Night Walk in Sintra
Sintra Mountains
Inbetween Wolves
memories from when the mountains had wolves ~ a night walk in Sintra
♦ NIGHT WALK IN SINTRA ♦
~ Sintra Mountains Inbetween Wolves ~
- History, Flora and Fauna, and accounts of Sintra's Past -
Organization and Historial Research:
Miguel Boim, O Caminheiro de Sintra ("Sintra's Wanderer")
author of the book Legendary Sintra - Legends and Stories of the Mountain of the Moon
::: www.miguelboim.com
::: rnaat 1808/2017
::: Available days for the night walks in Sintra: Mondays to Sundays - all subject to availability.
::: Starting time: around one hour before sunset (exact hour information upon booking)
::: Group size for this private activity: from just one to twelve people.
::: A cultural activity, in legal accordance to Nature Tourism.
::: Legal notice: rnaat 1808/2017
:::: Activity's off-the-grid level: 10/10
:::: Sintra's crowds avoidance: 10/10
::: No smoking; no noise; not advisable to pregnancy nor to heart conditions.
fauna of the Sintra Mountains: the peregrine falcon, considered the fastest animal on Earth
At the end of a day with a clear view to the Ocean.
picture by Miguel Boim
A group of participants taking pictures on a magnificent sunset with the fog covering the Ocean.
picture by Miguel Boim
♦♦♦ Your host, Sintra's writer Miguel Boim, in some Portuguese TV shows:
➤ at RTP2
giving body to Mr. Sommer (Patrick Süskind's)
The reading of some excerpts from Mr Sommer, by Patrick Süskind (best known for The Perfume), in Literatura Aqui programme.
➤ at SIC
in the TV series "Boa Cama Boa Mesa"
A brief appearance on SIC's "Boa Cama Boa Mesa" programme, presented by Martim Cabral, and as always talking about the curious stories of the Sintra Mountains past.
➤ at TVI
in Jornal Nacional, at Sintra's Capuchos Convent
A brief appearance by Miguel Boim, O Caminheiro de Sintra, on TVI's Jornal Nacional, in a report that also involves the Convento dos Capuchos and its curious stories from the distant past.
The beginning of a foggy night.
picture by Miguel Boim
After sunset, a pathway to a sea of fog.
picture by Miguel Boim
fauna of the Sintra Mountains: the polecat
♦♦♦ Important information:
. This night walk in Sintra will last around 3 hours and a half (or less, if you require it beforehand), including stopping points, for which you should bring comfortable clothing and footwear.
. The distance is around 5 and a half kilometres. All you need is water and comfortable clothing and footwear. You won't need to bring a flashlight or special clothing. These activities are designed to be done by almost anyone (including the most sedentary), with the exception of heart conditions and pregnancy. The pace will be the one that best suits you, with stops at which you can rest.
. This is a private activity. The group is formed only by you and yours.
. We start at the westernmost part of the Sintra Mountains (not far from Cabo da Roca) and the route is mainly inside the forest. You may find short sections of road. The terrain is irregular, but it's easily done by people with no mobility limitations. In the first hour - during daytime - Miguel Boim will tell you stories from history that will help you merge with the night atmosphere. From there on, it will be more of an experience than a mere walk. This activity does not include transportation to the or from the meeting point.
. Upon booking, you will learn the start time for your desired dates since this activity starts one hour before sunset (you will see the sun sinking into the ocean's horizon line).
. You will be lent a reflective vest (mandatory).
. If you have any questions, you can ask them by email or telephone. It is advisable to book as far in advance as possible (the month before is best, but you can try - with no guarantee of success - up to 15 days before).
. If you don't feel comfortable in the rain, you can postpone this night walk. If the activity has to be cancelled due to weather limitations (in Summer and Winter) or access limitations (imposed by the Civil Protection or other governmental authority), you will receive a refund, or we can reschedule for a later date if both parties are available.
. During the booking process, you will receive further information about data protection, your safety and the preservation of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.
A group of participants with Miguel Boim having the Ocean as background, and before entering the special forest route at night.
picture by Suzana Duarte
A geological formation that was taken as a megalithic monument for centuries, with the full moon hanging above it.
picture by Rodrigo Garrido
♦♦♦ This tour has the seal Clean & Safe, issued by Turismo de Portugal.
► MEETING POINT:
The meeting point will be at the westernmost part of the Sintra Mountains (not far from Cabo da Roca), and you will receive more information (including maps and images of the meeting point) during the booking process. This activity does not include transportation.
