Hike in Sintra

Following the success of our Hike in Arrábida, we embraced the “train-to-train” model again for its inclusivity and simplicity. This time, our adventure started at the Sintra train station with the goal of reaching the Cascais station.

As always, our activity was designed to pair our hiking safety workshop with a real-world scenario, but this hike had a new, critical element: time. We were blessed with a perfect, sunny day, but in the fall, the days are short. We had to maintain a strong, steady pace to avoid being caught by darkness, making this a perfect test of winter/fall safety planning.

This 23-kilometer trek packed in 540 meters of elevation, with most of the hard work coming right at the start. The trail began immediately with a stunning, steep climb through the historical center of Sintra, up toward the beautiful path to Castelo dos Mouros and Palácio da Pena. The views from the Miradouro de Santa Eufémia were an incredible reward for our efforts, offering a breathtaking panorama.

The terrain was a true classroom for safety skills. We navigated everything: gravel roads, asphalt, deep mud, and trails blocked by fallen trees and evidence of mudslides. What was planned as a 20km hike soon became 23km. This was another fantastic, unplanned opportunity to test our emergency mapping skills—analyzing the map as a group to find new routes that were both safe and efficient.

The “race against daylight” was the theme of the day. We reached the beautiful Blue Lagoon (Lagoa Azul) halfway through, a perfect spot for our packed lunch. The sun streaming through the trees onto the water was beautiful, but we couldn’t linger. We sat, talked, and enjoyed the moment, but we knew we had to keep moving.

After the lagoon, we dove into a wild, untouched forest trail. Here, the obstacles were very real, with fallen trees forcing us to navigate carefully. This rugged path led us to another beautiful water feature, the Barragem do Rio da Mula (Mula River Dam).

Finally, the landscape changed again as we entered the well-maintained paths of Quinta do Pisão. We followed the vineyard trail toward Cascais as the sun began to set, painting the sky. We reached the city just after sundown, walking through the streets to the train station, tired but successful, and boarded the train back to Lisbon.

This hike was a powerful, practical lesson. It wasn’t just about distance or elevation; it was about time management, pace, and adaptability. The unexpected detours and the pressure of the setting sun reinforced our safety training in the most tangible way.

The group spirit was, once again, the highlight. The engaging conversations and shared focus made the challenge a true team effort, proving that even with a fast pace, we could still soak in the amazing views.

A huge congratulations to the team for conquering this amazing quest and managing the clock perfectly.

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