Ecotourism in Portugal may have been slow to arrive, but it is beginning to settle in this beautiful land. Many places are overloaded, especially along the coast. But other areas, especially inland, are being preserved and reserved for future generations.

Portugals largest national park is  Peneda-Gerês,  in the Minho district, north of Braga, near the Spanish border.

But the small country has many specially protected areas, which are nature reserves. Most of these are in mountainous regions, including Montesinho, near Bragança; Alvão, near Vile Real Amarante; and Candeeiros Mountain, near Fatima.

In recent years, the government has also declared some of Portugals coastal areas as protected landscapes, rescuing them from developers. These areas include the resorts of Esposende; Sintra-Cascais; and southeast of the Alentejo, near Cape St. Vincent.

If you would like to find accommodation in protected areas of Portugal, check out  Nature Tourism in Portugal  at Av. Eng. Arantes and Oliveira # 13, 4B, 1900-221 Lisbon ( www.icat.fc.ul.pt ).

Manor  houses are family homes as opposed to hotels, and each offers a vacation experience with a personal touch. However, within this category, the accommodations are varied, from elegant country houses to rustic chalets, even farms, each with an individual character. Some of the TURIHAB houses have received visitors since the 16th and 17th centuries. The hosts organize a range of leisure activities such as fishing, hunting, golf, swimming, hiking, tennis, horse riding, cycling and wine tasting.

For a list of eco-friendly accommodations across the country, search  www.itsagreengreenworld.com  . Several homesteads,  farms  and villas all over the country accept guests from the northern Algarve to Minho. Maybe book a yoga retreat or a  farm  on the slopes of Serra do Caramulo in central Portugal.

Another good site for ecotourism is  http://ecoclub.com  , which lists members and activities that focus around ecotourism. For example, you could join  "Nature Meetings"  on Madeira Island, the first company on this island to provide deep walking experiences.  You can also join an ecological holiday in the mountains of Portugal, near the old university city of Coimbra, or an ecological property in the famous Serra da Estrela Natural Park, where you can stay on the banks of the Mondego river. on a large granite built farm with a private pool.

Responsible Travel ( www.responsibletravel.com ) contains a great source for sustainable travel ideas driven by a responsible tourism spokesperson in the travel industry. Sustainable Travel International ( www.sustainabletravelinternational.org ) promotes responsible tourism practices and publishes an annual Green Gear & Gift Guide.

You can find green travel tips, statistics, and tourism businesses and associations - listed by destination in "Travel Choice" - on the TIES website, www.ecotourism.org . Also check out Conservation International (www.conservation.org) - which, with  National Geographic Traveler,  annually presents the World Legacy Awards ( www.nationalgeographic.com ) to tour operators, companies, organizations and places that have made a significant trip. contribution to sustainable tourism. The Ecotravel.com

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