► HOW TO MAKE A BOOKING:
Please send an email (caminheiro.de.sintra@gmail.com) with the following subject:
Sintra Mountains Inbetween Wolves - [YOUR PREFERRED DATE] - [NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS].
Payment will be done through Paypal (or if living in Portugal, other national mean of payment such as MBway), and you will have between three and seven days to make the payment and provide the information requested.
If you prefer, you can first ask as many questions as you like, so that you can feel comfortable (caminheiro.de.sintra@gmail.com), either you are alone, or with a group.
► PRICING:
Monday to Thursday // 1 to 4 people // 140€
Monday to Thursday // 5 to 8 people // 200€
Monday to Thursday // 9 to 12 people // 300€
~ ~ ~
Friday to Sunday // 1 to 4 people // 200€
Friday to Sunday // 5 to 8 people // 280€
Friday to Sunday // 9 to 12 people // 420€
You can go through the reviews in TripAdvisor here:
fauna of the Sintra Mountains: the eagle-owl
The valleys covered with fog at the end of a day - and the beginning of a night walk.
picture by Miguel Boim
Participants on this night walk in the Sintra Mountains.
picture by Miguel Boim
fauna of the Sintra Mountains: the genet
♦♦♦ Synopsis:
If, during the usual nocturnal visits, one can recognize among the foliage, among the arches that define the old tales of Mountain and Town, the ancient stories of history with such strange contours - stories once written by names now familiar to you -, in the Sintra Mountains Inbetween Wolves you shall travel through the black arch of the great sky, dotted with a thousand stars, into a past you always believed impossible to know. It is the wildest past of the most pristine of the Sintra Mountains.
The rustling of the leaves announces the wind, within which the Peregrine Falcon hides, where the Bonelli’s Eagle dwells, from whose foliage the Eagle Owl emerges in long flights—a creature of the night longing to glimpse the movement of a hare, or the careless passing of a pigeon.
Amidst the murmur of the stream, the fox masks its steps, and the beech marten tries to pass as a snake, hiding its tiny feet.
But from the past, in this very Mountain, along these same trails, wolves once passed, as did deer and wild boar. Goatherds and friars also crossed paths here, and through their peculiar lives and unexpected encounters, their words were etched into memory, words that have resisted the centuries, just as the desire to know and protect this secluded forest culture is rekindled on the nights of these passing days, in this Sintra Mountains Inbetween Wolves - Memories From When the Mountains Had Wolves.
And it is in the silence that the heart will become the eyes of these past lives, of these present feelings.
Another foggy night in this night walk in Sintra.
picture by Miguel Boim
An amazing sunset with fog hanging over the Ocean on this night walk in Sintra.
picture by Filipa Domingues
your cicerone:
the author and researcher
Miguel Boim
Miguel Boim at the national tv channel SIC, in the tv series "Meia-Noite", aired on the night of the New Years Eve
100% dedicated to researching Sintra’s local history, Miguel Boim focuses on the human stories woven through the chronicles of Portugal’s former kingdom. Legends, customs, traditions, civil and religious laws, and mystical experiences within monasteries and convents are just some of the elements he sees as essential to understanding the “tree of life” that is Sintra’s past.
In addition to contributing numerous articles over the years to share the history - and stories from the history - of the Sintra Mountains, Miguel has co-authored various literary works and published his own, including the iconic Sintra Lendária, now in its seventh edition.
Living in the past, as he likes to say, Miguel claims that all his best friends are long dead - yet very much alive within the pages of old books and manuscripts. These "friends" have all the time in the world - both in this one and beyond - to tell him their stories of what once happened in the Sintra Mountains and who once wandered its valleys and hills.
Driven by a mission to share Sintra’s history in captivating yet well-researched formats - both written and spoken - Miguel has, in recent years, been involved in projects that have significantly broadened public awareness of the region’s historical richness.
Miguel Boim being received by the students of a Sintra council school
Although research is at the heart of his work, Miguel believes that history truly comes alive when it’s shared. Through night walks, storytelling sessions, and school visits, he brings the past into the present in ways that enchant and inspire. Whether he’s guiding adults through the forested trails of Sintra at night or captivating young students with tales of old, Miguel’s mission remains the same: to reconnect people with history by igniting their sense of wonder.
In one such project, supported by the Sintra City Council, he visits schools to share the legends and folk traditions woven into the region’s cultural heritage—an initiative that proves history, when told with heart, can still spark the imagination of a new generation.
