This Gorgeous Natural Park Has an Abandoned Chapel Overlooking Some of the Bluest Waters in the World

In April, Pinterest dropped its summer travel trends report. And while it's chock-full of interesting data, the thing that stuck out the most was this little tidbit: "Searches for enigmatic locales are rising as travelers crave places shrouded in mystery and allure, promising a blend of wonder, adventure and the unexplored. From ethereal natural landscapes to ancient, whispering ruins, these hidden gems ignite the imagination of artists and call out to travelers in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment and transcendence."

And, as part of this section of the report, Pinterest shared that searches for "exploring abandoned places" has grown by some 230 percent in the last year. But search no more, because we have the perfect place for you to go for mystery and intrigue — and it happens to be home to some of the bluest water on Earth too. 

Arrabida Natural Park is located just 40 minutes from Lisbon, Portugal's capital city. It's a destination that feels almost too beautiful to be real, with lush green forests turning into white sand beaches lapped by gin-clear waters and pods of dolphins playing just offshore. 

Here, travelers can spend their days lounging on the beach, taking a boat ride through the waters, or setting out on a challenging hike through the hillside. On one of those hikes, travelers can also make their way to the Santa Margarida cave, where they'll find the Lapa of Santa Margarida, a small chapel built sometime in the 17th century.

However, as Visit Setubal notes, parts of this cave may be much older. "Here," it says, "the oldest traces of the presence of Man in the mountains were found, dating back to the Lower Paleolithic." 

Setubal Bay additionally explains that the Christian altar gained its name as it originally held an image of Saint Margaret, but now, it's common to find iconography beyond Christianity, including "sorcery and witchcraft." 

Getting to the cave is fairly simple. All Trails lists the hike as a quick .3 miles out and back. However, the trail is made of mostly steep steps, making it a more "moderate" hike. According to All Trails, it takes about 16 minutes to complete, however, you may want to take your time on the out and back as the trail comes with some seriously breathtaking views too. 

The only thing to note about getting to this trail, and all of Arrabida, is that during the "bathing season," aka the summer in Portugal, car access is extremely limited. So, your best bet is to book a tour, which comes with the bonus of a local showing you all the other secrets of the region.