Once again, we filled Ameixial with hundreds of walkers

Around 350 people, of different nationalities, took part in more than 900 different activities and generated a direct impact of around €10,000 on the local economy. These are some of the main results of the 11th edition of the Ameixial Walking Festival, figures that fill us with satisfaction.

The 11th edition of the Ameixial Walking Festival was a success. After 10 editions, this festival continues to attract visitors to the Serra do Caldeirão to enjoy the contact with nature, culture, gastronomy, socialising and the friendliness of the local people.

There were around 350 individual participants, from the various parts of the Algarve, but also from other regions or countries, and of different nationalities such as Spanish, Italian, Dutch, German and American, totaling over 900 participants in the different activities scheduled.

These activities included different types of walks, workshops, talks, dancing moments and environmental education activities. This year there was a high demand for activities aimed at families and children. In fact, the participation of around 30 children (under the age of 12) demonstrates the festival's ability to integrate children and engage them in hiking and activities in contact with nature, while also exploring the cultural and scientific components.

 We continued to successfully fullfil the event's main strategic objectives: promoting the region's endogenous resources and supporting the local economy. In this field, we would highlight the approximately €10,000 in direct revenue for the region's economic activity, mainly through the consumption of meals and stays in local accommodation. This figure tends to be higher, as it was only possible to account for consumption that went through the organisation, either through its own expenditure or through the mediation of meal bookings.

In the final balance, we would also highlight the fact that many of the walks sold out shortly after registration opened, revealing the quality of the program and the ability to capture the interest of participants, both in the emblematic walks from other editions and in the new ones introduced.

As in previous editions, we involved Ameixial residents and locals in the planned activities, helping to increase the prominence and authenticity of the place, and these were some of the Festival's most praised activities because they allowed participants to have a genuine dialogue with true connoisseurs of the territory and its many stories.

The success of the event is largely due to the generous collaboration of other organisations, such as tourism companies, hiking associations or individual tour guides. We would therefore like to thank Zen Treck, Algarvian Roots, Morgans Nature Walks and Trekking4All for their co-operation and for putting their resources at the disposal of the event for three days. 

Thanks also go to other local, regional and national organisations that supported the event, such as: Grupo Desportivo Ameixialense, Ameixial Parish Council, Loulé Town Council, Almodôvar Town Council, Algarvensis Geopark Association, Portuguese Environment Agency (APA/ARH Algarve), Algarve Tourism Region, ANA Airports, ICNF, Decathlon and Visacar.      

The Ameixial Walking Festival is part of the Algarve Walking Season (AWS) network, made up of four regional festivals with the aim of promoting the Algarve as a year-round walking region.

This festival will return to the Serra do Caldeirão on the last weekend of April 2025.

Author– Susana Calado Martins (Cooperativa QRER)

Photography - Vico Ughetto