Miguel Boim in the filming of the french documentary
Le Mont de la Lune
Recognition matters - not just from the public, but from the institutions that help preserve cultural memory. When Sintra Lendária was first released in 2015, the launch was held at the Grémio Literário de Lisboa, a venerable literary society founded in 1856, and was presented by Sintra’s mayor, Basílio Horta. It marked not only the publication of a book, but the public validation of a journey that had long been unfolding behind the scenes.
the presentation of the book Sintra Lendária, in the Grémio Literário, by Basílio Horta, Mayor of Sintra Municipality
Due to his deep knowledge of historical accounts by foreign travelers in Portugal, Miguel was invited to contribute a chapter to Mafra Sacra, a book published under the high patronage of the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The book commemorates the 300th anniversary of the Palace and Convent of Mafra.
cover of Mafra Sacra, a book with the high patronage of the President of the Portuguese Republic
Miguel also served as historical consultant for the Sintra Myths and Legends Museum / Interactive Centre, contributing his expertise and earned public trust to the development of its content.
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the Sintra Myths and Legends Museum / Interactive Centre, in the old town
In 2015, before becoming a regular contributor to Jornal de Sintra, the oldest regional newspaper in Portugal, Miguel was interviewed about his early work and motivations. For almost ten years, he penned monthly columns that brought to light forgotten narratives and curious historical insights, steadily building bridges between Sintra’s past and present.
At the University of Évora, Miguel was invited to speak about the history of Sintra and the craft of writing both fiction and non-fiction. His audience: Literature bachelor's and master's degree students eager to understand how lived history and narrative technique can meet in a meaningful, respectful - and sometimes magical - way.
Miguel Boim giving a lecture at the University of Évora for
Literature bachelor's and master's degree students
fauna of the Sintra Mountains: the fox
The full moon in a spectacular foggy night that took participants to another era.
picture by Miguel Boim
The sun setting in a sea of fog. In the picture is also observable the roof of a chapel with more than 800 years.
picture by Miguel Boim
♦♦♦ About These Activities
These activities are born out of Miguel Boim’s extensive research into Sintra’s history - bringing to life the events that shaped Portugal, particularly those rooted in this mystical landscape.
The night walks aim to immerse participants in the nocturnal atmosphere of the Sintra Mountains, fostering awareness of its natural environment and offering a deeper connection to the historical events once lived and recorded here.
No outside elements will surprise you, nor is it intended to make people feel threatened or afraid. There are no theatrical scares or jump scares. On this visit, no species are presented, and viewing them at night is difficult. What you'll experience is the subtle movement of creatures, the sound of wind through the trees, and the sense of stepping into another time.
Participants on one of Miguel Boim's walks, at the end of a foggy day in the mountains.
picture by Paula Custódio
Miguel Boim during the filming of a documentary about the Sintra Mountains, which was to be presented (before the war) in Russia and Ukraine.
fauna of the Sintra Mountains: the hedgehog
Do you want more information?
Just continue scrolling down.
What to expect from this Night Walk in the Sintra Mountains
Why is this not a "ghost tour"?
The reason why this walk can't be considered a ghost tour is because the main intent is to help you to create a unique memory of the entrance of a night in a dark forest, in a very special and mysterious place like the Sintra Mountains are.
Do we enter any monuments?
You will be in the westernmost part of the mountains, in the depths of the forest, and the most significant monument you will visit is just the forest at night, with its unique richness of stimuli.
Can I ask about other aspects of Sintra’s history?
Absolutely. You’re encouraged to ask anything about Sintra - even beyond the night walk’s specific theme.
Wouldn't we know those accounts in any other form?
Not in the same way. You’ll be given rare and curious insights known only to those who dedicate themselves to in-depth historical research. These will help you see Sintra with fresh, more accurate eyes.
Books from the 16th and 18th century used by Miguel Boim in
his historical research on the Sintra Mountains - with the facts also used in the night walks in Sintra.
Real People from the Past vs. Just Dates and Facts
Rather than a recital of dates, this is a tapestry of human experience. Instead of focusing solely on dates and kings, this activity emphasizes everyday life and how people experienced historical changes. Religious communities preserved some of the most vibrant stories - both spiritual and mundane - that still resonate today. These personal accounts often surprise with their relevance, humor, or strangeness - reminders that history, after all, is made of people.
You’ll hear about unique individuals, strange events, and how locals were perceived by foreign travelers. These accounts provide a rare glimpse into the differences between the Sintra of the past and the monuments you see today.
The Shadows and the Law
Understanding the law and power dynamics of the time is crucial. Who held power in Sintra in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries? What were the roles of the state, the Church, and the Inquisition? These questions reveal much about everyday life - including where people could go, what they could do, and what they feared.
