11 - Adventures in the Algarve

Where I visited to make the most of my five days in the Algarve, Portugal...

In 2019, Summer and I boarded a plane at London Stansted, destination: Faro, Portugal. During our 5 day trip, we explored the southernmost region of Portugal, famous for its stunning beaches and quaint fishing villages. Anyone looking for inspiration for their next holiday abroad, be sure to read on for a glimpse of what the Algarve has to offer. 

Portimão

This seaside city was the first place we visited on our trip and offered a whole day of entertainment. We spent the morning exploring the souvenir shops and hunting for a place for lunch. In the main square, we found a selection of restaurants and took a gamble on the one named Nosolo Itália. The staff there were extremely friendly, inviting us in for al fresco dining and recommending their delightful fresh strawberry milkshakes. 

In the afternoon we embarked on a boat tour on the Alegria, one of the cheaper of the many boat tours on offer, which set off from Portimão. The two-hour guided tour glided along the Algarve coastline which is threaded with hidden caves and coves. Occasionally the captain steered us into the depths of these aquatic caverns to get a closer looks at these stunning natural features. Every passenger on board was also offered a complimentary sangria or soft drink and a swim in the sea if you could brave the icy temperatures. 

One of the many sea caves formed in the cliffs along the Algarve coastline. 

Portimão is also home to a museum dedicated to the city's sardine fishing heritage. The museum is home to a whole host of creative displays, including a life-size model of a sardine factory, which made it well worth a visit. Plus the museum offered free entry to students, so Summer and I were allowed to enter for free. 

Before leaving we found a dessert kiosk near the main square, from which we bought amazing waffles and ice cream, a perfect afternoon snack.

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Waffles I bought from a kiosk in Portimão.

Zoo Marine

Zoo Marine was the only place we visited on the trip that we pre-planned, having been recommended as a top attraction in the Algarve. Zoo Marine offered coach collection from a long list of hotels and holiday resorts in the Algarve, including our own which was an added bonus, as a taxi there would've cost us considerably more.

Zoo Marine had so much to offer, including theme park rides, dolphins, tropical birds, and sea lion shows, and an entire water park to enjoy.

 Zoo Marine's dolphin show is a must for any visitor to the Algarve with a love for animals. The dolphins happily performed memorizing assortments of rolls, jumps and tricks. Have you ever seen a dancing Walrus? Well at Zoo Marine you can! For anyone worried about the wellbeing of the animal residing at zoo marine, it was clear that the animals at zoo marine had spacious enclosures and the team used the shows to educate audiences on animal conservation. 

The water park was definitely an added bonus, the rapids, flumes, and pools a perfect way to cool off from the 30° summer heat. 

 

The dolphin show at Zoo Marine.

Historical full-day tour of the Algarve

There are a whole host of arranged tours on offer to tourists to the Algarve, we choose the so-called 'historical full-day tour of the Algarve' as Summer and I wanted to visit as many places as we could, and this tour offered 4 locations in one day. 

Each location we visited was so unique that they would be worth visiting for a half or even full day, and still well worth a visit outside of an arranged tour. Our tour took us to Sagres (The End of the world), Monchique, Silves and Lagos.  

The End of The World 

Views of the cliff edge which was once believed to mark the end of the world. 

Sagres sits as the most southwesterly point in Europe, and hence to the Romans, to whom the rest of the globe was undiscovered, was known as the end of the world. 

Our coach tour took us to a particular part of Sagres called Cape Saint Vincent. From there, it was easy to see how Sagres was worthy of its nickname, being a largely secluded location with dramatic cliffs plunging down into the seemingly endless Atlantic Ocean. This was by far my favourite location on the full day tour and I would definitely return just for its breathtaking views of the ocean. 

 

Monchique

The top of Monchique mountain.

Monchique is a small town in the Algarve home to Mount Fóia. This mountain boasts the highest point in the Algarve, standing at 902 meters tall, and on a clear day offers stunning panoramic views of the Algarve landscape. 

Thankfully when we visited our coach took us all the way to the top, saving us the 8-mile hike to reach the summit on foot! At the top of the mountain is a gift shop and cafe which make the mountain well worth the trip.

Silves

The quaint streets in the town of Silves,

Silves is an old, historic town, once the capital of the Algarve. Many visitors choose to catch a glimpse of the town's history by visiting its castle, 'Castelo de Silves' and gothic cathedral. Alternatively, visitors to Silves can walk the Portuguese streets and discover hidden markets, cobbled streets and open-air cafes. 

Silves is by far the prettiest and most interesting town we discovered on our trip to the Algarve and Summer and I was content enough just wandering the streets, taking photos and soaking in the atmosphere and scenic countryside views.

Lagos

The beach at Lagos

Lagos is a busy city on the Algarve coast and one of the most tourist-friendly destinations in the Algarve. Alongside its natural, sandy beaches, Lagos is home to bustling streets filled with restaurants, cafes and shops and buzzing nightlife. 

The city is also dotted with historical and cultural landmarks such as the Forte de Ponta de Bandeira. Summer and I enjoyed our few hours in Lagos exploring the harbour and even happened upon a Portuguese band enthusiastically playing lively music down Lagos' bustling streets. 

Praia da Rocha

A view of Praia da Rocha and the Algarve coastline.

After a sweltering walk from our hotel, the sight of the glistening sea was a massive relief. Praia da Rocha is a bustling sandy beach perfect for any holidaymakers and often regarded as one of the finest beaches in the Algarve.

The region is well equipped for the tourists it receives in the summer months, offering a plentiful list of restaurants and bars within walking distance, many of which overlooking the beach. We picked one of the bars perched on the edge of the beach, enjoying the shaded outside seating area, a chilled atmosphere and some lunch during the hottest part of the day. 

Visiting Praia da Rocha was one of the most memorable parts of the trip and definitely the destination I was most regretful to leave before heading to Faro airport on a one-way trip back to London. 

Thank you for reading my post on my travel to Portugal. If you loved this post please comment below and be sure to follow Planet Hunter Blog on Instagram for updates on the latest travel posts.

Written by:           Maia Jones

First Posted:        03/04/21

All images included in this post are my own.