Home          Mosques          Muslim Heritage          Personalities          Travel         Contact Us


Pulo do Lobo

Introduction

Pulo do Lobo is a waterfall over the River Guadiana in the Lower Alentejo region of Portugal. This waterfall is 45km from Mertola and around 25km from Serpa. The name of this waterfall (Pulo do Lobo) means ‘wolf’s leap’ in English. It is said that only a brave man or a wild animal when chased could leap over this gorge. 
It is the highest waterfall in the Southern Portugal. The waterfall located at an altitude of between 33 and 35 meters in a very narrow gorge in the River Guadiana. To reach this waterfall, I took a right turn at the village of Vale de Poços and continued to the waterfall (another 12km). The right bank of the river is more dramatic, it offers a better view of the waterfall.

I parked the car on a hill and went down to see the waterfall
I parked the car on a hill and went down to see the waterfall
This waterfall is inside the Guadiana Valley Natural Park
A sign shows the information about the wildlife of the area
A sign shows the information about the wildlife of the area
Small hills dominate the area around the Pulo do Lobo
The area itself is peaceful and very tranquil to visit
The area itself is peaceful and very tranquil to visit
Close to the waterfall, small shrubs give way to barren rocks
Close to the waterfall, small shrubs give way to barren rocks
Right bank of the river is more dramatic but hard to reach
The Guadiana River had cut through this rock over the centuries
The Guadiana River had cut through this rock over the centuries
A closer look at the rocks of Pulo do Lobo waterfall
A closer look at the rocks of Pulo do Lobo waterfall
Left bank of the River Guadiana - Pulo do Lobo
Left bank of the River Guadiana - Pulo do Lobo

Waterfall

The river has flown among the rocks, cutting deeper and deeper over the centuries. The surface is uneven and it can be slippery, the area can be very quiet with no people around.

Just at the top of the waterfall, water is relatively calm. Then, all of sudden waters turn into a raging river. The rushing water is noisy and its sound offers the only disruption in the calmness of the area. The waters of the Pulo do Lobo Waterfall are gathered at the bottom in almost round shape bowl. In one part of the waterfall, huge rocks form a blockade to the natural flow of the water. But water finds its way through rocks and when it is raining it flows over the rocks.

Just at the top of the waterfall, water is relatively calm
Just at the top of the waterfall, water is relatively calm
At this point of the river, the water picks up the speed
Calm waters of the river, all of sudden turn into a raging river - Pulo do Lobo Waterfall
Calm waters of the river, all of sudden turn into a raging river - Pulo do Lobo Waterfall
Water cascading inside the river channel
Water cascading inside the river channel
Full force of the Pulo do Lobo
The waters of the Cascata do Pulo do Lobo reaches its maximum speed at this point
The waters of the Cascata do Pulo do Lobo reaches its maximum speed at this point
Huge rocks form a blockade to the natural flow of the water
Huge rocks form a blockade to the natural flow of the water
Water find it's way through
Water find it's way through
A round shape bowl at the bottom of the Pullo do Lobo Waterfall
A round shape bowl at the bottom of the Pullo do Lobo Waterfall
Looking upstream at the River Guadiana, its course is hidden among the rocks
Looking upstream at the River Guadiana, its course is hidden among the rocks

There are deep drops in the rocks and some of them look very scary at times. The barren rocks which are on the both side of the river have no vegetation. The left bank of the River Guadiana can be accessed from Beja. A visit to this natural beauty is one of the ‘Things to Do’ if in the area.

Deep drops in the rocks formed by he water
Deep drops in the rocks formed by he water
At place, the edges of the rocks were very sharp
A glass bottle left the right bank of the river by the previous visitors
Rocks on the right bank of the Guadiana River - Polo do Lobo
Left bank of the River Guadiana is more accessible from Beja
Left bank of the River Guadiana is more accessible from Beja
Now, I am climbing uphill to reach the car
Now, I am climbing uphill to reach the car
It is time to drive back to Mertola to have a good night's sleep
It is time to drive back to Mertola to have a good night's sleep
I took a small country road from the main road to go to Pulo do Lobo
I took a small country road from the main road to go to Pulo do Lobo
There were cattle, sheep and pig farms
There were cattle, sheep and pig farms