Creating the Right Atmosphere for Time Travel
Several of these visits' purposes are related to the ambiance that people can enjoy in the mountains and in the Historical Center in silence. However, in this theme - Sintra Mountains Inbetween Wolves - you will just feel the ambiance of the mountains. And the ambiance is key. Silence, mist, wind in the trees: all become part of the narrative. Every walk is designed to create a space for contemplation and awe, where the environment itself tells part of the story. In this stillness, history doesn’t just inform. It breathes. These night walks are designed to allow you to experience Sintra’s magical atmosphere - far from the tourist buzz. With silence, the rustling trees, and flowing streams, you’ll get a real sense of what this place was and still is.
Your care and silence are also a form of environmental respect, helping preserve the mountains' fragile ecosystems.
As the sunset time varies across the year, the same happens with the activity's start time.
Fog may join the activity and with it, some of the most beautiful and haunting visuals Sintra has to offer.
What will happen?
On the Day of the Walk
This activity is a night walk that starts around one hour before sunset - you will see the sun setting in the Ocean. You'll find a circular route of around 5 and a half kilometres (the effort to make it is very similar to an afternoon walking around Sintra's historical center), with some plain and irregular terrain, having some road, but mostly done within the forest. You will have some stopping points where Miguel Boim will tell you stories, facts, and curiosities from the past related to the theme Sintra Mountains Inbetween Wolves - Memories From When the Mountains Had Wolves. The total time will be around 3 hours and a half (or less, if you require it beforehand).
The route will have its meeting point with Miguel Boim at a location in the mountains, but near Cabo da Roca. This activity does not include transportation to the meeting point.
During daytime, you will see the plains to the north, Cabo da Roca to the west, and to the south you will see in a distance Cascais, Lisbon's region, and where the River Tagus meets the Atlantic Ocean. As night falls, the walk will be more of an experience where you will feel the night atmosphere in the depths of the mountains. You will be free to share your questions on Sintra's history, as well as about the night atmosphere, the mountains, and the mountains in the past.
Everything you will hear in this night walk is a product of Miguel Boim's everyday work as a historical researcher exclusively dedicated to Sintra's past (in the portuguese and european context). Miguel Boim himself will lead you, bringing the insight and passion of someone wholly immersed in Sintra’s past.
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People from Sintra, drawn in the year 1821.
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People from the 21st century listening to accounts of lives lived in Sintra centuries ago.
On Trust and Safety
Code of Conduct
No smoking or disruptive noise.
Do not remove flora, fauna, or geological materials.
Please stay close to the person who is guiding the group and avoid being absent without previous communication, in any circumstance.
Safety
Personal information is required for insurance and to comply with Sintra-Cascais Natural Park regulations
Minimum age: 14
By booking this activity, you assume that your health conditions are perfect for walking (considering the route's ups and downs) between 200 and 470 meters above sea level for around three hours.
This activity fully accomplishes what is required by law.
Participants must follow instructions given by the guide in the briefing as well as during the activity. Coordination is maintained with local authorities (hence, the need to book in advance) which patrol the mountains at night: the National Guard Republican (G.N.R.), security of Parques de Sintra Monte da Lua (in SUV or on foot), Portuguese Army (in SUV or on foot), Civil Protection (in SUV or on foot), ICNF - Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e Florestas (in SUV or on foot).
You may ask for general advice on safety related to rented vehicles (special attention in this regard) and possible pickpockets (during the day and in crowded places).
A falconer in a portuguese book from the 16th century.
For Your Comfort
Do not hesitate to ask questions before this night walk in Sintra as well as during this tour - transparency is key.
Proper footwear and clothing (you'll be advised on the best of both, according to the time of year and near-date weather conditions).
The start time and end times can be exact, but please note that the end time can be inaccurate - if not otherwise strictly required.
This activity does not include transportation to the meeting point.
You can inquire about the best place to have your meals.
You can request information on how to avoid tourist crowds during the day in Sintra.
Cancellations and Refunds
Full refund for cancellations made at least 72 hours before the beginning of the activity.
After a cancellation, the refund is processed within 7 days.
In case of rain (if not heavy rain), the activity will be maintained; in case of warning (Aviso) or alert (Alerta) by the authorities (Civil Protection, ICNF), the activity will be cancelled, with the option to reschedule or receive a full refund.
fauna of the Sintra Mountains: the barn owl
fauna of the Sintra Mountains: the tawny owl