Algarve Coast Attractions

From Porches and Alcantarilha roads lead south from the N 125 to Armaçao de Pêra. The uniformity of its plain multi story buildings, and its limited, more simple accommodation than that offerred by Carvoeiro is offset by its excellent and seemingly endless beach. It is popular with both Portuguese and foreign holidaymakers.

The little fishing villages of Cabanas and Cacela, just east of Tavira, are still relatively free of mass tourism, with only a limited amount of holiday accommodation among their small white square-stone houses. They are good places for getting away from the crowds, and anyone wanting to enjoy a quiet swim from the offshore spit can get there on foot at low tide or be ferried out by fishing boat.

These three lagoon islands are accessible by boat from Olhao several times a day between June and September, three times a day in winter. One boat goes to Farol and Culatra the smallest island in the west, and another to Armona in the east. The landing stages are on Avenida 5 de Outubro near the harbor. All three islands are of flat dunes with very good beaches. Hardly any houses are to be found, but there are a few simple restaurants and cafes.

20km/12.5mi beyond Tavira a road forks right to the resort of Monte Gordo, much favored by British and Dutch visitors, with its promenade, complete with gardens, running alongside the broad beach.

Just over 1km/0.75mi west of Armaçao de Pêra, on a high crag, is the 13th C. chapel of Nossa Senhora da Rocha.

Quarteira, 3km/2mi south of Vilamoura, is not very attractive with its serried ranks of hotels and apartment blocks.

Quinta do Lago (estate by the sea), a few kilometers southeast of Quarteira, is an exclusive holiday complex, with comfortable villas and hotels in a park landscape. This pleasant scenery was the setting for the 1989 session of the NATO assembly in Quinta do Lago.

Further along the N 125 side roads lead to the coastal resorts of Salema, Burgau and Luz, all with good beaches. Some large hotels and apartment blocks have been built around Salema in recent years. Burgau has retained its character as a fishing village, but the Praia da Luz in Luz is now a sizable tourist center.

Vale do Lobo (wolf valley) a few kilometers southeast of Quarteira, is an exclusive holiday complex, with comfortable villas and hotels in a park landscape.

About 10km/6mi east of Albufeira is a planning development straight off the drawing board. The little holiday villages dotted over the hilly country side offer every conceivable leisure activity - golf-courses, marinas, etc. Building works near Vilamoura's marina revealed the remains of the original Roman settlement Cerro da Vila, and the "mosaic house" dating from the A.D. third century is particularly worth seeing.