! The operator presents this as a “technical” hike. That feels like a gross misrepresentation of what we encountered. We were picked up in town mid morning. While the tour said hotel pickup, the day before we got instructions to meet our ride in front of a popular hotel downtown. No big deal- a 10min uber away but still worth noting. The van carried others headed to a food and wine tour and us headed to the hike. The driver dropped us off to our guide, Andres, and we hopped in his “jeep” for a pit stop at a local cafe (delicious) and to hit the trail. Andres presented us with a 12.6km option or a 6km option that lead to the same spot but allowed time for lunch after. He said terrain was similar for both. Just a quicker ascent with the second. We selected the second. We parked on the side of the road and started up a well marked/maintained dirt path. After about a 1/4 mile is when things took a turn- literally and figuratively. We veered off the obvious path and began a climb through medium sized shrubs. The “trail” was really about an 8 inch wide path surrounded by thorny bushes. While the required long pants provided some leg protection, me at 5’8 and my boyfriend at 6’0 had to hunch over to follow Andres with the thorny bushes scraping our arms and catching my hair the entire time. Hoping this would be only a portion of the hike, we continued on for another hour or so waiting for a reprieve…spoiler alert: it never came. With bleeding and stinging arms as the sweat dripped into our cuts, we continued through what felt like hiking through rose bushes as the foot path below turned from dirt to uneven and slippery rock that would give a Billy goat a run for its money. Throughout this entire time, maybe twice did we reach a clearing with a view. The entire hike was within these bushes. Once at at higher elevation, a rock would appear off to the side of the trail every so often that allowed a glimpse of ocean and cliffsides below. While pretty then, most of the hike was spent stuck in bushes staring at our feet to both keep our footing and help protect our eyes from a thorn to the eyeball. About 1.5 hours in with no signs of the bushes ending, my boyfriend decided to stop. While there is elevation gain on this hike, THAT was not the issue here. It was the constant assault by surrounding bushes without reward that was the problem. Andres, who appeared annoyed any time we wanted a break, provided encouragement. I continued on another 35 minutes beyond this. Same terrain but with steeper cliff faces to fall off if you made a misstep. Ultimately, I too was over it at this point and turned around as blood dripped from my arm scratches. After we made it back to the car, we climbed in the back with battered skin and torn clothing. Andres drove us to a great restaurant with a waterfront view. The fresh seafood was incredible and the only redeeming portion of this experience. As we tried to wrap up and head back to Lisbon, it became obvious we were on a set schedule because of the driver used to send us back to town. We had to wait for the food and wine tour to wrap. Because of this, we spent a solid 2 hours just waiting at the restaurant to be brought back to the van. While the restaurant views were pretty, we would’ve much preferred to have had the time to spend back in Lisbon given the wasted morning. Drop off was made at our hotel. Ultimately, this was the worst day of our trip and such a wasted way to spend time in a beautiful place.