Marvão: Smuggling Trail Guided Hike with Olive Oil Tasting｜Portugal

Begin your journey in the village of Galegos, a significant location in the history of smuggling along the Portugal-Spain border. Meet your guide and start walking along the rural trails that connect Galegos to Fontanheira, routes used for generations by smugglers and local farmers.

As you walk, hear stories collected from the elders of Galegos, Pitaranha, and Fontanheira, who lived through these times and keep vivid memories of the courage, ingenuity, and hardship that shaped their daily lives.

As the trail progresses, the landscape shifts between oak woods, granite outcrops, and small agricultural valleys. In several sections, walk exactly where smuggling once took place, learning how goods were hidden, how messages were passed in secret, and how patrols on both sides of the border were avoided.

Upon reaching the village of Fontanheira, follow part of the original return route used by smugglers before heading back to Galegos. This final stretch allows time to reflect on everything learned while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the natural park, now so different from the tension that once defined these nocturnal crossings.

End your experience at the António Picado Nunes Olive Oil Mill Museum, an important cultural landmark that preserves the agricultural and historical heritage linked to olive oil production. Enjoy an olive oil tasting and learn about the local olive growing tradition, a long-standing activity that shaped the identity and economy of the region.