Portugal, despite its prime location on the southwest coast of Europe, remains off the beaten track. This small country, about half the size of Florida, boasts no "wonders of the world," no huge metropolises and no famous film festivals. Yet there are vibrant and lively small cities, a rich music and food culture, and well-preserved historic sites and nature preserves. More than 22% of Portugal is protected in parks and preserves, compared to just under 14% in the US.

While no endemic birds call mainland Portugal home, it sports an impressive list of more than 600 species, with 441 of them occurring in the continental portion of the country. Included in the list are some of Europe's most iconic birds, like Spanish Eagle, Eurasian Griffon, Eurasian Hoopoe, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Great and Little bustards, as well as seasonal migrants on their way to and from Africa, such as Great Spotted Cuckoo, Common Nightingale, Eurasian Wryneck, Eurasian Turtle-Dove, Greater and European reed warblers, and the handsome Collared Pratincole.

The diversity found in Portugal extends to, or even is surpassed by, the distinct wines and varieties of native grapes. This diversity is so great that folks who have birded Europe before may get more lifer grapes than birds on this tour; included are grapes with exotic names like Touriga Nacional, Antao Vaz, Alvarinho, Loureiro, and many more. The temperate climate and diverse topography support fourteen different wine regions. We will explore wineries and sample wines from several of these regions, but our tour route will focus on three main wine regions, the Douro (including the world-famous Porto!), Alentejo, and Lisbon.

This tour’s focus will be on specialty birds and wines of the areas we visit. We have carefully crafted the tour to sample the best that Portugal has to offer, not just in terms of birds, but also in wine, history, and scenery. We have chosen special accommodations in each area: a lodge in a medieval walled village, a modern hotel with a visible archeological dig in the lobby, and in two different wineries, where we can wake to birds singing from the grape vines.

Spring in Portugal is among the world's fairest, with cool nights, and days that range between 70 and 80 degrees F. The rolling hills and pastures, medieval mountain villages and castles, and charming coastal towns, all bursting with new foliage and flowers, would make for a lovely spring getaway.

This combined birding and wine tour is designed to give equal weight to the birds, the wines, and the history of Portugal, all at a relaxed pace. While we will probably tally about 160 species on this tour, the tour will be less about the list and more about the experience! We want to savor ALL the flavors of Portugal.

Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.

Client comment
"This tour was a wonderful experience. We had a great time. Guide Marcelo Padua just continuously creates a great atmosphere for everyone. I also thought the choices he made in planning the trip were superb. I would not hesitate to take another trip with him." J.D., BEYOND THE PORTS OF PORTUGAL: A BIRDS & WINE TOUR

"I have traveled with Field Guides before and know that you do a great job. I chose this particular tour as I not only have an interest in birds but also wine. I thought this would be a fun way to see Portugal, and it did not disappoint. This was an excellent tour! Marcelo Padua, JT, and Pedro make an awesome team. They saw to our every need, made things run smoothly... We laughed our way through the country. This tour has to be in the top three of the many tours that I have taken." J.F., BEYOND THE PORTS OF PORTUGAL: A BIRDS & WINE TOUR