# Mata Nacional da Gelfa, Portugal: what it is and when to go

> Mata Nacional da Gelfa is a protected area in Portugal (Viana do Castelo). Interests: Nature and Wildlife. The best time to visit is April to October. In June there are 15 h 01 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 59. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/mata-nacional-da-gelfa/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Protected area · Nature, Wildlife
- **Where:** Portugal
- **Best time:** April to October.
- **Nearest airport:** OPO Porto, 63 km as the crow flies
- **Opening hours:** 24/7
- **Run by:** ICNF
- **Coordinates:** 41.79624, -8.86285

## What it is and where

Mata Nacional da Gelfa is a protected area in Portugal (Viana do Castelo).

It is in [Viana do Castelo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/viana-do-castelo/), where this site lists 39 more places to see, 11 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 41.79624, -8.86285; the nearest main airport is Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO, Porto), 63 km as the crow flies. How to get around Portugal (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=41.796243%2C-8.862853)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=41.796243%2C-8.862853)

- **Run by:** ICNF

It is one of the [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/naturaleza/) and [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/fauna/) places in Portugal. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Mata Nacional da Gelfa is **April to October**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 9 h 17 |
| February | Possible | 10 h 23 |
| March | Possible | 11 h 40 |
| April | Best time | 13 h 08 |
| May | Best time | 14 h 22 |
| June | Best time | 15 h 01 |
| July | Best time | 14 h 45 |
| August | Best time | 13 h 41 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 16 |
| October | Best time | 10 h 50 |
| November | Possible | 9 h 35 |
| December | Possible | 8 h 59 |

In June there are 15 h 01 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 59. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nature | April to October | November to March |
| Wildlife | April to October | November to March |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Mata Nacional da Gelfa has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to Portugal in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to Portugal

To enter Portugal there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid ID card (DNI) or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Portugal checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C and F · 230 V · 50 Hz (the same as in Spain); emergencies: 112.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Camino Portugués de la Costa (Viana do Castelo - A Guarda)](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/camino-portugues-de-la-costa-viana-do-castelo-a-guarda/): Hiking · 610 m
- [GR 1 - Grande Rota do Litoral](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/gr-1-grande-rota-do-litoral/): Hiking · 950 m
- [Anta da Barrosa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/anta-da-barrosa/): Dolmen in Vila Praia de Âncora, Portugal · 1.8 km
- [Fort of Lagarteira](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/forte-de-ancora/): Building in Caminha, Viana do Castelo District, Portugal · 2.2 km
- [Praia da Arda](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/praia-da-arda/): Beach · 2.7 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Portugal guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/).

## More in Portugal: Nature

- [Jerónimos Monastery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/monasterio-de-los-jeronimos/): building in Santa Maria de Belém, Lisbon District, Portugal
- [Mount Pico](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/montana-del-pico/): stratovolcano in the Azores and the highest mountain of Portugal
- [Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/prehistoric-rock-art-sites-in-the-coa-valley-and-siega-verde/): paleolithic archaeological site in Portugal
- [Berlengas](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/reserva-natural-de-las-berlengas/): archipelago in Portugal
- [Alto Douro](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/alto-douro-wine-region/): UNESCO World Heritage Site
- [Peneda-Gerês National Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/parque-nacional-de-peneda-gerez/): protected area in Portugal

Every Portugal place under Nature, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/naturaleza/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Mata Nacional da Gelfa?

It is a protected area in Portugal.

### When is the best time to visit Mata Nacional da Gelfa?

April to October. In June there are 15 h 01 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 59.

### How do you get to Mata Nacional da Gelfa?

The nearest main airport is Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO), 63 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=41.796243%2C-8.862853) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Portugal is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Portugal map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Camino Portugués de la Costa (Viana do Castelo - A Guarda)](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/camino-portugues-de-la-costa-viana-do-castelo-a-guarda/), [GR 1 - Grande Rota do Litoral](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/gr-1-grande-rota-do-litoral/), [Anta da Barrosa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/anta-da-barrosa/). The rest is in [the Portugal guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/19676330), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).