Three Peaks challenges in Portugal

The landscapes of Portugal

The Tagus divides two broad mainland landscapes: more mountainous country towards the northern interior and rolling plains farther south. Portugal's Atlantic position adds a coastal dimension to these inland contrasts, with the north generally cooler and wetter than the warmer, drier south.

Madeira and the Azores belong to separate oceanic settings beyond the mainland. Their volcanic uplands should be understood as island landscapes rather than extensions of continental Portugal's ranges. The mainland and island destinations consequently offer different ways to explore Portuguese high ground, each rooted in its own regional geography.